My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen

From Goodreads,

"Gary Paulsen has owned dozens of unforgettable and amazing dogs. In each chapter, he tells of one special dog, among them Cookie, the sled dog who saved his life; Snowball, the puppy he owned as a boy in the Philippines; Ike, his mysterious hunting companion; Dirk, the grim protector; and his true friend Josh, a brilliant border collie."

Goodreads - My Life in Dog Years

Most people can think back to a pet they had in their life that was a huge part of their life.  Most pets, especially dogs, are forgiving creatures that love unconditionally.  My Life in Dog Years is Gary Paulsen's stories from his life with his favorite and most memorable dogs.  Some of the dogs were only in his life for a short time and some were there for an extended period.  This nonfiction book was a perfect collection of feel-good stories about dogs. 

While I was reading this book it really made me think about dogs that have been in my life and the impact that they have had.  Shiloh and George both stood out while I was thinking about my life in dog years.  Shiloh came into my life when I was 4 or 5.  A guy my dad worked with said he was trying to find a home for a beagle that had been abused and was kind of aggressive.  My dad being the big-hearted person he is said he would take the dog.  He picked up the dog and brought him to our house.  I immediately told my mom that he looked like the dog off the VHS cover of Shiloh.  I referred to him as Shiloh from that day on and it stuck.  Shiloh was very scared for a short period after arriving at our house.  He was never aggressive and he was showered with love.  He lived a happy life with us and enjoyed the freedom when we moved to a new house with plenty of land to roam on.  He lived to be eleven or twelve years old.  Shiloh really taught me that even though you can have a bad start in life, your situation can change for the better.  The other dog that came to mind was George.  George was an AKC registered English Bulldog.  We got him as a puppy and he was really mine and my dad's dog.  I have so many memories with George.  I remember the day I moved into the dorms at college.  I cried while I was leaving because I was going to miss him so much.  George was always there when I needed someone to talk to or when I didn't feel good.  I remember being checked out of school early one day because I had a severe sinus infection.  After going to a clinic and getting a prescription I went home and crawled in the recliner.  George promptly crawled in the recliner and laid with me for hours while I rested.  He always knew when you needed him, and he was there for me and my dad more times than we can count.  George taught me that dogs have souls and emotions and can understand what we need.  George taught me, unconditional love.  This book was Gary Paulsen's story of his life and dogs that have been a part of it.  It was a book of reflection and it made me reflect on my life and how fortunate I have been to have such wonderful pets in it.

I really enjoyed this book, and my only complaint is that I wish there had been pictures of the dogs included.  I give this book 3 stars.  It was really good, but of course, there was no plot since it is nonfiction.  This is a great book if you like dogs or books by Gary Paulsen.  I think Gary Paulsen fans would really enjoy getting to know the background of some of the dogs he writes into his fictional books. 

Resist by Alan Gratz

From Goodreads,

"An exclusive, action-packed story about one girl's daring rescue mission during World War II.

Can Samira survive the dangers of D-Day and find her mother in time?"

Goodreads - Resist

I posted my review of Allies last week, which told the story of D-Day.  One of the characters in the book was named Samira.  Her piece of the story was very short and straightforward, and unfortunately, I felt it was incomplete.  Scholastic partnered with Alan Gratz to publish and release the special edition story of Samira.  I am so glad that I was able to get the entire 5th-grade class as well as myself a copy to read because it really concluded Samira's story for me.

Samira's story really starts in the book Allies.  Samira's mother is part of the French Resistance.  The morning of D-Day Samira's mother is taken by Nazi's after she is caught trying to help a family escape through a window.  Resist picks up with Samira trying to hide from the Nazis and find her mother at the same time.  It is a short story that flies by with brief chapters full of history.

After reading Allies I felt that Samira and James did not get their complete story told.  Luckily Samira's story is told in this book.  I hate that it wasn't included in the original story, but I'm also really glad that this was written so that her story would come full circle and be complete.  I felt that this book really showed more of the dark side of the Nazis that in Allies.  Allies is completely told from the perspective of those with the Allies.  There is very minimal interaction with the Nazis.  Resist however takes us to the middle of the woods where Nazis force people from the town of Bayeux to dig their own graves.  I think this really put it in perspective the mindset that they had.  I also liked the innocence that a child had when he asked why they were having to dig.  He was a child caught in the middle of a war and he didn't understand that he was digging his own grave.  That was the purest form of innocence.  Gratz really did a great job of telling the rest of Samira's story.  My only complaint is that I wish it had just been included in Allies. 

This is an absolute companion story to Allies.  I do think you need to read Allies before reading Resist.  I give this 3 stars.  I really wish that this entire thing had been in the original story instead of being a side story. 

Allies by Alan Gratz

From Goodreads,

"Alan Gratz, the bestselling author of Refugee, weaves a stunning array of voices and stories into an epic tale of teamwork in the face of tyranny -- and how just one day can change the world.
June 6, 1944: The Nazis are terrorizing Europe, on their evil quest to conquer the world. The only way to stop them? The biggest, most top-secret operation ever, with the Allied nations coming together to storm German-occupied France.

Welcome to D-Day.

Dee, a young U.S. soldier, is on a boat racing toward the French coast. And Dee -- along with his brothers-in-arms -- is terrified. He feels the weight of World War II on his shoulders.

But Dee is not alone. Behind enemy lines in France, a girl named Samira works as a spy, trying to sabotage the German army. Meanwhile, paratrooper James leaps from his plane to join a daring midnight raid. And in the thick of battle, Henry, a medic, searches for lives to save.

In a breathtaking race against time, they all must fight to complete their high-stakes missions. But with betrayals and deadly risks at every turn, can the Allies do what it takes to win?"

Goodreads - Allies

War stories have always fascinated me to some extent because I am from a military family with my brother, my dad, and my grandfather all having served.  My paternal grandparents have a very interesting story considering during WWII my grandfather was fighting for the Allies, while my grandmother was born and living in Nazi Germany.  They met and the rest is pretty much history.  I have been told by my grandmother that my grandfather stormed the beaches on D-Day.  While I don't know the truth in this (I am searching historical records to try to find out), this book definitely felt like a personal connection nonetheless. 

Allies is the story of D-Day told from various perspectives.  The stories vary from young boys seeing war for the first time to paratroopers being dropped in the middle of nowhere to a girl who was just trying to get her bathing suit off of the beach.  The stories are pieced together to give a complete view of D-Day.

I sat down and tore through this book as quickly as I could.  I started it a few minutes after midnight and read until 3:30 in the morning.  I forced myself to go to sleep and ended up waking up at 8:00 the next morning and finished reading it.  This book was absolutely amazing.  I loved the different perspectives from D-Day and feeling their pain and struggles on that day.  I also loved the history and time that went into making this book.  Most of this I already knew just from being in school and coming from a military family.  However, I was really intrigued by the If Day that James spoke about in his section of the book.   I thought it was the strangest thing to include in this book until I stopped and researched it.  I had no idea that in Winnipeg, Manitoba there was a thing called If Day where the entire town basically pretended that they were under Nazi regime.  The entire thing was to bring awareness to the war and to encourage people to purchase Victory Bonds.  While I was researching this my boyfriend came in to share something with me.  I told him about If Day and even he had no knowledge of it.  This book was packed with information and it was pieced together in a way that kept the story action-packed and interesting. 

The only things I didn't like were that I didn't feel Samira and James got a fair share of their story.  Samira's story was at the beginning and she was never mentioned again until the very end of the book.  James had his story, but I don't recall him being present in the final chapters when everyone was in Bayeux.  I will say that Gratz did write a short story for Samira and it was published through Scholastic.  I was able to get copies for all of my students.  I have yet to read it but I plan to drop a review once I finish.  I'm hoping that Samira's story will be filled in and completed. 

This book was absolutely amazing.  It was packed with adventure and suspense.  I literally could not put it down.  I give this an easy 5 stars.  Anyone interested in WWII books or books about D-Day will absolutely love this.

Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick

From Goodreads,

"Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers straight into the nightmare of a raging wildfire as 12-year-old Sam is trapped by explosive flames and deadly smoke that threaten to take his life. Can he survive?
Flames race toward Sam Castine's summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there's only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die.
Lungs burning, Sam's only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization.
The pace never slows, and eventually, flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship-as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever.

At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader's understanding of one of the US's most dangerous natural disasters."

Goodreads - Wildfire

I'm a little slow getting around to reading books.  I received this book as an advanced reader's copy last school year.  I decided it was time to read it since I've had so many students ask about getting this book in my classroom library.

Wildfire is a survival story told by Sam who was at summer camp when the fire started.  His camp was being evacuated, but when he ran back to get his phone a wall of fire was between him and the bus.  Sam had to fight through the night to survive and eventually finds a girl named Delphy who is also lost in the burning woods.  The two team up in hopes they can continue to outrun the fire and survive.

This book was definitely a page-turner.  It has been a while since I have powered through a book the way I went through this one.  The entire time I was reading, I was on the edge of my seat wondering if they were going to survive.  This book is packed with adventure and thrills.  I really liked that there were small pieces that came together that reminded Sam of his late dad.  It felt like fate that he found a Jeep that helped save his life, and throughout the early days of trying to survive he kept referring back to things his dad had taught him.  It felt like it was a type of closer for Sam as his father's advice helped him and Delphy survive.

My copy was an ARC and it did have a few grammatical errors.  There was also a small continuity error at the beginning of the book, but it didn't impact the overall storyline.  The book had appropriate language and events for a young adult book.

This book was so good and I am very excited to put it into my library.  I expect that some of my adventure-seeking boys will enjoy this book.  I give it 4 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling adventure read. 

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

From Goodreads,

"A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renée Watson.

Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods.

But Jade doesn’t need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference.

Friendships, race, privilege, identity—this compelling and thoughtful story explores the issues young women face."

Goodreads - Piecing Me Together

Awards and Nominations:

• Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for Young Adult Literature (2017)
• Newbery Medal Nominee (2018)
• Jane Addams Children's Book Award for Older Children Honor (2018)
• Coretta Scott King Award for Author (2018)
• Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee for High School (2020)
• Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2020)

I try to read as often as I can, but I have been struggling lately to sit down and read.  I am still working my way through several award-winning lists.  This book is on the Coretta Scot King Award list, which meant it was one more to check off my list. 

Piecing Me Together is told by Jade who is a young African-American girl trying to not be what people see when they look at her.  Jade hates that people think she is just a poor girl in need, which is why she is always offered opportunities that others aren't.  She ends up participating in Women to Women, where she receives a mentor who is supposed to help answer questions and guide her in the right direction.  Jade finds that she is going to have to figure out who she is and use her voice to stand out. 

I teach plot to my students and I tell students there are different types of plot.  There's the merry-go-round, the kiddie coaster, and the ultimate roller coaster.  The merry-go-round is just a story with very little happening and very little excitement.  The kiddie coaster has a few small ups and downs, but at the end of everything you are wishing there was more.  The ultimate roller coaster has a huge plot and has lots of big hills and lots of big drops.  This is the book that leaves you completely thrilled at the end of it and you wouldn't mind going back and doing it all over again.  This book was very much a merry-go-round book.  It was really slow and just going in circles.  There were no exciting twists or events.  There were multiple things in the book that could have been amplified and played up, but unfortunately, Watson didn't do that. 

While the book lacked a solid plot, it had really great messages.  Two of the topics were friendship and race, but I really loved the confidence that Jade gained throughout the book.  In the beginning, Jade kept her mouth shut and she tried not to act black.  She tried her hardest to blend in with the white crowd at her school.  The more time she spent with her mentor Maxine and with the other members of the Women to Women program, she started to gain confidence.  Jade started to stand up for herself in racially tense situations.  She stood up to her friend about the opportunities she gets because she is white and Jade is black.  Jade realized that she could be black and confident.  I can make a list of girls that would benefit from learning confidence and trusting in yourself.  I know that I would have benefited from learning that carrying myself and speaking up would give me confidence.  I didn't gain true confidence until I was in college giving campus tours.  I had to talk to strangers and completely sell the campus so they would want to attend the college at our university.  I learned that speaking up and standing up for what is right is often better than sitting and being silent.  Jade learned this kind of confidence and it was one of the most valuable pieces that I pulled away from this book.  

Overall, the book was just okay.  There were points that I wish would have been emphasized on and I definitely wish there had been a stronger plot.  However, it was great seeing Jade change and become a young lady who had confidence in herself.  I give this book just 3 stars.  It was a slow read and lacked a lot for me.  I recommend it to young girls needing a confidence boost or to find themselves.  

A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese

From Goodreads,

"A well. A wish. And a little drop of hope.

Times are tough. Jobs are scarce and miracles are in short supply. But something strange is happening in If Only, Ohio. An old well has suddenly, impossibly, begun to grant wishes. And three sixth graders are the only ones who know why.

Ernest Wilmette believes a good deed makes magic happen. Ryan Hardy thinks they should just mind their own business. Lizzy MacComber believes in facts, not fairy tales. Of course, you don't have to believe in wishes to make one.

As more wishes are made, the well's true secret gets harder and harder to keep. Ernest, Ryan, and Lizzy know they can't fix the world. But in their own little corner of it, they can give everyone a little hope... one wish at a time."

Goodreads - A Drop of Hope

I have so many books that sometimes I forget why I bought it.  Some books I have been recommended to me and some books just seemed interesting while I was shopping in a store or on Scholastic.  The moral of the entire story is that I have too many books.  This book was definitely one that I grabbed off the shelf and decided to read.  I am SO glad I did because this book was absolutely amazing.

A Drop of Hope follows three main characters: Ernest, Ryan, and Lizzy.  The three characters are in class together when their teacher talks about the well in town where people would throw in a coin and make a wish.  Ernest and Ryan accidentally end up at the bottom of the well and overhear a wish being made.  Ernest decides to do something about it.  The book continues as the three go on a quest to make wishes come true and heal the town of its emptiness. 

This book had SOOOO many good parts that I don't even know where to begin.  I think my favorite part of the entire thing was the way everything came together.  Throughout the book, the main characters will do something small that we later find out will impact other people.  The book is written so that we mainly follow the main characters, but we periodically get perspectives from the minor characters.  This writing style allows the entire story to come together uniquely.  It really shows how one small act can impact so many other people.  I think people really need to learn that a small act of kindness can change a person's life.  Over the summer I went to Wal-Mart early one morning and there was a guy on the corner asking for money.  I don't usually give money to panhandlers, but something told me to buy a gift card and give it to the man.  So I bought a Subway gift card for $15, and while I was pulling out of the parking lot I gave it to him.  He was so grateful.  I explained that that would get him 2 or 3 footlongs and that the Subway was just across the street.  Maybe that guy didn't really need money.  But maybe he did.  Either way, my small act of kindness made a difference in his day because he was guaranteed a meal.  Sometimes you have to follow your heart, and that is honestly what small acts of kindness are all about.

This is usually the paragraph where I share what I didn't like about the book.  Unfortunately, I don't have anything to put here, so I'm going to share something else I enjoyed.  This book has a character that everyone can relate to.  There was such a wide range of characters that everyone from the young to the old can relate.  You had the smart kid, the bully, the nerd, the tough on the outside and soft on the inside, the older lady, parents, etc.  I feel that this book would be a perfect read for a middle school class.  It has a range of characters and everyone can connect with at least one of the characters.  Sometimes with many characters in a book, they seem to lose depth.  Calabrese did an excellent job with this book and ensured that the main characters had plenty of depth and that the secondary characters had a fair amount of depth as well.  The minor characters who were just in the book for a passing chapter had a background and felt relatable. 

Overall, this book was wonderful.  It was a great read and I am truly hoping that I can get a class set of this into my classroom.  I see so many great teaching opportunities with this book.  I know that at the end of it we would definitely recreate the well just like in the book and we would add our own items to it.  This book deserves all of the stars because it was absolutely wonderful.  I recommend this to all readers.  It has plenty of adventure and excitement.  There wasn't a time during the entire book that I wanted to put it down.

Tight by Torrey Maldonado

From Goodreads,

"Tight: Lately, Bryan's been feeling it in all kinds of ways . . .

Bryan knows what's tight for him--reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama is every day where he's from, and that gets him tight, wound up.

And now Bryan's friend Mike pressures him with ideas of fun that are crazy risky. At first, it's a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never really feels right acting so wrong, and drama really isn't him. So which way will he go, especially when his dad tells him it's better to be hard and feared than liked?

But if there's one thing Bryan's gotten from his comic heroes, it's that he has power--to stand up for what he feels . . .

Torrey Maldonado delivers a fast-paced, insightful, dynamic story capturing urban community life. Readers will connect with Bryan's journey as he navigates a tough world with a heartfelt desire for a different life."

Goodreads - Tight

School is definitely underway, and I am in a new teaching position.  I teach Language Arts and have 65 kids.  Needless to say, I am really pushing reading and getting students to find a book they enjoy.  I've noticed that I really lack books that appeal to boys, and this book was one I purchased from Scholastic in hopes that a boy would enjoy it.

Tight is about a boy named Bryan who loves comics and staying out of the drama.  Bryan is growing up in the projects in New York and he doesn't have many friends.  Bryan's parents decide he should meet Mike who they think is a great kid and would be a wonderful friend for Bryan.  As they spend time together Bryan gets strange feelings about Mike, and before long they are getting into all kinds of trouble.  Bryan must decide if he is going to continue following Mike or stand up to him.

This book had a huge friendship and peer pressure message.  I feel like, at the middle school age, many boys are trying to find the group of friends they belong with.  Sometimes this means doing stupid stuff to fit in, and more often than not, it is peer pressure that pushes them to make the stupid decision.  Bryan really struggles with right and wrong and feeling like he needs to do what Mike does to fit in.  I think quite a few boys and some girls feel this way at this age.  Peer pressure is something that happens very subtly and by the time you realize that you were pushed into doing something, it is too late.  Bryan also struggles to find friends that he should be hanging out with, instead of the ones that are "cool".  I have seen so many kids hang with the wrong crowd because they wanted to fit in and be popular.  Sometimes the people they are hanging with are mean and can influence a good kid to do some terrible things.  This book really pushes learning that feeling in your gut of right and wrong.  It also has a strong message of finding friends that share common interests with you and are uplifting instead of trying to tear you down.  We all need positive people around us to keep us motivated and moving forward toward our best selves. 

While this book had some wonderful messages about friendship and peer pressure, I really struggled with the slang in this book.  I am from a small town in Arkansas and we definitely have an accent and we definitely say some words weird.  This book was loaded with slang that was completely foreign to me.  The book used words and acronyms like "OD" or "moms" or "stuck on stupid".  I felt SOOOO old while I was reading this book.  I had no idea what the majority of the slang meant.  I'm hoping that it is really just a geographical thing and not that I'm getting old.  I honestly feel like some of my students would be questioning what some of the words meant.  I know I was.

All in all, this book was just okay.  It didn't resonate with me and leave a big lasting impression.  It wasn't terrible, and it had some really good messages.  I have to give this 2 stars.  I will be putting this in my classroom library.  Only time will tell if it becomes a popular read.

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

From Goodreads,

"found.
Cole St. Clair has come to California for one reason: to get Isabel Culpeper back. She fled from his damaged, drained life, and damaged and drained it even more. He doesn't just want her. He needs her. 

lost. 
Isabel is trying to build herself a life in Los Angeles. It's not really working. She can play the game as well as all the other fakes...but what's the point? What is there to win?

sinner.
Cole and Isabel share a past that never seemed to have a future. They have the power to save each other and the power to tear each other apart. The only thing for certain is that they cannot let go."

Goodreads - Sinner

This journey with the Wolves of Mercy Falls is finally coming to a close.  Sinner is the last book in this series and it is finally time to give it a proper review after reading it.

Sinner takes place in California following the rockstar Cole St.Clair.  Cole is madly in love with Isabel and he is trying to fix his mistakes and win her over.  Isabel is busy trying to create a new life in California while she works at a boutique and goes to school to be a doctor.  Everything is centered around their relationship and if they can finally make it work.

This was the first time that I had read this book and frankly, I wish I hadn't.  I'm not entirely sure why Sinner was included as a part of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series because it had no connections except for the crossover of characters Cole and Isabel.  The entire book is from their rotating perspectives, and Grace and Sam were only briefly mentioned.  I absolutely hated this book.  I really thought there would be strong tie-ins to the original three books, but Cole randomly turned into a wolf to get a sort of high from it.  This book should not have ever been written.

I also hated that this book had no plot.  The plot is all about the roller coaster that the characters and the reader go on.  This book was like being on a merry go round.  It was in a circle with no excitement.  There were no climactic points in the book that made me unable to put the book down.  It was quite the opposite and I struggled to pick it up and read it.  The characters were secondary characters in the main series, and they were forced into being the main characters, but there wasn't enough dimension to them to keep them interesting.  Every aspect of this book was lacking. 

I absolutely hated this book and wish that I hadn't read it.  I also wish I hadn't wasted my money purchasing it.  The book was so flat and boring that it took me two months to read it.  I honestly don't recommend this book, even if you have read the other three in the series.  It is not worth the time and effort.  I give it one sad star because this book was awful. 

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

From Goodreads,

"then.
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.
That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.
Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment--a moment of death or life, farewell or forever."

Goodreads - Forever

Awards and Nominations:

• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2011)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Book (2011)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Goodreads Author (2011)

Welcome back to a third week with the wolves of Mercy Falls.  I read through the first two books fairly quickly, but I really struggled with this book.  It took me exactly a month to get through it and finally say that I was done.  That being said, let's move forward into the review part of this post.

Forever picks up with Grace as a wolf in the woods and with Sam as a human in Beck's house.  Sam soon finds out that the wolves will officially be hunted and killed by helicopter.  Sam must work with Cole and Isabel to figure out a way to save the wolves, especially Grace. 

This book moved very slowly for me.  It took a lot of willpower and forcing myself to finish it.  I felt like this book was thrown together at the last minute.  The chapters felt choppy and scattered.  I also felt like there wasn't a solid plot to this book, and trust me when I say I know plot.  Books need to have up and down movements.  Things to excite the reader and keep them reading.  Things that will keep hurtling the reader toward a fantastic finale.  This book just puttered along until it finally reached the hunt on the wolves.  Everything before that was completely anticlimactic. 

Aside from the book being terribly boring, I felt like there was too much focus on Isabel and Cole and not enough on the main characters Sam and Grace.  Shiver started with the love story between Sam and Grace and continued into Linger.  Linger really introduced Isabel and Cole into the series, and it was a perfect balance between all the characters.  However, I feel that Forever should have focused on Sam and Grace and what their forever meant.  Unfortunately, I read a lot about Isabel and Cole and their strange love-hate relationship.  I felt like Sam and Grace were somewhat put on the backburner.  I definitely feel like Stiefvater set this book up this way so that she could lead into the next book Sinner, which focuses on Cole and Isabel. 

Overall, I was really disappointed with this book.  I remember reading this book and absolutely loving the series.  I actually went back and looked at my past star rating on Goodreads and I gave it a whopping 5 stars.  Unfortunately, I just can't do that.  I have to give this 2 sad stars.  The book was a huge letdown and disappoint.  I feel like it didn't properly conclude the storyline with Sam and Grace.  

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

From Goodreads,

"the longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

the loss.

Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of being a human. 

the linger.

For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life a constant struggle between two forces--wolf and human--with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?"

Goodreads - Linger

Awards and Nominations:

• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy (2010)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Favorite Book (2010)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Goodreads Author (2010)

Welcome back, everyone!  Last week I reviewed the book Shiver, which is the first book of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  This week I am moving forward to review the second book Linger.

Linger picks up where Shiver left off.  We find out that Sam has finally beat the dreaded werewolf curse and Grace is as happy as ever.  Things start slowly spiraling as Grace starts coming down with a "bug".  It starts as headaches and spins into raging fevers.  Sam hates he can't fix what is wrong with Grace, but he decides he must try.  With the help of Isabel and the new wolf Cole, they decide to try to figure out what is wrong.

I have found that most "middle child" books or the second in a trilogy, are kind of terrible.  This book definitely fell into that middle child mold where it didn't leave a great vibe or resonate with me.  The story moved very slowly for this book.  I also didn't like that the book was told from.  The first book was from the perspective of Sam and Grace.  This book was told from Sam, Grace, Isabel, and Cole.  It felt like there were way too many voices trying to be heard.  Also, the fact that they switched characters in the middle of a chapter made it somewhat frustrating as well.  I don't remember being so irritated when I read it the first time, but maybe it is because I'm older and my reading preferences have changed.

While there were a lot of minor problems that added up to a general dislike, there was a quote in the book that really made me stop and think.

"She'd told me once that you could completely psychoanalyze someone on the sort of books they read."

This really got me to thinking about the books that I read and what it says about me.  I read a LOT of books.  I have shelves and shelves of books and a couple boxes full.  I have some books that are autobiographies.  I have books that are award winners.  I have a lot of books ideal for middle school-aged kids.  I have books that vary on topics from death to mental illness to adventure to dystopian.  So what does all of that say about me?  I honestly feel like my book choices vary so much that it would be hard to analyze me.  If anything it would show that I love to read.  But I also started thinking about students that I have had and how I could understand them better when I knew what kind of books they liked.  Knowing what books someone reads will really give you some insight as to who they are.

This book was just okay in my book.  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fantastic.  It was as I mentioned before, the middle child in this trilogy.  This book continues the trilogy so I definitely recommend it if you have read the first book.  I have to give it 3 stars.  

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

From Goodreads,

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever."

Goodreads - Shiver

Awards and Nominations:

• Georgia Peach Book Award (2010)
• Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2010)
• Florida Teens Read Nominee (2010)
• Teen Read Award Nominee for Best Read (2010)
• The Inky Awards for Silver Inky (2010)
• The Inky Awards Shortlist for Silver Inky (2010)
• Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee (2011)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2012)
• Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2012)

Rereading a book or series always makes me a little nostalgic.  It makes me think about when I first read it and how I have changed.  This book definitely brought back some memories, especially since I read this book when I was in high school.  I remember we received this book in library club just a year or two after the Twilight saga had concluded.  Everyone was still on that vampire and werewolf high.  While I enjoyed the Twilight saga I found this book and the rest of the series more intriguing and enthralling.  

Shiver is a book told from two perspectives.  One is from the human girl named Grace who was bitten by a wolf as a child.  The other perspective is told by Sam who is torn between being a human when it's warm and being a wolf when the temperature drops.  The two have a connection that goes back to the day that Grace was bitten.  The longing question is whether they can be together when they live in two different worlds of being a human and being a wolf.  

Rereading this book was an experience.  There were parts that I remembered, but a lot that I didn't.  One of the things that I didn't remember was how quickly the relationship between Sam and Grace progressed.  I feel like ten years ago I was all heart-eyed and thinking this was what love was all about.  But now?  Now I'm just unsettled at how quickly they progressed and they were hooking up.  Grace, of course, had seen Sam as a wolf for years, but never knew him as a human until he showed up at her house after being shot.  Grace was just madly in love with him despite knowing NOTHING about him.  That was bothersome.  "Love" doesn't work like that.  You don't just lay eyes on a human and think "We're going to be soulmates for forever."  You have to get to know that person and learn about them.  You don't just decide like Grace did.  The fixation was very unsettling and I think the progression of their relationship was just too quick.  

While I hated the quick and strange relationship that formed between Grace and Sam, I was extremely pleased with the way this story was written.  The story went between Grace and Sam.  I liked having both sides of this story because I was able to understand what both characters were feeling and dealing with.  Most books like this do an even balance and go back and forth every chapter, but Stiefvater opted not to.  Instead, the chapters could be told by Sam for a while and then it would switch to Grace.  Whichever character had the more important role and thoughts in the story is the one that got to tell the chapter.  I just felt it was a good way to give the reader the full picture. 

I really enjoyed rereading this book even if I was disturbed by their speedy relations.  While I was updating my progress on Goodreads I realized that a LOT of people despise this book and thought it was terrible.  I, of course, don't know their reasoning, but I really enjoyed it and have to give it 5 stars.  If you enjoyed Twilight you will probably enjoy this, especially if you liked the werewolf part of it.  

Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD by Allison Britz

From Goodreads,

"A brave teen recounts her debilitating struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder—and brings readers through every painful step as she finds her way to the other side—in this powerful and inspiring memoir.
Until sophomore year of high school, fifteen-year-old Allison Britz lived a comfortable life in an idyllic town. She was a dedicated student with tons of extracurricular activities, friends, and loving parents at home.

But after awakening from a vivid nightmare in which she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she was convinced the dream had been a warning. Allison believed that she must do something to stop the cancer in her dream from becoming a reality.

It started with avoiding sidewalk cracks and quickly grew to counting steps as loudly as possible. Over the following weeks, her brain listed more dangers and fixes. She had to avoid hair dryers, calculators, cell phones, computers, anything green, bananas, oatmeal, and most of her own clothing.

Unable to act “normal,” the once-popular Allison became an outcast. Her parents questioned her behavior, leading to explosive fights. When notebook paper, pencils, and most schoolbooks were declared dangerous to her health, her GPA imploded, along with her plans for the future.

Finally, she allowed herself to ask for help and was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This brave memoir tracks Allison’s descent and ultimately hopeful climb out of the depths."

Goodreads - Obsessed

I've mentioned before that I tend to find myself drawn to certain topics and genres in books.  Cancer books and books about suicide are just a couple that I tend to read a lot.  Usually, suicide books have a tie in with a mental illness, but the mental illness is never the main focus.  This book was centered around OCD and the impact it had on one girl.  This book was outside my wheelhouse, and honestly, it made me feel a little crazy and uncomfortable.

This book is the memoir of Allison Britz.  The book starts with her as a sophomore in high school just trying to survive the workload and the schedule of cross country.  But a terrifying dream leads her to believe that she has brain cancer and that she must try to save herself.  The book chronicles her spiral and fall until she is finally diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.

This book was so very educational.  I am beyond guilty of saying "I'm kind of OCD about things."  I've heard other people say it.  We are all guilty.  And after reading this book I can honestly say that, no the large majority of us are not OCD.  When we like things to be a certain way we are often particular, not OCD.  I feel like everyone thinks that OCD is just wanting things to be a certain way or washing your hands a lot.  OCD is often having to do something so that someone you love doesn't die.  Allison believed that stepping on cracks would cause her to have brain cancer.  From there it spiraled into the number of steps she took or bargaining food so that she wouldn't get cancer.  One thing led to another and it became a huge thing that caused her to basically stop functioning as a human.  I know that while reading I was thinking that Allison was crazy.  But once she got help and self-diagnosed using a pamphlet I realized that OCD is not what we think it is.  OCD is a fear.  It is thinking that your mom is going to die if you don't turn the light switch on and off 6 times or that your dad is going to have a heart attack because you stepped on a crack.  This book really opened my eyes to what OCD is and how it presents itself.

The book was extremely informational and I got a lot out of it, but it was really slow at the beginning.  The book starts just a hair before her nightmare of a dream.  So, it really progresses with her developing the triggers and obsessions.  But it was so slow.  I know the first probably third of the book was a struggle for me to read and I thought about stopping a couple times, but ended up powering through it.

This book was packed with information on obsessive-compulsive disorder.  I definitely feel like this is an adult book.  It does have triggers and while reading it, I felt a tad crazy.  I give this 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who needs a good book about a specific mental illness.

Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord

From Goodreads,

"On the last night of summer, Emma tags along with her game warden father on a routine call. They're supposed to rescue a wild rabbit from a picket fence, but instead they find a little bunny. Emma convinces her father to bring him home for the night.

The next day, Emma starts public school for the very first time after years of being homeschooled. More than anything, Emma wants to make a best friend in school. 
But things don't go as planned. On the first day of school, she's paired with a boy named Jack for a project. He can't stay on topic, he speaks out of turn, and he's obsessed with animals. Jack doesn't fit in, and Emma's worried he'll make her stand out.

Emma and Jack bond over her rescue rabbit. But will their new friendship keep Emma from finding the new best friend she's meant to have?"

Goodreads - Because of the Rabbit

I've had this book on my "To Read" list for quite some time.  I was lucky enough for Scholastic to send me this book some months ago as a preview for being a Golden Apple Teacher.  I love books that have animals in them because almost everyone can relate in some way, shape, or form.  Most people have had an interaction with an animal or had a pet of their own.  This book had exactly the same premise with the excitement of friendship in it.

Because of the Rabbit is about a girl named Emma who has been homeschooled up until fifth grade when she decides to give public school a chance.  The night before school starts her game warden father is called about a rabbit stuck in a fence.  Emma goes with him and immediately falls in love with the rabbit.  The next day at school Emma realizes that school is hard and making friends is even harder.  A boy named Jack tries to be her friend, but Emma soon realizes he is seen as different by the other students.  Emma soon has to decide if she wants to be a true friend or if she just wants to fit in.

I absolutely loved the friendship storyline in this book.  Emma really struggled at the beginning with her relationship with Jack.  When it was just them she was fine spending time with him and could tolerate his quirkiness.  But when they were around classmates Emma found it difficult to be with Jack and didn't know what to do.  I think we have all be in this situation before with a friend.  When it's just the two of you things are fine, but when you take them out in public things are completely different.  I know I have friends like this, and I'm sure I've been that friend before.  But this book really focuses on being a friend no matter the place and who is around.  If you are truly friends with someone you will accept them and their quirks no matter where you are, and they will do the same.  This book did an excellent job of focusing on being friends no matter what.

Another aspect I loved about this book was the relationship that Emma had with her brother Owen.  I saw a lot of myself in Emma in this aspect.  There was a time when my older brother and I drifted apart because he was growing up.  It was like all the things that we did together as kids didn't matter anymore and I wasn't cool.  It was a hard pill to swallow and Emma faced the same thing.  While it made me sad that we didn't do things together as often, it also made those moments we did spend together twice as memorable.  The bond you have with a sibling is always a special thing and there comes a time when you both have to grow up and you naturally stop doing things together.  This book really put that feeling and experience into words with Emma and Owen.

Overall, this book had some great points to it, but it just didn't do much for me.  I felt like the rabbit in the book had very little importance and the bigger story was the relationships you have with people.  I give this 2.5 stars.  I think this would be a good book for fourth or fifth grade.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

From Goodreads,

"Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the manhunters, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia.

"This story is true. All the characters are real and were alive during the great manhunt of April 1865. Their words are authentic and come from original sources: letters, manuscripts, trial transcripts, newspapers, government reports, pamphlets, books and other documents. What happened in Washington, D.C., that spring, and in the swamps and rivers, forests and fields of Maryland and Virginia during the next twelve days, is far too incredible to have been made up."

So begins this fast-paced thriller that tells the story of the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and gives a day-by-day account of the wild chase to find this killer and his accomplices. Based on James Swanson's bestselling adult book MANHUNT: THE 12-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN'S KILLER, this young people's version is an accessible look at the assassination of a president, and shows readers Abraham Lincoln the man, the father, the husband, the friend, and how his death impacted those closest to him."

Goodreads - Chasing Lincoln's Killer

I have always despised history.  There are so many dates and people to keep up with.  I didn't enjoy it and school and college weren't much better.  However, the older I get the more I find myself watching documentaries and willing to read historical books.  I've read "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy (which I plan to reread), and I expected I would enjoy this book too.

This book gives the true story of the night Lincoln was shot by Booth.  The details tell of what led up to the assassination and the chase that followed after to apprehend the assassin.

I enjoyed this book, but not nearly as much as the book about JFK.  I know the basic details of the assassination of Lincoln.  He was shot in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth.  I've always heard/been told that Booth ran to a warehouse after the shooting.  This book definitely had the true details and facts.  The entire time I was reading I was waiting for Booth to reach a warehouse, but it never happened.  I soon found out that he was on the run for days and ended up in a final standoff in a barn.  I love that this book gives the details and information to correct a lie that has been told for who knows how long.  I like that this book is packed with details.  It is a great historical book packed with facts.

One thing that I don't like about this book is that the chapters jump around from person to person frequently.  One paragraph they are telling of Lincoln's status and the next they are talking about Booth on the run.  The chapters jump like this frequently and it is just frustrating.  I would prefer to have shorter chapters that focus on one part at a time instead of cramming multiple pieces in one chapter.

This book is perfect for a history buff.  If you enjoy anything presidential or related to Lincoln then this book is for you.  I give it 4 stars.

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan

From Goodreads,

"Charlotte Parkhurst is raised in an orphanage for boys, which suits her just fine. She doesn’t like playing with dolls, she can hold her own in a fight, and she loves to work in the stables. Charlotte has a way with horses and wants to spend her life training and riding them on a ranch of her own. 

The problem is, as a girl in the mid-1800s, Charlotte is expected to live a much different life – one without freedom. But Charlotte is smart and determined, and she figures out a way to live her dreams with a plan so clever and so secret – almost no one figures it out."

Goodreads - Riding Freedom

Awards and Nominations:

• Grand Canyon Reader Award for Immediate Book (2000)
• California Young Readers Medal for Intermediate (2000)
• Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Nominee (2001)

In today's world, you can be anything and you can do anything you want.  Unfortunately, that was not always the case.  This book tells the story of a young girl named Charlotte who wanted to be adopted and to spend her time with horses.  When her best friend at the orphanage was adopted she decided it was time to take matters into her own hands.  She ran away, cut her hair, and dressed as a boy.  As time went on she was able to spend time with the horses living her life the way she intended it to be - free.

This was an exceptional book.  I loved that this was based on a true story and that many of the events in the book happened.  In the 1800s women were expected to cook, clean, and care for the children.  Charlotte knew that wanted a life spent with the horses that she had a special connection to.  Charlotte knew what would make her happy and she took matters into her own hands.  I think everyone can take this lesson and apply it to their own happiness in life.  I know that I would love to be a librarian and that to do that I will have to take matters into my own hands by going back to college and putting in the time and effort to get my masters.  No one is going to hand it to me and no one cares if I do or do not get my degree.  It is up to me to ensure that I find my happiness.  Charlotte knew this and she did what she had to do to make sure she was free of the expectations of women and that she was happy.

My only complaint with this book was that it was too short.  It is absolutely the perfect length for children, but as an adult, I wanted more.  I would love to read a book about her life.  I did a little research and found that she had apparently given birth at some point and that a baby's dress was found at her house.  I completely understand why details were omitted, but I would love to read an adult version of Charlotte's story.

Overall, I was very impressed with this book.  It had a strong female character in it who was determined to do whatever necessary to ensure happiness.  I give this 4 stars and think it would be a perfect read for students in 4th to 5th grade.

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

From Goodreads,

"A searing poetic memoir and call to action from the bestselling and award-winning author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson!

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice-- and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore."

Goodreads - Shout

Last week I reviewed Anderson's book Speak.  The book focuses on the fictional story of Melinda who was raped by an older boy from her school.  Throughout the book, she struggles with finding her voice to tell what happened.  Shout is the moving and true story of survivors written in moving prose.

Shout is Laurie Halse Anderson's story.  It tells of her childhood and upbringing as she dealt with being raped when she was just thirteen.  The second part of the book is focused on telling the stories and interactions she has had with other survivors.  The last part is a conclusion telling of her family when she was an adult.

I absolutely loved this book.  And I mean LOVED this book.  This book was so raw and powerful.  Anderson didn't try to sugarcoat or hide anything.  She was open and honest about her own rape at the age of thirteen and how it affected her life.  As I was reading there were so many connections I noticed between Shout and Speak.  Speak felt more "real" because so many of the events in that book really happened.  I hate that Anderson had to go through the trauma she went through, but I'm glad that she was able to openly write about her experiences in both Speak and in Shout.  Anderson has helped so many people speak about their own experiences, all because she was able to open up about hers.  I honestly think that this newest book will encourage more people to step forward and tell their story.

The entire focus of this book was rape and sharing your story, but I want to focus on censorship.  There were multiple poems about teachers or administrators afraid of having Anderson's book in their schools or afraid of Anderson speaking in schools about sex, rape, and consent.  Reading about the fear that schools had, made me think of two things.  One was that I was very fortunate I went to a high school where any and all books were made readily available.  The second thing is that as a current teacher I have had coworkers who have encouraged me to not put books in my classroom library because of content.  I had a book about a boy who knows he is really a girl.  One of my coworkers told me that it was not appropriate for children and that I shouldn't put it in my classroom library because we live in a small town where being transgender isn't acceptable.  As a new teacher, I nodded my head and agreed.  Now that I think back on it, I really should have put the book in my library.  While it may offend people, it may resonate with just one kid who needed that book.  I feel like that is what Anderson's books are about.  They aren't for everyone, but they resonate with people who find themselves in the book, people who make a connection to a character.  Shout really pushed me to a point where I felt that we shouldn't be censoring books and content.  I think it is good for kids and young adults to be exposed to lots of different books with lots of different topics and content.  Kids and young adults alike have to learn to find a book that is appropriate for them.  If they find it offensive or it bothers them, then they need to find another book that is appropriate for them.

This book was moving and heartbreaking all at the same time.  I pretty much read straight through this book.  It was a quick read about a difficult topic.  I give this 5 stars.  If you have read ANY of Anderson's books then you need to read Shout.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

From Goodreads,

"The first ten lies they tell you in high school.

"Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." 

From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back, refuses to be silent, and thereby achieves a measure of vindication. 

In Laurie Halse Anderson's powerful novel, an utterly believable heroine with a bitterly ironic voice delivers a blow to the hypocritical world of high school. She speaks for many a disenfranchised teenager while demonstrating the importance of speaking up for oneself.

Speak was a 1999 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature."

Goodreads - Speak

Awards and Nominations:

• SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Fiction (1999)
• National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature (1999)
• Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2000)
• Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2000)
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (2000)
• Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2001)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2001)
• Evergreen Teen Book Award (2002)
• South Caroline Book Award for Young Adult Book Award (2002)
• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award for YA (2002)
• California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Young Adult (2003)
• Lincoln Award Nominee (2005)

I faintly recall reading this book in junior high or high school.  I remember it was one of those moving books that everyone wanted to read and it was a pain to get your hands on a copy from the library.  I decided to reread this book since Anderson just released her newest book Shout.  I'm excited to get to review this book so that I can jump into her next book.  

This book is told from the teenage perspective of Melinda.  Melinda just wanted to be a normal high school freshman, but being at a party the summer before changed everything.  Melinda was raped at the party and she called the cops as a result but ran before they arrived.  Melinda walks around everyday living with what happened.  Her grades plummet and her social life sinks.  Melinda gets to a point where she stops speaking.  But she must decide if she has a voice or not because the monster who raped her walks the same halls as her. 

This book is honestly about rape and having the voice to stand up and tell what happened.  Melinda was terrified to say what happened.  She wanted to forget the whole thing, but every day she was struggling.  When she told one of her former friends what happened the friend told her she was just jealous and that she was a liar.  I feel like this book is more relevant now than it was years ago, especially with the #metoo movement.  More and more women are coming forward, sharing their stories of sexual harassment or rape.  Girls and women alike need to learn and understand that they have a voice and they need to use it if something happens.  I do feel like a shift is happening where it is becoming more normal to report and share what happened.  I honestly feel that books like this are what will make people speak up and report.

I have two complaints about this book.  One was that it felt so disoriented and scattered.  I understand that it was written this way so that the book was truly from the perspective of a teenager.  I, however, found it annoying and it kind of took away from the book.  My other complaint was that there wasn't any real healing after everyone found out what happened.  The book just kind of ended.  I would have loved to have read about her healing and how her parents handled the news.  I just felt like there was more story to be told, and it just wasn't told.

Overall, the book was good.  I give it 4 stars and recommend that teenagers read this, both boys and girls.  I think that everyone can learn something from this book.  I will say that this book has a rape trigger in it and warn people to take caution before reading. 

Sounder by William H. Armstrong

From Goodreads,

"Set in the Deep South, this Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of the great coon dog, Sounder, and the poor sharecroppers who own him.

During the difficult years of the nineteenth century South, an African-American boy and his poor family rarely have enough to eat. Each night, the boy's father takes their dog, Sounder, out to look for food and the man grows more desperate by the day.

When food suddenly appears on the table one morning, it seems like a blessing. But the sheriff and his deputies are not far behind. The ever-loyal Sounder remains determined to help the family he loves as hard times bear down on them.

This classic novel shows the courage, love, and faith that bind an African-American family together despite the racism and inhumanity they face. Readers who enjoy timeless dog stories such as Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows will find much to love in Sounder."
Goodreads - Sounder

Awards and Nominations:

• Newbery Medal (1970)
• Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1970)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (1971)
• Nene Award (1973)

It's been a little while since I have read and reviewed a book on one of my reading lists.  I am currently reading through the Newbery Medal winners, the Coretta Scott King winners, the Charlie May Simon winners, the Missouri Gateway winners, and the Arkansas Teen Level 1 & 2 books.  It's quite the list, but it has been so much fun to read and compare the award-winning books and make my own decision if the book deserves the award.

This book is about a young African American boy who lives with his parents and siblings in a house way out of town.  The boy's dad has a dog named Sounder who is the best coon dog in the area.  The father and Sounder go out to hunt for food for the family.  Everything is fine until the father is arrested for stealing ham.  Sounder gets shot while trying to save his owner.  The boy must work to take care of the family and find his father, all while trying to get Sounder to bark again. 

There wasn't a lot that I liked about this book.  My favorite part was probably the loyalty and the relationship between Sounder and the father.  I think that anyone can relate to having a dog and the relationship you have with it.  It definitely made me think of my English Bulldog who passed away almost two years ago.  Anytime I was sick he would curl up with me.  If I was sad he would scratch and bump my bedroom door until I let him in.  The relationship I had with George was like none other.  This book has this kind of amazing relationship in it.  The dog is faithful and loyal to the family, but especially to the father.  This book shows what loyalty looks like in all aspects.  

This book had big-time jumps in it.  One minute the boy was just a boy and a few chapters later he was a young adult.  There was no real record of the time and the chapters weren't even marked by big events.  Each chapter was just more searching for his father.  The chapters were dull and all ran together.  I felt like the book lacked organization and a real storyline.  

Overall, this book lacked a lot in my opinion.  There was a great relationship between the family and the dog, but there was no story.  The entire book was just the boy wandering the state searching for his dad.  I have to give this book 2 stars.  

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

From Goodreads,

"Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.

The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals.

Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment.

What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts from breaking too?"

Goodreads - Five Feet Apart

I love reading books that have a movie that goes along with it.  I love getting to compare the two and getting to decide which was better.  I try to read the book before I watch the movie, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.  I happened to watch the movie about a month before reading the book.  My boyfriend and I went to watch the movie together and I loved it so much that I cried at the end.  He also enjoyed it, but no tears were shed.  I'm so excited to share this book review!

This book is about a girl named Stella who has cystic fibrosis.  She has been in and out of the hospital since she was six.  The older she gets the worse her lung function gets, and she is hoping for new lungs.  Everything is going accordingly until she meets Will, a cute boy with CF too.  She knows they have to stay six feet apart at all times to avoid catching each other's germs.  But as time goes on she starts falling for Will and decides that she is going to take back a foot so that she can live life like a normal teenager.

I feel like the "cancer" books are all the rage, but this is a nice change.  I love that this book is bringing light and awareness to cystic fibrosis.  It is something that isn't often discussed among young adults.  I love that this book really showed the "behind the scenes" of having CF.  It discussed all the medications they have to take, the treatments, the inability to breathe well, and dealing with getting new lungs or dying.  This book honestly made me step back and think about how lucky I am that my lungs do what they are supposed to do.  I am amazed every day by the strength of people who have life-threatening illnesses.  This book made me grateful for the life I have and to stop complaining about my health because things could be a lot worse.

This book is so much like The Fault In Our Stars.  I feel like this book was a little bit of a rip off of The Fault In Our Stars. It has the same storyline of two sick kids falling in love until someone gets too sick to continue.  I would have loved for this book to have a different more optimistic ending.  It felt way too similar to The Fault In Our Stars.

The movie and the book were very similar.  There were minor differences, but for the most part, it was exactly the same.  I enjoyed this book and shared it with one of my former students.  I give this 5 stars.  If you loved The Fault In Our Stars then you will definitely love Five Feet Apart.