September, 2012

"Fog" by Caroline B. Cooney        

Once a child reaches 7th grade, they are sent from the island to the mainland for schooling.  Christina just turned 13 and is looking forward to life on the mainland.  However, things aren't quite what they seem.  The Principle and his wife seem to exert eerie control over both students and parents.  One of the other island girls seems to be deteriorating mentally right before Christina's eyes.  Plus, Christina is ostracized at school, finding it hard to make friends.

     Overall, I enjoyed this story, right up until the ending.  The author left the book hanging, without any conclusion.  Looking back, it is just a set-up for a sequel or a series.  I have read other Cooney books, and have noticed that her storyline and writing are great in the first book and deteriorate as the sequels stretch out.  Christina was also an awkward character.  She was overly defiant, when she should have been meek or timid.  I think she was overly dramatized, when a more realistic character would have worked better.   I probably won't pick up the next one.

"Bailout over Normandy" by Ted Fahrenwald        

World War II fighter pilot Ted is forced to bail out of his airplane into occupied France.  He is quickly taken in by the French Resistance and drafted into their ranks.  After meeting with other downed pilots, they decide to leave the Resistance and try and make it past enemy lines back to the Allies.         

I grew bored with this book.  I realize that this is a true story, however at times it drags on and on and on.  On a plus, the writing style is very conversational.  The characters are easy to get a feel for and seem one hundred percent genuine.  I also loved the use of the vernacular of WWII and fighter pilots.   I wish some of the longer passages had been edited more carefully, in order to provide a more concise and interesting tale.

"Sketch Monsters" by Williamson and Navarrete        

During Tony's first day of school he tries to act funny, cool and even like a bully, just to make other kids like him.  As he acts up, monsters from his sketchbook escape into the school.  Thankfully, Mandy is there to help.         

This book is written in comic book style, with colorful illustrations.  It switches back and forth between Mandy and Tony, which at times, makes it a bit hard to follow.  I thought it was overly cutesy and a bit clumsy.  Overall, I thought it was an interesting idea, but needed to be organized a bit better.

"Into the Pumpkin" by Linda Frankling         

This is a beautifully illustrated children's book. The images are both spooky and entertaining at the same time.  I can see younger children absolutely loving this book.  The rhymes were cutesy, but they were perfectly complimented by the illustrations.  Overall, I highly recommend this book for younger children.

"No Lumps, Thank You" by Meg Spielman Peldo        

I originally thought that this book featured bras that people made and could actually wear.  Instead, it was an artistic and photographic journey that used a play on words to create an interesting bra shape.  It was an interesting concept, very artistic and creative.  I don't think I would buy this book, but I had fun flipping through its pages.

"I Love My Slow Cooker" by Beverky LeBlanc        

I am always looking for good slow cooker recipes.  This collection is very diverse and includes recipes from around the world.  Most slow cooker books feature quintessential American recipes, but this covered everything from curry dishes to thick stews.  The Deserts aren't appetizing to me, but many will enjoy them.  I think this is a perfect book to add to my cooking collection.

"Sheltered From the Swastika" by Peter Kory        

Peter Korytowski and his parents left their home fleeing the Nazi regime.  After his parents were captured by the Nazi's, he was taken in by a well-to-do family in France.  After the war, when the family wished to adopt him, the Jewish community fought to have him sent to Israel, where he would learn to be Jewish.         

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I wish that Peter had been a bit more emotional in his writing style.  He came across as detached, which I understand was a coping mechanism to survive the war.  I always wish he went into more details about his day-to-day life.  He moved forward in time pretty quickly.  Overall, I thought the book was well written and definitely worth reading.

"Say You're Sorry" by Michael Robotham        

The book alternates between the journal entries of a kidnapped girl and that of a psychologist investigating a double homicide at a farmhouse.  The two stories are inextricably linked and solving one may help the other.         

This was an incredibly suspenseful book, I couldn't put it down!    I thought the author did a wonderful job with both character creation and the pace of the book.  He is a great writer and I plan on picking up his other books.

"The Archived" by Victoria Schwab        

Once they have died, people are stored in the archive, where librarians can read their history.  These Histories awaken and escape periodically, creating a need for keepers.  At the age of 12, Mackenzie is introduced to the archives by her grandfather.  After the death of her grandfather and brother, her family relocates to an old hotel turned apartment complex.

     I thought this was an interesting concept.  It was well written and engaging.  I would definitely read more.  That being said, my only criticism is that the author does not refer to characters consistently.  At the beginning of the book, Antoine is referred to as her father, her da and her dad.  Towards the end of the book he is referred to as her grandfather.  Also, Peter was referred to as her brother and then her father.  This made the book particularly confusing at time.

"Twitch Upon A Star" by Herbie J. Pilato        

This book follows the life and career of Elizabeth Montgomery, the famous actress who played Samantha on Bewitched.  I found this book a bit hard to read.  The author likes to list credits, people and genealogy, which became very tedious.  He rambled on and on, it was obvious that he was an uber fan.  I think the information could have been presented in a storytelling fashion rather than the constant lists employed. 

"Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher" by Timothy Egan        

Edward Curtis spent his life photographing and capturing the lives of the dwindling Native American population.  It follows Curtis from his humble beginnings, through his burgeoning lifestyle as a photographer and through the compilation of his twenty volume book on Native American groups.  He recorded rituals, daily life, languages, songs and stories of a vanishing people.

     Overall, I found this book to be very interesting and engaging.  It read more as a story than a mere recitation of history.  The author brought Curtis and his journey to life, making the reader understand the challenges and frustrations over time. 

"Che Guevara" by Stuart Kallen         

This is a book about the Argentinean revolutionary Che Guevara.  I found this book hard to read.  The writing style was very choppy.  The author seemed to be reciting facts rather than telling a story.  Additionally, rather than alluding to the author's political viewpoint, this book smacks you in the face with it.  I don't particularly care for that style, especially in books written for teenagers.

"A Blazing Gilded Age" by Rich DiSilvio        

This book follows the life of the Wozniak family during the 19th century.  They are a hardworking coal mining family who have suffered greatly since immigrating to America.  The eldest brother Stan is crippled in a mine accident, forcing the youngest child, Marc, to join his father and middle brother in the mine.  In one of the worst explosions to date, the father is killed and the middle brother Ted runs off immediately afterwards.  Left as the bread winner, Marc uses his wits and intelligence to land himself an office job at the mine in direct conflict with the corrupt and irresponsible Huxley, the owner of the coal mine.

     The book also follows well known Americans such as Teddy Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan.  It weaves their stories among the life of the Wozniak family, as Marc grows up and gains prominence within the coal mining industry.  It also highlights some of the important progresses of the Gilded Age, such as electricity and the automobile.

     Overall, I thought this book was extremely well written.  The author obviously knew his subject matter and has conducted in-depth research about the era.  The characters were fascinating, not only because of their diversity, but because of their drive and motivations.  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction.