"The Stranger Next Door" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Manny and Spunky's favorite character is Pete the Cat!

The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat is actually better than I expected.  Although the author's cat helped write parts of this book, in the story we know what the cat is thinking and saying, but the people in the book only hear it meowing which makes it more realistic.  Shortly after an aloof family move in next door to Alex's family, houses burn in the neighborhood, including the new neighbor's.  Pete the cat sees what happens and using his cat intelligence, makes his people aware of what is happening.

This book has both mystery and adventure, plus it's a quick fun read with the Pete the Cat being one of the main characters.  I think any kid who likes cats would enjoy this book very much, I did!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books I liked by this author:  Animals Welcome

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Curve Ball--The Year I Lost My Grip" by Jordan Sonnenblick

A good read for guys!

Curve Ball--The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick centers on Peter, a young teen who is just entering High School and has to deal with the following:  (1) he blows out his pitching arm just before school starts; (2) has girl problems; (3) his best friend thinks he will play because Peter has not told him how bad his injury really is; (4) he pursues photography that his grandpa taught him, then his grandpa takes a turn for the worse.  Interested yet?

I enjoyed this book a lot!  Peter's friends are as interesting as he is, especially his "girlfriend" who I think steals the show from Peter.  It's a quick read with no bad language with a really good ending! 
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.

"Boy 21" by Matthew Quick (Updated)

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick is a great fast teen read.  It's about a young boy and his girlfriend who are both very good at basketball.  It's their ticket out of their small town.  Another boy comes along and the two boys become unexpected friends.  When life throws these young people a curve ball, they have to come together or the dream dies.  I enjoyed this book a lot!  The writing is good and the ending is really, really good!  This is not just a basketball book and not just for teens.  Read and enjoy!
(Gerard's review)

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick is a teen romance involving friendship, basketball, poverty and the Irish mob.  It delves into deep issues like dealing with grief, love of family and love.  I was surprised at how good this story was, the ending brought tears to my eyes.  It’s a very moving story and shows how life can be so unpredictable.  It was heartbreaking when Finley turned his back on basketball to be with his girlfriend at the hospital who was in a hit-and–run accident only to be told she didn’t want to see him.  In an unexpected turn, the boy Finley was asked to help wound up being a good friend to Finley.  I enjoyed this quick, touching read about friendship and love. 
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.

"A Land More Kind Than Home" by Wiley Cash

A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash is told by three people: Jess, a young boy; Adelaide Lyle, a midwife; and Llem Barefield, a sheriff. Two boys, Jess and his brother, Christopher, see something in a church that they really should not have seen. Here's a little teaser from this book for you from page 260:

"Maybe that's why they were trying to heal him," Joe Bill said. "Maybe they wanted him to talk so he could confess his sins and go to Heaven when he died."

I found this book to be pretty good although it was mostly dialog without much action. It's a quick read.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during May to Joni and Friends for Camp Scholarships for families with special needs children.

"Night Train" by Clyde Edgerton

Night Train by Clyde Edgerton tells the story of two young boys in the south, one white, and one black, who are really into music and play in a band.  The story kind of hops around.  It is a quick read but not much substance.  I liked it all right, but can't recommend you read this one.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs to Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue to help homeless cats this month.

"Edenville Owls" by Robert B. Parker (GIVEAWAY)

Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker is his first book for teen readers about a kid who shows remarkable leadership, compassion, and courage.  He leads his 8^th grade basketball team to the state championship game without a coach and only five boys called the Edenville Owls.  He figured out how to help his nice English teacher out of a really bad situation and enjoyed a friendship with Joanie, a girl who was his best friend.


This is a quick-read, a good story with a kid who faced the question of how many bad things should he do in order to do a very good thing.  It shows that working together with friends can accomplish great things.  I think boys would like this one.


If you would like to have this book, just leave a comment letting us know along with your email address so we can contact you for your address.  The first one who wants it, gets it (limited to U.S. residents).


Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"We the Animals" by Justin Torres

We The Animals by Justin Torres is a short story about a mom, a dad and three brothers.  It was interesting but I wanted more.  As it was, I thought it was okay, nothing great.  A coming of age story about family bonds.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"A Difficult Boy" by M. P. Barker

A Difficult Boy by M. P. Barker is a good story about two young boys working for a shopkeeper. This book kept my interest from page 1. It's funny at times and heartbreaking too! Give it a chance, you will be glad you did!

(Gerard's Review 11/10/11)


I loved reading A Difficult Boy by M. P. Barker even though it is a teen historical fiction book set in Massachusetts in 1839.  It is the story of two indentured servants, Ethan (9 yrs. old) and an orphan named Daniel aka Paddy, a few years older (who become friends and worked together to get their freedom.  This book kept my interest all the way through and I felt sorry for the boys and anger towards their abusive master, Mr. Lyman, the town's well respected storekeeper.  What a creep he was!  My favorite part of the book though was when Daniel taught Ethan how to ride Ivy, Mr. Lyman's horse.  I also liked the ending!

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or stories about friendship.  I think this would make a very good movie!  It is interesting that the author worked as a costumed historical guide in Massachusetts for nearly ten years and this is her first novel!  It won the 2003 PEN New England Children's Book Caucus Discovery Award.  To learn more and view the book trailer, visit her website:  www.mpbarker.net. 
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?  

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Growing Up Colt" by Colt and Brad McCoy

I am a Cleveland Browns fan so when I heard our Quarterback is a Christian and wrote a book about his life, I wanted to read it. I was surprised to find that his dad wrote some of it as well. This was an interesting read because Colt and his dad share very personal experiences from Colt's childhood and also how his training growing up helped him to become the leader and the role model that he is today. Brad, his dad, shared four main principles of parenting while balancing discipline and love:


 1. Prepare the kid for the path, not the path for the kid.
2. Prepare your children to do their best.
3. Prepare your children to be leaders.
4. Prepare your children for open and closed doors.

I also thought the lessons Colt said he learned were very good, such as always finish what you start, treat everyone with respect, listen to advice from those more experienced than you and relax because "the hay is in the barn."  He used this phrase in his first NFL start as a Cleveland Brown and the guys asked him what it meant.  It means they practiced and put in the work, so now they can relax and go out and play.  (He grew up on a farm in Texas.)

It was nice to read about someone who walks with God and didn't make a lot of bad choices that messed up their life. I think the book balances his childhood training, football games, and his walk with the Lord well. I enjoyed learning so much about Colt through this book. He's definitely a leader with character and I am happy he is our Quarterback! I recommend it to parents, all Browns fans and anyone who is interested in football.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Rescue Josh McGuire" by Ben Mikaelsen

Rescue Josh McGuire is a story about adventure and protecting a bear cub that I'm glad I didn't pass up although it's a book for kids. Josh flees to the mountains with his dog and a bear cub on a dirt bike to keep the orphaned bear cub from being taken by the Montana Fish and Game Department to be used for lab experiments. After Josh's older brother died, Josh's father became an alcoholic and accidentally shot the cub's mother when hunting with his son but wouldn't admit it. It's a very good story about the difference this one boy made and the search to find the boy. He was determined not to return home until he could keep the cub and the law would be changed to not permit bear hunting in the spring when cubs were generally born. I recommend it to boys and animal lovers

(Karen's 4/15/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"I'm Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys by Laura Lee Groves

I’m Out numbered!:  One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys by Laura Lee Groves is a good little handbook for moms (and dads) of boys.  I got this because I teach 5^th grade boys in Sunday School and thought it may be helpful.  She kept the chapters short because she knows moms are very busy so it is a quick read.  She addresses many issues including expectations, laying a foundation for reading, sibling rivalry, teaching respect, organizing, media, teaching responsibility, and communication.  Also included is a special chapter for dads, for single moms, and one from the boys themselves!  Laura Groves also includes an extensive list of recommended books that deal with related topics that she wrote about in this book. 

I think this book would be helpful to any parent of boys especially.  It is sprinkled with some humor and scripture which makes it a very enjoyable and interesting read.  I liked it and am not even a parent but this book makes parenting sound like lots of fun!  As I was reading, I kept thinking of different mothers I know who may benefit from reading this.  Some general advice from I’m outnumbered! is to let boys be creative, don’t let them hurt each other, don’t play favorites, give them all a chance to be leaders and promote teamwork, treat them as individuals, love them no matter what they do or don’t do, teach them manners by challenging them to be honorable like knights. 

I’m Outnumbered! would make a great gift for parents of boys.   I highly recommend this book and can’t say enough good about it.  Thanks to The 160 Acre Woods:  A Mom's Manual For Boys for posting about it.  If this book appeals to you, please check out these great blog posts that give advice on raising boys by Italian Mama Gone Crazy:  What Would Mama Do? (Part Uno) and What Would Mama Do? (Part Due for mothers of little boys).  Many of the things Laura Groves wrote about in this book reminded me of the advice I read in these blog posts. 

Check out my teaser.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Chicken Boy" by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Chicken Boy by Frances O’Roark Dowell is a YA fiction story about Tobin, a 7th grader who became neglected after his mother died.  He has a good relationship with his grandmother who blames his father for her daughter’s death.  He is pretty much withdrawn but finally makes a friend, Henry, who gets him interested in chickens.  Raising chickens and having a friend helps him feel better about himself and his school work improves.  He is put into a nice foster home when his grandmother calls social services to report the neglect on the part of the dad. 

I learned some things about chickens by reading this book but I wasn’t all that impressed with it.  I usually like family stories but there wasn’t enough character development to make me really feel like I knew this family.  It seemed like there were loose ends and although he forgave his grandmother, other things seemed left unresolved.  The book seemed to just stop. 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Theodore Boone--Kid Lawyer" by John Grisham

Theodore Boone--Kid Lawyer by John Grisham is about a Theo, a 13-yr. old likable boy who wants to be either a lawyer or a judge one day.  It was a nice change of pace to read about a good kid from a stable family who makes good decisions and cares about other people.  Both Theo’s parents are attorneys who support their son.  Theo is fascinated with the courthouse and is excited when there is a murder trial.  He finds himself in a tough situation and actually turns to his parents for help.  This is not packed with suspense like Grisham’s other books. 

 

I would recommend this book for boys and anyone who likes reading about trials or is interested in court procedure.
Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?