Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Josie Moraine lives a - well - unusual life. She adores books, and works, and lives, in a local bookstore. She also cleans the house where her mother lives - notorious Madame Willie Woodley's house. Yes, this means Josie's mother is a prostitute. Josie definitely does not want to follow in her mother's footsteps, but... Continue Reading →
Eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson is looking forward to exploring Spain, the lad of his mother’s birth. He and his parents are in Madrid - his mother to reconnect with her country; his father to sign an oil deal with General Francisco Franco. Daniel befriends other Americans - Ben, a newspaper reporter, and Nick, the son of... Continue Reading →
When Theodora’s grandfather dies suddenly, she’s left to fend for herself and her mother in the family’s duplex. Her grandfather’s last words to her lead her on an odyssey, looking for a treasure that would keep her and her mother afloat. Along the way, Theodora learns she can trust her instincts, and other people. Mostly.... Continue Reading →
Mira has learned to do things she never thought she would do. But she will do nearly anything it takes to keep her mother and sister Hannah fed and safe - if there is such a thing - in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. As she struggles to survive and provide, she’s comforted by her... Continue Reading →
Note: I wrote this review in 2015, but am just now publishing it. Excitement reigned at my house last month. My youngest daughter realized that the library finally had processed the newest book about one of our favorite literary families, the Penderwicks. The day we got the email that her hold was ready, I made... Continue Reading →
Abilene Tucker has only known life on the road. She and her daddy followed the railways, living in camps while her daddy worked odd jobs to keep them fed. Then one day, her daddy sent her away to live in Manifest, Kansas. Manifest, Kansas. Why there? Why now? Abilene feels abandoned. She knows how to... Continue Reading →
Jack Baker has lost his mother and his home all at once. He also gained a father he's not seen since before World War II began. They don't know how to be together without Jack's mom. And now Jack is at a strange boarding school in Maine - a continent away from his home in... Continue Reading →
Sora Pak and her family live by a very strict set of rules. The family Bible is hidden under the floor. They must attend the local communist meetings. Their friends and neighbors keep disappearing. But they are afraid to leave their North Korean village. Until the war comes so close, they decide this is their... Continue Reading →
Retelling fairy tales is a popular pastime these days. Did Gail Carson Levine start this trend with her clever retelling of Cinderella and other fairy tales? It doesn’t matter, really. What matters are the fun and excellent books which have come about as authors give their spin on well-known stories. In The Cottage in the... Continue Reading →
How can anyone resist a book with such an adorable puppy on the cover? Not me, that’s who. Plus, one of my favorite authors, Joan Bauer, wrote Raising Lumie, so choosing it at the library was a no-brainer. Olive has done her research. She has saved her money and has started working towards her goal... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 