"Little Shoes" by Pamela Everett (Historical non-fiction)

Little Shoes by Pamela Everett is a true crime story.  Pamela's dad lost two sisters.  He does not talk about this so Pamela decides to look into what became of her dad's sisters.  This book is hard to read because of what it describes, but it is gripping too which makes it hard to put down!  The pacing of this book is well done.  The writing really made me feel like I was right there.  I always enjoy reading about true events that I am not up to speed on, but I can't say I enjoyed this.  However, it is very good and am glad I read it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
Little Shoes by Pamela Everett is the true story about how the author researched into her families past to find out what happened back in 1937 to her two aunts that she just learned she had. This is about their murder and the question of whether the guy charged was really the guy who did it. This is a very sad and disturbing book!

The author wrote this to memorialize the three girls who were murdered, two of which her family never spoke of much. I really didn’t enjoy this one because not only was the murder of the three little girls horrible, but then it seemed to me that justice was not even served. I felt the guy who was convicted was really innocent! This book points out pitfalls in our criminal justice system when it comes to wrongful convictions. I found the research extremely interesting about eyewitnesses. The emotions I felt while reading this were sadness and anger. Much of the book moved very slowly for me, but things picked up once the trial got underway. Overall, this book is very unsettling.
(3 stars)

Karen's Teaser from page pg 79: And I thought about the leading cause of wrongful convictions—a problem with police investigations that’s still with us today.
Eyewitness misidentifications have led to 75 percent of the wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence in our country, and many of those mistakes happen early in the process when police are desperately seeking a suspect, just as they were in Inglewood in those frantic days after June 26.

Gerard's Teaser from pg. 16:  She politely fended off reporters' continued questions about whether the girls would have gone with Eddie the Sailor.  She held a hand to her mouth, choking back tears, and told them, "I'm afraid to let myself think what might have happened to them."

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"Smoke in the Sun" by Renee Ahdieh

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh is the follow up to Flame in the Mist. Mariko is trying to rescue her boyfriend from the Black Clan, Okami, but it will not be easy!  This book does not have as much action as the first; however, it does have a very strong ending!  Mariko is a strong, likeable character and I really enjoyed the parts of the book she was featured in.  My thanks to the author for ending the story in two books instead of three.  It is well worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from pg. 9:  So Yumi had begun with a rock.  The sound it had made as it struck the emperor's spirit tablet reverberated through her ears.

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"Last Man Out" by Mike Lupica

Last Man Out by Mike Lupica is about a brother and sister whose father was a Boston fireman who died rescuing a family from their burning house. Tommy played football and his dad would always sit in the top corner of the bleachers to watch his games. His sister, Em, was the star on her soccer team and her dad also attended all her games. This story is how the father’s death affected Tommy and Em and how they were able to help each other.

This book is sad, but with a good ending—well sort of. It does show how important it is to enjoy every chance you get to play and how things can change very quickly. Both Tommy and Em felt angry at losing their dad and dealt with the pain differently. I liked this book and would recommend it.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 23:  Tommy wished this was all a dream and he could wake himself up.  A nightmare that would end as soon as his eyes opened.

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"Fast Break" by Mike Lupica

Fast Break by Mike Lupica is a fast read because it is so good!  It is about a 12-yr-old boy named Jayson who sees basketball as his way out of the projects.  When his mom dies, the guy she was living with abandons Jayson and he finds himself on his own, hungry and stealing bread and peanut butter to live.  This book is about him growing into a better teammate and also turning his life around with some help.

I loved this book because it drew me in quickly and I couldn't help but pull for Jayson to have a good life.  There is a lot of basketball in this book at middle school level; however, the main story line is more about Jayson overcoming obstacles in his life and learning to trust people.  I got so absorbed in this one that I missed my bus stop and didn't even notice until another rider told me!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)  

Teaser from page 25:  He walked toward the store and knew in his heart that he was being walked right into the Child Protective Services system.  He didn't know how it worked or where he was going, but he was smart enough to know that the game was officially over.

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"Shoot Out" by Mike Lupica

Shoot Out by Mike Lupica is about Jake, a very good soccer player who was on the best team, but moved and now finds himself on the worst team without even a chance of making it to the playoffs. Once he gets done feeling sorry for himself, he discovers a new role—that of team leadership and helping his teammates get better. His biggest challenge is Kevin, who is a loner and seems not to care about soccer at all since his mom died. He wanted to quit, but his dad would not let him. Jake decides to try being his friend and in the process, sees how much talent Kevin really has.

I think this story is one that could help a good player who finds himself on a very bad team make the best of it. It is a very quick children’s read, but I enjoyed it.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from pg. 11: No, it wasn’t Belmont that Jake disliked. It was their so-bad-it-actually-hurt twelve-year-old travel soccer team.


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"Tomorrow" by Damian Dibben

Tomorrow is told by a dog named Tomorrow.  He shares a secret with his master and what that is you will find out if you read the book.  When they become separated, Tomorrow will search for his master and will not stop until he finds him.  But does he?

I really enjoyed Tomorrow and especially the parts in the book with his dog friend, Sporco.  If you love dogs, I think you will enjoy this book as I did.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 16:  I tore across the courtyard, up the steps, then drove through the door into our room--and relief.  A shape still lay beneath the blanket, and that smell that was vital to me--like midnight in a tall forest, stiff parchment paper and a whisper of pine sap.  My master.

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"Play Makers" by Mike Lupica (Game Changers series)

Play Makers by Mike Lupica is part of the Game Changers series. This one is about a boys middle school basketball team that struggles all season after one of their best players hurts his ankle. Ben is the team leader of the Ram and known for his skill, but when a new kid (Chase) who is even better joins another team, Ben gets a wake-up call challenging him to get better. Ben also has a girl friend, Lily, who is the one who gave him the heads up about Chase. Chase is out to prove he is the best and even tries to move in and become friends with Lilly, making Ben very mad.

This is a cute story about being a leader and friendship set in a basketball setting. I enjoyed it, but thought it had a fairy tale ending. It goes quickly with lots of basketball game action which I liked. I would recommend it to kids who enjoy playing basketball.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from pg. 29:  As easy as it would have been to just write it off as one bad day, one lousy scrimmage, Ben knew in his heart that he had looked as bad as he had because Chase was that good.


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"A Court of Frost and Starlight" by Sarah J. Maas

Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas is no where near as good as the previous books in this Court of Thorns and Roses series.  This is a time of peace and rebuilding of the Night Court.  Feyre and Rys enjoy happy days and nights together, celebrate their second winter solstice and Feyre starts painting again.  The biggest tension in this book is whether Nesta will join them for Solstice.

I was glad this book is much shorter than the others because it has no action in it whatsover!  It is all about the relationships developing further, or not.  I liked the characters and that is the only reason I finished it.  I think you could easily skip this book and not feel like you missed anything at all.  It has a little humor now and then but I was wishing I would get done with it so could go on to something better.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

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"Reaper at the Gates" by Sabaa Tahir

Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir is the third book in the Ember in the Ashes series.  It took me a while to get into it because it has been a long time since I read the last one.  In this book, Helene "the Blood Shrike" is desperate to save her own family and Seroa for Laia and Elias.  But the emperor and the commandant are on her trail. Meanwhile, Laia must stop the Night Bringer to save her people; and Elias is between the living and the dead as he gave up his freedom to save Laia! 

I thought the first two books were better than this one.  In this one, the parts that Laia and Elias interaction in were the best parts of the book for me.  There is going to be a book 4 coming.  I give this one 4 stars.
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 27:   Laia must see murder in my eyes, because her face goes ashen and she shies back.  Nausea lashes through me again.

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"Down Cut Shin Creek--The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky" is Very Short and Interesting!

Down Cut Shin Creek—The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer is a very short book about a group of women during the Great Depression who delivered magazines, books and Sunday School papers on horseback to the poor people of Kentucky. I did not know of this and found it very interesting! It has pictures too which I enjoyed.
(Gerard’s review, 5 stars)

Karen read it too:
Down Cut Shin Creek—The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer is an interesting book about The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt created The Works Progress Administration (WPA) instituted the Pack Horse Library Project give create some work. Mostly women on horseback delivered donated books and magazines to people in Kentucky. Sometimes they would also go on foot. This is a very short but interesting book with pictures about a brief time of history that is little known. I’m glad I read it--it took less than an hour! (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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Fury Born--The Empirium Trilogy-Book 1 by Claire Legrand

Fury Born by Clair Legrand is the first in The Empirium trilogy.  This novel is told by Rielle and Eliana--two kick-butt women that you do not want to mess with at all!  Rielle exposes her powers that she should not have to save her boyfriend, the crown prince.  Now she must go through trials or die doing them.  Eliana is a bounty hunter who will do anything to keep her family safe.  But when her mom is taken, she must join forces with a rebel captain to save her! 

This book is action packed from start to finish which I like.  I enjoyed both women very much. If you like Sarah J. Maas books, I think you would also like this.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 14:  A force slamming into him, snatching him forward by his bones.  
The baby being ripped from his arms, no matter how hard he tried to hold on to her.

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"Point Guard" by Mike Lupica

Point Guard by Mike Lupica is about a middle school boys’ basketball team that Cassie tries out for and gets accepted.  She is good friends with Gus, Jack, and Teddy who often hang out and play pickup games together.  Gus is the only one who seems to view having a girl on their team as a problem, even if she is as good as the guys.  The book follows the team’s season and Gus learns how to play with people he doesn’t like and also admits he was wrong about Cassie. 

There is a lot of friendship issues in this book that I doubt boys would care about much.  I think girl basketball players would enjoy this book more than boys.  I thought it was okay but liked others by this author much better.  

(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from pg. 27:  Gus still wasn't sure if he could explain, even to himself, why he thought Cassie didn't belong, why he didn't want a girl on the team, even if she was his good friend.  He just told himself to focus on being happy that Teddy was in the gym, even as unhappy as he was that Cassie was with him.

 

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"Future Lost" by Elizabeth Briggs

Future Lost by Elizabeth Briggs is the third book in the Future Shock trilogy.  Elena and Adam must stop a virus from getting out so back to the future they go!  I thought the first two books were really good but couldn't really get into this one.  It felt a little too predictable.  The writing was okay, it just did not flow well for me.
(Gerard's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 13:  That calm intelligence I love has been replaced by a wild look, both determined and manic, and I don't know how I didn't see it before.  Genicote has become an obsession for him, and developing it has become his addiction.

Karen's review:
I tried to read this one, but started it and just lost interest practically right off the bat.  I liked the first two, but that was enough for me.  I gave up on this pretty quick, maybe just because it has been so long since I read the second book.  Anyhow, I didn't want to read this because I had others that interested me more.

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"Draw the Circle" by Mark Batterson

Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson is a devotional book on prayer along with a workbook and a DVD. Our church encouraged everyone to do this study together for 40 days so my husband and I read this book and participated together. The DVD is simply the author talking about the same exact things he wrote in the book. In my opinion, the DVD is redundant and not needed if you read the book.

I thought the book was very interesting and it helped me to improve my prayer time and inspired me to pray more using scripture. It also challenged me to have a prayer journal again. I enjoyed reading about the amazing answers to some prayers that he shared in this book. I did not agree with everything in the book, but most was very good and Biblical.
(Karen's Review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 28:  Almost like hunger pangs that hit you after going too long without eating, I couldn't go too long without hitting my knees.  Kneeling became almost as instinctual as eating or sleeping.

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QB 1 by Mike Lupica is a Heartwarming Sports Story

QB1 by Mike Lupica is about Jake Cullen, a high school freshman quarterback who is struggling with trying to be as good as his dad and older brother and win his father’s love and attention. Jake feels like he’s always playing second fiddle to Wyatt who is now starting QB at University of Texas. Jake is smart, but doesn’t have quite as strong an arm as Wyatt. Fortunately, his high school coach got him to change his throwing mechanics to create his own throwing style which works better Troy Cullen, Jake’s dad, is a former player whose pro career ended in just his second year after four concussions (brain wounds) and seems to be living vicariously through his older son, Wyatt. When Jake finds himself in a QB controversy, everyone is pretty surprised when he gets to be the starting QB while only a freshman. His father is caught off-guard at how good Jake got so quickly.

I enjoyed this book very much because there was a lot of football in it as well as the team dynamics and the feelings of insecurity Jake was dealing with concerning his father and older brother. This takes a good look from the perspective of a younger brother feeling the pressure of following in his star brother’s footsteps and yearning for some of his father’s attention. This book got my interest and kept it from page 1. I would recommend it to anyone who likes high school football and team dynamics.
 (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 13: He knew already that he just wasn’t going to be the player his dad had been before him, certainly wasn’t going to be the player his big brother had been.
He had talent, just not Cullen talent, at least not that he’d noticed so far in his young life.


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