"We Dream of Space" by Erin Entrada Kelly is historical fiction for kids

We dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly deals with three young teens who live in the same family--Cash, Fitch and Bird.  They all go to the same school where the focus is on space and the launch of The Challenger.  It is also about their day-to-day lives.  I thought this book was pretty good and I enjoyed all the kids.  It flowed along well with some funny parts too.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 22:  "Maybe if you had a three-dimensional brain, you wouldn't be failing seventh grade for the second time," Fitch said.  "Good luck getting any homework done with your right hand in a cast.  Not that you know how to do it anyway."

 

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"Every Note Played" by Lisa Genova

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova centers on two people:  Richard and Karina.  They were married but separated and divorced.  Karina is having trouble moving on.  Her only child, Grace, has gone to college and has little interaction with her mom.  Karina has no one.  Richard is an accomplished concert pianist, but now he has ALS.  Soon he is going to need someone to take care of him 24-7!  He is not close to his family and has no one.

WOW!  I really enjoyed reading this book.  I liked both Richard and Karina.  Lisa  Genova does a great job with the story line.  I have loved all her books and this one is as good as the others!  I laughed, smiled and cried.  It is my book of the month so far!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 27:  Her stomach floods with emotion, her inner streets crowding fast as fervent protest stands upon its soapbox in her center, outraged that she has to deal with this, that Pam especially can't be more sensitive to her.  Richard's canceled tour isn't her concern.

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"The Unwinding of the Miracle" by Julie Yip-Williams

The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams is the true story of how Julie overcame so much. She was born blind in Vietnam.  Her grandmother wanted her killed just two days after she was born. With 300 other people in a boat, she made it to Hong Kong and then America where she attended Harvard and became a very good lawyer. She married and had two daughters.  But unfortunately, she could not overcome colon Cancer.  She wrote this book for her daughters to remember her.

Julie tells her story and pulls no punches.  There is some humor also.  Rest in peace, Julie.  Job well done!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars) 

Teaser from page 8:  But also as your mother, I want you to feel the pain, to live it, embrace it, and then learn from it.  Be stronger people because of it, for you will know that you carry my strength within you.

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"Welcome to My World" by Curtis Bunn

In Welcome to My World by Curtis Bunn, Brenda’s life is on a downturn. She goes to McDonald’s daily and sees a homeless man every day. She tries to do good by him. One day the homeless guy, Rodney, gives her some life advice! What? This book was so much better than I thought it would be! I enjoyed Brenda and Rodney very much. The story line kept me engaged throughout. (Gerard’s review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 10:  "I was so . . . so . . . shocked and appalled that I couldn't even move, much less respond."  "I'm not trying to be mean," he added. 

Karen's review (4 stars):
Welcome to My World by Curtis Bunn is the story about Brenda, a depressed woman, who becomes friends with Rodney, a homeless man with a bipolar disorder. They help each other as their friendship develops. This is a heartwarming story about how simple words between strangers can bring about great change. This book gives insight into the world of homelessness, those with bipolar disorder and how people sometimes use food to deal with depression that can lead to destroying their self-esteem.

I enjoyed this book even though it moved pretty slow since there is very little action in it. It definitely addresses some major social issues and is inspirational I loved the ending!


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"A Joyful Break" by Diane Craver Reveals Lots About the Amish Lifestyle

A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) Book 1 by Diane Craver is about an Amish woman, Rachel, who visits her Aunt in D.C. who was formerly Amish to try to think through whether or not she is ready to be baptized and commit to being Amish and marry her boyfriend who wants to get married in the fall. She was looking forward to going to the beach and seeing the ocean to relax and think. When Rachel’s mom died in her 40s due to a heart attack, Rachel blamed her dad for not having a phone to get her to the hospital in time. The big “excitement” in this book is whether Rachel will choose to be Amish and marry Samuel as planned, or fall in love with an Englishman during her visit with her aunt

For me, the best part of this book was the cover. If you like details about what they are eating, about the reason behind some of the Amish rules they follow and some words the Amish use with their meanings, then this book is for you. It is very heavy on Amish customs and comparing their way of life to non-Amish folk. It also has quite a bit of scripture thrown in. For me, it was just okay. I felt it was slow moving, nothing captivating about it and no action at all. This is the first book of a series that I do not intend to continue. I’d recommend this as a good beach read.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)


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"Two by Two" by Nicholas Sparks - Great Book!

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks is about a family living a good life until it isn't so great.  Russ is living a good life, married to Vivian, a beautiful woman, with new born child and zero money problems.  But life has a way of sneaking up on us and soon Russ is going to have to deal with life that is not so great.

I thought this book was really good.  All the characters were well brought out.  The best part of this book for me was the back and forth between Russ and Vivian, just priceless!  This was a great book to start the month.  Enjoy!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Changing Season" by Steven Manchester

The Changing Season by Steven Manchester is about a teen boy named Billy who just graduated from High School and plans a fun, relaxing summer spending a lot of time with his dog, Jimmy, before he heads off to college.   He is not sure what he plans to study, but will think about it.  Little did he know his summer will include some life-changing episodes.

I thought this book was very good.  All the characters were believable and well drawn out.  I especially enjoyed his unbreakable bond with Jimmy.  I received this book for an honest review and liked it a whole lot!  I recommend it!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars).

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"God Never Blinks--50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours" by Regina Brett

God Never Blinks—50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours by Regina Brett is a collection of Regina’s thoughts she wrote in her newspaper columns that were quite popular with readers. It has very short chapters so it is a quick little read but full of great advice from someone who felt neglected growing up, held various jobs, and is a Cancer survivor. It is an inspirational read I enjoyed. I liked that all 50 lessons are listed right in front in the Table of Contents.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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