Rodzina by Karen Cushman

I enjoyed learning a bit while I read this fun little novel. It talks of orphans being transported to the West by trains from the overly orphaned populated Chicago. The interesting part is that this really happened in America. It helped me to think about what it would be like to be one of those orphans.


This book is about a 12 year old girl named Rodzina. Rodzina is a big girl for her age. She doesn’t describe herself as pretty either. She has been well taken care of as she’s grown up but suddenly she finds herself without family when her mother passes away. She’d like to stay in Chicago but the orphanage doesn’t give her an option. This is her adventure with the train of orphans headed West.

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more of Cushman’s books. I like the way she writes. This book helped me want to treat people better. It makes me want to think about how the children around me are treated and to remember that they are people too. It made me ponder a different day and relate it to my own. I’d definitely recommend this book.

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Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

What if the story of Cinderella has been wrong all this time?  What if all this time no one has gotten the details right?  The author writes this as being the real Cinderella story.  This is a story about a very happy family which consists of:  a dad, a mom and 4 little girls (Katrina, Cinder, Ella, and Beatrice).  Then something in the story happens that breaks up their happy family.  There is a change.  Soon things are not happy.  Cinder finds herself in a position to try to save her family and she’ll also have to save the entire kingdom from a very dark and evil prince.  That’s a heavy burden for anyone to bear but, Cinder will find she can do much to help.  I really liked this book.  It wasn’t the typical happily ever after book and yet it had a very satisfying ending.  It was a book that really makes you think about real life troubles and of family.  It was very hard to put down.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

This book was a bit unexpected.  Who would’ve thought of a castle that is alive and that can add rooms or switch around hallways?  That is exactly what this book did.  It was a fun adventure.  I grew to like Celie.  She is one of the princesses at the castle.  The castle likes her a lot and she finds the castle a big help when the castle and kingdom are threatened.   I enjoyed using my imagination and thinking of what it would be like to be in a castle that if it liked you suddenly your room was soft and luxurious.  Or if the castle didn’t like you it would seem to get smaller and cramped and military like.  It was so cool to cheer for the royal family that lived in the castle and hope they came out of it alright.  Jessica Day George makes a story feel real even though there is magic and things that are not typical in real life.  It seemed that it could happen.  I had fun with this book.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was fun to read as I waited in line to see the Hunger Games at 3:15 am.  I had great seats to see the movie and the book kept me awake and totally thinking about the same type of society as The Hunger Games.  It is about a Dystopian Society just like the Hunger Games.

This society (a Dystopian Chicago) in this book is divided into 5 factions (it talks about this inside the cover.)

1. Candor (the honest)
2. Abnegation (the selfless)
3. Dauntless (the brave)
4. Amity (the peaceful)
5. Erudite (the intelligent)

Each year, all the sixteen year olds have to pick a faction.  They can either stay in their current faction or they can choose to change to another one.


Beatrice Prior is the main character and she has grown up in the Abnegation faction and the people around her are selfless.  She loves her family but has a big decision to make.


I really loved this book and noticed the next book in the series is going to be coming out in May.  I can't wait.  It is such a great book.  I couldn't put it down it was so wonderful.  It is intriguing and there is a little love thrown in there.  I am glad for a son who told me about this great read.

Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

This was a love story and adventure.  Mettie Ivie Harrison has such a unique way about writing.   I really like this book.

Izzie is in love with Mark.  Her mom is a witch.  She has a best friend that is acting strangely toward her and she doesn't know why.  Then a new boy comes to the school named Tristan.  Life changes dramatically when he comes to the school.  I'll let you discover that for yourselves but, I never expected the fun in the story plot.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I am intrigued already and I'd say that I HAVE to read more because it is the first in about a 7 or 8 book series.  Wow.  I find this book thought provoking and full of questions.  It asks the big questions.

This is a story about a boy named Luke.  Luke is the third child in a world where the law is that no one can have more than two.  He has to hide and remain hidden.  It certainly makes me wonder what it would be like if I had to stay inside always to not be seen.  The pages seeemed to go so fast for me.  I was held quickly and lastingly...and I'm still thinking about it.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

After reading the first books I gathered all my strength to read this one.  I had tried to read all three real quick.  I had finished Catching Fire the same day I finished Hunger Games.  I picked up Mockingjay and it wasn't going the way I had planned so I put it down for a week.  I picked it up today and read the book in a day.

I like this series and even though it didn't go where I wanted it to go, it was a great story one that provokes thought of death, war, life coping skills and love.

This is the third and final book in the Hunger Games.  We are still following Katniss through trying and surprising adventures.

I highly recommend this series.

Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I went away for Labor day to Island Park to a cabin.  I had these visions of reading Hunger Games and Catching fire.   Well, I can't read in the car, it makes me sick.   The only time I could read is after we reached our destination.  Reading was harder than I thought with my kids and their cousins running too an fro and with our agenda of things we wanted to do and to talk with family.  It took me many days to get about 3/4 of the way through Hunger Games.  I'd have to stop at night and then I'd sit and think of the story and not sleep and not able to read.  Well, I got home yesterday and read the rest of Hunger Games and ALL of Catching Fire.  Wow!  I am really into these books and I plan to start "Mockingjay" today.  Mostly I am starting because I can't get the story out of my head and I can't seem to focus on anything else!!!  I need to get on with my life!

Hunger Games is a book about a girl named Katniss Everdeen, I remember her name because her childhood friend calls her Catnip.  Katniss lives in a district that mines coal.  Their are other districts that do other things but all are highly controlled by the Capital.  The Capital is what took over the ruins of North America.  Their Nation is the nation of Panem.  To keep the districts in line they have a boy and girl from each district go to a televised event called the "Hunger Games."  In this deadly game, only one will live through until the end.  The goal is to be the last one living.   It is kill or be killed.  This is a very intriguing story and one that doesn't lose my interest throughout.  I must admit after "The Hunger Game" ends I felt urgent about reading "Catching Fire" to find out more of the story.   But after "Catching Fire,"  I feel I am catching my breath a little better.   I don't know why that is so because from the ending  can tell there is much action ahead.  In fact, I think I'll go read it!

I recommend these books but also recommend putting aside enough time to read them....they are all encompassing, thought promoting books.

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Well, it wasn't my favorite, too much swearing for me.  I can see the benefit in this book though.  I just don't think I'll ever read it again.  It wasn't to my liking.  I can see how a teen would like the book though and perhaps learn a lesson through it.

I didn't know the purpose for a long time until perhaps the end.  The girl did learned a valuable lesson, though I am not sure wading through the "other" stuff was worth it to me but it might be worth it to someone else though.

The girl's name is Ashley Hannigan.  The Math teacher took off with the prom money and even if she isn't interested in prom she helps her friend to pull off a prom with limited resources.

The Princess and the Snowbird by Mette Ivie Harrison

I knew a little better about what to expect with this book.  I am getting used to Mette's writing and because of that I think I really enjoyed this book.  Mette Ivie Harrison is a really good writer and when she describes things I can imaginie it really well without her going into too much description.  I also find myself completely entranced in the book.  I really get swept away and it becomes my world as I read her books.

This is about the daughter of the bear and the hournd.  The daughter has a task to do and we follow her and get to know her and find out if she acheives what her task is.  This book has romance and adventure.  It's a good book.

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

This book is a lot like the Princess and the Hound. I really am surprised Mette is not a guy. The details of Hunting and killing and the unmagic are very clear in my mind and sometimes a bit shocking to me.

Mette knows how to write. She is a great writer. I've never read books like hers before. They to me are in a category of their own. I do like her books but I find myself pausing for a while when asked to describe them. I think her background really helps these books to be well written. Mette is a unique author but a good unique. I really think I like her writing.

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

This is a book with grit. If I didn't know the author was a girl, I'd think she was a boy. This book is descriptive about hunting, aggressive and written in the view point of the prince. It's a new kind of writing for me. When I say that I don't mean it bad. It's just different that what I am used to. Mette is a great writer. She is very good.

This plot in this book is developed really well. It is intriguing and makes me ask questions right away. There's so much to this book of such great substance. I really did enjoy it.

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

I like the way this book is written. There are two characters’ views: Kirsten and Walk. The chapters go back and forth in that person’s point of view. Kirsten and Walk go to the same school. Walk is black and Kirsten is white. Kirsten has a friend named Rory that is acting a bit different this year and she struggles with her weight. Her parents are fighting a lot, too. Walk got a scholarship to the school and works really hard to do his best. His mom has high expectations of him. This story follows them as they meet and learn about life. This is a story that tugs the heart. It surprising some of the turns it makes. I highly recommend this book.

Notes From a Liar and Her Dog by Gennifer Choldenko

This book is great. I think it has a little attitude that kids will relate to. I like it especially because as I kept reading I started understanding why the girl had an attitude and why she lied. This book has a definite lesson that hits to the very soul and teaches excellent values. I like Ant (short for Antonia) MacPherson and her little dog named Pistachio. I like what Ant learns about herself and about the adults around her. I think the adults around her even learn a thing or two.