The Witches

You read it right...I just finished a children's chapter book! And it ROCKED! Think about it...do you remember a book from when you were a kid that you loved or even just enjoyed. Read it now and you will love every page of it. I loved this so much that I decided to read The Indian in the Cupboard too (although my sweet daughter has hidden it somewhere).



The Witches is a book about a very wise grandma that educates her son about the reality of witches in the world. But even though her grandson is educated he still finds himself in the worst possible position a little boy can be found in...A ROOM FULL OF WITCHES WITH THE DOORS LOCKED. eek I know. If you have read it, do so it is great. Read it to your kids too! If you have read it then re-read it. As it turns out it is just as great 20 years later.



Quote: "The third one was little Birgit Svenson," my grandmother said. "She lived just across the road from us. One day she started growing feathers all over her body. Within a month, she had turned into a large white chicken. Her parents kept her for years in a pen in the garden. She even laid eggs."



Grade: B

flashback: The Help

I read this December 7, 2010:

I am probably one of the last people on Earth to read this, so I don't need to tell you that it's wonderful. BUT since this is my blog and not yours I will anyway. THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL! It is a story about Black maid who decides that it is time to help change things and how they are done and viewed her town. A young white woman about the same time finds a story worth writing and together they write a book of stories about a dozen or so maids and what it's really like working for a white woman. It also follows three women and their lives before, during and a little after they met each other. I am always amazed at what people had to go through, and I probably always will be. I am amazed at the strength some people have as well as the courage that these women had to have to move forward.
If you haven't read this book yet (lame - it came out last year or something) READ IT. You won't be able to put it down which means that in a week or so you will be done, so it's not a huge time commitment!
ALSO in my search for a picture of the book I found this - made me pretty excited.

*I just re-read it this week...and guess what? It was just as great the 2nd time!

Peter Pan

We all know the story of Peter Pan. The boy that looses his shadow in Wendy, Micheal, and John's nursery. We all know that he came back to retrieve his shadow and when soap didn't get it to stick he started to cry waking Wendy. We know that after that, he taught them to fly and guided them to Neverland. But did you know that Tinker Bell tricked the lost boys into shooting Wendy and when they did they thought they got her...but she was saved by a kiss (a button) that Peter gave her? Did you know that the mermaids where pretty stuck up and that Peter Pan is annoyingly cocky? Did you know that Smee the pirate was more lovable than anyone could have thought? Did you? NO! Well, then you need to read the book, because I left a lot more stuff out!

What a great story. I have always enjoyed the different versions of Peter Pan in the movies, but reading the book has become a favorite. It is written in such a fun way, it is almost as though it is written for adults but through the eyes of a child or something. Neverland is made up of all our dreams in one...such a fun story. Another plus is that it is pretty short, so you don't have to dedicate ALOT of time to it! So, if you have a moment, sit down and read it...you will find yourself smiling at some parts, gasping at others, and giggling out loud. It really is that fun.

Favorite Quote: After giving short summaries of a few of the adventures that the lost boys had gone on while Wendy, Michael and John where there the narrator said, "Which of these adventures shall we choose? The best way will be to toss for it. I have tossed, and the lagoon has won. This almost makes one wish that the gulch or the cake or Tink's leaf had won. Of course I could do it again, and make it best out of three; however, perhaps fairest to stick to the lagoon."

Grade: A

The Mark

A friend suggested this book to me, and I am glad she did. It was a great way to start off my summer reading. An easy read that help my attention, but didn't require too much deep thinking. A little love story, some action, mystery. Wow, it really had it all!

It is about a girl in high school who discovers her birthmark has a funny design to it, and then after some random encounters with a few people she realized when they touched them (certain people) she felt a connection. Soon she and those few who she felt connected too discover they have similar marks. Weird huh? They are probably government experiments...or are they? They soon find themselves on the hunt to learn about their marks and in doing so learn a lot more than they bargain for. AND in the process fall in love. **Sigh**

I really did like this book. It was clean, foul language free, and enjoyable to read. The Prologue was just confusing and it drove me nuts until the end of the book when it all came together. And the characters all seemed to act older than a bunch of seniors in high school should normally act and at times the love story was just a little too cheesy for me...but then again they were in high school so maybe it was fitting.

Favorite Quote: "How ironic would it be for us to look eagerly toward graduation, only to then spend the rest of our lives looking longingly back to what we were trying so hard to move on from?" and " We were still laughing as we climbed into my car. I put the key into the ignition, started the car and then adjusted my rear view mirror. That's when I saw him. The man from the sandwich shop was sitting in my back seat. I immediately turned to look behind me, thinking 'we should be able to jump our of the car before anything happens. or i could call the police, but that would take too long. I ended up confronting him. "What are you doing in my car?"

Grade: B+

Bossypants

Doesn't the cover alone make you want to read this biography? It is what first drew me to the book and the fact that I think Tina Fey can be so funny. I honestly knew that there was a BIG chance for foul language in this book, along with dirty jokes and the like. I mean seriously she was on SNL...here is your sign right? But I hoped and hoped that instead of Tina Fey the SNL star it would be more like the Tina Fey on Baby Momma (have you watched that movie? So great) But alas it is the SNL Tina Fey. Within the first few pages she hit her swear word quota (once I hit so many naughty words I am done with the book), I was so sad. This was obviously going to be a funny book. But a rule is a rule...especielly when they are there to protect my innocent mind.

I did flip through the rest of the book and picked parts that I figured would be clean...I found a few and enjoyed those. Like Secrets of Mommy's Beauty, Remembrances of Being Very Very Skinny, Remembrances of Being a Little Bit Fat but it didn't take long before I realized that was probably it. Sad I know.

So if you don't mind too much swearing and some dirty jokes (at least I think that what they where...I didn't get them) then read this book. But if you want to keep it clean...avoid this one and just look at the cover and enjoy it.

Favorite Quote: "Ah, babies! They're more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts. Like most people who have had one baby, I am an expert on everything and will tell you, unsolicited, how to raise your kid!"

Grade: D (for language and jokes I didn't get and am glad)

Sense and Sensibility

Before you get all excited about this book FINALLY being done...just know that I didn't get it done. I tried and tried and tried again but I am just not going to be able to finish it at this time. I fall asleep every time I open it. So I calling it quits. Maybe someday I will revisit the idea of finishing it, but not now.

Grade: incomplete

Save Me

Another great book! I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be a great year for literature! This was another short chapter book...I have mentioned before how much I love short chapters. I almost wish I could do a search for books with sort chapters and read those books. I loved the character development of this story. In fact I liked most everything with the book and I am excited to read more by Lisa Scottline. The only think I wasn't crazy about was the cover art. I don't get how the picture deals with the story and that bugs me.

Melly, is Roses daughter. She has a birthmark on her cheek that also makes her the mark of teasing at school. One girl especially likes to torment Melly. Amanda, is the pretty girl who never gets caught and people think she is an angel but really behind the scenes is a meany-head. Rose decided to volunteer at the school to see what is really going on. It just so happens that in the lunch room that day Amanda was in fact mean to Melly sending her crying to the bathroom. After keeping Amanda behind for a talking to, Rose found herself in a nightmare situation. There is an explosion and she is the only one who can save the girls. The results of her actions are HUGE and life changing. Things will never be the same for anyone.

Oh man...are you excited to read it? You should be. It is a great book!

Favorite Quote: Rose's mind reeled. If she got Amanda and Emily our of the cafeteria to the playground, she wouldn't have time to go after Melly. If she went to save Melly, she'd have to leave Amanda and Emily, who were right in front of her. She couldn't do that, and she couldn't leave her own child to die.

Grade: A