The Center of Everything

 

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

Pages: 252

4 out of 5 stars

Set in small town, Kerrville, Kansas, this novel is told by Evelyn Bucknow. Evelyn is a young girl, when we met her, her mom, Grandma and the neighbors in their ran-down apartment building. You share Evelyn's life and thoughts as she grows up - up to the point where she is ready to leave home for college. The people of Kerrville are in the center of the United States, but to Evelyn it might as well be the middle of nowhere. Evelyn's voice is authentic as a young girl and later teen, growing up in rural America in the 1980s during the Reagan years. 

Upper Elementary and Middle School Reads

Books by Gary D. Schmidt

My Review: I had the privilege of hearing author Gary D. Schmidt while on an Author Visit in Springfield, and was very impressed with his storytelling abilities. His writing is also masterful as he leads the reader through coming of age stories.

Title	Pages
1. Pay Attention, Carter Jones	224
2. Orbiting Jupiter	192
3. The Wednesday Wars	272

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Summary: Supernanny Mary Poppins joins the Banks family in a mystical fashion, blowing in on the wind holding her infamous umbrella aloft. Throughout the first book, we are introduced to a woman who has little time for frivolity and yet is able to take us on wild, imaginative adventures that teach us life lessons along the way.

My Review: When Mary Poppins Returns came out and I learned that the author of the series, P.L. Travers was disappointed in Julie Andrews’ portrayal of Mary Poppins in the movie, I had to see why. It’s true, the movie didn’t do a good job of staying true to character – but I sure loved the music!  I found the movie version of Mary the more captivating of the two. I’m not sure I would have finished the book were it not for wanting to compare the two Marys to the bitter end. I rank the book a four, just because of the inspiration it provided for the musical. Pages: 232

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Painfully beautiful" (New York Times Book Review) is the perfect description of this coming of age story set in the NC lowcountry. The author, who has a PhD in zoology, reveals the laws of nature and asks the reader to consider whether these laws apply to humans as well. Readers who enjoyed The Glass Castle will enjoy this book.

368 pages

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

I thought it wouldn't gut me as bad the second time through. But it did.

11 stars and a moon. Such a beautiful and well-written story.

Book 347 read in 2018

Pages: 384

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
This book arrived in my March 2016 OwlCrate Box, and I'm pleased it did. Otherwise, I might not have been aware of it or gotten around to reading it for months, or even years. This story is just too good to ignore for that long.

Dill lives in a small town, in the bible belt, and everything sucks. He's the only child of a Pentecostal minister who has been imprisoned--no, not for handling dangerous snakes or making his congregation drink poison to show their faith, but for possessing pornographic materials depicting minors--and a religious fanatic mother who blames Dill for the family's hardships, severe debt, and poverty. Dill's Dad is notorious, and both the ex-church community and the local community are equal parts angry, ignorant, scared, and judgmental.

The beautiful part of this story is that Dill has two very unexpected friends, and the three of them together make this one of the most interesting, lovable, and heartbreaking contemporary novels I've read all year (and in case that doesn't sound convincing, I've read 118 books so far this year, almost all YA).

It's told in 3 POVs, including Dill, and his two friends, Travis and Lydia. Each has a unique voice and different perspectives on life, their small town, and what the future holds.

I love these characters, and I wish I could have known them when I was 17. I love this story, and it left all my edges raw and frayed. I love the writing, because the way Jeff Zenter builds a story, sculpts the setting, and makes you understand and fall in love with the characters in just a page, a sentence, or even a word, is incredible. It's also different from almost everything else I've read so far this year.

This book gets 5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon, but it's 10 stars in my heart.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Morgan Matson is fantastic. She writes YA contemporary stories that sneak up on your heart and wind their fingers around it. She seems to really understand what it's like to be 17 and not to know who you are, what you want, and where you are headed. It makes all of her stories so interesting, because they are painfully human. The characters make mistakes and have to try to overcome them. They're not all strong, but they learn how to be stronger. It makes for very interesting reads.

I always think I will start one of her stories and read a bit each night, but they suck me in, which was why I was up until 5:00 AM reading this story about a shy girl named Emily, who's best friend, Sloane, mysteriously disappears the summer before their senior year, leaving behind a To Do list of things Emily should try to do without her, fun things, like dance until dawn and sleep under the stars, and much scarier things for Emily like kiss a stranger and go skinny dipping.

Emily is so lost without Sloane that she tries to tackle the list, despite how much the tasks scare her. She hopes that if she finishes the list, it will bring her friend back. The best things about this story are the friendships and the way Emily comes to see herself as someone who is so much more than "that girl who hangs out with Sloane."

Page: 480

PS: If you haven't read any Morgan Matson, then you should also check out Second Chance Summer and Amy and Roger's Epic Detour.

Anne of Avonlea by Maud Montgomery

This is the second installment of the 'Anne of Green Gables' series, published in 1909. In this book, Anne's Uncle Matthew dies, leaving Marilla alone on the farm. If Anne goes to college as planned, having won a scholarship, Marilla will have to sell the farm. Anne decides to delay college, and teach at the Avonlea school.

Marilla and Anne take in twins Davy (a rambunctious, mischievous little boy) and Dora (a quiet, rather dull little girl). This is quite an adventure , with Davy getting into all sorts of scrapes on a daily basis. A Mr. Harrison, who owns an obscene parrot, buys the farm next door, and he and Anne do not get along.

In short, the idyllic life Anne lives on Prince Edward Island continues. This books follows Anne from ages 16-18, when their neighbor Mrs. Lynd's husband dies, and she moves in with Marilla, thus allowing Anne to attend college at last.

198 pages
copyright 1909.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I believe I was in 4th or 5th grade when I read 'Little Women'. I loved it then. I related to Jo, who was a tomboy, as was I, and read voraciously, as did I.  Last year, I 'took one for the team' by reading Neil Gaiman books, even though I don't care for fantasy. This year, I decided to do my share by reading books written over a hundred years ago by going back and re-reading some classics. I started with 'Little Women'.

I confess, I  wasn't as enthralled by it as I was when I was 10, but I still enjoyed it. It was like visiting an  old friend, one that I was happy to re-connect to. The March sisters, Meg, Jo,  Beth and Amy have been beloved by girls everywhere for many generations.

It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869.  It follows the four girls from childhood to womanhood, and may been based on the author and her three sisters. The story begins during the Civil War with the girls and their Mother trying to keep the home fires burning while their Father is away acting as a chaplain with the Union army.  The family used to be wealthy, but Father had lost his money several years before, and the girls now consider themselves poor, as do their neighbors and friends. They do have a servant, Hannah, though, so the term is relative, and Mother tries to teach them that  money is not what makes a person wealthy. 

This is truly 'gentle and nostalgic fiction', reflecting a simpler life which I'm sure many of us yearn for at times. Entertainment consisted of writing and acting out plays, going on outings with friends, reading, and the occasional party. The girls fight, make up, befriend their neighbors, sew, garden, go for walks and do other 'old-fashioned' activities. I'm sure it would seem tame to today's girls, but I bet they would really like the book if they gave it a chance.


Published in 1868-69
560 pages

"Freeing" by E.K. Blair

This is a companion novel to "Fading," which I did not read.  I was more interested in Jase's story, which is the subject of this book.  Jase is the main character's best friend in "Fading," and "Freeing" takes place at the same time (from what I've read in reviews of the first novel).  He had lots of girlfriends in high school, but when he moved to Seattle for college, he realized why he never felt connected to any of them.  Although he's attracted to men, he doesn't want to be gay, and his shame and embarrassment nearly costs him someone special.  This was a well written coming out and coming-of-age story but was a little short on details describing the main characters' physical features, so I had a hard time picturing what they looked like.  295 pages (Kindle edition).

"Chained Melody" by Debbie Martin

My gosh, what an emotional book!  Tom and Will grew up together in small town England.  They're very different boys but are best friends.  Tom is a typical alpha male who loves the ladies and joins the military after school.  Will is more sensitive and bookish and goes to university then works as a librarian.  They lose touch for a few years but eventually reconnect after Tom leaves his wife and goes to stay with Will.  But Will is now Billie, a pre-op transexual living as a woman.  How long can he hide Billie from Tom, and how will Tom react when he discovers her?

The reader gets both of the main characters' points of view with Tom narrating in the present and Will's part told in flashbacks as Tom reads Will's diary.  It's hard to describe how affecting this book is as we're allowed to follow both men as they try to find happiness in a world that so easily judges people who aren't "normal."  Some of the English turns of phrase and slang were confusing, but I'm so glad that I read this lovely and bittersweet story.  Will/Billie is a character that will stick with me for a long time.  428 pages (Kindle edition).

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

(Posted for Ann Roberts)

I started reading this book before Christmas and finished up just after the New Year.  I’ve always liked to read Dickens when it’s cold and dreary and I’m pretty sure this was my first reading of Great Expectations. I’ve seen film adaptations before so I knew the plot line, as does everyone, I’m sure. What I had forgotten is how wonderfully funny Dickens' writing is. So while Great Expectations is a tale of class discrimination,  heartbreak, and entrapment, it is also filled with kindness and sweetness in the characters of Joe, Biddy,  Wemmick and the aged P., and hilarity in the characters of the Pockets, Mr. Wopsle, and Uncle Pumblechook.

 I’m sure I’ll be reading Dickens next Christmas.

Hardback, 598 p.

Forging the Sword by Hilari Bell

Jiann, Kavi, and Soraya have formed an uneasy alliance.  Jiann has become commander of the rebel Farsalan army.  Soraya has learned the Suud way of manipulating the elements, a handy skill when fighting the implacable Hrum.  But Kavi has the most challenging job of all. He must find a way to make a sword that can withstand the "watersteel" of the Hrum.  This book reminds me in some ways of the first "Red Dawn" movie (young teens holding out against an invading army) but without the high body count. A satisfying read. 624 pages.

Rise of a Hero by Hilari Bell

Book 2 of the Farsala Trilogy picks up in the aftermath of the Hrum invasion.  Jiann has gathered the survivors of the Farsalan defeat and is trying to build a rebel army.  Soraya has decided the best way to find out what happened to her mother and little brother is to become a Hrum kitchen worker. Kavi now regrets helping the Hrum and begins spying against them. Bell does a good job of developing both the plot and the characters in this installment. 592 pages.

Debbie Harry sings in French by Meagan Brothers

I found this book in a Dollar General Store and the title caught my eye.  French?  Debbie Harry?  What could it be about?  Well, imagine if you will a confused young man, struggling with alcoholism and school bullies, inspired by hearing Debbie Harry sing "Depeche-toi, depeche-toi et attends" (hurry up, hurry up, and wait). According to Johnny,  "listening to Debbie Harry sing the French part of "Sunday Girl" was somehow more reassuring than anything the counselors had told me so far."  Who knew Blondie could be so inspiring? 234 pages.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh   308 pages

Discovering the symbolic meanings of flowers while languishing in the foster-care system, 18-year-old Victoria is hired by a florist.Two narratives are woven together using the Victorian language of flowers that ultimately helps shape Victoria's future as she grapples with a painful decision from her past.

What I learned from this book:  yellow roses signify infidelity--probably not the best choice for my wedding bouquet, go figure.

Freaky Fast Frankie Joe

Pages: 248
Author: Lutricia Clifton
It's hard to move to a new place but even harder when it's with 6 people you don't know and one of them hates you. Frankie Joe has a rough time of it but makes new friends and just keeps trying and comes out better in the end.

Eleven-year-old Frankie Joe Huckaby, forced to live with the father he never knew, a stepmother, and four stepbrothers in Illinois, starts a delivery service to finance his escape back to his mother in Texas, not realizing he is making a better life for himself than he ever had with her.

Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin

Lydia and her thirteen-year-old son, Sam, are banished to Wyoming after Lydia misbehaves, embarrassing her father who holds the purse strings. The hope is the remote location will help keep the two of them out of trouble. It doesn't work.

The book deals with a lot of important topics:dysfunctional families, drugs and alcohol, self-esteem, teen sex and teen pregnancy, . When reading the review for this book, I thought it was described as a rollicking, funny, sometimes sad, coming of age story. Turns out the first word was really raunchiest. 416 pages.

Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

My classic for the month is Girl of the Limberlost. I once had this title described to me as a romantic western. I think a more accurate description might be a gentle and nostalgic romance. It is set in the early 1900s and focuses on Elnora Comstock. Elnora has had a rough life. Her father died young and her mother is emotionally distant. Finances are tight, so Elnora must pay her own way through school. Still, Elnora has a lot of grit and is determined to make the best of her situation, keeping a firm head on her shoulders, a strong work ethic and hope in her heart. 352 pages.