Book Review: Steelheart

I finally jumped on the band wagon and read a Brandon Sanderson. I know I’m super late to the party!

A review almost seems unwarranted. Everyone knows what a great writer he is but here goes...

Despite all the superhero movies and tv shows that are everywhere nowadays, Steelheart feels fresh. The main character, David, is every kids’ kid. He has a tragic background and wants to right the wrong he survived. He is daring, smart and resourceful and he won’t give up.

Setting the story in a future filled with super-villains yet void of super-heroes is awesome. What greater odds can you face? It turns the super-hero trope on its head and sets the stage for an amazing underdog story.

The characters and setting are believable. The story is intriguing and the action never stops. The twists and turns along the way kept me engaged the whole way through. And its a series so the fun doesn’t end here.

This is a great series for the summer. Anytime really.

Book Review: The Kitchen House

"The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom is a great “escape” read. You will be transported and completely immersed in the story. But its also an intimate look into the life or death details of living with slavery.

“The Kitchen House” follows the life of a young Irish orphan, Lavinia, who is made a slave to a wealthy plantation owner in Virginia.

The colored slaves take her in as one of their own, even though they know she can never really be one of them because she is white and that is enough to make a difference. But she grows up blind to the difference of skin color. And therein lies the crux of the story. Society eventually tries to separate her and teach her where she belongs but nobody is quite sure where that is.

She feels a deep kinship with her slave family and they for her. But she is eventually assigned to the house to care for the ailing mistress. The master is a kind man but is often absent, leaving responsibility for the house and slaves to an abusive field manager, and his children to an abusive tutor. 

The characters are compelling. Every one of them. There is a large cast, running the risk of stereotypes which does happen to some degree. There is enough character growth in the main characters to forgive the flat characters. 

By the end, it almost begins to feel like a soap opera with all the inter-connections of slaves and owners and the traps of misunderstanding and crossed paths. And perhaps it really was that way?

One of the most painful parts for me to read was how trapped everyone was in their roles. Even with good intentions, good peopled were forced to be silent and pressed to inaction. And the evils of slavery persisted. I found myself even feeling sympathy for one of the antagonists. That’s good storytelling. And its tragic and heart wrenching and hard to put down. 

I really enjoyed thinking about and trying to understand the motivation of the characters, why they chose to do certain things. What would I have done in the situation? Would I be strong or weak? And what really is strong or weak when faced with a situation like they were in? Being led to these reflections and discussions with friends in our book club is what made this book so great!

Book Review: The Day The World Came to Town

There are many stories about 9/11 told through movie, book and personal experience. A story less known are the stories in Gander, New Foundland retold in Jim DeFede’s book “The Day the World Came to Town.” When hundreds of planes were stranded in the air on the morning of Sept, 11, with no place to land, Gander opened its airfield and welcomed the panes and the thousands of passengers with open arms. 

Though the heavy feeling of loss and insecurity is still present throughout this telling, the book focuses on how this town opened their homes, hearts, kitchens, linen closers—their lives—to the unexpected visitors. 

I enjoyed seeing the experience and reaction fo such varied groups of people from all over the world. Parents of a New York firefighter, high-fashion NY executives, high-level business leaders, pilots and crew, young tourists and even animal passengers. Each person on those planes had a story to tell, as did the New Foundlanders who helped them.

By spending a good amount of time in Gander, the author was able to get personal with the folks who live there and gather amazing stories. He shares them in an honest and touching way. My only complaint is that with such a large cast, it was hard for me to keep everyone straight. He does a relatively good job but there were just so many people. Perhaps that is part of the magnitude of the event and the story he is telling.

Overall, this is a fantastic story of unity and an inspiring community reaching out to help others in need. This book shows a heart warming side of a harrowing piece of American history. 

Book Review: The War I Finally Won

"The War I Finally Won" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a fantastic sequel to "The War That Saved My Life."

Once again, Ada endears herself to the reader with her vulnerability. World War II continues to rage and the aftermath is horrendous. Homes are lost, friends are lost, comforts are lost, lives are lost. Even hope is lost. 

But new friends come, in the form of Ruth, a Jewish German. No one is welcoming or accepting of her at first but soon a sweet friendship grows as well as a new understanding.

I love how this book introduces complex situations and emotions to young children, challenging them to explore and consider situations they may never be in themselves. Things like learning to accept someone different than you. Challenges of living without normal necessary comforts. Loss and death. Loneliness. Emotional and mental frailty. It is through reading books like this that children learn empathy for people and situations that foreign, scary and untouchable.

Another strong part of this book is the historical aspect. I love viewing the war from this perspective. I don't think it is one that is used very often, especially from a child's point of view. 

A couple of my favorite parts are:

example #1:
(Ada is at the top of the church in the middle of the night with Susan looking for fires)
"...I don't believe you're in danger up here, not any more than anywhere else. Think about it. You don't have to feel safe to actually be safe.'
I supposed. I'd never felt safe, so how would I know?"
I love that concept - You don't have to feel safe to actually be safe. That is something that Ada struggles with from the first novel and throughout this one. It demonstrates the power of the story we tell ourselves, what we allow ourselves to believe. Sometimes we are safe, or worthwhile, or beautiful, or whatever else, even though we don't see or believe it. 

example #2:
Mrs. Thornton has the most difficult time accepting Ruth. But in the end, she learns to look at the individual and open herself to understanding.
"I knew about the part of the world I grew up in,' Lady Thorton said, looking directly at me. 'You knew about the part you grew up in. Now we both know more."

This is one of the most valuable lessons of the whole book and why I think young people should read it

Book Review: Peace Like a River

Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger, is one of the most beautiful books written. It is very poetic and a little slow to begin and for some in my book club, it was hard to get into. But for me, its like swimming in a beautiful ocean of words. 

If you give yourself a little time to immerse into the story, you will fall in love with 11-year-old Reuben and his family. Beginning with severe bullying and a drastic reaction by taking things into their own hands, the family is propelled into a cross-country trip to save their family. 

One of the best parts of this book for me, besides the beautiful writing, was the religious undercurrent throughout the entire novel. I just loved it. Miracles and prophets and the drive to do the right. Also, the character development and family development were so deep and meaningful. The relationships between Reuben and his sister and brother. And the role of his father as the bedrock of the family. Heart-breaking at times but always real and honest. 

Also, the setting is almost a character in and of itself. From the long stretches of road, to the snow, to the fiery crevasse. And the characters that come on scene to help and to hinder are drawn with distinct characterization. 

This is a wonderful book for young adult/adult. If you find it hard to get into, don't give up. It is worth reading! 

Book Review: The Third

Isn't this the craziest cover. I sort of love it and am creeped out by it at the same time. 

The Third is a fantastic book written by Abel Keogh. The story starts by immediately immersing you in the setting of a not-too-distant future that is focused on recycling and saving the earth. Laws of rule and order are passed and families are granted only two credits for children. Having a third or more is against the law. 

Right off the bat, Ransom saves a woman and her child from impending violence on a bus and in the process puts his own life in danger. This would be enough to keep you reading but when the twists and turns start flying, I couldn't put the book down. 

The best part of Keogh's writing is the way he envisions the future and puts his characters in impossible positions where the line between right and wrong is blurred. He does a good job of exploring the issues from every angle. I even found myself agreeing with a character that was in opposition to my own opinion. 

The plot is tight and intriguing and the characters are spot on. I couldn't stop reading and when the book ended.... well, I just can't wait for the next book to come out. 

This is a great book I highly recommend for new adult/adult readers. 

Book Review: Finding Beauty in the Best

"Finding Beauty in the Beast" is a beautiful fairy tale re-telling. Author Jessilyn Peaslee borrows characters from her first novel, Ella (and its companion book, Ella's Will) and turns the fairy tale on its head. In the best way possible. Princess Rose is a monster. Some call her a beast. Corbin escapes heartbreak at home and finds himself in Rose's kingdom and forced to present himself as a suitor. Every suitor is required to present a gift and his, though simple, is the one Rose picks. And so begins the tale of transformation, for both of them.  Certainly the best part of this book is the character development. Peaslee does a wonderful job of bringing Corbin and Rose to life and making them completely relatable. Corbin is kind yet still flawed in his interaction with difficult Rose. And Rose is difficult yet vulnerable at the same time. Their love grows at a slow simmer until it can't be denied.I also appreciated the sweet poetic word-smithing that is so fitting for a fairytale. Peaslee is a master at understanding the workings of the heart and the intricate complications of relationships. You can't help but learn something about yourself when you read one of Peaslee's book. This is a sweet fairy tale I would recommend for any age.

"A Three Dog Life" is a beautiful memoir by Abigail Thomas. Her husband was in a horrible accident which left him with severe brain damage. His body is still there but his mind is lost. Abigail is his wife and caregiver.

This book, written in essay form is so beautiful. If you know someone with memory loss, this book will speak to you. It certainly did to me. She delves into the realities of living with someone who can't remember one moment to the next. And openly admits to the difficulties in putting your loved one in a care facility and all the complicated feelings that accompany that. Thomas writes in such an honest way, it made me feel like I was sharing a drink with her in a small restaurant and there was not a care in the world. It's reflective and beautiful and heart-rending.  

Another great thing about this book is that because it is written in essay form, it is easy to read and much or as little as you need. And it gives you time to think and reflect. It's a book I could read more than once. 

Book Review: The Storied life of A.J. Fikry

For lovers of literature, book stores and quirky characters, this is the book for you. 

But I want to put this disclaimer at the beginning - the only problem, and this could be a deal-breaker, is the language. (f-word used multiple times). Such a shame. It's not even needed.

OK. that being said- I really enjoyed this book. AJ Fikry is a fickle book store owner, a widow and from India. When a young child shows up in his book store, orphaned, his world changes. He changes. His vision for his future opens to include new people, including Amy, a publishing house agent who makes the trip to his store a couple of times a year to sell books.

Book readers will love this story because of all the literary references. There are conversations about telling what a person's personality is like based on what books they like to read. Reading lists. The conflict between paper books and electronic readers. And more. 

Non-book readers and readers alike, will like this story because the characters are quirky yet believable. Its easy to see yourself in these  characters and their weaknesses, insecurities and frailty. Its a story about being dealt a hard hand and persevering, finding joy along the way.

If not for the language, I would buy this book and share it with all my reading friends. It s a great, great story!

Book Review: Time Seller

We are first introduced to Anton in 1017. He is a disgraced soldier living a quiet life with his wife and young child. When an undefeatable monster appears, his life changes forever. 

And by forever, I mean we are again introduced to Anton, now known as Simeon, in 2017.

One of the best parts about "The Time Seller" is the way Abel Keogh plays with time. The concept of manipulating time is very complex and its very believable throughout the story. 

There are several things that make this story engaging. One of them is the setting. Throughout the novel we are jumping between time periods--old-timey fantasy and high-tech modern time. Both settings are believable and engaging. While reading, I was sad to leave one period but then I started the next and I was just as interested to read on. 

The characters are also unique and authentic. Anton is a strong, complex character faced with moral decisions and he makes the best decision he can, even if its not perfect. All the supporting characters are strong and developed. I loved that each character had strong motivation and moral compass. 

The only thing I would caution is that this is definitely an adult book. There is violence against a child and there are adult themes. I recommend this book for adults and older, mature teens maybe.

This is a great time traveling, time manipulating adventure. 

Book Review: Amy Snow

"Amy Snow" by Tracy Rees is a fantastic book for someone who enjoys regency era but not regency romance.

A small babe is found in the snow by Aurelia, a young heiress on a large estate. Aurelia brings her inside and informs her parents that she is keeping the baby and names her Amy Snow. From that point on, feisty Aurelia loves Amy. By the rest of the household, she is seen as a second-class citizen. Especially by Aurelia's mother, who has not been able to hold on to a pregnancy since Aurelia. 

Aurelia and Amy have a strong bond that eventually earns Amy a place as Aurelia's handmaid. Then Aurelia becomes sick and the household is heartbroken, knowing she will die young and probably never marry. While Aurelia is still in relatively good health, and in order to avoid a marriage to a man she doesn't love, she leaves on a trip around England with her aunt. Amy is left behind, feeling confused and heartbroken.

It isn't long after Aurelia returns that she passes away. In her will, she leaves Amy a letter. A letter with a secret. By deciphering the hidden message, Amy is thrust into a treasure hunt. Following clues, Amy learns how to stand on her own and also uncovers more secrets she never knew Aurelia was hiding.

The interaction between Amy and Aurelia were so authentic. I wished I could read more about Aurelia before she died. She was such a head-strong character. Amy was fun to follow because of her growing self-awareness. There is a love-story element and it was almost too much for me. But it wasn't the typical regency romance. Phew. 

Then ending, though I had guessed at it early, was still rewarding and fitting. A good read for those who enjoy treasure hunts with clues dropped along the way, mixed with regency and a little romance.
  

Book Review: Veritas

veritas

"Veritas" is half murder mystery, half horror, with bits of love story and adventure thrown in to make it a compelling page turner.

Hester is blind and deaf and has heightened awareness of sound and smell. In fact, they are powers she holds because she is a Demi-god in Stonehenge, CO 1892. Raised as the only child in a wealthy family, she has everything she wants except the freedom to pursue the man she loves, Tom. She and Tom have the ability to communicate telepathically. And despite the restraints her parents put on her, she and Tom are lovers.

When one of the ghosts that constantly badgers Hester, clues her in on a new murder in town, her life is flipped upside down. And things get more complicated from there.

The first time I read anything from this book was for a first chapter online critique group. It read like a horror story and I was intrigued. It was just enough to horrify me but not gross me out. The character of Hester is what drew me in. She is so unique and strong, yet vulnerable. She stayed with me several days after I read.

The only critique I have is that some of the storylines are not resolved. But then again, this is the first in a series. At the same time, I wish they'd been addressed a little more.

I loved the setting. Stonehenge, CO! How did she come up with that? 1892. So very unique. I enjoyed the way Coleridge explores the senses with Hester. Everything has a unique smell, even emotions. The love triangle is not overbearing, which is always a relief for me. (I'm not opposed to romance. I just don't love romance novels.) The world building is well done with intriguing plot twists. 

But the writing... its good. Good writing. This is an author who is not just a good story-teller but a student of the craft. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.

Favorite quote:
"The doctor leads me to a chair, smelling of everything good and normal in the world. Cinnamon, chocolate, cold wintry air, dried lavender, pine needles, healthy horseflesh, and a male body kept clean with the daily application of warm water and soap. It's an unbefitting thing to admit, but I could sit here and inhale Kelly for hours."

Book Review: Big Magic

 "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert is based on the premise that creative magic is all around us. Magical creative ideas are floating around us waiting for someone to grab on and make them a reality. 

It’s interesting but the first two sections of the book, I didn’t really buy. I’m more a believer in inspiration and God’s influence. But once I made it to the third section about giving yourself permission to be creative, I really started to enjoy the book. 

One of my very favorite quotes is how we can respond when doubt creeps in and we wonder what we are doing and why. Most creative people hit this roadblock at some point and multiple times. We wonder-
Why am I spending so much time on this writing/painting/music/etc?
I’m not any better or more creative than anyone else?
Is anyone going to care?
What if they don’t care?
What if I totally stink?
What am I doing?

Elizabeth Gilbert says:

"'Who the *bleep* do you think you are?' your darkest interior voices will demand.
"It's funny you should ask," you can reply. "I'll tell you who I am: I am a child of God, just like anyone else. I am a constituent of this universe. I have invisible spirit benefactors who believe in me, and who labor alongside me. The fact that I am here at all is evidence that I have the right to be here. I have a right to my own voice and a right to my own vision. I have a right to collaborate with creativity, because I myself am a product and a consequence of Creation. I'm on a mission of artistic liberation, so let the girl go."

I love that! It is my new creative mantra and gives me permission, validation, encouragement to keep creating.

Another quote I love is about being perfect.
"It starts by forgetting about perfect. We don't have time for perfect. In any event, perfection is unachievable: It's a myth and a trap and a hamster wheel that will run you to death. The writer Rebecca Solnit puts it well: 'So many of us believe in perfection, which ruins everything else, because the perfect is not only the enemy of the good; it's also the enemy of the realistic, the possible, and the fun'

As a writer, I also appreciated all the personal experiences she shared about her own writing and publishing life. One story that I got a kick out of was the background to her short story “Elk Talk.” I don’t want to give it away here, but it really is a great story. About the fickle world of publishing.

Big Magic is well written and Gilbert’s voice is so distinct, easy and fun to read. So, although I didn’t agree with everything in the book, I did appreciate a lot of it. 

I recommend this with a grain of salt. 

Another great quote is:
We all need an activity that is beyond the mundane and that takes us out of our established and limiting roles in society (mother, employee, neighbor, brother, boss, etc.). We all need something that helps us to forget ourselves for a while--to momentarily forget our age, our gender, our socioeconomic background, our duties, our failures, and all that we have lost and screwed up. We need something that takes us so far out of ourselves that we forget to eat, forget to pee, forget to mow the lawn, forget to resent our enemies, forget to brood over our insecurities. Praye rcan do that for us, community service can do it, sex can do it, exercise can do it, and substance abuse can most certainly do it (albeit with god-awful consequences)--but creative living can do it, too. Perhaps creativity's greatest mercy is this: By completely absorbing our attention for a short and magical spell, it can relieve us remporarily from the dreadful burden of being who we are. Best of all, at the end of your creative adventure, you have a souvenir--something that you made, something to remind you forever of your brief but transformative encounter with inspiration.

the story about "Elk Talk"

Book Review: Shatter

"Shatter" is a new-release by Nikki Trionfo and it is awesome!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First, take a look at this cover-

So great, right?

And the tag line-

three bodies.

two liars.

one killer.

Even better!

Salem's life is falling to pieces, shattered, by the recent death of her older sister, mentor and friend, Carrie. Others are convinced it was a freak accident but Carrie doesn't buy it. Something feels wrong. But Carrie's is not the only recent death. When Juan Herrera, a farm worker, turns up dead in her father's peach orchard, her father becomes a suspect. Salem knows there is more to the story in both murders and knows if she wants answers, she's going to have to find them herself. Uncovering the mystery leads her into dangerous gang situations, tense confrontations, new relationships and a never-saw-it-coming ending.

There are a lot of reasons why I enjoyed this book. Salem is awesome. At the start of the book, she is fragile, having just lost her sister. She is timid and accustomed to following her sister's lead. The loss Salem feels is real, raw and transfers from the written page straight to the heart. But she doesn't stay weak for long. Throughout the story, she grows and develops, through trial and error, and becomes strong and confident in her own self. Yay for strong female leads!

I also enjoyed the plot. I started reading this book at a time when I was frequently interrupted by children. And so, the first few chapters, which include several flashbacks and jump around a bit, were confusing. But overall, Trionfo did a great job of slowly introducing characters so that I remembered who they were and why they were important. She just led me right along until I was so immersed in the plot I couldn't wait to get back to the story each night.

Another thing I loved about the plot was that it was about farming and peach orchards! The conflict between the Growers, the Farm Workers Union-and also the immigrant workers and the influence of gangs was woven together in a way that made it all make sense. There is also a love story that is not teen-age-angst-y, which is a relief. It is complicated in the best sense of the word, because of ethnicity, gangs and trust issues. The mystery itself keeps you itching for each new clue. The diversity of characters is great with the Hispanic gangs and immigrant workers and white growers, which feels so fresh and new in the book market these days.

I'm excited for my 16-year-old daughter to read this book. Look for it on Amazon in paperback and e-book. It's a great fresh read!

Also- I talked to Nikki Trionfo at the Storymakers Conference last weekend and she is every bit as cool as her book!

Book Review: Cinder Heart

Cinder Heart by Amy Linnabary, is a Cinderella retelling and everyone knows I cannot resist a good retake on the classic tale. 

The Amazon blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella just wants to finish high school without ticking off her stepmom and being forced out of her father’s house. When she finds out she’s the girl prophesied about in the fairytale Cinderella, her world gets turned upside-down.
Things get worse when the cute senior, Hal Charm, finally discovers that she exists. Add a fairy godmother, the powers of fire and speed, and a villain other than her stepmom and Gabbie’s life goes up in flames.
Now she's forced to decide between ignoring her destiny to save her friendships, or risking discovery to become the hero she needs to be.

Gabby is a character that most high school girls can relate to. And truthfully, most high school girls can relate to the way Cinderella is oppressed and the feeling that they are special but its hidden and is yet to be discovered.

Anyway, Gabby has goals to just graduate and move on with her life. By the end of the novel, her goals have grown and so has she. She is no longer a victim but a powerful force to be reckoned with. Her relationships all feel very real, with her step family and teachers. The relationship she has with her best friend is one my favorite parts of the book. And of course all the YA romance lovers will enjoy the male lead, Hal. He is both mysterious and vulnerable. 

Linnabery does a great job of taking the classic fairy tale and turning it around to make it fresh and new. Some of the classic characters take on new roles and a new villain is on scene. The setting is contemporary and ready for action. This is also the first book in a series and sets the stage nicely for a broader setting and story arc. 

Get ready for a new, exciting series that fair tale lovers will enjoy!

Book Review: The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is a classic. I remember reading it in college in one of my many English literature classes. 

It is so funny! Written in play form, it tells the story of two friends who have created fictious personas to get them out of uncomfortable situations. When they use those personas so engage in romantic relationships, the fun begins. 

 The characters are clear and though campy and cheesy, they are engaging and entertaining. Over the top characters are the perfect vehicle for Oscar Wilde to poke fun at the social rules of his day, more specifically marriage. Our book club had a great deal of fun discussing which character we would like to play and many of the social rules we have today that are easy to make fun of. Just repeating our favorite lines kept us rolling in laughter.

The next step is to watch the movie, both 1952 and 2002. 

Book Review: The Wright Brothers

"The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough is not the sort of book I pick up lately, mostly because I just don't have the brain energy to focus that much. But I'm so glad my book club read it because I really enjoyed it. 

As you might surmise, this book is about the Wright brothers and their attempts and success is creating a flying machine. I never realized how important and interesting the beginning and ending of their story is. They began as bike makers,, which was actually almost scandalous at the time because bikes were deemed unsafe. And then in the end, the United States wasn't interested in their plane. European countries were more interested and they spent many years abroad, selling their plane. All of the history was very interesting.

But the most interesting part to me was to see how connected the brothers (and whole family) were. They never married and so spent their lives together. They knew each other so well, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. And work they did. Their work ethic was amazing. 

And as always, David McCullough was thorough and supplied the perfect amount of information to keep it interesting but not over-whelming.

This poem is the heading to one of the chapters and I love it!

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow.
''Tis the set of the sails
And the gales
Which tells us the way to go.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox
"Winds of Fate"

Book Review: The War That Saved My Life

Ada and her brother, Jamie, have lived in London all their lives, but they don't know how long that's been. You see, they don't know when they were born. 

Born with a club foot, Ada is trapped in their run-down apartment by her emotionally and physically abusive mother. she watches the world through her small apartment window, as other children, including her brother, play in the street, go to school and live a life of freedom and mobility.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is set during WW II and is appropriately written for middle grade readers. Full of insecurities and flaws, Ada is a relatable and endearing character. When the children are evacuated from London to a small town in the country, to keep them safe from bombing, she determines that she and Jamie will go, even without their mother's blessing. 

It is there that they meet Susan Smith, a single woman, a little rough around the edges and not accustomed to children, tasked with keeping the siblings safe. But she becomes much more than a simple guardian.

Bradley does a fantastic job of getting to the core emotional issues of the characters, delving into the anxiety of fitting into a new place and not understanding much of anything in their new surroundings. Because of the abuse Ada has suffered all her life, she pushes back against every attempt to nurture or love. Its heart-breaking and honest and beautiful and the readers takes the journey with her in discovering her individual worth and identity. 

This is a great story for elementary age kids to introduce WW II from a different perspective (as opposed to hiding Jews and concentration camps). But more importantly, its a story about finding your own value and standing up for yourself, learning who you are and learning to trust other people. 

(cautious parent warning: there is reference to Susan Smith having a female friend that she lived with and was very close to. This relationship caused a rift between her father, who is a preacher, and causes her to be uncomfortable or unwelcome at church. So take that for what its worth. Its not a significant part of the book and not important to the main story line)

Book Review: Hurricane Coltrane

I just finished reading a book written by a fantastic debut author, Taya Okerlund. Taya was in my critique group last year at WIFYR. I remember getting her chapters for critique and thinking, "Wow!" I read it through twice with no critiques because the writing was so lovely. When I found out she was under contract for the book, I wasn't surprised. It's been a long wait for me to get my hands on this b
"Hurricane Coltrane" is a middle-grade novel set in southern Utah. Here is the back cover story:

"Merrill Hinton is a lightning rod in a town named for bad weather. He's an ace in math, but not smart enough to put together the pieces of his puzzling life, especially where finding his unknown father is concerned.

Musical genius Robbie Stubbs was born in nearby polygamist compound Colorado City. He has the chops to become another John Coltrane, but that will take running away from home, and into a firestorm of controversy--the kind his friend Merrill knows best.

Merrill sets Robbie onto a course that could rocket them both onto center stage, but being the focus of wide public attention will create serious issues. Robbie's mother is not well, and the shock of her son breaking the family rules like this may put her over the edge.

And Merrill Hinton? His precarious future will be compromised in ways he doesn't yet realize.

There is so much to love about this book. The setting is interesting and different enough to keep our attention but there are enough familiar details in the relationships to make us feel right at home. The small town feel is so well-drawn, it's easy to feel like you're welcome for an extended visit. Even when the group of kids go to L.A., we get a real sense of place and setting. 

Okerlund does a great job at feeding us motivation and emotion through the main characters, Merrill and Robbie. It is so easy to love them and sympathize with them. For me, it was especially compelling to read and connect with the music part of the story. So much can be portrayed and expressed through music, joy, enthusiasm, sorrow. It's all there and nicely done.

There's not a lot to critique about this story. I felt like it jumped around just a bit to show the passage of time and it left me a little disjointed at times. From a mother's perspective, I like that she didn't ease up on the vocabulary. That's always nice. I also appreciate that there are strong, female characters in Merrill's mom and grandma. The relationships weren't perfect and I appreciated that it provided an avenue to acknowledge that sometimes family relationships are hard and that they take work and compromise. Even Robbie, though we don't know very much about his mother, we know she supported and loved him and tried to protect him. 

Loyalty is a key theme in the story, between both family and friends. The story is set up perfectly for this theme to be explored and expressed at just the right time in the narrative. I really enjoyed this story and feel like I made some new friends. I'm excited to let my middle-graders read this story and talk about it with them. This is a great recommended read or all ages.

Book Review: Two cozy mysteries

I knew "The Bishop's Wife" by Mette Ivie Harrison was coming for some time. I went to a writer's workshop at Pleasant Grove Library a year or so ago. Mette was there and mentioned that her agent was interested in her idea to set a murder mystery in a Mormon neighborhood and that a Mormon woman would acquire clues to solve the mystery using unique-to-Mormons experiences, like visiting teaching. I was intrigued and thought it sounded like a lot of fun and I was looking forward to reading it.

So, about a year later, here comes the book, "The Bishop's Wife." I went to the book launch at the Provo Library. It was not what I expected. Harrison's presentation was very interesting, heart-breaking at moments. She was very honest and real, raw even, with her retelling of laying the foundation for this book. And I really appreciate that. But I was surprised by the actual novel and it wasn't at all what I expected. What I was hoping to be a cozy mystery with some  Mormon themes turned into what felt like a Mormon expose to me. Enough of the rant, here's the review.

The story is about Linda Wallheim, a Bishop's wife in the SLC area. Early in the book we learn about the disappearance of a young wife in the Wallheim's ward (eerily similar to the Susan Powell case.) Before long, Linda suspects the husband killed her. As Linda searches for clues, she involves herself in the life of the six-year-old daughter of the missing mom. The secrets she uncovers are many and some of them are dark and insidious. 

One of my main problems with this novel is that it took a quarter to a third of the book to get to the meat of the mystery. For the first several chapters, I felt like I was being introduced to the Mormon church and culture.  Much of it felt like a lecture or special report into the inner working of the church. My qualm was that not all of it really related to the story so why was it included? And it was Linda's interpretation and perspective on the church. Many of the things Harrison pointed out or felt the need to explain were not my personal experience, interpretation or perspective. I'm a member and I don't feel the same way Harrison portrayed the church in general to feel. One of the things that bothered me a lot was that the Bishop (Linda's husband) take the Lord's name in vain three times. I can see a Bishop cursing. In fact, I've heard it myself. But never the Lord's name. So there are just a bunch of those things. I just felt like she was looking for opportunities to include weird, titillating subjects in the Mormon culture. It was overboard in my opinion. I wished she had just told the story and shown some of the culture instead of explaining it. And also the ending was totally unbelievable. A normal person would never do what Linda did.

Anyway, once the mystery got going, it was a much more enjoyable read. And there were several other story lines that were interesting and rewarding. I just didn't like Linda as much as I wanted. She was nosy and had a chip on her shoulder. So I guess she was human, which is a good thing. Just not as likable as I had hoped.

Will I be reading more of the series? No. Harrison listed some of the topics she will tackle in other books in the series and I'm just not interested. It seems more agenda driven than good characters with a good story. Maybe my skin is thin and I'm easily offended. Maybe I don't want to take the effort to look deeply at some of the controversial issues in the church. Maybe I'm too invested in my religion and culture to see it put on display this way. You may be right. To each his own. Maybe I prefer lighter mysteries.


"Lemon Tart" by Josi Kilpack. I read this soon after "The Bishop's Wife" and I liked it better. No agendas. 

But these darn women who just can't seem to mind their own business. Sadie is the nosy neighbor in this cozy mystery and it had so many twists and turns, it was the only thing that kept me reading. (Can you tell this is not my first genre of choice?) Sadie keeps a close eye on her cul-de-sac through her front window and has a tendency to solve problems by cooking and baking her way out of them. When a young, single-mom neighbor is murdered and her young son is missing, Sadie can't help but get involved. 

Sadie finds herself in trouble and at odds, not only with neighbors, in-laws and her boyfriend, she also develops a tense relationship with the police who are working the case. Thanks to the help of her daughter, she follows the clues and solves the case. Come to find out, she is quite fierce when she needs to be.

This was a fun, quick read. I really liked Sadie and was rooting for her the whole way through!