the help

Wow is all I can really say about Kathryn Stockett's book.  One of my favorites of the year.  Touching, sad, funny, and truthfully raw.  It gets at the heart of human relationships, race, and how far we've come.  I would have read it in a couple days if work and children didn't interfere :)

the other wes moore

"Two kids with the same name, living in the same city. One grew up to be a Rhodes scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison for felony murder. Here is the story of two boys and the journey of a generation."

This book follows the lives of two Wes Moores and explores how two seemingly similar young men ended up on two completely different paths.  I really enjoyed the book but wish it spent more time on the discussion after the life stories.  I wanted him to expand on what truly made the difference.

story of a girl

I can see why teenagers would like this book by Sara Zarr.  As an 8th grader, Deanna is caught by her father in a regrettable situation.  Since then, she has been trying to show the people in her life that she isn't that person.  She wonders how life would be different if it never happened and won't let that moment define her as a person. 

This book definitely speaks to the unforgiving nature of high school students and how much kids struggle to live down one bad decision.  Overall, I liked the book and it was a really quick read.

city of bones

Cassandra Clare's fantasy book about an alternate world that humans cannot see is an interesting and somewhat exciting read, but not one of my favorites.  Clary Fray witnesses a murder at an NYC night club, and as a result, she is pulled into this alternate world. 

Although City of Bones is packed with Shadowhunters (demon killers), werewolves, witches, faeries, and vampires, I have never been a big fan of fantasy as a genre.  Perhaps this is why I have never read the Harry Potter series.  Can I admit that?  The book did keep me interested, and I'm sure it's one my students would love, so I would definitely recommend it to them.  If I have time down the road, I may pick up the next book in the trilogy.

water for elephants

The story of Jacob Jankowski's Depression-era experiences with a traveling circus is one that reveals thorough research on the author's part.  She sheds light on the horror and romance that filled one young man's chance encounter with the circus after his parents die and he leaves Cornell just shy of his vet's degree.  

The characters are rich and colorful, layered and intriguing, beautiful and grotesque.  The conditions are squalid, but Jacob's love for Marlena, the enchanting elephant performer, and his friends, keeps him on the train, hoping for a positive outcome. 

My favorite part of Sarah Gruen's book, though, wasn't the circus thread.  I absolutely loved the chapters that reveal present-day Jacob, a 93-year-old man in a nursing home.  He is feisty and crotchety, making for some witty exchanges with the nurse and fellow residents.  I am amazed how well a young author developed an aged character's voice.  I really enjoyed reading this book and even added it to my Netflix queue just to see how it translates on the big screen. 

three cups of deceit

Jon Krakauer's expose of Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea made me sick.  I felt conned by Mortenson's embellishments and lies. Krakauer paints Mortenson as a greedy man who uses the charity's funds for private jets and other obscenely unnecessary travel expenses.  He sheds light on the falsified stories at the heart of the book.  And he exposes schools left empty with no children using them due to lack of support beyond a physical structure.  I was so angered during the couple hours it took to read the book.  Then, when I really thought about it, I realized that Krakauer, while he may be right, is now hurting the thousands of girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan who do benefit from the good that Mortenson does do in spite of the lies.  While I do appreciate the truth, there had to be a better way to deal with deceit. 

the rules of survival

Good book.  I didn't love it like some of the others I read lately, but it was a quick, easy read.  I think what disappointed me is that the writing style isn't unique or challenging.  I know it's a YA book, but that doesn't mean it has to lack complexity.  Jellicoe Road, on the other hand, had a unique style and a more intricate plot line.  Overall, though, Werlin's book shared a disturbing, yet touching, story about three children's struggle to survive at the hands of an abusive mother.  I can see why it was an Abe Awards winner.