I did not read this as a child. I read it recently because my daughter recommended it! I really liked it; it's about a girl who's telekinetic (and can...moreI did not read this as a child. I read it recently because my daughter recommended it! I really liked it; it's about a girl who's telekinetic (and can talk to animals) and finds out that there are others like her, and that there's a reason why they are that way. And then it ends! I can't believe there weren't any sequels. Someone should write some. It's a very X-Files-like story.(less)
This book surprised me -- it's about a girl whose family practices Wicca (or almost-Wicca)! The jacket copy gave no indication of this, even though it...moreThis book surprised me -- it's about a girl whose family practices Wicca (or almost-Wicca)! The jacket copy gave no indication of this, even though it's fairly important to the plot. My daughter read this before me, and I asked her what she thought about that, and she said that it was interesting and that it surprised her, too. Anyway, I'm no expert on actual Wicca, but it seems to be presented fairly straightforwardly and the family is perfectly normal. Well, except that they're HOMELESS. Which is really what this book is about. And it gives, I think, a fairly good indication of what life is like for a real homeless family -- not some bum on the street or a bunch of street kids, but mom, dad and children. They end up living in a campground and taking the city bus in to grandma's apartment and then taking the school bus to school. And they haven't got proper clothing, or school supplies, and they can't really TELL anybody what's going on because they could end up in foster care or something. AND they're still recovering from the loss of their home and their dog in a fire.
It isn't a GREAT book or anything, but I think it's a good way for kids to find out a little more about what other kids might be experiencing.(less)
A reasonably well-done book about a girl whose sister is hospitalized for depression. It's along the lines of LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK. It's good, but I ...moreA reasonably well-done book about a girl whose sister is hospitalized for depression. It's along the lines of LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK. It's good, but I didn't find it particularly original or anything. This is 3.5 stars rounded up.(less)
Bruiser is Brewster, a high school student who was once voted Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty. Brontë and Tennyson are twins, children of two pro...moreBruiser is Brewster, a high school student who was once voted Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty. Brontë and Tennyson are twins, children of two professors of literature. When Brontë starts dating Brewster, they discover that he really isn't ordinary (like in a supernatural sort of way). And there's a reason why he's been so weird all these years.
Involving Brewster (and his little brother, Cody) in their lives changes them, and forces them to confront things about themselves and about their family.
And Brewster...wow. Brewster is a hero. Definitely.
The story is told in shifting POV, but usually several chapters from the same character at a time. We hear from Tennyson, Brontë, Brewster, and Cody. Brewster is a poetry-lover, and he speaks to us in verse. Most of the chapters come from Tennyson and Brontë.
Unfortunately, this book is not as good as some of the other Elephant and Piggie books. We all especially enjoyed WE ARE IN A BOOK and TODAY I WILL FL...moreUnfortunately, this book is not as good as some of the other Elephant and Piggie books. We all especially enjoyed WE ARE IN A BOOK and TODAY I WILL FLY. But this one is not the best of the series, so I don't really understand why people were thinking it should get an award. After all, awards like Newbery, Caldecott and Geisel aren't supposed to be given for a body of work. They're for the one book itself. This book actually received a Geisel Honor this year, and I don't think I would even have gone that far.
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This is another book I picked because it was available on Overdrive.
It's a mystery, involving a recently-widowed mother of a teenager who go...moreThis is another book I picked because it was available on Overdrive.
It's a mystery, involving a recently-widowed mother of a teenager who goes to teach at a private boarding school with a past. The death of a student disrupts the entire community, and gets Meg (the mom) interested in the school's decades-old mystery (possibly a murder).
I'm giving this book four stars for keeping me interested and reading. However, there are parts that are clumsy and boring. I much preferred the portions that were journal passages from the past to Meg's present-day story. The high-schoolers seem like stock teenagers, not real, fleshed-out teenagers. And I didn't really buy the romance between Meg and the sheriff.(less)
The writing isn't particularly good. It could have been edited MUCH tighter, just in terms of sentence structure -- there's lo...moreWhat to say...
The writing isn't particularly good. It could have been edited MUCH tighter, just in terms of sentence structure -- there's lots of unnecessary stuff in there.
Edward is annoying. Summary of Edward: You should stay away from me! But I'm still not going to stay away from you! But you should totally stay away from me!
Bella is OK, but makes lots of bad choices. For instance, getting in a car with a guy who's acting crazy and violent? Yeah. I don't care if you have a crush on him. Don't do it.
I was bored and annoyed for most of the book, although toward the end I was a little more engaged, and SORT OF wanted to know what would happen next. And I rather liked the other members of Edward's family. But my 12-year-old daughter says that New Moon is REALLY BORING, so I don't think I'll bother.
I read this for the first time over winter break. Why the HELL didn't I read this before? I have no idea. For some reason, I had the mistaken idea tha...moreI read this for the first time over winter break. Why the HELL didn't I read this before? I have no idea. For some reason, I had the mistaken idea that it was about aliens or something. I don't know where I got that from. This was a loved-it-from-the-first-page-didn't-want-to-put-it-down book. Five stars PLUS.(less)
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