Month: March 2019

REVIEW: Criminal Confections by Colette London

REVIEW: Criminal Confections by Colette London

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Hayden Mundy Moore has been spending a lot of time at Lemaître Chocolates in her role as a consultant. Her work is supposed to be hush-hush. No one wants to admit they need her expertise. So when Christian Lemaître invites Hayden to the resort spa for a chocolatier’s retreat, she goes under the guise of building her business while she wraps up her report and recommendations for Lemaître.

When Hayden’s friend, Adrienne, dies at the retreat, everyone thinks it’s from an accidental overdose. Adrienne was under a lot of pressure at Lemaître. But when someone attacks Hayden when she surprises them during a rifling of her hotel room, Hayden starts to think there’s something more going on at Lemaître.

Corporate takeovers, romantic liaisons, company secrets, and business competitions are plentiful in the local chocolate scene. Is Hayden connected enough to figure out how and why Adrienne died? Or will she become another victim?

Review

This was a solid mystery with some quirky elements. The characters are the source of the quirk. At the start, I wasn’t sure I could read a whole book in Hayden’s voice. She has a unique style and early on her use of repeated metaphors was tiring. But as the story moved on, I got used to Hayden’s style and even got to like her. Her relationship with her “plus-one/bodyguard” and her financial adviser are odd. There are frequent references to history with both that go largely unexplained in this book. I started to wonder if I missed a book in the series.

The mystery was good. The suspects all had their own secrets, agendas, and quirks which made it hard to pin down a lead suspect. I only figured things out a few chapters before Hayden (who actually didn’t put it together even when she was face-to-face with the culprit.).

I’m curious enough to try book 2 in this series. The chocolate theme was fun; that’s what prompted me to try this in the first place. I’m hoping book two will fill in the gaps on a couple of the characters and solidify a strong connection with Hayden.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet

REVIEW: The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet

Posted on by Jaymie

[I mentioned this book in my post a couple weeks ago about the 2018 Cybils Awards. Here is my full review of The Orphan Band of Springdale.]

Summary

In 1941, Gusta is put on a bus to Springdale, Maine to live with her maternal grandmother for awhile while her parents sort out their life in New York. Grandma Hoopes runs a boarding house for orphans and “state kids.” And Gusta finds a second home in the hustle and bustle of a house full of kids.

Aside from her clothes, Gusta arrives only with a head full of her mother’s stories about her grandfather’s days as a sea captain in Maine and her father’s French horn. While Gusta’s mom said the horn could be sold for room and board expenses, Gusta can’t imagine parting with it.

Gusta’s resolve to keep the horn strengthens when she has the chance to play with the high school orchestra even though she is only eleven. And she forms a little band with her cousin and the “First Girl” at the boarding house. But realities of life start crowding in for Gusta. Her uncle Charlie was hurt at the Mill and lost his job. There’s no money for the surgery he needs, and he’s sinking into depression. She tries to take what she knows about labor laws and unions to help but ends up making things worse. Maybe selling her horn and using the money for her family is worth the heartache she would feel over the horn. Or maybe that will be the final piece that causes everything Gusta loves to fall apart completely.

Review

I have mentioned before that I don’t generally read historic fiction. It’s not a genre I seek out. In fact, I often actively avoid it. But I had to read this for an award committee. I planned to endure it. I pushed it off to last.

And I loved it!

I was captivated by Gusta right from the start. I loved her voice and her observations and thoughts and questions. And then the other characters started pulling me in even more.

This stirred up a lot of emotions for me, too. There’s terrific heart in the story, and there were many moments I loved. There were others, though, that left me sad, surprised and even ranting-and-raving-mad. A good story can crawl up inside you and pull all those different strings. And this one does.

I learned a lot from reading this, too, especially about 1941 America – the swell of patriotism and the moments it twisted into paranoia. I also learned about the beginning of the labor movement, which is something we take for granted today. It was fascinating. And it was all woven seamlessly into the story so I never felt like someone was trying to make a point. It was just a facet of this intricate story.

In some ways, I was hoping for a more satisfying ending, especially with regard to a few of the infuriating parts of the story. But the ending for this is satisfying and pretty realistic. I can’t wait to tell kids about this one. I’m afraid it could be a hard sell because this is a long book. It’s so hard to summarize all the things that go on here – I didn’t even include them all in my summary.

But Gusta….

For me if you just come to this book to meet Gusta, you’ll enjoy all the stories that follow her.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 12, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

There’s another crop of great books out this week. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Books for Kids

Charlotte the Scientists Finds a Cure – Charlotte’s second book focuses on a mysterious forest malady and Charlotte’s efforts to help her friends. I loved the first book, and I’m eager to read this one.
A Little Chicken – A fearful little chicken takes a big risk to rescue her future sibling. This looks adorable.
Noah Builds an Ark – While a boy’s family prepares for a big storm, Noah tries to help the animals in their garden who will be impacted.
The Puddle – Peg and Cat use their math skills to figure out how deep the puddles are when they go puddle jumping. I love this series!
Saying Goodbye to Barkley – A girl grieves the lost of her best-pal/pet dog and tries to adjust to a new dog who just isn’t the same as Barkley.
Wolfie’s Secret – Wolfie isn’t quite the “big bad wolf” everyone thinks he is. He’d rather eat cakes he makes rather than eat little pigs. This looks fun.
A Computer Called Katherine: How Katharine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon – A picture book biography of Katharine Johnson.
A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park – The story of Central Park in New York City.
Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of The Man Behind the Machines – A delightful-looking picture book biography of Rube Goldberg.
Marty Frye Private Eye: Case of the Busted Video Games – Book 3 in this early chapter book series where Marty Frye the poet detective solves three short mysteries. I’m eager to read one of these – sounds like a fun series!
Secret Agents Jack and Max Stalwart: The Fate of the Irish Treasure AND The Race for Gold Rush Treasure – Books 3 and 4 in the Jack and Max Stalwart series about brothers who are secret agents and travel around the world.
Discover How to Pray AND Discover How to Read the Bible – Two impressive books for kids. One talks about prayer and includes Bible stories and places for kids to write their own prayers. The other talks about the structure and content of the Bible and contains stories from 30 personalities found in its pages. These look like terrific resources! Both are 96 pages long, so these are meaty resources for kids and families.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

A Good Kind of Trouble – A junior high student who just wants to get through 7th grade with her relationships intact gets involved in the Black Lives Matter movement and  sees what happens in her community when people start taking sides. This one has gotten a LOT of positive buzz!
Lucy, Speak Out! – A new Peanuts collection, focused on classic Lucy-centric strips.
Mostly the Honest Truth – When her dad goes back into rehab, Jane heads to a new foster home. I adore positive foster care stories. This is on my list for this week!
What is the Stanley Cup? AND What Was Stonewall?
Amy’s Diary: Space Alien… Almost? – A girl trying to find her place in the universe notices love springing up all around her, starting with her widowed mother. Graphic Novel
Meet Me in Outer Space – A college student with auditory processing disorder has managed her learning issues just fine so far, but her fourth semester of French, with an uncooperative professor, threatens to derail her. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
Shout – A poetry memoir from Laurie Halse Anderson, author of the ground-breaking book about sexual assault, Speak.

Books for Adults

Me for You (Hardcover) – A widower starts working as the piano player in a Nordstrom and meets a potential love interest. When the police decide to take a second look at his role in his wife’s death all the positive things happening in his life are at risk. This sounds fascinating.
Something Read, Something Dead (March 13, Hardcover) – Book 5 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. A bride-to-be’s extended family descends en masse and threatens to derail the quiet, simple wedding she had planned. When one of the relatives dies, Lucy will dust off her sleuthing skills to keep her friend from being falsely arrested for murder. Sounds great! I have the first book in this series on my TBR shelves.
Trouble on the Books (March 13, Hardcover) – First in the Castle Bookshop series about a former book editor turned bookshop owner drawn into solving a murder. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week.
2-Ingredient Miracle Dough Cookbook: Easy Lower-Carb Recipes for Flatbreads, Bagels, Desserts and More (Paperback) – I am fascinated by the idea of a two-ingredient cookbook. I’m on the look for this one this week.
Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals (Hardcover) – The latest from best-selling author Rachel Hollis (Girl, Wash Your Face) which encourages women to own who they are and go after what they want.
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others (Hardcover) – The latest from Barbara Brown Taylor (An Altar in the World, Leaving Church) focuses on the evolution of her faith in God through her work with students and people of other faiths.
Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation (Trade Paperback) – For those who have started their journey with the Enneagram and are asking “What’s next?” I have this on my list for this week, too.

REVIEW: Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills

REVIEW: Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sophie is the president of the Marching Pride of Acadia Student Fundraising Committee. And this year they will be trying to raise funds to go to the Rose Parade. Sophie’s idea is to track down Acadia’s most famous resident, country singer Megan Pleasant and have her sing at a benefit concert. On Megan’s first album she sang all about how much she loved Acadia. But now that her third album is out, Megan has moved on to singing that she’s “never going back.”

As Sophie cajoles her friends into helping her track down Megan, their group also starts making space for August. Sophie babysits for August’s brother and his wife every week. But she didn’t know August existed before he arrived at the start of the summer. Apparently his brother and sister-in-law didn’t know he existed either.

Sophie and August fall into a comfortable banter, but he’s hiding things. No matter what chemistry there may be tween them, he seems determined to keep her at arm’s length. But maybe the search for Megan Pleasant will change all that.

Review

I am a sucker for a book with witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments. So Famous in a Small Town was a perfect fit for me as a reader. I’m sure my family was getting tired of my sudden barks of laughter (and they were worried when I started choking rather than do a spit take at one line). I couldn’t help it. I got such a kick out of these characters!

While the story is billed as one centered around the search for Megan Pleasant, for me it’s really about the six teens in this friend group. While they are – to varying degrees – trying to help Sophie with her fundraising idea, there’s a TON going on between the characters. And I loved all of it.

There were some great surprises in the story and some heart-tugging moments to balance out the laughter. The whole package was terrific. I loved every moment of this story. I would enjoy even more stories with this group of teens. They were a treat! I highly recommend this for fans of funny contemporary YA with great characters. (Language, drinking, innuendo, LGBTQ)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

REVIEW: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Publishing/Convergent Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

The full title of this book is The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe. The title was changed after the review copy was produced, so I am not sure if that changed any of the internal content in a significant way.

Father Richard Rohr asks readers to broaden their ideas of “Christ” beyond the physical person of Jesus. As he states in one of the early chapters, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. Rohr’s central assertion seems to be that we recognize Christ in the Bible – and in the world – as both part of the person of Jesus but also as someone/something that pre-dates Jesus and is larger than the person of Jesus. This recognition then changes how we see not only issues of faith but also one another and all examples of creation.

The writing in this is dense and more intricate than my usual genre fiction reading. This is closer to a college text than mass-appeal genre writing. Sometimes Rohr goes over my head, or posits something that clangs against my belief systems or understanding of scripture. I didn’t agree with all of his conclusions. But there are plenty of nuggets of truth and thought-provoking ideas to chew on.

This is a deep and intricate philosophical look at theology, scripture, history, semantics/language and comparative religion. This is the sort of book that I think works best if you have a physical copy you can write in. For me this is best read in small chunks. And I’d get more out of it by writing about what I read, looking up the scriptures he uses in their context, and spending time thinking over his assertions.  This has a more scholarly feel than other books I usually read for spiritual growth. There is a place for both sorts of material depending on the needs of the reader.

If you are looking for a resource that might challenge you to think outside your faith assumptions and current beliefs, or if you are a Rohr fan, I recommend you check this book out. You might not agree with all of Father Rohr’s conclusions, but this book will definitely get you thinking!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

REVIEW: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Madeline Finn is back after her adventures in Madeline Finn and the Library Dog where she practiced her reading with a dog named Bonnie at the library. Now Madeline is ready for a puppy of her own – one of Bonnie’s! When Madeline picks out her puppy, she asks Mrs. Dimple how she chose Bonnie. Turns out, Bonnie came from a shelter. Mrs. Dimple and Madeline’s mom tell her about animal shelters and take her to visit one.

Madeline feels sad for the shelter animals who can’t play outside and don’t have someone who says they love them every day like her puppy, Star, does. They also don’t have anyone to read to them. So Madeline collects supplies for the shelter and invites others to join her for a reading day there. But what will she do if no one else comes?

Review

The perfection of Madeline Finn and the Library Dog is repeated here in Madeline’s second book. The illustrations are soft and sweet; you want to scoop up the animals for a snuggle. Madeline’s love and compassion for the animals is evident, even in the tightly written text of the story. And Madeline continues to put books and dogs – and other animals – together for a winning combination.

If this is your first introduction to Madeline Finn, run out and scoop up both of these books. You won’t regret it! And if you loved book one as much as I did, you’ll want to pick up Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog asap! Highly recommend.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: March 5, 2019

BOOK NEWS: March 5, 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy March!! There are SOOOO many great books coming out this week, I had to divide up some of the categories. Take a look:

Books for Kids

Arrr Mustache Baby – The Mustache Baby picture books are some of my all time favorites. I can’t wait to see what this new one is like!
Because – A new picture book from Mo Willems.
Cake – Cake has been invited to his very first birthday party, but it doesn’t go quite the way he expected. This looks hysterical! I can’t wait to read this one.
Cavekid Birthday – A cavekid twist on the Gift of the Magi. This looks adorable.
Circle – The final book in the Shape Trilogy by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.
Just Read! – A celebration of reading.
Not Your Nest! – As Bird builds a nest, an interloper is always swooping in to take it over – until Bird says no more! I’m eager to see this one in person.
Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck – A chicken takes over a pirate ship. This looks delightfully weird.
Some Days – Explores a range of emotions experienced by two children. Sounds lovely.
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug – When his best friend needs a hug, Tiny tries to figure out how to give his friend what he needs, even with his tiny arms. Adorable!
What Makes a Hero – A picture book focused on the female heroes of Marvel.
Maria Montessori (Little People, Big Dreams) – Picture book biography of Maria Montessori, the early childhood education expert.
Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank – Dr. King and Anne Frank were born in the same year, but in very different parts of the world. Both faced prejudice with love and hope. This book looks at the parallels in their lives.
Case of the Disappearing Doll (Leveled Reader)- Disney Junior’s Fancy Nancy and her best friend Bree are detectives, looking for Nancy’s missing doll.
Chicken in Charge (Leveled Reader) – When the farmer is away, Zoey the chicken thinks she knows what it takes to take care of the lambs on the farm.
Unhappy Birthday, Grumpy Cat (Leveled Reader) – Grumpy is ready for her unhappy birthday.
The Big Book of Disney’s Top 10s: Fun Facts and Cool Trivia – Disney trivia for kids
Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid – Book 2 in the Ben Braver early chapter book series. Ben still doesn’t fit in at his secret school for kids with special powers, and as his friends get more powerful, he’s afraid his secret will be discovered. I have book one from the library so I can check this series out.
Terror in the Tunnel – Imagination Station book 23. The kids are on the train with Abraham Lincoln on the way to his first inauguration, but there are assassins on the way as well, hoping to end his presidency before it begins. This series reminds me of Magic Tree House, but with a faith-based foundation.

Books for Older Kids/Teens

A Crystal of Time – The School for Good and Evil, book 5. A false king takes the throne, leaving the real king’s betrothed to play a dangerous game to rescue her friends.
Far Away – CJ’s aunt has always used her psychic gifts to let CJ talk to her mom who died shortly after CJ was born. But when that connection is threatened, CJ and a friend head off on a quest to find something that will give her more of a permanent connection to her mom.
The Griffins of Castle Cary – Three kids off to England to visit their aunt find more than they expected on their vacation – ghosts!
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane – First in a new series. A girl whose dad disappeared and whose mom seems too busy to parent finds herself at a boarding school in England. Some treasures from home hint at the fact that her father might have been connected to the school’s secret society.
Nikki on the Line – All Nikki wants is to be a basketball star, but her new team is so good, she wonders where she even fits anymore. Changes with her friends and stress from home pile on as well. Can Nikki overcome all of these challenges, or will she have to settle for less on the court than she dreams?
The North Star – Gemini Mysteries book 1. Four teens are on the case of a missing necklace. I love mysteries, so this one is on my list for this week.
The Revenge of Magic – First in a new series. When books of magic are found around the world next to piles of dragon bones, only kids are able to use the magic. I have a review copy of this one on my pile right now.
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe – First in a new series about Hispanic/Latino mythology from Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint.
Secret Mission Guam – Soldier Dogs, book 3. This one is set in 1944 during WWII on the island of Guam which is under Japanese control.
The Secret of Zoone – Zoone is the Grand Central Station of the universe, full of portals to everywhere imaginable. When the door back to Earth explodes, Ozzie is in for an adventure as he tries to get home again. This sounds right up my alley.
Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy – When a school in orbit of Jupiter is attacked, a student discovers his science teacher father created a warp drive and this is a perfect time to try it out. While the school is rescued from the original attack, the jump lands the kids in the clutches of the first race of aliens humans have ever encountered. I’m hoping this new sci-fi series is just as fun as the Randoms series by David Liss. This is on my library list.
Wished – Book 5 in the Fairy Tale Reform School series. The villains are on the run and everyone is bracing for their next attack, but Maxine asks a genie to make everyone happy. Now all of Fairy Tale Reform School is more focused on putting on a musical than saving their family and friends.
Boss the Bestseller List Like JK Rowling AND Run the Show Like CEO Oprah Winfrey (Work It, Girl) – Chapter book biographies of women with gorgeous paper-pieced illustrations. The visuals in these books are stunning.

Books for Teens/Young Adults

Chrysalis – The third and final book in the Project Nemesis series. The kids in Fire Lake’s sophomore class have survived the first two phases of the program, but as they move forward, still trying to secure their ultimate survival, old grudges are hard to give up. And it’s likely they will need to set those grudges aside – if they can – and work together if they hope to stay alive. I have the first book on my library list.
The Everlasting Rose – Sequel to The Belles. Camille is determined to fight her nemesis Sophia and protect her people, but in a world of masks and secrets, who can she really trust and how far is she willing to go?
The Fairest Kind of Love – Windy City Magic, book 3. Amber uses her family magic as a matchmaker, but while she can see everyone else’s match, she can’t see her own. On a quest to find her own match, and figure out why her powers are on the fritz, Amber will find herself in the middle of a magical war that might force her to team up with the last person she wants to seek out for help. I bought the first book in this series because the whole things sounds perfect for me!
Field Notes on Love – The latest teen romance from Jennifer E. Smith. Two strangers experiencing major disappointments team up on a cross country train trip to escape their everyday lives. I love the author’s previous books, so this is definitely on my list for this week.
If You’re Out There – At first it seems as though her best friend just dumped her when she moved across the country. But a hidden clue in her social media might actually be a sign that she’s in desperate trouble. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
The Last 8 – When aliens invade Earth and destroy everything, Clover thinks she’s the only survivor. But a message sends her to Area 51 where she discovers other survivors, but she’s not certain she can trust them. Yep, I’ll need to read this one soon.
The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project – A character living in Trope Town is sent to therapy after going off script. This sounds so weird, it could be perfect. This is on my list for this week, too.
Opposite of Always – A Groundhog Day-esque story of a guy who meets the perfect girl. When the girl dies, the guy is sent back in time to the moment when they met. I absolutely have to read this one!
A Question of Holmes – The fourth and final book in the Charlotte Holmes series. This time, Charlotte and Jamie stumble across a cold case of a missing girl at Oxford in the theater department. I haven’t kept up with the series, but this story sounds fascinating!
The Quiet You Carry – A girl kicked out of her house on the eve of her senior year tries to put the pieces of her life back together while maintaining her secrets. But she can’t shake her worries about her stepsister, alone in the house with her father. I feel like this is going to go to a dark place, but I am intrigued to see how all the pieces of the story come together.
Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow – Padmé has stepped down from her role as queen, but now she has been asked to serve as senator. This will require her to navigate the treacherous halls of the galactic senate and to discover a new identity for herself beyond that of queen. I can’t wait to read this one!
Within These Lines – The latest from Blink YA. The fact that an Italian-American girl has fallen in love with the son of Japanese immigrants is a big deal in 1941 California. Inter-racial marriage is illegal, but the two are committed to one another. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, their love faces even greater obstacles.
The Year I Didn’t Eat – Max keeps a journal where he writes his true feelings to “Ana” as in anorexia, his eating disorder. But when Max stores his journal in a geo-cache box, someone else finds it and starts writing back to Max. I am fascinated by the whole idea of this one.
You Owe Me a Murder – Kim was only venting when she told a stranger about her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend and how having to endure their relationship on a class trip makes her wish he was dead. She was sure the stranger was only joking when she said they should swap murders. But when Kim’s ex dies unexpectedly, the stranger wants Kim to live up to her end of their deal. Strangers on a Train meets contemporary YA literature!
Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House – Previously untold stories of some of the young women who worked in the Obama White House.

Books for Adults

Almost Home (Trade Paperback) – The group of people at an Alabama boarding house during World War II have the chance to solve a mystery about the house’s past as they are all processing their own issues from the past.
Chocolate à la Murder (March 8 – Trade Paperback) – Book 4 in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Mystery series. I’ll be reviewing this one in April.
Death by Dog Show (Trade Paperback) – Book one in the Creature Comforts Mystery series. I’d love to try this one out!
How the Light Gets In (Trade Paperback) – A woman and her daughters and mother-in-law travel to Wisconsin to bury her husband after he and her father-in-law were killed doing relief work. The family joins the Mennonite community there and start to rebuild their lives. But what will happen to their fresh start if it turns out her husband isn’t dead after all?
Mahimata (Trade Paperback) – Asiana, Book 2. Knife-wielding female assassins. Murder, love, vengeance, secrets and war. Yep, I have book one in this series on my list!
The Quintland Sisters (Trade Paperback) – Based on the true story of the Dionne Quintuplets, a set of five girls born in Canada and eventually removed from their home and turned into a tourist attraction by the government. The real story sounds fascinating. I’m curious to see what the fictionalized version, told from the perspective of a nurse who cared for the girls, is like.
The Women’s War (Hardcover) – A feminist tale of patriarchy and the women who come to wield magic that will change the balance of power. This is on my list, too.
Bible Commentary (Joyce Meyer), Ephesians AND James (Hardcover) – I’m curious to check out these new Bible commentaries from Bible teacher Joyce Meyer.
Hungry Girl Simply 6: All-Natural Recipes with 6 Ingredients or Less (Paperback) – Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien provides clean-eating recipes with 6 ingredients or fewer. That’s my kind of cooking!
Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness (Hardcover) – The latest from Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project) focuses on simplyfying and decluttering.
The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe (Hardcover) – The latest from Richard Rohr looks at expanding the concept of “Christ” beyond the physical person of Jesus. I’ll be reviewing this one this week.

           

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2018 Cybils Awards

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: 2018 Cybils Awards

Posted on by Jaymie

Once again I had the privilege of serving on a committee for the 2018 Cybils Awards. This year I served with the group choosing the winner in the Middle Grade Fiction category. You can see my post about the 2017 Cybils here. Now that our committee work is done, I am able to talk about the finalists we read this year. These are my personal thoughts on each of these books and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full committee who presided over this category. Books here are listed in alphabetical order.

The Doughnut Fix –  A boy trying to adjust to a new town decides to open a doughnut stand and make the town’s secret doughnut recipe once again. This was so fun! I adored Tristan and his family. There’s lots here for kids to relate to – family stuff, friend stuff, a move, etc. So many funny moments, but also lots of great information about starting a business and about cooking. This was delightful! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel this spring. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

 

Front Desk – A girl holding a lot of secrets, including the dream of being a writer, hopes to make it through the year keeping the biggest secrets from the owner of the motel where her family lives and works. I was temped to DNF (“did not finish”) this book when I was about 50 pages in. It was stressful – instead of the sort of suspense that keeps you moving forward, I was filled with dread as I read. What other horrible thing was going to happen to these poor characters? I’m glad I stuck with the book because there were hopeful things to balance out the painful. My favorite part was the way Mia learned to use words and writing to change circumstances for herself and her friends. I’m not sure the ultimate solution in the end is 100% believable, but I was so desperate for this family to get a win, I didn’t care. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Harbor Me –  Six kids meet together in a space where for the first time they can be completely honest about the things they are facing.  I wasn’t convinced any school would let 6 teens meet unsupervised in the school, but I did enjoy watching the connections unfold. The “be a harbor” and “harbor others” sentiments were great. Rating:  ♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl – When a lightning strike gives a girl genius level math skills, her grandmother challenges her to complete one year of middle school and a series of tasks before she can leave for college. You can read my full review here. This was one of my favorite books from 2018, so my love for this one is clear. Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥

 

 

The Orphan Band of Springdale – The two historical fiction books on the list were brand new to me. I didn’t even have them in my Book News lists for last year. This one is about a girl who is sent to live with her grandmother who runs a home for orphaned and displaced children.  This is a hard book to summarize because there is SO MUCH going on. I’m going to do a full review in a couple weeks so I can cover it in more detail. I will say I was set to dislike this one on principle because I don’t generally enjoy historic fiction, but this was an absolute delight! I loved Gusta’s voice and her spunk. I learned a lot about 1941 in America, and the various threads of the story really pulled at my emotions. This one was fantastic! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

The Parker Inheritance –  From the author of the fabulous Great Greene Heist comes this story of a forgotten letter, an old injustice and a possible fortune. A girl finds an old letter addressed to her grandmother who left town in disgrace. The letter promised a fortune for the town if a puzzle could be solved. The girl and a friend try to solve the puzzle on their own to help their community and restore her grandmother’s name. This is a terrific puzzle story/mystery with strong social commentary on not only racial issues but also sexual orientation. I enjoyed the references to The Westing Game and the flips from past to present throughout the book. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

Skylark and Wallcreeper – The second historical fiction book in this set is about a girl caring for her grandmother during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 who discovers her grandmother’s secret history in the French Resistance. This has a nice merging of the 2012 hurricane/family story with the 1944 World War II/French Resistance pieces told from the grandmother’s perspective. Solid for fans of historic fiction, books with split story lines/time lines, and fans of WWII fiction. Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

 

You can see all of the 2018 Cybils Award winners here.