Ordinary People Change the World

I have been a fan of Brad Meltzer for quite awhile. I have read a number of his adult bestsellers and love watching his television series Lost History and Brad Meltzer's Decoded.  His love for history is always clear in his delivery, whether through television or the written word. 

I am Abraham Lincoln
by Brad Meltzer

I am Jackie Robinson
by Brad Meltzer

I am Rosa Parks
by Brad Meltzer

I am Amelia Earhart
by Brad Meltzer

When I heard he was going to be writing a series of books for young children on historical figures I knew it was going to be great. I would expect nothing less. I have to say though, he far surpassed my expectations with his series of book geared to children from kindergarten to third grade. The series Ordinary People Change the World includes books about many famous historical figures including Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, & Jackie Robinson. Books about Lucille Ball and Helen Keller will be released later in 2015. They are perfect introductory biographies for this age group. The research and language used allows young children to understand the hardships overcome by each of the famous individuals, while encouraging the reader to follow their own dreams and aspirations. There is a clear sense of positivity in each of the books, even those whose life was cut short. Amelia Earhart’s story ends with a parade following one of her historical flights. Abraham Lincoln’s story ends following the historic Gettysburg Address. Each book ends with a two page spread of photographs of the historic figure and Jackie Robinson’s also includes a timeline with significant dates highlighted including: 1942 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, April 15, 1947 – his first game with the major-league team the Brooklyn Dodgers, and other history making events. I highly recommend all of the titles in this wonderful series of biographies for young children. I can't wait to see the next set of historical characters he will present in this series.

Meltzer's website provides a few printable activities to go along with the book series. Activities include a page for children to draw a picture of their hero - "Who's Your Hero?", a chart with brave deeds where you must decide if the heroic deed was performed by Abraham Lincoln or Amelia Earhart - "Guess the Hero",  and "What Makes a Great Hero?" where the heroic traits of Abraham Lincoln and Amelia Earhart are listed and the child can list the traits of their personal hero. There is also a word search and a connect the dots activity.

**To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Dial Publishing Company has provided a complimentary copy of the following titles for review purposes: I am Amelia Earhart, I am Abraham Lincoln, I Am Rosa Parks, and I am Jackie Robinson.

Kathryn Pincus Blog Tour

A few weeks ago I received an email asking if I would be interested in participating in the blog tour of a new author. I was a bit taken aback because I have never been contacted to participate in this something like this. I have always been the one to make contact. I am so glad I agreed to this wonderful opportunity. Not only did I get to read a fabulous new book, but I was introduced to a great new author.

Kathryn Pincus

Kathryn Pincus was raised in the New York metropolitan area, received her undergraduate degree (B.A., Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Delaware, and her law degree (J.D.) from the Georgetown University Law Center. Pincus honed her writing skills in her law practice, presenting complex factual and legal matters in clear, compelling, and persuasive writings. Since her “early retirement” from the practice of law, she has filled her days taking care of a busy household and family, supporting numerous charitable and community causes, and writing fiction.

Long Hill Home
by Kathryn Pincus

As soon as I received Kathryn's book I do what I always do with a new book. I immediately went to Shelfari and started entering information about the book. As I was listing the chapter headings I discovered the book is written in different voices.  Each chapter is headed with the person from who's viewpoint the chapter is written and the date the events are taking place. This was by no means a spoiler for the book, but great incite as I knew the key players before the action began.

I was immediately drawn into the story line and the characters. Pincus develops all of her characters in such a way that you know them without being bombarded with too much background information. You are provided with just the right amount of background knowledge about each of the characters in order for the story to progress. Her foreshadowing of events was subtle and did not ruin the anticipation of the action.

Long Hill Home could fall into a number of genres: legal thriller, thriller, women's fiction, etc. Labeling it in a specific genre may prevent some readers from picking up this fabulous book, but I hope this would not be the case. In just 244 pages Pincus takes us through the days leading up to and following the brutal abduction and rape of Kelly, a young mother and lawyer. Intertwined in Kelly's story are those of her family, eyewitnesses, and others involved. Although the book deals with a horrific circumstance the details are not graphic. Pincus handles the rape and the eventual reconnection between husband and wife in a very delicate manner. She shows how a victim can be pulled back to a normal life with the help of a professional counselor and family members. I highly recommend this book which is now available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

More information about Kathryn's debut thriller, Long Hill Home, can be found at http://kathrynpincus.com/long-hill-home. There, you can also see wonderful images allowing you to explore the places of her book which include: Brandywine River and Breck's Mill, Downtown Wilmington; Kelly's law office building, the Courthouse & Maria's apartment; Kelly's Highlands neighborhood; Chad's house in the woods; Rockford Park; and the Running Trails. These photographs allow you to walk or "run" in Kelly's shoes and to see her world.

**To comply with guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Smith Publicity Inc., has provided a complimentary copy of this title for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author, publisher, or publicity company and is solely my opinion.

Gone Girl: Better Late Than Never

Once again I was sucked into the debate of book vs. movie. Is it a bad thing? No. It is just a thing. To be honest, every time I go to the movie theater and sit through the previews I try to catch the small glimpse of the credit information to see if the trailer was based on a book. If I can't read quickly enough, I will grab my phone (yes, in the movie theater...it is after all the previews and not the feature presentation...although this does NOT happen at the Alamo Draft House...I have to put pencil to paper there...after all, I don't want to get kicked out of the movie theater before the movie starts just because I am trying to find out about a future movie!!...I digress) to see if the movie is based on a book, play, poem, etc.

I ALWAYS want to read the original before seeing the screen adaptation. More times than not, the book is SO much better. I saw a recent post on Facebook discussing books and movies Here is the question posted - "What movies are better than the books they're based on?" I have to admit I was shocked by most of the responses. Comments about movies being so much better than the books for titles such as Gone with the Wind, The Help, The Princess Bride, and even the Harry Potter series! Maybe I am not reading the same books with these titles! How can someone possibly say Gone with the Wind was boring?!? Maybe I am prejudice. It is one of my all time favorite books.

Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn

I can't remember if it was during the previews for A Million Ways to Die in the West (please don't judge me, it was my husband's movie choice), The Fault in Our Stars, or Guardians of the Galaxy when I first saw the preview for Gone Girl. I was immediately interested in the movie, but quickly realized I had heard of the book, even though I had not read it. I believe I have a copy of an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for Gone Girl I picked up during the Texas Library Association's Annual Conference. So for this particular book, even though I have had a copy of it pre-publication, it took the buzz of the upcoming movie to get me interested in reading the book. I put it on my TBR (To Be Read) list, one of the many I have. I decided it was time to read the book when the movie was to be released on DVD. So, I grabbed a copy of the book from Half Price Books and read it. Wow! I loved every minute of the book. I was immediately grabbed and quickly pushed over the edge with the magnificent twist. I am not going to post any spoilers for the book because I don't want any potential readers of the book to be disappointed. This awesome book might already be spoiled for you if you saw some of the clips from the 2015 Oscar Awards. I guess they don't think about spoiling an ending of a book because EVERYONE has already seen the movie, right?!? (Sorry for the sarcasm! No, I'm not. It ticked me off! I am just glad I had already read the book and seen the movie!)

I know the book has been out for almost three years and the movie for almost a year, but if you have not read Gone Girl or seen the movie, I would highly recommend reading the book and then seeing the movie. I have heard some people had a difficult time getting through the first half of the book. If that is the case for you (it was not for me at all), please go forth knowing you will be SHOCKED by the twists and turns Gillian Flynn includes in her third novel, and the best-selling book to date.

Gripping, Suspenseful...Harlan Coben Delivers...Again!

When thinking of edge of your seat, page turning suspense-thrillers, the name Harlan Coben should be one of your top five authors. I was first introduced to Coben in 2001 with his novel Tell No One. I have been obsessed with his writing ever since.

I guess you could say I am a very lucky person. I got to meet Mr. Coben in 2012 during the Texas Library Association Annual Conference . Most recently I was selected as one of Penguin Random House First to Read members to preview The Stranger. This exciting thriller will be released March 24, 2015.

The Stranger
by Harlan Coben

I am purposefully writing my first impressions and review now because I do not want to provide any spoilers for those of you who will not be able to get your hands on this great spine chilling stand alone novel for another two weeks. I have approximately 80 pages left in the book and can hardly wait to finish reading. The suspense is actually driving me to write faster so I can get back to reading. That is what Coben does, he forces you to make a decision, turn the page and continue reading or take care of your every daily responsibilities...work, chores, family, etc. Sorry, family, but  I'm going to read just one more page, chapter...I'll see you when I have finished this book!

The Stranger (not only the title, but one of the characters) comes to you and reveals a secret (or lie), yours or that of a loved one. Is it more beneficial to you to allow your secret to be told or to pay to keep it hidden? Everything about this tale takes me back to Sir Walter Scott's epic poem Marmion and the line, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" To what lengths would you go to protect a secret and your family? Little white lies, where can they lead? What are the consequences that must be faced when / if you are revealed?

I highly recommend reading The Stranger as soon as you can get your hands on a copy. It will not only keep you turning the pages through the night, but it will also keep your mind running, pondering choices and decisions you make every day.  It is a fabulous, quick read (because you don't want to put the book down!). I'm cutting this review short simply so I can go find out how the book ends.

*To comply with the guidelines set by the Federal Trade Commission, Penguin Random House, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

Dear Dragon Goes to the Aquarium

Dear Dragon Goes to the Aquarium
by Margaret Hillert
illustrated by Jack Pullan

The Dear Dragon series of books do not have the same appeal as classic children's books like Where the Wild Things Are, however my students love the books. The newest title, Dear Dragon Goes to the Aquarium, will be one that is quickly checked out from my library shelves. The bright, colorful illustrations, and fun Dragon will immediately appeal to young children eager to read of his next adventure. Reading Reinforcement activities included at the end of the book allow parents to interact with their child helping them to become a better reader. By creating a fun character, Hillert (a former first grade teacher) has encouraged young children to want to read and provided parents and caregivers tools to assist in the engagement of these emergent readers.  As long as Hillert writes Dear Dragon books I will by purchasing them for my young students because she knows how to produce a fun story which will not only entertain young children, but also motivate them to want to read more.

*To comply with the guidelines set up by the Federal Trade Commission, Norwood House Press, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope with Loss and Suicide

Last week had a the wonderful fortune of being a part of the Nerdy Book Club's post - Books That Make Us Cry (Part Two) Collect by Donalyn Miler. When tasked with locating a sad book, or book that makes us cry, I immediately came up with a number of titles that have made me cry while reading them and long after - interestingly the first two that came to mind were dog related - Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls), Old Yeller (Fred Gipson), Where the Lilies Bloom (Bill & Vera Cleaver), The Fault in Our Stars (John Green), and 13 Reasons Why (Jay Asher), just to name a few. Although these are all great books, and I highly recommend all of them, along with a box of tissues, I wanted spotlight a new book. One that make me cry for an entirely different reason - the need for such a title.

Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help
Children Cope with Loss and Suicide
by Emmi Smid

Cover Not Final - Release Date: April 21, 2015

I could not think of a sadder book to share than Luna’s Red Hat. The extended title – An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope with Loss and Suicide, immediately caught my attention. The story is beautifully told from the viewpoint of young Luna on the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death. Luna’s father allows her to express her feelings while explaining her mother’s death was not her fault, nor was it her mother’s fault. Only one phrase alludes to the possibility of Luna’s mother taking her own life, “Normally Mums don’t stop living when they want to and you have every right to be angry” (page 18 of the eBook provided by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, February 26, 2015). I believe if the title did not have the word suicide in it, the sentence would simply be a child’s view of loss through death.

Emmi Smid accurately portrays the child’s mood throughout with a mixture of bold and muted colors. The roll and flow of the text across the page helps to demonstrate the ups and downs of Luna’s emotion. A guide for parents follows the story with information from bereavement specialist Dr. Riet Feiddleaers-Jaspers. It includes how children understand death, how to inform children of a person’s death, and possible questions to expect in the days following a parent’s death. What could be sadder than to know there is a niche this book fills? Thankfully this book will soon be available to those who need to share it with children who have to face such a difficult time in their young lives.

*To comply with the guidelines set up by the Federal Trade Commission, Jessica Kingsley Publishers has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.

Award Winning Author Does It Again

Sixteen years ago, my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Newbery and Caldecott Award Banquet during the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans. I don't remember the food or our dinner companions, but I do remember listening to the amazing speeches, especial that of Louis Sachar. We were fortunate enough to have the privilege of meeting Mr. Sachar following the dinner and I, of course, had him sign my copy of Holes.

Holes
by Louis Sachar

Holes is not the only fabulous book written by Mr. Sachar, in fact there are two additional books in the Holes series -- Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake (2003) and  Small Steps (2006). He is also the creator of the Wayside School series and Marvin Redpost series. His last book, The Cardturner was published in 2010.

I was beyond thrilled when I received word that I would get to read the next great work in this fabulous list of writings by Mr. Sachar, Fuzzy Mud. I was immediately engrossed in the writing. I loved the descriptions of his characters. He has a way of creating characters to whom the reader can relate, whether for the good or the bad. Chad, for instance, is not the nicest of characters, but there are pre-teens and teens who will see themselves. Maybe through his character development these young people will see they are not alone in their circumstances.

If Mr. Sachar continues his writing in the same vein as stated in his Newbery acceptance speech for Holes, "The book was written for the sake of the book, and nothing beyond that. If there's any lesson at all, it is that reading is fun" I applaud him, as always. I love the the subtlety of the math and science included in the book. This title will be one I will most definitely keep in mind when attempting to place the right book with the right reader. Fuzzy Mud is one of those books that you have to read in one sitting. The reader is "sucked in" (Sorry, I just had to do it!) and cannot get away. If one is inspired to calculate or discover something new because of the story, then it is a great side effect of wonderful writing.

Two thumbs WAY UP for Louis Sachar and Fuzzy Mud. Put it on your "To Be Read" list because you will have to wait awhile for this title. Delacorte Books for Young Readers shows the release date as August 4, 2015.

Fuzzy Mud
by Louis Sachar

To comply with the guidelines set up by the Federal Trade Commission, Delacorte Books for Young Readers has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is solely my opinion.