Black Potatoes by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

I really liked this book. It seemed incredibly full of facts about this period of time. I have a deep respect for the Irish and all they’ve been through. I don’t know how people could ever survive amid such lack of food…or perhaps lack of access to the food.

I must admit, I was less than pleased about the help they received. Irish seem to be a very hard working group of people. Their ill fortune should not have been so tragic. If other countries, especially England, would have been less selfish they could’ve helped prevent such a massive desolation. England wouldn’t let Ireland handle its own problem. It was like their hands were tied. It makes me wonder what the outcome would’ve been if the Irish’s hands weren’t tied. If they were able to use some of their own resources instead of being taxed to death and left without their other major resources that were exported to England. It is a sad time in Ireland and England’s history.

I would definitely recommend the book. It gave me such a desire to feel grateful with what I have and sorrow for those who didn’t have much. Even though it is sad to know some of the details, it helps to be informed. Being informed may just prevent it from happening again.

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Addie lives in a trailer with her mom. She would love to have a normal life and keeps waiting to have one. She loves her mom, but her mom is an “all or nothing” mom. This book is very effective in showing the effects of a mom who has some real problems and how it affects many people. This is a very good book. It is good to read about such an upbeat girl even though her world is far from ideal.

Dragon Spear by Jessica Day George

Dragons, Dragon eggs, Volcanoes, Adventure!

This book is full of excitement. I had a really tough time putting it down. I struggled to keep all the dragons straight. There were many, but I think I followed pretty well. I felt very satisfied with this book. In this book, some things happened that I wanted to happen since the first book. I highly recommend this series, it is a quick, fun read.

Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

I always love the Artemis Fowl books. They have such great adventure and there are always little twists and turns that I just don’t expect.

I can hardly wait to see if he will write another. The end of this one suggests one.

This is the newest one and it has taken me a bit to get to it, but once I started reading it went quickly. I forgot how much I love the Artemis books until I picked up this one. Eoin Colfer has done it again. It’s a hit in my eyes.

I want Holly and Artemis to get together though!

Lots of Posts

The posts today are many. I have been keeping track of the books I've read since the beginning of the year and didn't realize it had been so many. I also wanted it to be easy if someone wanted a particular book so I put labels on the books. Many changes today. I will write a report after this post on the book I finished this week and I will keep up now that I have this blog.

Have a groovy Day!

The Adventures of Spider by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

These are West African Folktales.

This book is great. I enjoyed reading it. It does have what I think would be the feel of listening to someone tell a few West African Folktales. I like it that they say spider is “just like a naughty little boy.” Spider is clever, mischievous, greedy, loves to eat, hates to work, and he plays a lot of tricks. It as the introduction says can be like us or like me.

These are fun stories. Each one teaches a lesson. I sat and read this book straight through. They are fun tales.

The pictures are fun. They are so appropriate for the subject. They remind me of what I think a folktale from West Africa would look like. He uses only a few colors on some. Those colors repeat on different picture pages. I like the colors and how they are dispersed. I also like that every once in a while they throw in a drawing without any color.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

There are a lot of twists and fun plots in the story. This book is so fun. I had a hard time knowing where the book would turn next. I had great wishes for Creel and became quite attached to her and her beautiful embroideries. My sons called it a girly book. One of them liked the book even though it was girly. I liked it--girly or not.

I like how the author keeps my attention. I like the story line. It is very appealing. I didn’t want to leave the story and was not disappointed when I did come back to the story. Great book!

Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George

This story is a continuation from Dragon Slippers.

This story has many turns and twists and it kept my interest really well. There was a point in the book that seemed to get a bit unexciting, but that changed fast and soon I was enthralled. I enjoy Jessica Day George’s style of writing. I kept hoping that something would happen between Luka and Creel. I have grown quite attached to both of these characters and this story. I look forward to the next one.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Wow! I couldn’t keep away from this book! Wonderful, Marvelous! I love happy endings. It is so intriguing and I kept wishing for the Lass throughout the book. I was pulling for her and her brother Hans Peter. At first, I thought the stranger in her bed was a bit weird, ended in a great way. Ahhhhhh! A book of true love and magic—it’s a fun book!

The cover says: "It’s based on the Nordic fairy tale called “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” and has romantic echoes of Beauty and the beast." I would definitely agree with that.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

I had read this before and I didn't realize that until I was reading it. It was a gift from my neighbor. I've never owned it before and I really enjoyed reading it again.

jThe story is really quite beautiful. The part with the music box going off in the middle of the night was scary for me though. I did enjoy the way he told the story and I was definitely touched by it. It was beautiful.

A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell

This is an American Spy telling his incredible story.

I had a hard time putting this one down. It was a very fun book. I learned so much about the history of Russia that I didn’t know. I have a respect for Russia now. My, what struggles that country has gone through! I loved this book. At the end there is a history of dates in the history of Russia and it has definitions too. I found that part very helpful too. Loved this book!

Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

I could not put this book down. It was quite gripping. It had suspense and I never knew what would happen next.

This is a vampire book too by the same author as "Demon in my View" and "Hawksong." I liked this book too. It is one I often think about.

This book has some cool scenes and events that happen that I have often thought about later. This is a good book, but it really surprises me that it is a vampire book again. Really I do not search out vampire books...really!! lol

Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

This book has a new take on vampires.

Jessica is a very dark girl. She likes things black. She is also an author even though she is still in High School. What she doesn’t know is that her books tell real secrets about real vampires.

She doesn't know her stories are real at first.

This is a great book.

I really don't normally go for vampire books, but I like this one.

Well, Perhaps I can't say that though because I love the Twilight Series. I guess I should say that I used to not like vampire books.

The Creek by Jennifer L. Holm

This book is very realistic to me. It seems like it could really happen.

I liked "the creek." It was very suspenseful, but not too scary. I was surprised in almost every case. It’s a fun story and I thought about it long after I closed the book.

Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I like it when the author suddenly talks to the reader. It happens all throughout the book. She adds, “Dear reader” to her sentence and it is like she is telling me the story. The author even had me look up the word perfidy. It’s a good tale. I was hoping for the little mouse. I didn’t think I’d like a book about a mouse. I do though. It is very good.

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

This book starts real, slow and boring. But, suddenly I get into it and the story gets better. I really like this story. It is about real life and gives idea how it was to live in that period.

Baseball and war were topics repeated.

I didn’t know about how they treated the Italians during the war. It made me sad.

I love how the story ended. It was beautiful.

Wish List by Eoin Colfer

LOVED it!!!

This has humor and fun and yet it really makes you think about how to live life. It's great to do good for others and to live each day as it were your last.

Meg finds that she is no longer living. See what she has to do in order to earn a place of happiness in the here after.

Raven Hill Mysteries by Emily Rodda

1. This book has two mysteries in it:

The Ghost of Raven Hill

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Both are mysteries are very fun. I guess there are more mysteries you can read. Each mystery is written by a different member of this "Help-for-Hire Inc." group. Each can be read entirely without reading the others.

This "Help-for-Hire, Inc." group got together because they wanted to make money. They find that there is much adventure in doing so.

These are super fun stories, but I should have known that because I love Emily Rodda's books.

Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm

This book starts out slow, but soon I find myself invested in the main character, May Amelia.

The book doesn’t have quotes when people speak. It just capitalized at the front of sentences of the quoted line. It’s kind of strange but it works. It gives the feel of a little girl in the frontier period. It helps us think like her.

I highly recommend reading this, but be prepared that it takes a minute to get into.

This was a 2000 Newbery Honor Book

Kiesha'ra Series by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Here's the order of the books in this series:
1. Hawksong
2. Snakecharm
3. Falcondance
4. Wolfcry
5. Wyvernhail

I borrowed Hawksong from my sister in law and loved it.

She does not like the rest of the series, but being me, I was curious so I had to read them anyway.

I was impressed with these books. I love the way that each book talks in the point of view of a different character.

I didn't like some of Oliza's choices, but I enjoyed all of the other characters. I even like Oliza's character until the end of the book.

All in all, I would recommend these books with the caution of Oliza's character.

Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm

Boston Jane Series by Jennifer L. Holm

There are actually only 3 books to this series, but there's more than one cover for the first one.

I think Jennifer Holm had a great way of keeping the same atmosphere in all three books.

I cried in the second book, and I think it is because I could relate so well with the main character. Sometimes odds are stacked up against us. I like how it is said in the book that we make our own luck.

She has a lot of bad luck it seems. She'd like to have a man named Willam to marry, but finds life to be quite an adventure even though she'd prefer it to go here way a little more.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

According to the jacket of the book, "Princess and the Midnight ball" is a reimagining of “The Twelve Dancing Princess.”

I would agree, It definitely tells a new tale and yet in the spirit of the old.
I love the spirit of this story. It has magic, yet it is still believable.

I love the love story between Rose and Galen. From the very beginning, I was pulling for these two. I find that a compliment to the author.

There is such intrigue in this book, that I was pulled in from the very first page and continued to want to read it every moment.

This was a great, fun, exciting, and romantic book. I highly recommend it.