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Bitterblue. Kristin Cashore. 2012. Penguin. 563 pages.

I think I would like this one more if I had taken the time to reread Graceling and/or Fire. Or perhaps if I'd liked Graceling and Fire more than I did in the first place. (I remember wishing I'd read Graceling and Fire closer together. I definitely remember them both as being almost books for me. Almost as good as I'd expected based on what I'd read/heard.) The good news is that Bitterblue is a compelling read, once I began reading it I wanted to know what happened next. And I was intrigued with the mystery of it, the political intrigue going on, etc. But I never really came to "love" the characters. I liked the characters, the storytelling, the writing. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading, but I was never this-is-the-best-book-ever.

Eighth Grade is Making Me Sick: A Year in Stuff. Jennifer L. Holm. 2012. Random House. 128 pages.

This was a quick read, though it wasn't as quick as I initially thought it might be. It is a graphic novel, of sorts, starring a young eighth grader named Ginny Davis. She's just moved and she's getting ready to start a new year at school. She is nervous and hopeful, for the most part. And she definitely has plans and goals for what she wants to happen this year. Some of what does happen is COMPLETELY unexpected. Like what happens with her step-Bob and her mom... This one surprised me in places, and was predictable in other places. Overall, I did like it. It didn't wow me, but I wasn't expecting to be wowed.

The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel. Jeanne DuPrau. Dallas Middaugh, Niklas Asker illustrators. 2012. Random House. 144 pages.

I have always loved Jeanne DuPrau's City of Ember. I have read it multiple times, always enjoying and loving it. I love the premise, the story, the characters, the mystery, etc. I was so excited to read the graphic novel of this novel. I thought the adaptation was great. I thought it was a quick and compelling read. I thought the illustrations were great!!! I love seeing the contrast between Ember and the real world which they're discovering for the very first time. Of course, I'm always going to love the novel more than any adaptation of it--graphic novel or film. But. I think this is a lovely way to visit or revisit Ember!!!

Starry River of the Sky. Grace Lin. 2012. Little, Brown. 304 pages.

Part of me wishes I'd reread the first book, but, I suppose it's not too late to reread it now. This one certainly made me want to stay in that magical world. I definitely enjoyed this one very much, I'm not sure what more to say. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, there was something wonderfully mysterious about most of the characters. And the mystery unfolds with each story that is told in the novel. I loved the role of stories and storytelling in this one. It really celebrates storytelling and shows how stories shape us and how stories and legends are formed. I thought the illustrations were lovely. It was a beautiful book.

Penny And Her Doll. Kevin Henkes. 2012. HarperCollins. 32 pages.

I definitely enjoyed reading Kevin Henkes' second Penny book. In this one, Penny receives a lovely doll from her grandmother. She LOVES her doll; she loves everything about her doll. The conflict in this one is that Penny cannot think of a good name, a proper name, a "just right" name for her new doll. She knows that her doll needs a name--after all everybody has a name. But how will she know which name is the RIGHT name for her doll? The story is told in short chapters. I loved the writing and the story.

Let's Go For A Drive. Mo Willems. 2012. Hyperion. 64 pages.

I've loved every Elephant & Piggie book, this one Let's Go For a Drive is no exception. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Elephant and Piggie so much that it would be hard for me not to enjoy each adventure. I do like some books better than others, there will always be favorites for me within the series. This one probably won't make my favorite-from-this-series list. But I did enjoy it. With each rereading I enjoyed it a little more. Gerald, the elephant, is making plans, BIG PLANS for his drive with Piggie. They'll need...umbrellas, sunglasses, maps, bags, the list just goes on and on and on...it takes a while for Gerald to think of the obvious--they'll need a car. Since it would just be silly for either friend to have a car, Gerald becomes distraught until Piggie finds a way to play together that doesn't require any plans!

I love Gerald. I do. I love how he's illustrated in this book. I love seeing his expressions, his emotions. His enthusiasm is lovable. I also love Piggie, of course. I love Piggie's solution to this problem. I just love, love, love the illustrations, they tell so much!!!!

A Heart for Milton. Trudy Brasure. 2011. Createspace. 398 pages.

For people who just loved the movie, this one may prove to be a satisfying read...especially if they also enjoy adult romance novels. (The scenes are mild in comparison to some, but this book is definitely not 'clean.') It is an adaptation or variation on Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. This book has them marrying sooner, and it starts off with great promise. It follows their first year of marriage--for better or worse, a first year which also includes a pregnancy. This is a financially difficult year for the couple, and it's a year that readers of the classic novel only catch a glimpse or two of. John Thornton is struggling to keep his mill open, and he's facing financial ruin. In the classic by Gaskell, Margaret saves him in more ways than one. In this adaptation, she's right there by his side through it all believing and encouraging him. In some ways, I enjoyed seeing this adaptation, appreciated the changes to a certain extent. I also enjoyed getting the chance to know Mrs. Thornton (John's mother) much, much better. I really came to love her!

I don't read adult romance, for the most part, it's something I choose not to read. And I would have liked a cleaner adaptation of North and South. But I do think the author did some things well.

A Gentleman of Fortune. Anna Dean. (A Dido Kent Mystery #2) 2011. 336 pages.

I enjoyed this one. I think I enjoyed it even more than the first in the series. I loved the heroine, Miss Dido Kent. I thought she was great at playing detective and solving yet another mystery. I enjoyed the setting and liked getting the chance to meet new and interesting characters. It was fun to piece together the clues. I think my favorite parts are her letters to Eliza. I am glad this one wasn't focused too much on the "romance" of the heroine.

Gossamer. Lois Lowry. 2006. 176 pages.

I've been in the mood to read Lois Lowry lately, and this was a lovely reread for me. I just love Littlest (Gossamer). I think the premise is oh-so-magical and definitely imaginative. The writing is just what I've come to expect from Lowry. The storytelling was beautiful. I came to care for the characters as I read on in the book, and I liked how everything worked together.

The Humming of Numbers. Joni Sensel. 2008. 256 pages.

The first time I read this book, I loved it. I remember gushing about how amazing it was. So I decided to reread this one. I remembered it as being amazing and wonderful, but, this second reading didn't thrill me. It's a great reminder of just how subjective reading is and how mood factors into how much a person loves a book...or not. I did like it the second time, it's not that my opinion changed completely. It's just that it was definite like and not love. I think the first time through I focused on the adventure of it--the danger of it, the Vikings. The second time I wasn't worried about that threat, and I was able to see the rest of the story, and the "romance" didn't quite work for me.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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But He Doesn't Know the Territory. Meredith Willson. 1959. 190 pages.

I REALLY enjoyed this biography of Meredith Willson that chronicles the writing and performing of The Music Man. (The broadway show, The Music Man, not the movie, the book was released several years before the show was adapted to film.) The book provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writing and rewriting of the musical--the lyrics to the songs, the music, the dialogue, etc. There were around 40 drafts of this musical before he got it just right! There is quite a bit of difference between how he first envisioned the show--its focus--and the end result! He shares a bit of his process with readers, going into some detail about the writing of certain songs within the show itself. He talks about his inspiration, his intent, etc. The book also shares the production details, how the show came to be produced. Readers see Willson and his wife trying to "sell" the idea of the show to people, etc. I also loved the chapters spent discussing the rehearsal and rehearsal schedule. I found it interesting how the show stayed a work in progress through its first few weeks before it opened on Broadway.

Read But He Doesn't Know the Territory

• If you love The Music Man
• If you love musicals, musical theatre, 
• If you are interested in writing, composing, producing

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1921. 280 pages.

Though Rilla of Ingleside is technically part of the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery, I am not sure it would have to be read as part of the whole series. Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside make a great pair all on their own. The only book that would truly be helpful in 'appreciating' Rilla of Ingleside is Rainbow Valley.   

Characters carried over from Rainbow Valley:

Anne and Gilbert have a fine family together: Jem, Walter, Nan and Di (twin sisters), Shirley (a boy), and Rilla. Helping them out around the house (and kitchen) Susan Baker.

Anne's current best friend and good neighbor: Cornelia Elliott who--along with her husband Marshall--are raising an orphan girl, Mary Vance.

Rev. John Meredith and his new wife, Rosemary, are proud parents of: Jerry, Faith, Una, Carl, and Bruce.

Rilla of Ingleside is one of the BEST books I've ever read set during World War I. It is bittersweet and heartbreaking and WONDERFUL from cover to cover. You might think that since it is part of the Anne series that it would be narrated by Anne, or closely follow Anne, but, that is not the case at all. This is Rilla's coming-of-age story. It is HER story from cover to cover, and while her mom is important to her, this isn't Anne's story to tell.

When readers first meet Rilla she is just fourteen. She wants to be considered all grown up, but, in most ways she's still a "silly" girl with big dreams and fancies. (Always laughing, never serious, wanting dozens of beaus, wanting to have a great romance). But her life changes one August evening when war is declared. Jem and Jerry are the first men in her life to go away to war. Eventually she'll have to say goodbye to others: Walter, Ken Ford (the man who makes her lisp out of pure joy), Shirley and Carl. One might expect her to pick up new responsibilities during the war, such as working for the Red Cross or junior Red Cross, etc. But Rilla has an adventure all her own...

For just weeks into the war, Rilla happens upon a tragic scene. She is going visiting or collecting, and discovers a newly dead woman with a newborn son! She brings him home with her even though she doesn't like babies at all. And her father tells her that the baby probably wouldn't survive in an orphan asylum, and, if she wants to keep it at Ingleside, she'll have to be its primary caregiver. Can a young teen girl who previously gloried in new hats, new shoes, and dancing become a responsible parent? Rilla is determined and resourceful!

The book is about waiting, hoping, and praying... Men and women who desperately want their loved ones to be safe, but, who also believe wholeheartedly in the cause...that some things are worth fighting for and protecting. The book chronicles the entire war.

The scene that changes everything:

"England declared war on Germany today," said Jack Elliott slowly. "The news came by wire just as I left town."
"God help us," whispered Gertrude Oliver under her breath. "My dream–my dream! The first wave has broken." She looked at Allan Daly and tried to smile.
"Is this Armageddon?" she asked.
"I am afraid so," he said gravely.
A chorus of exclamations had arisen round them–light surprise and idle interest for the most part. Few there realized the import of the message–fewer still realized that it meant anything to them. Before long the dancing was on again and the hum of pleasure was as loud as ever. Gertrude and Allan Daly talked the news over in low, troubled tones. Walter Blythe had turned pale and left the room. Outside he met Jem, hurrying up the rock steps.
"Have you heard the news, Jem?"
"Yes. The Piper has come. Hurrah! I knew England wouldn't leave France in the lurch. I've been trying to get Captain Josiah to hoist the flag but he says it isn't the proper caper till sunrise. Jack says they'll be calling for volunteers tomorrow."
"What a fuss to make over nothing," said Mary Vance disdainfully as Jem dashed off. She was sitting out with Miller Douglas on a lobster–trap which was not only an unromantic but an uncomfortable seat. But Mary and Miller were both supremely happy on it. Miller Douglas was a big, strapping, uncouth lad, who thought Mary Vance's tongue uncommonly gifted and Mary Vance's white eyes stars of the first magnitude; and neither of them had the least inkling why Jem Blythe wanted to hoist the lighthouse flag. "What does it matter if there's going to be a war over there in Europe? I'm sure it doesn't concern us."
Walter looked at her and had one of his odd visitations of prophecy.
"Before this war is over," he said–or something said through his lips–"every man and woman and child in Canada will feel it–you, Mary, will feel it–feel it to your heart's core. You will weep tears of blood over it. The Piper has come–and he will pipe until every corner of the world has heard his awful and irresistible music. It will be years before the dance of death is over–years, Mary. And in those years millions of hearts will break."
"Fancy now!" said Mary who always said that when she couldn't think of anything else to say. She didn't know what Walter meant but she felt uncomfortable. Walter Blythe was always saying odd things.
"Aren't you painting it rather strong, Walter?" asked Harvey Crawford, coming up just then. "This war won't last for years–it'll be over in a month or two. England will just wipe Germany off the map in no time."
"Do you think a war for which Germany has been preparing for twenty years will be over in a few weeks?" said Walter passionately. "This isn't a paltry struggle in a Balkan corner, Harvey. It is a death grapple. Germany comes to conquer or to die. And do you know what will happen if she conquers? Canada will be a German colony."
"Well, I guess a few things will happen before that," said Harvey shrugging his shoulders. "The British navy would have to be licked for one; and for another, Miller here, now, and I, we'd raise a dust, wouldn't we, Miller? No Germans need apply for this old country, eh?"
Harvey ran down the steps laughing.
"I declare, I think all you boys talk the craziest stuff," said Mary Vance in disgust. She got up and dragged Miller off to the rock-shore. It didn't happen often that they had a chance for a talk together; Mary was determined that this one shouldn't be spoiled by Walter Blythe's silly blather about Pipers and Germans and such like absurd things. They left Walter standing alone on the rock steps, looking out over the beauty of Four Winds with brooding eyes that saw it not.

Since I read this one specifically for the War Through the Generations challenge, I thought I'd share a few quotes about the war:

“Our sacrifice is greater than his," cried Rilla passionately. "Our boys give only themselves. We give them.” 

“Nobody whom this war has touched will ever be happy again in quite the same way. But it will be a better happiness, I think, little sister - a happiness we've earned.” 

“Without shedding of blood there is no anything… Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by self-sacrifice. Our race has marked every step of its painful ascent with blood. And now torrents of it must flow again… I don’t think the war has been sent as a punishment for sin. I think it is the price humanity must pay for some blessing - some advance great enough to be worth the price which we may not live to see but which our children’s children will inherit.”

 Read Rilla of Ingleside

• If you enjoy coming of age stories
• If you enjoy war stories
• If you enjoy historical fiction--though this was a very contemporary account when it was first published
• If you love L.M. Montgomery
• If you enjoy beautiful, bittersweet oh-so-memorable novels

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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War Horse. Michael Morpurgo. 1982/2010. Scholastic. 176 pages.

This one surprised me. I didn't expect it to be so good, so compelling. After all, I don't "like" horse books. But. This little book is narrated by a horse named Joey. We get a glimpse of his life before--before he became a war horse, sent to Europe as part of a cavalry unit of British soldiers. We meet the son of his first owner, Albert, a boy who LOVES him oh-so-much, a boy who would do just about anything and everything for "his" horse. Joey is sold to the army because of the family's need for money. Albert is distressed, and Joey has to adapt for better or worse. But life does go on...readers get a glimpse of World War I as seen through the eyes of a horse. And it is an ugly, ugly mess. But the book, as a whole, is not as depressing as it might have been. That's not to say it's a cheerful book, but, it has many redeeming qualities. I love Joey's resilience; I love Albert's determination. There are some sad, brutal moments, but, it felt genuine and authentic--not manipulative.

Read War Horse

• If you like horse books
• If you don't like horse books
• If you like historical fiction set around World War I

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Magic of Ordinary Days. Ann Howard Creel. 2001. Penguin. 304 pages.

I picked this one up after watching the movie adaptation. I just loved the movie. It felt like it would be my kind of book too: set just in the right time period for me to love, World War II. But would I like the book or movie better?

Olivia (Livvy) Dunne finds herself married to a stranger, Ray Singleton--a farmer--after she finds herself in an unfortunate situation: she's pregnant. Her father arranges with another minister to marry off 'poor' Livvy to a good, stable man. The two meet on their wedding day. She asks him WHY he's willing to marry a stranger and IF he'll be able to love the baby. His answer surprises her, he feels it's God's will to bring them together, and, of course, he'll love her baby. It is the raising of a child that makes a father.

The novel chronicles their lives together that first year as she adjusts to an isolated country lifestyle, as she tries to find ways to occupy her time and grasp the fringes of her true dreams. She loves history and archaeology. She loves finding and discovering old things. She loves finding out about the past, imagining herself in that past. Ray is only a little helpful, it is Ray's sister, Martha, who is able to help her the most. For Martha has stories about their parents, grandparents, etc. It is Martha who is able to tell her about the settling of the place, the original structures built, how their family lived and worked and struggled to create a legacy for the family. And Livvy does see how very much Ray loves the farm, the land, the strong connection he feels to the past and present.

Livvy is lonely still, however. She becomes friendly with two Japanese women living at a nearby Japanese internment camp. She actually meets them in her own fields--for they have been hired to help with the harvest. It seems they are an answer to her prayers; they are so nice and friendly and pleasant to talk with. They even volunteer their tailoring services--providing her with a maternity dress and suit. But is the friendship genuine? I think it's as genuine as it can be since Livvy doesn't like being vulnerable and the two sisters almost by necessity don't feel comfortable telling all their secrets either. I'm not even sure Livvy realizes this until the end when she sees that by protecting herself, protecting her heart, always keeping things inside, she's keeping love out too.

Livvy's perspective provides insights to readers about what it was like to live during this time. Livvy tries to keep up with the war through newspapers--though she has to content herself with news that is a day or two old since the delivery is so slow. The travel restrictions also keep Livvy at home with Ray instead of allowing her to visit her family at Christmas and New Years--like she originally planned. ("I'll Be Home for Christmas" would have still been a 'new' Christmas song, having been done in 1943. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" would have been another 'new' holiday song first introduced in the 1944 musical, Meet Me in St. Louis. "The Christmas Song" was written in 1944, but not recorded until 1946.) 

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved Ray and Livvy. I loved Martha and her daughter too.

Read The Magic of Ordinary Days

• If you like historical fiction with a touch of romance
• If you like stories set during World War II
• If you like rural/country stories set on farms
• If you like marriage-of-convenience or arranged marriage stories 
• If you enjoyed the movie

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Queen of Hearts. Wilkie Collins. 1859. 484 pages.

  Although it took me months to finish reading this collection of short stories by Wilkie Collins, I still found most of it to be delightful. I just LOVED the framework of this book. Three (old) men are entertaining a young lady, Jessie Yelverton. (I believe one of the men is one of her guardians?). As her visit draws to a close, one of the men in hopes of keeping her around just long enough for his son, George, to return home--he would love to have her for a daughter-in-law--proposes that she stay for ten more nights to hear ten stories. The brothers will take turns writing/telling/sharing stories. In between each of the stories, there is narrative linking them all together. The three brothers are Griffith, Owen, and Morgan. The ten stories are: Brother Owen's Story of the Black Cottage, Brother Griffith's Story of the Family Secret, Brother Morgan's Story of The Dream Woman, Brother Griffith's Story of Mad Monkton, Brother Morgan's Story of The Dead Hand, Brother Griffith's Story of the Biter Bit, Brother Owen's Story of the Parson's Scruple, Brother Griffith's Story of A Plot in Private Life, Brother Morgan's Story of Fauntleroy, Brother Owen's Story of Anne Rodway. All of the stories had been previously published in various magazines from 1855 to 1859.

My favorite part of Queen of Hearts was the framework of the narrative. I loved meeting Jessie Yelverton. I loved Griffith, Owen, and Morgan. I loved seeing how she changed their lives for the better. I loved seeing the life she brought back into their lives. And I loved seeing her come to care for these men, too. How much at home she felt with them. She wasn't anxious to depart either. Many of the stories were good; however, some of them were just so long! I felt some of them were definitely long enough to be novellas. 

Read The Queen of Hearts

• If you enjoy Wilkie Collins
• If you enjoy short stories
• If you like mystery, suspense, gothic, or horror
• If you enjoy romantic comedies

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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A Crown of Swords. Robert Jordan. 1996. Tor. 896 pages.

I enjoyed A Crown of Swords more than Lord of Chaos. (Though Lord of Chaos had a few GREAT scenes in it.) I took my time with A Crown of Swords knowing that if I forced myself to stick to a certain pace, I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I wanted to want to keep reading this one--not out of obligation, not out of a need to get to the next book, but for the enjoyment of taking it one book at a time, one story at a time, one character at a time.

One of the reasons I didn't feel connected to Lord of Chaos were the ever changing perspectives. A Crown of Swords visits many characters, provides many points of views, follows dozens of stories. But the changes from one to the other flowed much better in my opinion. We'd spend several chapters with Rand, then spend several chapters with Mat, etc. I feel we got to spend at least a  little time with (almost) all the characters. We did get to spend more time with Mat and Min in this book. Min being friendly with Rand. Mat keeping an eye on some of the Aes Sedai (Nynaeve, Elayne, etc.) I still don't feel we get to spend enough time with all the characters. There are some favorites of mine which I'd love to follow more closely.

Several things happen in this one, though, I admit things happen very slowly except for when they don't. Some changes happen quickly, others seem to take several books to give the appearance of budging.

This book isn't as satisfying perhaps as earlier books in the series, but, I still was happy to spend time reading it. 

Read A Crown of Swords

• If you enjoy LONG fantasy series that move at their own leisurely speed
• If you love world-building in fantasy novels
• If you've enjoyed previous books in this series. This is #7.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Daughter of Time. Josephine Tey. 1951/1995. Simon & Schuster. 208 pages.

I have been wanting to reread Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time for quite a while now. The more I read on Richard III, the more I want to read. I just find this time period to be oh-so-fascinating. And the more you read, the easier it is to keep track of who's who and who's loyal and who's not. In this Alan Grant mystery, a bed-ridden Grant turns to solving a historical mystery since he can't be working on any actual cases. A friend knowing of his boredom, of his whining, brings him a stack of portraits, hoping that one face will interest him more than the others perhaps. Grant chooses Richard III. He vaguely remembers his story, but, he wants to refresh his memory. So he begins by reading school books, then historical fiction, and then biography, etc. Grant becomes very opinionated on what he reads, judging that what passes as historical fact wouldn't be acceptable as evidence or proof in court. In other words, he finds the history books to be all gossip. For example, the biography that is supposedly so esteemed, the author would have been FIVE years old when Richard III was on the throne. Yet he writes as if he was an eyewitness to the dramatic events. Grant argues (mostly with himself and perhaps also with his two nurses) that at best the man's facts would be just stories he'd heard from others and written down. Since the biographer grew up and came into power during the Tudors--who had every reason in the world for hating and slandering Richard III--then the stories passed down to him would have bias to them. Who would make a hero out of Richard III when Henry VII or Henry VIII reigned?! He finds a kindred spirit in an American researcher named Brent Carradine. Since Grant is stuck in bed, Carradine is the man doing the hard work, digging into research. Together they discuss the facts as they see them, Grant arranges the facts seeing what he can piece together, seeing if he can make a narrative that works. He just can't believe that Richard III murdered his two nephews. Grant believes that Richard is the one with the least motive to want them dead. For their deaths do him no good whatsoever, just harm.

The Daughter of Time isn't your typical mystery novel. The detective essentially just stays in bed and reads one book after another after another. He also discusses Richard III with anyone who enters his hospital room. (His nurses don't find Richard III as fascinating as Grant does.) For readers who do enjoy history, historical fiction, this one can prove satisfying. There is a chance that mystery lovers may enjoy this one too, after all Grant himself HATES history or hates reading history, but, it may not be for everyone.  

And this SONG is a must!!!! 

You might also be interested in: The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, The Tudor Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York by Margaret Campbell Barnes, Richard III by William Shakespeare, The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham, Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Rose of York: Love & War by Sandra Worth. The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman. The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory. The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory. The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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And There I Stood With My Piccolo. Meredith Willson. 1948/2009. University of Minnesota Press. 256 pages.

I enjoyed reading Meredith Willson's first autobiography, And There I Stood With My Piccolo, which was first published in 1948. The book isn't an organized biography by any means, but each chapter contains a sketch or two about his life and experiences. Some of these experiences are from his youth and childhood in Mason City, Iowa, but, many are from his experiences as an adult musician. Readers learn about his time in New York City, San Francisco, Hollywood, Pasadena, etc. The book is about his experiences as a musician, a composer, a professional in the radio industry. These are stories about places he's lived, places he's traveled, people he has met, people he has worked with closely, etc. There are even plenty of sketches about quite common things. The book isn't even chronological, he might spend one chapter talking about working on a radio show and the next chapter talk about playing marbles as a boy or going to see fireworks. But. If you don't mind rambling, if you enjoy conversational books, this one might be just right for you. I am glad I kept reading even if I didn't exactly "love" each and every chapter. I think the book is enjoyable for the point of view it provides on the entertainment industry of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

My favorite quote comes close to the end:

If I ever write another symphony, I'd like to take a crack at something that would include all the promise of the train whistle and engine shoofing. The promises and dreams are in many ways more wonderful than the fulfillments. (254-255)

My next-favorite quote is found at the beginning:

An old Moravian flute player once told me a story that went like this: A very important king hired a whole orchestra to play for him one night during his supper, just because he felt lonesome. This orchestra played great and the king was so delighted that before going to bed he said, 'Boys, your playing gave me the whips and jingles, and just for that you can all go to my countinghouse and fill your instruments with gold pieces.' I can still hear that happy clatter as sack after sack of golden tiddlies streamed into the tuba and slithered down the neck of the bassoon and spilled out over the bells of the French horns. And there I stood with my piccolo. (7)

 Read And There I Stood With My Piccolo

• If you like reading biographies and autobiographies
• If you like conversational books with sketches or vignettes 
• If you are interested in learning more about what life was like in the 1920s, 30s, 40s
• If you are interested in music or the entertainment industry (New York, Hollywood, etc.)

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Reached. Ally Condie. 2012. Penguin. 512 pages.

Reached is the third in the Matched trilogy. (The books are Matched, Crossed, and Reached.) I liked Crossed more than Matched, and I think I like Reached even more than Crossed. I can easily say that I LOVED both Crossed and Reached. The world-building continues in Reached, readers get to see more, learn more. It is narrated by Xander, Cassia, and Ky. New characters continue to be introduced as well. (Lei, Leyna, Anna, Oker, etc.) The time for the Rising has come. The big, big sign of the Rising's coming was the appearance of the plague. When Xander, a medic, sees a toddler with the plague, he knows the time has come, that the Pilot will start the rebellion quickly. He knows that everyone who is a part of the rebellion are all waiting to hear the Pilot's voice. Ky and Cassia aren't aware of the coming Plague and the danger that poses to everyone who isn't immune, but, they are both eager to see the Society brought down. So Reached is essentially a compelling novel about the breakdown of a society. The plague is supposedly "helping" the cause (the rebellion) for it is the Rising who holds enough of the Cure for the public, the Rising that can provide immunizations for those not yet sick. But the plague has a mind of its own not really caring about either side, and the mutations from the original plague mean the Rising is in big, big trouble for they have no cure yet to offer the public. And no cure means people dying, a lot of people dying as they wait for the scientists and doctors and researchers to find something--anything--to find a cure.

Reached is definitely the MOST exciting of the trilogy. I loved, loved, loved reading Xander's narrative. And I love seeing the characters through his eyes. I liked Ky's narrative too, especially at the beginning because it gave readers a way to stay in touch with Indie. And Cassia is still Cassia.

I enjoyed reading a trilogy series where my love and appreciation grew with each book. As much as I enjoyed Hunger Games, I can't say that I loved the other books in the trilogy to the same degree. Especially the last book in the trilogy.

Read Reached

• If you like dystopias
• If you like YA romance
• If you like love triangles
• If you enjoy reading about epidemic diseases

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version. Philip Pullman. 2012. Penguin. 400 pages.

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version is a collection of fifty fairy tales. I was familiar with almost half of these, though it had probably been two decades since I last read some of them. Half of the stories were completely new to me. I probably found a few new favorites. At the conclusion of each story, Pullman shares facts, details, and opinions on the story. He tells us the type of story it is, what other tales are similar, what other cultures this type of story can be found in, what changes he made and why, what changes he would have made but didn't because he wasn't trying to write a novel, what he really thinks of each story. I found these sections to be interesting. Of course, I enjoyed the fairy tales. Some stories better than others, of course, a handful I could have done without completely. Still, I found the collection as a whole to be quite fun! The kind of book that you can read a story or two a day for several weeks of entertainment. This is NOT a book to rush through. Reading two or three fairy tales in a day is great, reading thirty a day, well, it's just TOO MUCH. You may not love, love, love each and every story in the collection. You may not find all of them to be equally worthy of your time. But. Chances are you'll find something to enjoy!

• The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich
• The Cat and the Mouse Set Up House
• The Boy Who Left Home To Find Out About the Shivers
• Faithful Johannes
• The Twelve Brothers
• Little Brother and Little Sister
• Rapunzel
• The Three Little Men in the Woods
• Hansel and Gretel
• The Three Snake Leaves
• The Fisherman and His Wife
• The Brave Little Tailor
• Cinderella
• The Riddle
• The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage
• Little Red Riding Hood
• The Musicians of Bremen
• The Singing Bone
• The Devil with Three Golden Hairs
• The Girl with No Hands
• The Elves
• The Robber Bridegroom
• Godfather Death
• The Juniper Tree
• Briar Rose [Sleeping Beauty]
• Snow White
• Rumpelstiltskin
• The Golden Bird
• Farmerkin
• Thousandfurs
• Jorinda and Joringel
• Six Who Made Their Way in the World
• Gambling Hans
• The Singing, Springing Lark
• The Goose Girl
• Bearskin
• The Two Traveling Companions
• Hans-my-Hedgehog
• The Little Shroud
• The Stolen Pennies
• The Donkey Cabbage
• One Eye, Two Eyes, and Three Eyes
• The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces [Twelve Dancing Princesses]
• Iron Hans
• Mount Simeli
• Lazy Heinz
• Strong Hans
• The Moon
• The Goose Girl at the Spring
• The Nixie of the Millpond

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1937.  320 pages.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

The Hobbit is one of my favorite children's books, or, should I say one of my favorite children's books that I discovered as an adult. This was my third time to read The Hobbit, and I think I love it a little more each time. I just love the beginning. I love meeting Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf. And I love how Bilbo is tricked into hosting all those dwarfs and manipulated into joining the expedition as a professional burglar. These opening chapters are so rich!  

I love the journey, the adventures and misadventures they have along the way. They happen into one calamity after another, and that is before they even come close to the "dangerous" part of their journey: the mountain with the dragon, Smaug, and all that glorious, wonderful treasure that Thorin can't wait to claim. These calamities provide adventure and drama, of course, but they are also preparing Bilbo. These calamities are crafting Bilbo into someone the dwarfs can trust and respect. And perhaps even more importantly Bilbo is realizing things about himself that he never would have if he'd never left his comfortable home.

These calamities are separate adventures, in a way. So it makes sense that to do the book justice, there should be multiple films.

Favorite quotes:

“Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?” 

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.'
I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”  

“Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” 

“If you want to know what cram is, I can only say that I don’t know the recipe; but it is biscuitish, keeps good indefinitely, is supposed to be sustaining, and is certainly not entertaining, being in fact very uninteresting except as a chewing exercise.”  

“That was Thorin's style. He was an important dwarf. If he had been allowed, he would probably have gone on like this until he was out of breath, without telling anyone there anything that was not known already. But he was rudely interrupted.”

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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This is Not My Hat. Jon Klassen. 2012. Candlewick. 40 pages.

This hat is not mine. I just stole it. I stole it from a big fish. He was asleep when I did it. And he probably won't wake up for a long time. And even if he does wake up, he probably won't notice that it's gone.

 I think I enjoyed This is Not My Hat even more than Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back. In this adventure, a little fish steals a little hat from a BIG fish. Since the big fish was asleep, this little fish is quite confident that the big fish will never, ever know who took his hat. The little fish thinks he's safe...probably. This one is told from his point of view, the illustrations let the reader know more than the little fish. Much more than the little fish! I think this one is quite clever.

 Because Amelia Smiled. David Ezra Stein. 2012. Candlewick. 40 pages.

Because Amelia smiled, coming down the street...Mrs. Higgins smiled, too.
She thought of her grandson, Lionel, in Mexico and baked some cookies to send to him. 
Because Mrs. Higgins baked cookies...Lionel ate one of the cookies. He decided to share the rest with his class...and teach them an English song about cookies. Because Lionel taught his class a song...

A little smile, a little kindness can go a long way. In fact, it may even travel around the whole world. Because a little girl, Amelia, smiled, she brought happiness and cheer to many, many people--almost all of them strangers. Little acts of kindness do matter. And you're never too small to make a difference. It is a sweet, inspirational story. I definitely enjoyed it.


Sky Color. Peter H. Reynolds. 2012. Candlewick. 32 pages.

Marisol was an artist. She loved to draw and paint, and she even had her very own art gallery. Not all her art hung in a gallery. Much of it she shared with the world.

Marisol is so excited to be painting part of a mural. She's volunteered to paint the sky. But when she realizes there isn't any blue paint to be found, well, she's not sure HOW she'll paint the sky after all. But a bus trip home, an evening watching the sun set, and a rainy morning inspire her to think differently and realize that many, many colors that could rightfully be called sky color! Peter H. Reynolds has written a handful of art-friendly picture books in addition to Sky Color. These include ISH and THE DOT. All three have been newly packaged together to form a "creatrilogy."

 Day by Day. Susan Gal. 2012. Random House. 40 pages.

Mile by mile, pigs motor west. 
Brick by brick, pigs build a house...
and piece by piece, it becomes a home.
Neighbor by neighbor, pigs say, "Welcome!"
Arm in arm, new friendships begin.
Then row by row, pigs plant a garden.

I really enjoyed Susan Gal's Day by Day. Readers follow a pig family as they move west, build a home, become part of a new community; a hard-working family that at last takes time to celebrate all together with food, dancing, family...and mud. I just love the illustrations! There are so many great spreads in this one, but I think my favorite is the pigs in their underclothes!!!

Unspoken. Henry Cole. 2012. Scholastic. 40 pages.

Unspoken is a wordless picture book for older readers. It is historical fiction, a story about the underground railroad. The heroine of this story is a young girl who sees someone hiding--a runaway slave--what she does next, silently, carefully--communicates everything that needs to be said. It is so difficult to review a wordless picture book, because the whole story is conveyed by illustrations and it is all left to be interpreted by the reader. But I think this one is worth reading even if you don't usually read picture books.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Dear America: The Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, The Winter of Red Snow, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Kristiana Gregory. 1996/2010. Scholastic. 192 pages.

  The Winter of Red Snow is my third Dear America novel to read, and it is probably my least favorite. The Revolutionary War is not one of my favorite time periods to read about. The book is set in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and the heroine's mother does George Washington's laundry while he's there. Readers learn a little about the hardships endured by just about everyone. Abigail and her older sister have opportunities to help the soldiers--sewing shirts, sewing coats, etc. And the father is a cobbler, so he's able to help as well. The book is rich in details, I think if I'd cared more about the time period I would have found it more interesting. 

Read The Winter of Red Snow

• If you enjoy historical fiction
• If you enjoy diary books
• If you enjoy books set in Colonial America around the American Revolution

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Dear America: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce, Like the Willow Tree, Portland Maine, 1918. Lois Lowry. 2011. Scholastic. 224 pages.

I enjoyed this Dear America book. I haven't read many in the series (so far), but what I have read I have enjoyed for the most part. Like the Willow Tree is set in Maine in the fall of 1918. The heroine, Lydia Amelia Pierce, endures many losses as she loses both parents and a baby sister to the Spanish influenza. Lydia and her older brother, Daniel, survive but are placed with a local Shaker community. The diary chronicles her time with the Shakers and provides an interesting look at faith and culture. Lydia and her brother, Daniel, react very differently to their new life, their new community. And yet, this community changes them both forever, both for the better. I would recommend this one.

Read Like the Willow Tree

• If you like historical fiction
• If you're a fan of Lois Lowry
• If you like historical series
• If you like diary books

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Dragons of Winter. James A. Owen. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 389 pages.

I definitely enjoyed reading The Dragons of Winter by James A. Owen. In this sixth adventure, our Caretakers (well, some of them) travel to the FUTURE. They travel to the future first seen (or experienced) by H.G. Wells (Bert). Well, that's the future they THOUGHT they were heading to. In reality, they end up someplace very, very different, a what-might-be world of darkness. The time they spend in this world is very interesting to me, and they do meet an interesting Bradbury-inspired underground community. But that's just a small part of the story, all the heroes and heroines are desperately trying to save time, to restore the timeline, to fix what has gone so horribly, horribly wrong with the world. There are dozens of characters and plenty of stories including a few flashbacks. (Readers learn of when a certain someone became apprentice to a certain dragon.) There were things that definitely surprised me in this one!!! But overall, I was very satisfied.

Read The Dragons of Winter

• If you've read and enjoyed the previous books in the series
• If you enjoy fantasy/adventure novels
• If you like time travel books
• If you like historical fantasy

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Dragon's Apprentice. James A. Owen. 2010. Simon & Schuster. 376 pages.

The series has remained entertaining, but it's so complex now! Time has been unraveled--the Keep of Time is no more--and both worlds are in great danger, not particularly from the Winter King, but from a darker, more ancient Evil. The Caretakers have lost the ability to travel in time AND the ability to travel to the Archipelago. Both worlds are in danger, the Archipelago perhaps will experience the danger first, but, in the end the real world faces the threat of overwhelming darkness too. This adventure has the team of Caretakers (plus a varied assortment of talking animals) traveling through the one remaining door from the Keep of Time, the door that Madoc traveled through in the previous book, and spending a great amount of time in the 1760s. (Meeting Daniel Defoe, Benjamin Franklin, etc.) Can time be restored? Can darkness be defeated?

I am still enjoying this series. This book is the result of a whole series of consequences. For every previous decision, readers are now witnessing the full consequences of every person's actions and decisions. And I think it may also be the darkest or bleakest of the series. I can't wait to begin the newest book in the series, The Dragons of Winter.

Read The Dragon's Apprentice

• If you're a fan of the series. If you've read Here There Be Dragons, Search for the Red Dragon, Indigo King, Shadow Dragons.
• If you're a fan of fantasy, mythology, and classic literature
• If you enjoy mystery, adventure, and espionage with your fantasy

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The House Without a Christmas Tree. Gail Rock. 1974. 84 pages.

 It had been years since I first read this one. This is a reflective book about a memorable-though-slightly-tricky Christmas. The narrator is reflecting on the Christmas of 1946. Readers meet a young girl who lives with her father and grandmother. Her father doesn't exactly know how to show love, affection, or concern for his growing-up daughter. In fact, he fails to see her as a human being, as the grandmother bravely points out in a tense scene. The child has no memories of her mother--who died the year she was born--and she's struggling to find her place in the home. She loves her father, but, she rarely feels approved of by her father. Every day no matter how hard she tries to please him, to interact with him, he puts her aside and/or criticizes her. Perhaps readers aren't told this is a year-round occurrence, perhaps it is jumping to conclusions, for maybe he is just crankier around Christmas, but, regardless he is a difficult person to love. In this one, the little girl wants a Christmas tree but is refused. It's not a matter of money--merely preference. The little girl misunderstanding this does think it more a matter of her father's stinginess and unwillingness to 'waste' money on something so trivial...so when she has an opportunity to win a tree, she does so with pride and hope...

The ending is predictable, I imagine. Most readers will guess that somehow, someway she will get her tree and somehow manage to make a connection with her father. But. It is a story worth reading at least once. (Though it is in some ways a children's book, there are a few words sprinkled throughout that some parents may want to know about before they read it aloud or share it with their children. I do think they are authentic to the story revealing the character of the father in his anger/rage.)

The movie. Well, I thought the movie stayed close to the book which was nice. And I thought the movie did a nice job capturing the tone of the book, especially capturing the heroine's love of art and her creativity. It is a good reflective, historical Christmas movie. But it isn't a favorite.   

Read The House Without a Christmas Tree

• If you enjoy historical fiction with a holiday theme
• If you enjoy coming-of-age stories with a holiday theme

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Shadow Dragons. James A. Owen. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 417 pages.

 The Shadow Dragons is my last in the series to reread. The next two books will be new to me! I am still enjoying this series, enjoying the characters and all the twists and turns. Each book leads the Caretaker into a bigger mess, making earlier conflicts seem almost too easy to set right. In this one, "to save the world" the Caretakers must team up with previous Caretakers and loyal subjects/citizens of the Archipelago. There are many separate journeys in this one--the Caretakers split up--and some will venture to the end of the world and back. One of their allies is Don Quixote! Madoc plays a significant role in this one--as does Rose. This book seems to be taking the series in a new direction. 

I did appreciate this one more upon rereading it. When I first read it, I had not read Don Quixote for myself. And I did not truly know his story well enough to appreciate his appearance in this series. I don't think you *have* to have read certain books in order to like the series, but, I do think your appreciation will only grow the more you know your mythology, classics, and fantasy novels. This one is still heavily reliant on King Arthur!!! 

Read The Shadow Dragons

• IF you have enjoyed the previous books in the series: Here There Be Dragons, Search for the Red Dragon, Indigo King.
• If you enjoy fantasy, mythology, and classic literature 
• If you enjoy works by C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Indigo King. James A. Owen. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 375 pages.

The third adventure in the series mainly features Jack and John...Charles being conveniently away when this unexpected challenge/adventure finds them. Hugo Dyson, a friend, is introduced to readers, when he is thrown into the adventure. He may not know where he is or why he's there, but, he is perhaps *safer* than Jack and John...at least temporarily. For after Hugo disappears through the mystery-door-that-appears-out-of-nowhere, and that mystery door is shut by some well-meaning animals from the Archipelago of Dreams, their whole world changes...for the worse. The "real world" is dark and dangerous and ruled by the Winter King. The two aren't without some hope, they discover their good friend, Bert, who has been waiting and waiting for them. And he gives them hope, a time machine of Jules Verne and a mystery box. These friends, these caretakers, will have to journey through time--observing things very carefully--and have to use some wisdom and discretion on what to change and what not to change. Can they "fix" time and save the world? While the second adventure used Peter Pan and Jason and Medea for inspiration, this one uses King Arthur and Odysseus and the Trojan War. It also is the novel that introduces the young woman, Rose, and a young man Hank Morgan.

I really do LOVE this series!!! It is so fun to visit with these characters, and it's always interesting to meet new characters and see where they are going to take the story! This is a very significant book in the series, for it reveals the identity of the cartographer 'stuck' in the Keep of Time AND it reveals the identity of the Winter King.

This is also the book in the series that utilizes time travel most.

Read The Indigo King

• If you're a fan of fantasy, mythology, classic literature
• If you enjoy time travel; the more you LOVE time travel, the more you may appreciate this one!
• If you enjoy mystery and adventure mixed in with your fantasy
• If you've enjoyed the previous books in the series: Here There Be Dragons, The Search for the Red Dragon.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Search for the Red Dragon. James A. Owen. Simon & Schuster. 384 pages.

I am so excited to be rereading this series. I think I will enjoy the new books in the series so much more after I reread these first books again. In this second adventure, Jack, Charles, and John are called to the Archipelago of Dreams by Laura Glue, a little girl with wings who shows up looking for the caretaker. The caretaker she means is an enemy of her grandfather. It is not Jack, Charles or John she is looking for, but a man named Jamie. But her need for help is very great...someone is kidnapping the children from the Archipelago of Dreams. Even the royal prince has been taken. Even some of the 'lost boys' are gone. Can these three caretakers solve a mystery? This one relies not only upon Peter Pan, but Greek mythology as well. Readers also learn that all is not well with time, and that their adventures in the Keep of Time has had an effect on both worlds and an old enemy has returned...

I enjoyed meeting Laura Glue, and her grandfather; I also enjoyed catching up with some of the other characters.

This is a fun series that is easy to recommend.

Read The Search for the Red Dragon

• IF you enjoy fantasy, mythology, classic literature
• If you enjoy fantasy-adventure quests
• If you read and enjoyed the first in the series, Here There Be Dragons
• If you have enjoyed the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Barrie, etc.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Here There Be Dragons. James A. Owen. 2006. Simon & Schuster. 326 pages.

I was a little nervous to reread Here There Be Dragons by James A. Owen. I remember just loving it when I read it the first time. Would I still enjoy it? Still find the characters enjoyable? The plot twists clever? I was not disappointed. In this first adventure, readers meet Jack, Charles, and John, the three caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. They meet Bert, a former caretaker as well. Readers are introduced to a few other key characters as well: Tummler, Aven, Bug, Samaranth, the Cartographer, the Winter King, Magwitch, etc. (Just to name a few.) Many stories, tales, and myths are hinted at in this one. But. Mainly this book serves as a fun introduction into a brand new fantasy series. Readers are introduced to the 'real' world (England 1917 or 1918) and the 'imaginary' world of the Archipelago of Dreams, a world where there are dragons and dragon ships, elves, trolls, and talking animals. Readers also learn about the Keep of Time, which is central to the series....

I loved this one! I thought the storytelling was great!

Read Here There Be Dragons

• If you enjoy fantasy and/or mythology
• If you like dragons and other 'imaginary' creatures
• If you have enjoyed the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, etc.
• If you love to read; this series draws richly from literature

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Who Gets the Drumstick? Helen Beardsley. 1965. Random House. 215 pages.

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this memoir by Helen Beardsley. Growing up, I enjoyed watching the classic film "Yours, Mine, and Ours." What I didn't know until I was an adult was that it was based very, very, very loosely on a book. I have read the book at least twice since then and have just continued to love it more each time. The book is told through Helen's perspective, and it begins with the death of her first husband. It chronicles her family's move, her settling down, her first "introduction" to the man who would become her second husband. As she's enrolling her children in school, she meets a woman with a brother who has just recently lost his wife. He has a very, very large family. As this woman is relating the story to Helen, she feels led to send him a poem that comforted her after the death of her husband. And so the two meet first by correspondence. Not that they stay in touch, but, eventually these two begin to correspond with one another and exchange pictures. After getting to know one another, they decide to start seeing one another, just to enjoy each other's company, just to have someone who understands, never imagining that God is giving them both a second chance at love and a happily ever after. But. God is writing their love story. And these two families will become one very, very big family in their own way and at just the right time. Half the book takes place after their marriage. Their are chapters that capture the every day, little, ordinary moments of family life: preparing meals, family arrangements (bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, chores, etc.), shopping (grocery, clothes, shoes, etc.), holidays and birthdays. Oh, and learning to get along with siblings new and old. The book builds up to the big decision to adopt one another's children.

The book is sweet, tender, genuine, and faith-friendly.

The book is so very different than the movie, in a way. The movie adds a LOT of drama and comedic sketches. And very little of the courtship from the book is related in the movie--not that the movie gets it wrong exactly, but they're going for a different picture or idea. Especially when it comes to Helen meeting his children. Let's just say the movie is about as far away from the book as possible.

I would definitely recommend this one. It's a tender, loving family story.  

Read Who Gets The Drumstick?

• If you enjoy reading biographies and memoirs
• If you have always been curious about large families
• If you enjoy true love stories
• If you have seen Yours, Mine, and Ours and want to know the 'real story' behind the movie

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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 Fa La La. Leslie Patricelli. 2012. Candlewick. 26 pages.

It's almost Christmas. I LOVE Christmas! We go to pick a tree. This one? This one! We put on the lights. Look at ME! I'm a Christmas tree! We decorate a gingerbread house. BOOM!

I really LOVE all of Leslie Patricelli's board books. Fa La La is no exception. If you've enjoyed other titles starring this little baby--books like Yummy Yucky, Tubby, Potty, No No Yes Yes, Baby Happy Baby Sad, Higher Higher, or Faster Faster--you should definitely read this one! It is almost Christmas, and this family is preparing for the big day: picking out a tree, decorating the tree, making cookies, making and wrapping presents, visiting Santa, and going caroling. It's a fun little book.

Huggy Kissy. Leslie Patricelli. 2012. Candlewick. 26 pages.

Tuggy, tuggy. 
Huggy, huggy?
Squeeze, squeeze.
Don't stop please!
Mommy kisses all my toesies.
Daddy kisses on my tummy.
They both want to eat me up.
I'm so yummy, yummy!

I really do love Leslie Patricelli. I love this little baby!!! I do. In this adventure, he wants a lot of affection and attention. It starts with a tug on Daddy's pant legs and a baby's uplifted arms...and it just gets better from there. Who does this little one want to hug and kiss? Mom and Dad, obviously, but also a friend, the cat, the dog, the fish in his bowl, Grandma and Grandpa, aunt and uncle,  etc. It's another fun book.

Mine. Shutta Crum. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2011. Random House. 32 pages.

I have a difficult time reviewing wordless picture books. This one isn't technically wordless, it does feature two words: mine and woof. But. All of the story is communicated through the illustrations alone. The illustrations let readers know the tone for the word 'mine.' (And there are plenty of pages that are wordless.) In this book, a toddler and a baby are given an opportunity to play together. Readers see the mothers place the two together in a room full of toys. There's also a puppy...and a water bowl. The illustrations are so expressive making it easy to follow the story. I definitely liked this one.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Caught. (Missing #5) Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2012. Simon & Schuster. 352 pages.

  I have enjoyed Margaret Peterson Haddix's time-travel series for middle grade. Some of the books I've liked better than others, but, for the most part, I've enjoyed each one. In this fifth adventure, Jonah and Katherine face their biggest challenge so far. The book begins with the freezing of time. Jonah and Katherine are in school when time freezes. They know that something must have happened, but when and where?! They seek out others who have traveled in time--the only people unaffected so it seems by frozen time--but before they get the chance to do anything, Jonah and Katherine find themselves falling through time and landing in 1903. They have a few clues, they know Albert Einstein and his wife are somehow connected to their being there. But for the most part, these two are clueless and choosing to be invisible for as long as possible...but Albert Einstein's wife is clever and knows something is up....

Caught is a fast-paced read. I don't enjoy this series because the characters are well-developed and fascinating. I enjoy this series because of the story, the action, the history. I enjoy learning about different periods of history. I enjoy the author's notes at the end of each book. I like learning what is truth and what is fiction. I enjoy the time travel aspect of the story and the mystery behind it.

Read Caught

• If you've enjoyed the other titles in the Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• If you enjoy middle grade science fiction with a time travel element
• If you enjoy children's books with action and mystery

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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