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Let the Hurricane Roar. Rose Wilder Lane. 1932. 118 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

After reading Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder earlier this year, I was curious to read Rose Wilder Lane's Let the Hurricane Roar. If memory serves me, Rose Wilder Lane borrowed freely from her mother in terms of character and plot. That is while she was reading and editing and preparing her mother's manuscript to be sent off for possible publication, she was beginning to write her own pioneer-inspired novels, one of which is Let the Hurricane Roar. It has been a good six months or so since I read Pioneer Girl, so I don't remember the details clearly. This mother-and-daughter team were definitely writing at the same time about the same things, though I suppose for different audiences. Little House in the Big Woods was published in 1932, I believe, and Let the Hurricane Roar was published in 1933.

Let The Hurricane Roar is a historical fiction with a touch of romance. One could possibly say that it "celebrates" the pioneer spirit, but, it doesn't so much celebrate it and honor it as it does present it realistically. Life was hard, tough, at times seeming bleak and hopeless. The only thing abounding was often pride, stubbornness, gumption, if you will, and diligence. In short supply? Money and neighbors and life's luxuries.

Molly and David are the main characters of the novel. These two head out west, and it isn't long before Molly finds herself with child. Fearing to leave their new claim unsettled, she becomes enthusiastic about going with him to the claim and having the child all by herself. Who needs neighbors, friends, family, a midwife or a doctor? Molly proves to be just as proud and stubborn and spirited as her husband. (David DOES play the fiddle. And the two do endure several blizzards.)

To sum it all up, the book is more an account of horrible things happening to them within the first two or three years of settling their claim than anything else. That's not to say that the book lacks characterization. But it does lack characters, in some ways, since Molly and David are essentially on their own. Swedish neighbors, I believe, appear midway through and then depart again. And Molly does visit the nearest town in one or two chapters. But essentially it's just the three of them! (The baby doesn't do much if I'm honest.)

I liked it okay. It wasn't a great book that I simply loved and delighted in. But it was a solidly good read for anyone interested in pioneers.

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The People: No Different Flesh. (The New Chronicle of  THE PEOPLE) Zenna Henderson. 1967. Avon. 225 pages.

Meris watched the darkness rip open and mend itself again in the same blinding flash that closed her eyes.

No Different Flesh is the second People book by Zenna Henderson. It's a collection of loosely connected stories about The People. If you enjoy science fiction, I'd recommend both books. Both are well-written. Both are fantastic. (Much better than what you might think based on the book covers alone!)

The novel does begin on a dark and stormy night. Meris and Mark are a married couple grieving the loss of a child. After the storm, Mark discovers a young child. Where did this little one come from? Why are her clothes so out-of-this-world? Is she not talking because of shock? Or does she not speak English? One mystery is soon solved when the girl's father arrives within a few days. But for Mark and Meris, it's only the beginning of the wonder, of the mystery. For this child and her father are of The People. And soon they are joined by others of their Group. And the stories begin. And Mark and Meris are very happy to be included in these gatherings. The framework of this novel isn't as strong as in the first book. But the stories are just as fascinating, just as wonder-making.

The stories included in this one are: No Different Flesh, Deluge, Angels Unawares, Troubling of the Water, Return, and Shadow on the Moon.

My favorite would probably be "Deluge" and "Angels Unawares." In Deluge,  readers learn about The Home--the origin planet for The People, a planet that was dying, a planet The People were forced to leave; we witness everything through the eyes of one family. In Angels Unawares, readers follow one member of that family to her new home, Earth.

I enjoyed the stories. I enjoyed the characters. I even enjoyed the structure--how many stories we have, and how many different narrators we have.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Pilgrimage: The Unforgettable SF Masterpiece of the Strangers Among Us: The First Book of The People. Zenna Henderson. 1961. 255 pages.

The window of the bus was a dark square against the featureless night.

I enjoyed this science fiction novel very much! The novel opens with a young woman, Lea, contemplating suicide. But fate--in the form of a woman--intervenes. Karen reaches out to Lea at her most vulnerable moment and persuades her to take the first baby step towards life, towards hope. She encourages her to wonder. Karen takes her home, takes her to The People. The People are gathering nightly--they have decisions of their own to make, decisions just as important perhaps--but they are gathering to tell stories, to record their stories, their histories, their journeys. Lea, an outsider, hears things that are almost to incredible to believe.

Who are The People? Where did they come from? How can they do the things they do? Read and see for yourself!

I enjoyed the stories. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the storytelling. Many of these stories could be described as coming-of-age stories. I'd definitely recommend this one.

Another review: Necromancy Never Pays.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Crossing: How George Washington Saved The American Revolution. Jim Murphy. 2010. Scholastic. 96 pages. 

On April 19, 1775, British and American soldiers clashed in a bloody battle in Massachusetts. Part of it happened in the village of Lexington, while the other part took place fifteen miles away in Concord. these first shots that started the American Revolution were the result of many years of anger, frustration, and growing hostility over how Great Britain governed and taxed its American colonies.

 I've read several of Jim Murphy's books this year--including An American Plague, Blizzard, and Pick and Shovel Poet--and I've enjoyed them all. What I enjoy about his work is how he makes any subject interesting--how he makes any subject appealing. His books are so reader-friendly. (They don't read like a text book. They read like a story.)

In The Crossing, Murphy focuses on George Washington. How Washington's leadership abilities effected the Revolution--how his choices--for better or worse--impacted the war between America and Britain. Sometimes Washington's decisions were smart ones, other times not so much. Of course, Washington had to work with the soldiers he had available at any given time. (And those soldiers didn't always do exactly what Washington had in mind.)

This is a short book. It doesn't focus on the whole war. It doesn't focus on each and every battle. But I think it is a nice introduction to the subject.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Candy Bomber: The Story of The Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot". Michael O. Tunnell. 2010. Charlesbridge. 120 pages.

When I was a boy I would watch beautiful silver airplanes fly high in the sky, going to faraway places with strange-sounding names. I didn't know then that when I grew up I would fly one of those silver birds myself. I never imagined I would fly food to boys and girls so they would not starve.

Candy Bomber is a thoroughly satisfying read. Should a nonfiction book be charming and satisfying? Should a nonfiction book make you feel good? Why not! it's a good story--a true story--of how one man started "Operation Little Vittles" during the Berlin Air Lift. The story of how Gail S. Halvorsen became inspired to drop chocolates, candy, and gum--via handkerchief parachutes--to the children of West Berlin. (All the while delivering more nourishing food--as he and many others did each and every day.)

I loved this one, I did. I loved learning about the Berlin Airlift. I loved learning about "Operation Little Vittles" and "Uncle Wiggly Wings." I loved seeing how the project grew through the months. How this "little" project grew in support--with volunteers providing candy, gum, chocolate, and, yes, even handkerchiefs. But more than anything--perhaps--I loved hearing how this program impacted the children. The book quotes from some of the many letters he received and even shares some of the artwork he received from kids.

I would definitely recommend this one. It has so much heart and substance.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Unraveling Freedom: The Battle for Democracy on the Home Front During World War I. Ann Bausum. 2010. November 2010. National Geographic. 96 pages.

In the spring of 1917, as the United States prepared to declare war on Germany and enter the fight that would become known as World War I, perhaps as many as a quarter of all Americans had either been born in Germany or had descended from Germans. 

If you can enjoy a book about war, then I can definitely say that I enjoyed this one. The focus? On America's homefront during World War I. Bausum explores how individual freedoms--rights--were "unraveled" for the sake of creating a safer (better) America. With the war, differences--any differences--could make you a suspect--at least to your neighbors if not the government. Many things were now seen as being un-American. It went beyond suspecting those of German ancestry. It went beyond suspecting European immigrants.

Bausum could have easily kept the focus on one American war. Instead, she chooses to look at the pattern of how wars have a way of "unraveling" freedom and democracy. How fighting for those principles we love, often means compromising those freedoms--at least during wartime. She specifically makes a connection between the sinking of the Lusitania and World War I with the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Afghanistan/Iraq wars.

I found the book fascinating. The section on the Lusitania was heartbreaking, for example. If you're looking for a quick, compelling read, then I'd definitely recommend this one! I loved so many things about it--the layout, style, and format. It's just a beautifully detailed book. The use of color, space, photographs and other images and illustrations wowed me; everything just works well.

The back matter includes a guide to wartime presidents, a timeline, notes and acknowledgments, bibliography, resource guide, citations, index, and illustration credits. 
 

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Memory Bank. Carolyn Coman. Illustrations by Rob Shepperson. 2010. October 2010. Scholastic. 288 pages.

"Don't forget your whistle!" Hope reminded Honey--every morning of every day. Honey needed that whistle, in case of emergency, in case things went terribly wrong. Hope and Honey Scroggins were the closest of sisters, had been right from the start. Truly, they were lucky to love each other so! Not so lucky when it came to their parents, though. Mr. and Mrs. Scroggins were simply awful people.

The Memory Bank is told through words and pictures. (Though not to the extent that The Invention of Hugo Cabret is.) It reminded me--in a way--of several Lois Lowry novels--The Willoughbys and The Giver. It stars a young girl, Hope, who is doing the best she can to cope with incredibly cruel parents. How cruel? One day they leave Hope's younger sister, Honey, on the side of the road. They tell Hope to forget her. And they mean it. Not a word about Honey is allowed. Hope is an only child now. There is nothing good about Mr. and Mrs. Scroggins. Fortunately--for everyone--they enter into the story very little.

For Hope becomes terribly depressed. She stops living life--and starts dreaming it. It's just too painful to be awake. To live her "new" life. She'll spend most hours of the day and night sleeping. She dreams of her sister mostly. While her parents don't notice--or don't care--someone does notice. The powers that be of The World Wide Memory Bank. (They notice that she's not contributing her quota of memories.) And while the strangers that arrive in her home to arrest her seem intimidating at first, Hope soon realizes that there's hope at last for a better life.

It's an interesting book. The "fight" between the World Wide Memory Bank and the Clean Slate Gang. The connection between memories and dreams. I found it an entertaining read.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Too Pickley! By Jean Reidy. Illustrated by Genevieve Leloup. 2010. July 2010. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.

I am hungry!
Too wrinkly,
Too squishy,
Too fruity,
Too fishy!

Meet a little boy who is a very picky eater. He finds fault with everything placed before him. Will he find a meal that is just right? Read and see for yourself in Jean Reidy's Too Pickley!

I liked this one. I didn't love it like I loved Jean Reidy's Too Purpley. But. I did like it.

I think the illustrations were great.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same. Grace Lin. 2010. July 2010. Little, Brown. 43 pages.

Ling and Ting are twins. They have the same brown eyes. They have the same pink cheeks. They have the same happy smiles. People see them and they say, "You two are exactly the same!"
"We are not exactly the same," Ling says.
Ting laughs because she is thinking exactly the same thing!

I really enjoyed Grace Lin's Not Exactly the Same. I thought it was a great early chapter book for young readers. The book is divided into six chapters. The stories are about simple things, ordinary things. But that doesn't mean they are boring! I enjoyed the simplicity of it. How it captured life. I think my favorite story was "Making Dumplings."

See also Grace Lin's Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom and Science. Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos. 2010. November 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 176 pages.

It was a typically hot, dry day in Jerusalem.

Before reading this book, I had not given much thought to the history of sugar. I had not made the connection between sugar and some of the cruel injustices of the world. I speak of the connection between sugar and slavery.

"Sugar created a hunger, a need, which swept from one corner of the world to another, bringing the most terrible misery and destruction, but then, too, the most inspiring ideas of liberty.
Sugar changed the world." (8)

The book is divided into four sections: "From Magic to Spice," "Hell," "Freedom," and "Back to Our Stories: New Workers, New Sugar." The book spans the centuries and explores many different cultures and societies.

I found the book rich in detail. I would definitely recommend this one.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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The Gardener. S.A. Bodeen. 2010. May 2010. Feiwel & Friends. 240 pages.

The videotape of my father was never meant to be seen by me, and were it not for a chow mix ripping apart half my face, the man might have remained only a mysterious void. But it was that day when I was five, that day of growls and blood and pain and screams, when I first heard my father's voice.

Mason is a sophomore who loves biology, loves science. And he's hoping that he'll be able to get a scholarship from TroDyn--when the time comes--so he can go to the college. True, he'd have to commit to working in TroDyn's labs for five years. But what could be so awful about that? But his mom has other ideas for her son. And she believes strongly that TroDyn is no place for her son to be. Ever. Ever. Ever.

It is when he goes to confront his mom about something--he found an ID card when he was snooping through his mom's filing cabinet--that the story really begins. He sneaks into her workplace. He confronts her. She stalls. Then he meets the girl. The girl that will bring so-many-complications to his life. But the girl he couldn't forget in a hundred years.

All the things that I liked most about this one are things that I think you should discover on your own. The fewer spoilers you know, the more you'll enjoy this one.

I liked this one. It's dark. It's creepy. It's compelling.

The Compound is another novel by S.A. Bodeen.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Jake. Audrey Couloumbis. 2010. September 2010. Random House. 176 pages.

"Joey Ziglar says it's boring, grocery shopping with his mom," I said. It was our usual Saturday afternoon trip to the store.
"Lucky for you, I'm not Joey Ziglar's mom."
"It's a little boring," I said. "Sometimes."

That Saturday morning trip to the grocery store doesn't stay routine. When Jake's mom slips on the ice and breaks her leg, well, Jake's life stops being ordinary. Jake's grandfather enters into the picture. This is the first opportunity--at least that Jake can remember--for the two to get to know one another. And while the situation is anything but ideal, much good does come from it!

I liked this one. It is a nice Christmas-themed, family-themed novel for young readers.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Hunger. Jackie Morse Kessler. 2010. October 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 180 pages.

Lisabeth Lewis didn't mean to become Famine. She had a love affair with food, and she'd never liked horses (never mind the time she asked for a pony when she was eight; that was just a girl thing). If she'd been asked which Horseman of the Apocalypse she would most likely be, she would have probably replied, "War." And if you'd heard her and her boyfriend, James, fighting, you would have agreed. Lisa wasn't a Famine person, despite the eating disorder.

Hunger has an interesting premise. Lisa, our heroine, has an eating disorder. One night her suicide attempt is interrupted by a strange delivery man knocking on the door. He has a gift and a message: "Thou art Famine." The gift this pale man brings? Scales. Lisa thinks this is all one very strange dream. She even tries to laugh about it with her friends. But. It's not a dream. And Lisa must face her new reality.

Lisa's life was complicated before she met Death, War, and Pestilence. For Lisa is haunted by a voice in her head telling her she's fat. All day, every day, Lisa hears a negative message about herself, about her body. The people in her life are beginning to notice that Lisa is not well. Her boyfriend, James, and her former best friend, Suzanne, are terribly concerned. But Lisa just clings to her new best friend, Tammy. She thinks that Tammy understands everything, for Tammy has her own battles with food. And, of course, her relationship with her parents is a bit strained. So, yes, Lisa's life was complicated enough for any teen BEFORE she became one of the four riders of the Apocalypse.

Can Lisa simplify her life?

I thought the premise was intriguing. I liked the idea of this one. It adds some supernatural/fantasy elements to a serious 'problem' novel about eating disorders. Our heroine is a troubled teen who doesn't quite realize just how much trouble she is in. And Death is able to give her a unique wake-up call in a way.

*Reviewed from an ARC.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Real Live Boyfriends. E. Lockhart. 2010. December 2010. Random House. 240 pages.

A definition:
A real live boyfriend does not contribute to your angst.
You do not wonder if he will call.
You do not wonder whether he will kiss you.
And he does not look at his phone while you are talking, to see if anyone has texted him.
Of course he calls. He's your boyfriend!
Of course there will be kissing. He's your boyfriend!
And of course he listens. He's your real live boyfriend!

Real Live Boyfriends is the fourth Ruby Oliver novel. The first three are The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys. (I think Real Live Boyfriends is my favorite of the four.) Ruby is preparing for her Senior year at last. And for Ruby that means making a video--asking all her friends and family what love is, what it means to be popular, what it means to be a friend. Will this be the year where her life finally starts making sense? Will this be the year where she finds a real live boyfriend? Who is better boyfriend material? Noel or Gideon?

I love Ruby Oliver. I do. Her life may be far from perfect, but Ruby makes crazy look fun. No matter how much drama is going on in her life--be it at home, work, or school--you can always count on Ruby to see the funny side of any situation. (Even at her grandmother's funeral.) Ruby is one of the best narrators.

I loved everything about Real Life Boyfriends. Especially the writing and the characterization. If you love YA Romance, you should give Ruby Oliver a try!

From Noel's interview with Ruby (for the documentary):

Noel: A lot of people see friends as something you have on Twitter or Facebook or wherever. If someone wants to read your updates and you want to read their updates, then you're friends. You don't ever have to see each other. But that seems like a stupid definition to me.
Roo: Yeah.
Noel: Although on the other hand, rethink. Maybe a friend is someone who wants your updates. Even if they're boring. Or sad. Or annoyingly cutesy. A friend says "Sign me up for your boring crap, yes indeed"--because he likes you anyway. He'll tolerate your junk. (46)

He then promises Ruby that he wants all her updates.

A scene highlighting Gideon:

"So you have a boyfriend?" Gideon asked. He leaned forward and touched the hem of my sundress with the tip of his fingers.
"I-I think I do," I answered.
I have a boyfriend who doesn't call me back, I thought.
I have a boyfriend who doesn't answer my emails.
"You think, or you know?" asked Gideon, looking up at me.
"I don't exactly know right now, I said. "The thing--it's hard to explain. The thing we have is somehow not the thing it was before."
At that juncture, a shout of "Gas!" could be heard from the deck. The guys had come back and were going to refill the boat.
"You should call me," Gideon said, standing up to leave. "When you know for sure."
"For sure, what?"
"For sure you don't have a boyfriend."
"What if I do?" I asked. "I mean, I am pretty sure I do."
"Then don't call me." He was standing in our doorway, silhouetted in the light. "But call me." (63-64)

Another favorite quote, this time from Meghan:

If you hav

2 Comments on Real Live Boyfriends (YA), last added: 7/11/2010

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Jeanne said, on 7/10/2010 7:33:00 AM

I can't hardly wait. I just read 2 of the preceding Ruby Oliver books on your recommendation. They were great! I would love to read this one before December.

alexandra george said, on 7/11/2010 2:29:00 PM

sounds cool, added it to my list.

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Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-Made Catastrophes. Lenore Look. 2010. September 2010. Random House. 192 pages.

My name is Alvin Ho. I was born scared, and I am still scared. I never thought I'd live to see myself in another book, on account I could've very well died camping in that last one.

Last year I discovered a wonderful, wonderful character named Alvin Ho. The first book: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. The second book: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters. I love so many things about Alvin. His shyness. His awkwardness. His charm. There is something vulnerable and adorable about Alvin that I adore. I love how he relates to his brother, Calvin, and his sister, Anibelly. I love how he relates to his parents. And then there is his best friend, Flea, even if she does happen to be a girl.

What does the third adventure bring? Two birthday parties. On the same day. One for his best friend, Flea. The other for one of the boys in his class. Conflict. You know there has to be conflict, right with two conflicting birthday parties scheduled the same day. Flea sent him an invitation. He said he'd go. He even (with his mom's help) picked out a birthday present for her. But. The day before the party, he gets invited to the other birthday party. And it sounds like fun. The guys will all be dressing up. (Alvin really, really wants to dress up as an Indian chief. I wish he wasn't so interested in dressing up and "playing" Indian.)

Of course, that is just a part of the conflict. Not taking into account the field trip with all the dead authors walking around. And Calvin's science project. And Alvin having a big talk with his dad on how to talk to a girl. That is found in chapter ten.

How to Talk To A Girl:

1. Listen with both ears.
2. Look her in the eye.
3. Nod or smile to show that you are doing no. 1.
4. Use your indoor voice.
5. Don't scream.
6. Don't carry a concealed weapon.
7. Don't carry a weapon period.
8. Don't wear a mask.
9. Don't burp.
10. Don't fart.
11. Don't do anything you think might impress her. (See 5 to 10)
12. Just be yourself.
13. Show no fear.

While I didn't love this one as much as the first two, I still enjoyed it. There were many scenes that were just hilarious. The humor really worked.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Brand-New Baby Blues by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. 2009. December 2009. HarperCollins. 32 pages.

Once upon a time
I was the only one,
I was the cat's pajamas,
I was the moon and sun.

It was me and only me--
I was the icing on the cake.
I was the royal pooh-bah,
the chocolate in the shake.

But everything changes when this little girl gets a baby brother. Now our little heroine has a case of the brand-new baby blues. While her life may never be quite the same again, can she find a way to count her blessings? Can she even learn to love him?


© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Monsters of Men. Patrick Ness. 2010. September 2010. Candlewick Press. 608 pages.

"War," says Mayor Prentiss, his eyes glinting. "At last."
"Shut up," I say. "There ain't no at last about it. The only one who wants this is you."
"Nevertheless," he says, turning to me with a smile. "Here it comes."

Monsters of Men is the third in the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness. The first two are Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and The Answer. It continues the intense adventures of Todd and Viola as they risk everything to save everything.

Has there ever been a better villain than Mayor Prentiss? For better or worse, Todd feels that Prentiss is a necessary evil. Of course, Prentiss is now President--a title that he may or may not be able to hold onto much longer. Depending on who wins this war. And depending on Prentiss' other enemies. Is peace even possible so long as Prentiss still breathes?

Is this what war is?
Is this what men want so much?
Is this sposed to make them men?
Death coming at you with a roar and a scream so fast you can't do nothing about it-- (56)

I'm not sure how much it's even possible to say in a review of Monsters of Men. It goes ugly, dark places. It stays there. Through this intense journey--this dark, dangerous, ever twisting-and-turning journey--you've got two people who love each other so dearly. But is this love worth risking everything for? Can war become too personal? How well do you know yourself? How well do you know the person you love? Can anyone ever be trusted so completely? Can Todd and Viola (and friends) find a way to make peace? lasting peace? Or will this war lead to the end of the new colony...

Choices may be unbelievably hard but they're never impossible. (181)

It's been obvious since the beginning that wars make no sense. You kill people to tell them you want to stop killing them. Monsters of men, I think. And women. (287)

Monsters of Men is complex and compelling. The storytelling is incredible. Especially the way Ness has created these all-too-human, oh-so-flawed characters. The way Ness makes you care about everything so very deeply. Todd and Viola's story is so personal, so intense. He keeps you turning pages, that's for sure. And there are more than a few surprises.

I would definitely recommend reading this series. Not that I think it is for every single person. NO book is right for every reader. But this series is so well-written, so complex, so intense, so compelling. The second book restored my faith in reading. And this third did not disappoint.

Other reviews: Things Mean a Lot, Stuff As Dreams Are Made On, Vulpes Libris, Bart's Bookshelf, Fluttering Butterflies, The Hungry Readers.

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Sisters Red. Jackson Pearce. 2010. June 2010. Little, Brown. 328 pages.

He's following me.

Scarlett and Rosie are sisters with more than a few secrets. Sisters with a (relatively) unique mission in life. To fight, fight, fight. To rid the world--well, maybe not the whole world, but their community at least--of Fenris (werewolves). You might say their introduction to this real world--the world of monsters--was quite brutal, both girls witnessed the death of their grandmother--Oma March--and this attack left Scarlett scarred inside and out. Joining them in their mission is a young guy (one that Rosie finds oh-so-dreamy), Silas. He comes from a long line of woodsmen.

But though these three fight together as a team--and are quite close in many ways--some things are changing, for better or worse. Silas and Rosie, well, they are changing. And Scarlett may have to deal with that.

I liked having both Rosie and Scarlett as narrators. When I was reading Rosie's chapters, I felt connected with her. I loved her. I could completely sympathize with her. See things from her perspective, see her side of things. Her need for her life to be more than just fighting, to be more than just battling evil. Her love for Silas. When I was reading Scarlett's chapters, I felt connected with her. I could see things from her side. Her passion--her obsession--to do anything and everything to protect people from the Fenris threat. The world may not know it's in danger--but for Scarlett, it's all too real. She can't forget for a moment, for a day, that she has a responsibility to protect others. She's a driven young woman, strong and powerful in many ways. And I have to respect that. Scarlett's choices are her own. Rosie's choices are her own. These two sisters love each other deeply, need each other deeply. But they want (and need) different things from life.

I thought Sisters Red was well-written. I would definitely recommend this one.

What do you think of the cover? I really liked this one. Though I must admit (a bit sheepishly) that it took me a few days to see the wolf on the cover!

Other reviews: A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy, Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf, Sarah's Random Musings, Tales of the Ravenous Reader, I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read, Extreme Reader, Bookworming in the 21st Century,

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Living Hell. Catherine Jinks. 2010. April 2010. Harcourt. 256 pages.

You have to understand what it was like.
There were so many of us--hundreds and hundreds. In A Crew alone there were more than seven hundred people. And B Crew was almost as big. Not that we had anything to do with B Crew. But they were there, in the Stasis Banks. ready for their next shift.
The shift that never arrived.

Living Hell is narrated by Cheney, one of the would-be survivors of the starship Plexus. Life on ship was going well. And it was the only life Cheney had ever known. He was one of the children born on Plexus. He was thirty-three or seventeen--depending on your view of things. (If you counted real years or shift years.) Yet one day, one moment can change everything.

When the Plexus encounters a powerful radiation wave--everything changes...

I liked reading Cheney's account. I did. It felt good to be reading science fiction again. To be reading science fiction that wasn't dystopia. (Though I do love, love, love a good dystopia!) I would recommend it to science fiction fans.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Sleepy ABC. By Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated By Karen Katz. Text, 1953. Illustrations, 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages.

Karen Katz illustrates Margaret Wise Brown's Sleepy ABC. I was not familiar with this Brown title. Brown is of course best known for her books Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. This one is fairly obvious--an alphabet bedtime book.

A is for Aaaah when a small kitten sighs
B is for Baaaaaa when the lambs close their eyes
C is for Caw when the last crow crows
D is for Dreams and the Dark Wind that blows
E is for Eyes that all must close--the child's, the rabbit's, and the rose.
F is for Feet that won't fall asleep
G is for Grazing of sleepy sheep

I thought this one was just okay. (It's not as fun as the Katz book writes herself.) Part of me is relieved to find that SLJ didn't find much to praise in this one either.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

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Once by Morris Gleitzman. 2010. March 2010. Henry Holt. 176 pages.

Once I was living in an orphanage in the mountains and I shouldn't have been and I almost caused a riot. It was because of the carrot.

Once is a holocaust novel. It stars a young Jewish boy, Felix. He loves stories. You might could even say he gets a bit carried away with the stories--with crafting a story. If Felix has a fault, it would be his innocence. Is innocence really a fault? It might be in dangerous times such as these. Because Hitler's got the power. And Felix, well, Felix doesn't understand what that means exactly for him, for his family, for all European Jews.

When we first meet Felix, he is living in a Catholic orphanage. He doesn't know why his parents--booksellers--left him there in the care of nuns. He doesn't understand that there is an enemy to be feared. That this enemy does more than just burn books. It's a hard lesson to learn, but can he learn it in time?

What I appreciated most about this one was the writing. He begins each chapter with the word once. And these are some powerful sentences--sentences that make you want to read more.

Here are a few examples:

Once I escaped from an orphanage in the mountains and I didn't have to do any of the things you do in escape stories. Dig a tunnel. Disguise myself as a priest. Make a rope from nun robes knotted together. I just walked out through the main gate. (29)

Once I escaped from an underground hiding place by telling a story. (99)

There is something about this one that just worked for me.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Swoon at Your Own Risk. Sydney Salter. 2010. April 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 356 pages.

I am not noticing his green eyes. Or the way the sun has already streaked his hair blond. I am not.

I liked this one. Our heroine is Polly Martin. And she's a girl with some issues. Polly has spent so much time trying to be loved by the various guys in her life, that she doesn't know who she is. Her likes and dislikes, her hobbies, her goals change with each new guy. One thing is certain though. Polly is unhappy and confused. So what's a girl to do when she can't help noticing cute guys? Can Polly learn to be honest with herself?

It may not be the most sophisticated book I've ever read. (It's a light read though not without substance.) But it was always something I wanted to pick back up. It wasn't a chore to read this one! It was fun to read something so pleasurable, something that wasn't so depressing or heartbreaking. I liked spending time with Polly. I liked her new love interest, Xander. I liked Polly's grandmother, Miss Swoon. (I was not such a fan of Sonnet, however.) It was an enjoyable read. It reminded me (in a good way) of Runaway Bride.

Other reviews: Serenehours, Pop Culture Junkie, Just Your Typical Book Blog, The Book Muncher, Books By Their Covers.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Dewey the Library Cat: A True Story. Vicki Myron and Bret Witter. 2010. May 2010. Little Brown. 214 pages.

You find all kinds of things in a library book return box--garbage, snowballs, soda cans. Stick a hole in a wall and you're asking for trouble. I should know.

If you like cats, if you like libraries, if you like libraries that love cats, or cats that love libraries, then you should consider picking this one up. This is a children's edition of the adult book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World. (I haven't read the original, so I'm not sure how it has been adapted.)

What should you expect from this one? Cute cat stories set in a public library. I loved reading about Dewey. I loved reading about how the community loved Dewey. How Dewey interacted with people--young and old. How excited he was to be a part of it all. His habits. His likes and dislikes. I liked how the book tried to capture this cat's personality. I liked the little snippets from Dewey's point of view.

But. This one doesn't come without tears. I rarely cry with books. (I cry at plenty of other things.) But with Dewey, I couldn't help myself. Oh how I cried. And cried. And cried.

Still, I'm glad I read it.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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Some Girls Are. Courtney Summers. 2010. January 2010. St. Martins Press. 256 pages.

Hallowell High:
You're either someone or you're not.
I was someone. I was Regina Afton, Anna Morrison's best friend. These weren't small things, and despite what you may think, at the time they were worth keeping my mouth shut for.

Regina was someone. Now she's not. It's just that simple. (Except nothing is ever that simple, is it?) Her downfall started with a party where she was the designated driver. By Monday morning, Regina's friends have turned on her. Why? They've heard how she betrayed her friend at the party. (But is it true? Does anyone even care?)

Who will Regina eat lunch with now? The answer may be surprising because it's not only that Regina was popular. It's that Regina and Anna--her former best friend--were bullies. Together they ruled over everyone. Making anyone who wasn't "someone" hate them, fear them. Those students--her former victims--now have reason to smile and celebrate. They're more than happy to join the I Hate Regina Afton YourSpace group to leave nasty comments. Regina is finally getting what she deserves. (But is she?) Is there anyone left to stand up for Regina? Anyone willing to give her a second chance? Anyone willing to forgive?

Regina isn't always an easy narrator to like. The reader learns about Regina's past behavior through the course of the novel and some of the things Regina's done are ugly, hateful, cruel, thoughtless. Is Regina capable of change?

Some Girls Are is a complex novel dealing with a couple of difficult issues including bullying. Regina is very human. I thought the author did great in showing her strengths and weaknesses.
I found Some Girls Are to be a compelling story. Very intense.

It does have mature content so it may not be for every reader.

You might also enjoy Speak, 13 Reasons Why, Story of a Girl, and Just Listen.

Other reviews: Presenting Lenore, The YA YA YAs, Steph Su Reads, S. Krishna Books, The Story Siren, Confessions of a Bibliovore, Angieville, Read this Book!, My Overstuffed Bookshelf, Pop Culture Junkie.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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