Kneeknock Rise by Natalie Babbitt

From Goodreads,

"From the moment young Egan arrives in Instep for the annual fair, he is entranced by the fable surrounding the misty peak of Kneeknock Rise: On stormy nights when the rain drives harsh and cold, an undiscovered creature raises its voice and moans. Nobody knows what it is and nobody has ever dared to try to find out and come back again. Before long, Egan is climbing the Rise to find an answer to the mystery."

Goodreads - Kneeknock Rise

Awards and Nominations:

• Newbery Honor Award (1971)

*This review contains spoilers!*

Do you ever think about the things we do, but we don't know why we do them?  Some people call them traditions, some call them superstitions, and some say that is just how it has always been done.  This book is a great book to read that really makes you stop and think about why we do the things we do.  I read Tuck Everlasting a few years back and was not disappointed with this book by Natalie Babbitt. 

Kneeknock Rise starts with a young boy named Egan traveling to Instep to stay with his aunt, uncle, and cousin.  Egan is excited to attend the annual fair for the first time.  He wants to hear the moans and groans of the Megrimum, the creature that lives at the top of Kneeknock Rise.  Everyone has their ways to protect themselves from the creature, but Egan is skeptical and decides to get answers for himself.

This book will definitely get you thinking about the things that we habitually do in life and why we do them.  In the book, the people who lived in Instep feared the creature that lived at the top of Kneeknock Rise.  Each person had an idea of a way to keep the creature away.  Egan's aunt and uncle believed they should put a wishbone on the mantle to show the Megrimum that there is no food in the house.  Egan ends up climbing Kneeknock Rise to find out what the creature is that everyone fears.  It ends up that there is no creature, but instead it is a hot springs in a cave that makes noises when it rains.  This whole book and concept of doing something without knowing why really got me thinking.  Why do we do some of the things we do?  Do we do them because someone tells us that is how it's always been done?  I worked at a Girl Scout camp for two summers.  The first summer I had never been there and had to learn the way things were done.  I would inquire why things were done a certain way and I always received the answer, "That's how we've always done it."  This was fine, but the second summer things changed.  I was in a different position and I had a lot of control over how things were done.  Some of the staff began questioning why I was changing the way things had been done for years.  I asked why it was done that way and they always shrugged and said, "That's how it's always been done."  I then promptly made the call to change things.  It is so good to change things up especially when no one knows why you're even doing something.  There are so many things in my life and that I experience that I do without even thinking about why I do it.  We need to learn to break the habits and traditions, especially when we're not even sure why we're doing it. 

This book really made me question things, but there were a few things that I didn't like about this book.  One was that this book didn't have defined chapters.  The book was separated by little designs.  There was no Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.  I didn't like that because I enjoy stopping at a chapter instead of stopping in the middle of the book.  I also found the names somewhat confusing and difficult.  It took a little bit before I sorted all the characters and knew their role in the book.  I think the names were meant to reflect the time period at which the book was taking place. 

This book was a very interesting book that really engaged my mind.  It started off slow, but it really took off in the middle of the book.  If you need a good mind bender then I recommend reading this to get you to question why you do what you do.  I give this 3 stars.  It was good, but I feel like it didn't come anywhere near Tuck Everlasting.

Calling Maggie May by Anonymous

From Goodreads,

"A dark and edgy first-person cautionary tale about how one girl’s seemingly minor choices quickly spiraled into a life as a sex worker in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and Lucy in the Sky.

She had a normal life, until one small decision changed everything. Suddenly, there were new possibilities and new experiences.

But not all of those experiences were good.

Read her shocking story in the diary she left behind."

Goodreads - Calling Maggie May

This book is part of the Anonymous Diaries.  I read Go Ask Alice first and enjoyed the idea of the book being based on a true story.  Things spiraled from there and I've read most of the books that are a part of the series.  I was so  excited to get this book checked off my list, but I felt really let down when I finally finished it.

This book is written in the traditional diary format with the name of the author being withheld.  The book starts with a teenage girl feeling lonely and wanting attention from a boy.  She ends up making a new friend who ends up being a prostitute.  The girl quickly falls into the same lifestyle of prostitution and things quickly spiral with her family, her friends, school, and her social life.  In true fashion the book comes to an end with an author's note about what happened.

I feel like the older I get the more I get annoyed with these books.  The author of this "diary" was very naive and childish.  She lived in a nice house with a nice family who cared deeply for her.  They were a little bit demanding as far as school was concerned, but she still had a positive atmosphere to go home to.  The author fell so quickly into the life of prostitution because she was able to get attention from boys and men.  I think that this idea of getting attention by selling your body is a terrible idea to put into the minds of young adults.  I think that any young girl who has self esteem or confidence issues would quickly think that selling your body would mean that a person likes you and that it will get you attention.  Also, any girl needing money may get the idea that they can easily sell their body to earn easy and quick cash.  I think it is important for difficult topics such as prostitution be included in literature for teens.  However, I think it needs to be introduced in a way that doesn't make it seem like a fun, appealing way to get attention or make money.  This book paints a false picture.  It briefly touched on the real parts of prostitution, such as drug use, abuse, rape, and death.  I feel like if prostitution was going to be the centerpiece of the book that it should have been painted realistically, and not in a way that makes it seem fun.

I always have the complaint that these books never include the author's name.  I always feel like I need a name to connect with a character.  The lack of a name for the main character always leaves me feeling irritated and finding a better connection with a secondary character.  The book is titled, Calling Maggie May.  I definitely thought that her hooker name was going to be Maggie May, but it wasn't.  I'm still not sure what the connection was to that name because the name Maggie May was never once mentioned in the book. 

I'm not sure why I keep putting myself through the misery of reading these books.  I guess I continue to hope that one of them will jump out and I'll love it.  I give this 1 star.  I don't advise this for young adults, especially those who are easily impressionable, wanting attention, or seeking money.  If you are reading through the Anonymous Diaries then I obviously recommend reading this, but if not you can absolutely skip it and not miss anything. 

Pug Pals: Two's A Crowd by Flora Ahn

Goodreads,

"A hilarious, highly-illustrated chapter book from debut author illustrator, Flora Ahn.

Two pugs. One beloved toy bunny. What could go wrong?

Sunny's new little sister, Rosy, is getting her paws into everything. When Rosy takes Sunny's favorite toy, Mr. Bunny, and loses him, Sunny is barking mad.

But when Rosy sets off on her own to find and rescue Mr. Bunny, Sunny starts to worry. Rosy's never been outside by herself before. Sunny will have to gather all the canine courage she has and go after them-before Rosy and Mr. Bunny are both lost fur-ever!"

Goodreads - Pug Pals: Two's A Crowd

I'm so glad that I'm able to be a part of the Scholastic Insider group.  They send me books to read, review, and share with my students.  So far it has been extremely exciting and my students have enjoyed getting new books into our classroom library.  This was the second book I received a few months ago and I'm excited to finally get to share it with all of you.

Pug Pals: Two's A Crowd is part of a series by Flora Ahn.  It is about a pug named Sunny who gets a new sister named Rosy.  Rosy is extremely hyper and is constantly getting into Sunny's toys.  Sunny tolerates Rosy until she loses Sunny's favorite toy Mr. Bunny.  Sunny is furious until Rosy takes off to find Mr. Bunny.  Sunny soon realizes that she must try to find Rosy and keep her safe.

This book is so adorable.  The illustrations are a wonderful and cute addition that makes the story so much better.  My favorite part of the whole book was Sunny learning how to love and accept Rosy.  Sunny was an older dog who was really comfortable in her life with her humans, but her world was flipped upside down when a new energetic puppy came to live with them.  Sunny didn't like Rosy until Rosy disappeared to find Mr. Bunny.  Sunny then decided to take off after Rosy to find her and make sure she was okay.  I know this would definitely translate into a relationship with a sibling.  I know a lot of older siblings get agitated with the antics of younger siblings.  I think that kids with siblings would really connect with this book and with the characters.

This book was a great read and I can't wait for my students to get their hands on this.  I give this 4 stars and recommend it to kids in grades 2nd to 4th grade. 

I Felt A Funeral, In My Brain by Will Walton

From Goodreads,

"How do you deal with a hole in your life?

Do you grieve?

Do you drink?

Do you make out with your best friend?

Do you turn to poets and pop songs?

Do you question everything?

Do you lash out?

Do you turn the lashing inward?

If you're Avery, you do all of these things. And you write it all down in an attempt to understand what's happened -- and is happening -- to you.

I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain is an astonishing novel about navigating death and navigating life, at a time when the only map you have is the one you can draw for yourself."

Goodreads - I Felt A Funeral, In My Brain

I purchase a LOT of my books through Scholastic.  I get a flat rate, no tax, and free shipping.  Since I had purchased so much, I earned free money to spend on books.  I just searched through by price and ended up stumbling across this book.  After reading the synopsis I was convinced this was a book I would enjoy.  Needless to say, I'm glad I'm finished with it because it was a huge disappointment.

I Felt A Funeral, In My Brain is told by Avery who is recovering from an injury after a car accident.  The book alternates between stories as Avery tries to deal with the past and the present of what is happening and has happened in his life.  The present sections of the book deal with Avery at his grandpal's funeral, while the past sections deal with the events leading up to his death including his mother and grandpal's alcoholism.

I don't have a lot of positive things to say about this book sadly.  The whole concept of this book is great, but the execution of this book was absolutely terrible.  The book bounced around.  I despised the fact that in a single chapter the story went from being in the present, to being in the actual current present of grandpal's funeral, then back to the present.  It was absolutely confusing to keep up with.  There were multiple times that I was lost in the book.  I think that if Walton would have written the book to be from beginning to end and in order it would have been more enjoyable.  More details could have been included and the reader wouldn't have to sort and figure out what was happening.

Another complaint that I have with this book is that it is marketed as a novel and as poetry.  This book was honestly neither.  I really thought that there would be more poetry in it.  But the "poetry" that was in the book wasn't poetry at all.  It was just a hodge podge of words and thoughts made by Avery.  A lot of the poetry went along with what was happening in the book, but it was completely confusing and took a lot to decipher.

If you enjoy analyzing and deciphering literature then this is definitely the book for you.  It was very scattered and scrambled, making it hard to read.  I give this 1 star.

Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau

From Goodreads,

"A congressman's daughter who has to be perfect. A star quarterback with a secret. A guy who's tired of being ignored. A clarinet player who's done trying to fit in. An orphaned rebel who wants to teach someone a lesson. A guy who wants people to see him, not his religion.

They couldn't be more different, but before the morning's over, they'll all be trapped in a school that's been rocked by a bombing. When they hear that someone inside is the bomber, they'll also be looking to one another for answers."

Goodreads - Time Bomb

Any time that I go into Books A Million I check out the teen reads section.  I glance over the covers to find one that is appealing and then I read the synopsis to decide if I want to read it.  This was a book that I picked up, read the synopsis and put down.  But after roaming the store a while longer I decided to go back and get the book.

This book is told from the perspective of six very different students who attend the same high school.  On one day before school starts they are all in the school for various reasons when a bomb goes off.  Each student has to fight to survive and get out.  Eventually the students realize that one of the bombers is among them and they need to figure out who it is quickly before another bomb goes off.

This book wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be.  One of the things that I was upset with at the beginning was sorting the characters and the character progression.  I found it hard to keep the different characters sorted and organized at the beginning.  As the book progressed I was able to connect small details to names to help me better remember them and keep them sorted.  As the book went on I was glad it was a slow progression because we got to learn about the characters through the others' eyes.  I also thought that the students would all be trapped in the same room when the bomb exploded, but that wasn't the case.  The students were all in varying locations and slowly started finding each other and working together.  At first I was kind of irritated about it, but I found that having the students progress through the burning building alone or in pairs helped me to better figure out who the bomber was and why they were doing it.  The slow progression and the placement of characters during the bombing really helped this book keep a level of excitement and mystery to it.

When I first started reading this book I immediately knew the direction the book was headed.  One of the students has a father who is a senator.  I knew immediately that the bombing would have some relation to him and his trying to pass a bill called Safety Through Education.  While the ending ended up being different than I expected there was still the agenda to gain attention for the bill.  I was disappointed because I had called it from the beginning and had hoped the entire time that it would turn out differently.

The book was a little bit predictable, but the character's being scattered in the book and slowly getting to know them helped keep a sense of mystery to the story.  I was constantly wondering who was the bomber and why, even though deep down I knew.  I give this book 4 stars and recommend it to people who like mystery or thriller books.

Love, Lucas by Chantele Sedgwick

From Goodreads,

"When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she'll never recover. Between her parents' arguing and the battle she's fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn't sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she's willing to give it a try. In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo's beach house. Once they're settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her-from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on. If only it were that easy. But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that's when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things? With her brother's dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?"

Goodreads - Love, Lucas

I tend to find myself reading books of similar themes.  Typically I lean toward books with themes about mental health, humor, cancer, or love.  This book had the two of the themes with one being cancer and the other being love.  This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but it was still absolutely stunning and part of me wants to read the other books in the series.

Love, Lucas is about a girl named Oakley who is trying to come to terms with the loss of her brother to cancer.  They were always very close and it seemed that Oakley would absolutely fall to pieces with him gone.  But her mother takes her to California so they can get a fresh start and maybe try to get their life going again.  While her mother tries to figure life out again, Oakley meets a boy named Carson who she finds is similar to her brother.  Carson is adventurous and finds that he cares deeply for Oakley, but Oakley has to figure out what she wants.  The book comes to an exciting climax that will absolutely shock anyone who reads this book.

This book is titled Love, Lucas because Oakley's brother Lucas decides to write letters to Oakley to help her grieve.  I was really expecting the letters to be a bigger part of the story, but they weren't.  This book really focused on Oakley falling in love with Carson with the letters being sprinkled in throughout the book.  I just feel like if the book is going to be titled Love, Lucas that it should have a tighter connection to Lucas's letters.  I felt like having Oakley fall in love with Carson kind of took away from the letter aspect of the book.

SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!!  Read with caution!

I absolutely loved the climax in this book.  Oakley and Carson were out in the water making up after their big break-up fight.  That was when Carson spotted a shark and told Oakley to get back to shore.  But the shark ended up grabbing Carson and pulling him under.  When I read this I had an immediate jaw drop moment and was trying to turn the pages faster than I could read them.  I did not see it coming and was in complete shock that the author would throw Carson under the bus like that.  The whole situation with the shark attack made me want to read the other books that go along with this book. 

This book was a tad bit slow, but it had a couple big moments that were shocking and exciting.  I'm considering reading the next book in this series and will post a review if and when I read it.  I give this book 3 stars and recommend it to people who want a teenage love story. 

Lemons by Melissa Savage

From Goodreads,

"What do you do when you lose everything that means anything?

Ten-year old Lemonade Liberty Witt doesn’t know the answer to that question, except what her mom taught her. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But what if those lemons are so big that you forget how?

How do you make lemonade out of having to leave everything you know in San Francisco to move to the small town of Willow Creek, California and live with a grandfather you’ve never even met? In a town that smells like grass and mud and bugs. With tall pines instead of skyscrapers and dirt instead of sidewalks. Not to mention one woolly beast lurking in the woods.

That’s right, Bigfoot.

A ginormous wooden statue of the ugly thing stands right at the center of town like he’s someone real important, like the mayor or something. And the people here actually believe he’s real and hiding somewhere out in the pine filled forests.

How can anyone possibly be expected to make lemonade out those rotten lemons?

Everything is different and Lem just wants to go back home. And then she meets Tobin Sky, the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives, Inc. and sole investigator for the town. He invites her to be his Assistant for the summer and she reluctantly agrees. At least until she can figure out her escape plan.

Together, Lem and Tobin try to capture a shot of the elusive beast on film and end up finding more than they ever could have even imagined."

Goodreads - Lemons

I have been doing read alouds with my class and after we finished Saving Winslow I let my students pick from a series of books.  Lemons was in the stack along with a couple other notable books.  I gave the students a one sentence summary of the book based on the summary on the back.  The students all voted and we ended up selecting this book to read.  At times the students were fully engaged in this book, at others they were somewhat bored.  It ended up that I finished reading the book for the kids because they really lost interest.

Lemons starts with a young girl named Lemonade, being taken to her grandfather's house who she has never met.  Lemonade just wants to go back home instead of live in a place she's unfamiliar with, with a man she doesn't know.  Soon Lemonade meets a young boy named Tobin who runs the Bigfoot Detectives, Inc.  Lemonade is stubborn and continues to tell Tobin she will be going back home to San Francisco.  But eventually Lemonade settles into life with her grandfather and hanging out with Tobin.  Together they search for bigfoot and along the way they find something even greater.

I absolutely loved this book, but my students were a little mixed about it.  I loved that the story was set back in the 70s, but it also had a still relevant vibe to it.  This story was really big on the connections we have between people and the value of them.  Lemonade and Tobin struggled at times in their friendship.  Lemonade had to learn to trust Tobin and Tobin had to learn how to make Lemonade realize that she belonged in Willow Creek.  Lemonade also had to learn that she needed her grandfather just as much as he needed her.  I absolutely loved the importance that was placed on relationships in this book.  A lot of young adults don't value the relationships they have and they honestly take them for granted.  This book was packed with various examples of relationships with people, and even more importantly the various strains that relationships can have.

One of the downsides of this book is that it was lengthy for a read aloud and it was pretty dull for a large chunk of the book.  I think the lack of excitement was really what put some of my kids off from this book.  About half of them were interested to find out what was living in the woods, the other half was ready to start a new book.  I adored this book as I read it aloud and finished it by myself.  It was a very good wholesome book that had a lot of good things packed in it.

Overall, this book wasn't what I expected, but it was still wonderful.  My students were a little disappointed with the book, but were glad to hear the ending.  I give this 4 out of 5 stars.  This book doesn't really have a specific crowd that I would recommend it to, but it is still really good and is a good fun read.