The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Hello! My family and I are back from our vacation and staycation.  We postponed our West Coast trip AGAIN! This was the book I took with us to read during down time. 

This was recommended by a colleague, another teacher at WHHS.  

My feelings about it are mixed.  First, it's VERY long.  There are 3 distinct parts within the story, and honestly each portion could have been a much shorter novella that might've made chunking it out easier.  Second, I found the two leads', Loreda (a teen) and her mother Elsa, relationship way too cliche and predictable.  

So, those 3 parts: 

A. Elsa is the ugly duckling among her high society parents' daughters.  Doomed to a life of spinsterhood, she has a passing fling with an Italian (which is scandalous in 1921 Texas), resulting in pregnancy.  Shunned, Elsa moves in with her new husband Rafe's parents and does everything possible to become the perfect daughter-in-law.  But Rafe is never happy with their lives as poor farmers and disappears in the middle of the night.

B. Fast forward to 1934.  The Depression, combined with a Great Drought, have decimated the farm.  Elsa, her parents-in-law, and her two children live in poverty, barely alive.  Elsa makes the choice to migrate to California, where are jobs are supposed to be plenty.

C. Elsa and her kids Loreda and Tony are at the mercy of farm and camp owners, stuck in a vicious cycle of debt, work, credit and become involved in the workers' rights movement.  Lucky to have even survived living in a tent, they face discrimination as poor migrants.

This is most definitely NOT a happy story, although I did smile at the ending.  Also, as all libraries look to build inclusive, diverse, and equitable collections, I think this novel is a qualified addition in speaking to the experiences of migrant farm workers, poor and immigrant but white families, working women of the 20s and 30s, and union activism.

I will be donating this when we return.

A reminder all opinions expressed on this blog or a video version of it, are solely mine. 

Sadie by Courtney Summers

 What would you do to protect your siblings or child?  

How far would you go to get revenge on someone who hurt your sibling or child?

For me, my sisters are 7 and 10 years younger than me.  They are my babies.  I would do anything to protect them.  I am a mother too of my own child.  

Sadie and Mattie were raised in a trailer park in the boondocks of Colorado.  Their mother Claire would disappear for days and even weeks, suffering from mental illness and an addict, with a string of useless boyfriends, some kinder than others.  The girls were in essence raised by the trailer park owner, a grandmotherly figure named May Beth.  

When she is 13, Mattie is brutally murdered.  Sadie is convinced their mother's ex Keith is who killed Mattie.  It also becomes clear Keith had been sexually abusing at least Sadie, who may have taken more abuse in a deal to leave Mattie alone.

Sadie sets out on a mission to kill Keith, but her belongings and car are found with no trace of Sadie.

That is where a reporter picks up her story in a serialized podcast.

I don't want to spoil too much, but this story will not let you put it down.  I HAD to finish it and know if Sadie gets her revenge.  This isn't an "easy" read, and I was angry to the point of shaking at some of the vignettes of flashback Sadie has as memories with her abuser. 

Find this on display when we go back in August.

All opinions expressed on this blog and the video version of it are solely mine.

No Rain, No Flowers by Aianna Thomas & Summer Reading

Hellllllooooooo!

Yes, I know it has been super long since I've posted a review or a video version of one.  Things got just a wee bit crazy towards the end of the school year, and doing so was just not in the cards.

BUT!

I am really going to try to do at least one review a weekish during the summer 2021.  And I knew when I started my summer reading pile (pic below), this would be first!

Aianna Thomas is a student at WHHS.  She approached me asking if we wanted a copy of her book No Rain, No Flowers...which of course I said YES!  We had to wait a bit for Amazon to get them to us, but Aianna donated one to us and one to WHPL.

Now, I do have to say there are some errors in this self-published book.  I noticed some typos that missed the proofreader, but none really impact meaning.

This is a collection of poetry in a stream of consciousness format.  There are only three definitive breaks in the work, with prose interspersed.  The content is strongly Christian-leaning, but despite my lack of religion, I was not "put off" as I see this as a personal journey that includes faith and talking to one's deity, whoever that might be.  I was reminded of Prince's The Beautiful Ones mixed with the poetry of bell hooks and E.E. Cummings.

I plan to have this front and center in the first display of our 21-22 school year!

Remember all opinions expressed on this review blog and the video version of it are solely mine. 

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Hey everyone.  It's April 21st, 2021.  We're home on an emergency Distance Learning day.  At about 6:10 this morning, my lights went off but came right back on (for reference, I live on the border between the Center District and Allingtown). I headed off the WHHS (which, as you know is in West Shore).  When I got to the parking lot, I noticed every single light in the building was on.  Odd.  I happen to look at the scoreboard and saw it was off.  Even odder.  Not a minute later Dana/Mrs. Paredes called to say we are remote due to a power outage.  All those lights were on generator.  Being that I'm usually the first teacher in, I did as Mrs. P. asked and posted on social media, then hung around to direct my colleagues home.  When I got home myself, I went on Facebook to see the power was back on in West Shore. Oy.

So, I haven't been reviewing a lot lately, mainly because half the school was on Distance Learning.  However, many of you are coming back, and we return to an almost full day come May.  I know it's tough to get new books into DLs hands, which I guess made me feel "some kinda way" as Cassie/Ms. Marcella says. 

Today's review is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.  I have mixed feelings.  In rural France circa 1714, Adeline, a young free spirit, makes a "Devil and Daniel Webster" type deal with the spirits.  She does not want to get married, so she asks to be forgotten.  Of course, as we know the plot with any such deal, there's a catch.  She will live forever, but no one will remember her in even the slightest way.  As soon as she is out of sight, people she encounter forget her.  The story is told from her living in the art world in New York City in the present day flashing back to her "lives" through history.  Every so often, a placard from an art piece appears introducing a new time period. In the present day, an art student named Bea is connecting each piece as the same woman (art, imitation, etc.). It is Bea's best friend Henry who will change Addie's deal.  Henry has made his own deal--to be liked--and he can remember Addie.  But of course Henry's deal has a trick too.  I will not spoil any more.  

Actually, I will.  Not of the plot, but the literary elements I guess.  I know I have said this before, but...I hate the "so I wrote this book" as an ending.  I hated it in The Outsiders, and I've hated it since.  I think it's a a lousy way to end a story.  I absolutely hate that this method or whatever you want to call it is how this book ends.  I won't say what happens to Addie, Henry, or Bea, but...just ugh.

Anyway, I will be donating this to the collection when we get back.

Please remember all opinions expressed on this blog and the video version of it are solely mine.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Morning!

I know it has been a while.  With half the school out on DL, the writing and recording of reviews seemed a bit futile.  However, after what transpired with this particular book...

To recap: first, in order for me to watch the movie (or TV show in this case), I have to read the book first.  Just a thing with me.  Second, you know I donate every book I buy and read to the WHHS Library.  Because I have been fighting, er, I mean, in aggressive negotiations with the DEVOS video server lately, my "to add to the Library circulation catalog" pile has gotten a bit large.  This was sitting on top.  THREE teachers walking by to use the faculty bathroom within my space asked about it.  Mrs. Poff actually got her hands on it, and took it to read over the long weekend.   

We know everyone is talking about the Bridgerton series on Netflix.  I haven't watched it yet, but I've heard the costuming and music are fantastic.  Yeah, let's be honest, everyone is talking about the "romantic" scenes.  I say romantic in quotes.  There's that ONE SCENE everyone has been discussing.    

This is typical "beach read": it's rather formulaic trashy romance set in the era of Dukes and Ladies and balls, etc.  Soap opera in a book type stuff, not exactly my cup of tea anyway.  I do not really think it would be such a bestseller had it not been for the show.  It's one of hundreds of the same.  If this is YOUR THING, I suggest you check out Christi Caldwell, whose real name is Christina Novak.  She graduated with me in 1998, and I have copy-edited a few of her books.  (Here's her website.  The first of her books I proofread is For Love of a Duke http://christicaldwell.com/books/#heartofaduke)

Now, Mrs. Poff just returned the book with an interesting review.  She has seen the show, and she gave it high marks.  But, she did not say the same for the book--that reading it wouldn't have led her to watch.  So I guess this is a case of the movie version actually being better than the book!

I'll be adding this to the collection as soon as I can get these DVD uploads into DEVOS done!

Remember that any opinions expressed on this blog or vlog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

    

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

 This is review 2 for today.

This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover.  It was also highly recommended by our book vendor, Follett.  And it happens to be about one of my favorite serial killers, H.H. Holmes. 

That really didn't come out right...

H.H. Holmes was the Devil in the White City, which is the title of the Erik Larson book about him as well.  He killed numerous people in the famous Chicago Murder Castle he custom built next to the World's Fair.  There's also a strong suspicion he's actually Jack the Ripper.  H.H. Holmes disappears and reappears in the United States the exact same years Jack the Ripper was active in England.  History Channel did a series on it.

Anyway.

What I didn't realize is this is book 4 in a series, book 1 being about Jack the Ripper.  I was able to follow it, but I think I would've preferred reading at least book 1 if not all 3 first.  There were character developments that I really needed background info on to understand their motivations.  

Now, warning, this is pretty gruesome.  I wouldn't try to read it on a full stomach.  A goat is beheaded in the first few pages.  It's not for the faint of heart.  

Hope you are all safe and warm. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. 

Foreshadow Pan and Suma, eds.

 I know.  I know.  I have been atrocious at keeping up with reviews.  Lotta stuff going on...

But, I have been reading.  So, this morning will be a two-fer.

First, Foreshadow.  This is a short story collection, but it's different in most in that it is also a writer's craft text.  Each short story is by a new and upcoming YA author, introduced by a pillar in the genre--think Jason Reynolds, Becky Albertalli, Nicola Yoon, and Laurie Halse Anderson to name a few.  Then there is a writing prompt, utilizing a technique from the short story.

I loved this.  I can honestly say I liked every single short story, and I truly wanted to write along with the prompts afterwards. I literally emailed Mrs. Bennett, our ELA Coordinator, and our English Department Chair Ms. Deninger to recommend it.

I will be donating this on Monday! Stay safe and warm everyone!

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.