All the Truth by Laura Brodie- Summer Review Book

What All the Truth is about:
One night can alter a life forever… 
Emma Greene enjoys living in rural solitude with her husband and five-year-old daughter, Maggie, far away from her college students in Jackson, Virginia. But late one night, with her husband away and her daughter upstairs in bed, some of Emma’s students trespass on her property. The ensuing confrontation changes Emma and Maggie’s life forever.

After reading a lot of high praise from fellow blogger's about Brodie's The Widow's Season, I knew that I wanted to read something by this author. For the most part I can honestly say that it was a good, solid book. I had some issues with how neat and tidy the ending was because getting to that ending was messy and filled with lies. I thought the pacing was excellent and that is what kept me turning the pages. I became vested in the characters lives and had to know how all the broken people would mend.  

Recommend? I would certainly pass my copy along to a friend if they were looking for a good book to read. I liked it enough to make it a point to read her other works.

Source: Penguin Group

Disclaimer: Thank you to Erin@Penguin for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

Click icon for more book review blogs @Barrie Summy

Review Book #28

2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

Ryan's Review- Phantoms in the Snow

Phantoms in the Snow by Kathleen Benner Duble

In this gripping journey, a fifteen-year-old pacifist must decide what he believes as he faces the reality of World War II.

The year is 1944, and fifteen-year-old Noah Garrett's parents have died from smallpox. Without any other family nearby, Noah is sent to live with his uncle, whom he has never met, in Camp Hale, Colorado. There is one small problem with this decision: Noah has been raised a pacifist, and Camp Hale is a U.S. military base for a little-known division of winter warfare soldiers called Phantoms. Can a boy who's never seen snow and doesn't believe in war survive among these soldiers?

Phantoms were soldiers that would wear white as camouflage and to also help them evade the enemy as they ski. Yes, soldiers that ski!! They were called Phantoms because they looked like ghosts.

In this book, fifteen-year-old Noah, a pacifist, lives a normal life until his mother dies of smallpox and a week later his father is also claimed by death. Noah is then left with no one because he has no other family or anyplace to live. So instead of being sent to an orphanage he is sent from a small town in Texas to Camp Hale, Colorado where he lives with his Uncle Shelley, a man he never knew existed. That's when his life went upside down and he became a phantom.

The year is 1944 and WWII is going on ferociously and the phantoms are needed on the front lines. Noah is scared and is just trying to survive. This is a great book about a boy that doesn't want to fight and can't legally fight, but finds himself at home in his new cold, dangerous, and completely foreign place.

Recommend? Ya, definitely! This book isn't really about WWII , but rather centered around the people and their feelings. Noah's gonna make it through to the next day, but it's not going to be easy to get there. It's a great book....believe me.

Rating: 8/10


Source: Middle School Library

Read and reviewed by Ryan B. Ryan is currently in the eighth grade and loves to read just about anything I throw at him! He stops into the library almost on a daily basis always  eager to find the next great book to read! Look for more reviews from Ryan in April, May and June!

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Ryan's Review: The Light (Morpheus Road #1) by D.J. MacHale

The Light (Morpheus Road #1) by D.J. MacHale
Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it’s clear whatever this is it’s huge. Marshall has no idea what’s happening to him, but he’s soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who’s been missing for over a week. Together with Coop’s sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined


Morpheus Road is about a teen named Marshall Seaver and the amazing events that happen to him in one week. Ya, you heard me...one week. It all started with him and his dad getting into an argument and he breaks one of his mother's gifts. Then it begins, he gets haunted by a drawing that he drew himself which he named Gravedigger.  All Marshall wanted was a happy summer, but his best friend Cooper gets into some trouble with the police and soon ends up missing. So Marshall goes looking for him and tries to figure out why he is being haunted. Altogether this makes a fantastic adventure with tense excitement and creates a strong curiosity within me to find out what comes next in the book!

Recommend? Yes, I would definitely recommend this book. Many people would like this story, but people who like mystery and horror will LOVE this book. This was my first mystery/horror combination read and I thought it was amazing! I am extremely happy to have chosen this book because it was a real kicker for me to delve into reading a new genre!

Rating: 9/10
Source: Middle School Library

Read and reviewed by Ryan B. 
Ryan is currently in the eighth grade and loves to read just about anything I throw at him! He stops into the library almost on a daily basis always  eager to find the next great book to read! Look for more reviews from Ryan in May and June!

Ryan's Review - The Shifter by Janice Hardy

The Shifter (Healing Wars #1)Synopsis: 
Nya is an orphan struggling for survival in a city crippled by war. She is also a Taker—with her touch, she can heal injuries, pulling pain from another person into her own body. But unlike her sister, Tali, and the other Takers who become Healers' League apprentices, Nya's skill is flawed: She can't push that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it into another person, a dangerous skill that she must keep hidden from forces occupying her city. If discovered, she'd be used as a human weapon against her own people. 

The Shifter by Janice Hardy was an almost flawless book! It was completely original and I loved how Nya makes decisions. She tries to remember things from her past and through the book it is heart pounding. I often stayed up too long reading it.

I have never thought about the dark power of a healer. Everything Janice wrote I could keep up with. I remember before I would fall asleep wondering what's going to happen next? I am very glad I grabbed this book off the shelf. I can't wait to get the next book, Blue Fire, in this trilogy.

I'm going to give this book an A+ and a round of applause! No book is a perfect book, but this was pretty close!

Recommend? YES, YES, YES a million times! I'm going to be as persuasive as I can to get others to read this book because was just spot on!

Rating: 9.5/10


Source: Middle School Library

Read and reviewed by Ryan B. Ryan is currently in the eighth grade and loves to read just about anything I throw at him! He stops into the library almost on a daily basis always  eager to find the next great book to read! Look for more reviews from Ryan in February, March, and April!

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Guest Review: 'The Emerald Atlas' by John Stephens

Synopsis:

John Stephens' aptly-titled new fantasy trilogy begins auspiciously with a nimble, fast-paced tale of three siblings. Kate, Michael, and Emma have suffered through ten years of odious orphanage "care"; now they have slipped into the care of the eccentric, disturbingly mysterious Dr. Pym. While exploring their new home, the children discover a magical green book. With that discovery, a decade of tedium dissolves into cascades of dangerous time travel adventures and struggles with a beautiful witch and decidedly less attractive zombielike Screechers.

The Emerald Atlas was a thrilling book! Imagine riding a roller coaster that goes through time. I'm inpsired by Kate, Emma, and Michael's hard will to find their parents and to not forget them. In the slow moments the author could have written more detail. He seemed to have been bored. For example, when the children had been examining the house...slow and boring. But when the action hit I could feel myself there in the book running from wolves and freeing the prisoners. This book I will remember for a while. I hope I can get to the next book of Kate, Michael and Emma very soon.

Would I recommend this book? yes, I would recommend this book for those who seek action and excitement.  But to those who like slow books and blah, blah, no I wouldn't. Clearly I'm a person of action and adventure and if you are too, then you'll agree with me that The Emerald Atlas is an amazing book that will be hard to put down.

Rating: 7.5/10

Read and reviewed by Ryan B. Ryan wrote this review at the end of this seventh grade school year. He has since grown about 4 more inches and is currently terrorizing me on a daily basis when he comes into the library eager to find the next great book to read! Look for two more reviews from Ryan.....coming in November and December!

Author: John Stephens
Published: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: Middle School Fantasy
* Uncorrected ARC courtesy of Shelf Awareness

Ryan was not compensated for his review. His thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are his personal reflections based solely on HIS experience while reading this novel.
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

'So Near' by Liza Gyllenhaal + Giveaway

Teaser Synopsis:
In the aftermath of a devastating loss, Cal and Jenny Horigan's marriage is unraveling. Both are plagued by guilt, unable to seek comfort from one another. Burdened by remorse, they begin to lose sight of the love that once anchored them-together with their sense of right and wrong.

First thoughts: "This was a bit heart-wrenching."

So Near broaches a topic that many of us wish not to ever read about let alone experience...the loss of a child. I felt that the author did a great job of showing each parent's side and their emotional roller-coaster that they were riding. I've heard it said many times that the death of a child can tear even the most devoted couple apart and the Horigan's marriage was certainly not exempt from the unbelievable stress.  Cal and Jenny each were allowed to tell their story from the first person POV and at first I was a bit annoyed with this style. But gradually it just fell into a rhythm and I felt that I actually got to know them a little bit better because of it. The author delves into the aftermath of a tragic event and makes you think about how each person grieves and tries to deal with one of life's most earth-shattering events.

Recommend? Yes, I would tell friends about this book. I thought it was a solid read and could even make a great book selection for book clubs.

Rating: 8/10

Published: September, 2011

Publisher: NAL, Penguin

Pages: 33

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN:  9780451234575

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY!

Disclaimer:Thank you to Angela @ Penguin Books for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MYexperience while reading this novel.


© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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'Lost & Found' by Shaun Tan

About (from back of book): This book contains 3 stories : A girl finds a bright spot in a dark world. A boy leads a strange, lost creature home. And a group of peaceful creatures cedes their home to cruel invaders.

My Thoughts:

Shaun Tan has created a world that speaks differently to each person who opens up this book. I'm drawn by his quirky and strange images. I have a copy of "The Arrival" on my middle school library shelves and students often like to tell me what they thought the images were about. I love hearing their interpretations and comparing them to mine. I'm just a bit afraid that the first story, The Red Tree, may be one that younger readers may not connect with, but the The Lost Thing and The Rabbits are both stories that are universal. I will certainly be adding this title to my school collection because I can see people, young and old alike, getting lost in his artwork and letting the story take over their imagination.

Recommend? Yes, especially if you've never had the opportunity to see Tan's artwork. Each page is a new adventure and what I love the most is that no two person's experience will be the same!!

The Lost Thing, The Red Tree, and The Rabbits

Disclaimer:Thank you to Amazon Vine Program for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

Published: March 1, 2011

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages:unnumbered

Genre: Graphic Novel/Picture Book

ISBN: 9780545229241

*Uncorrected Advance Copy

 

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

'The Girl in the Green Raincoat' by Laura Lippman (TLC Tour Stop)

She wished she could see the woman more clearly, make out the expression on her face.
"Is there anything else you need to make your haven perfect?" Crow asked.
  "Binoculars," Tess said.  [p.9]


......And with that sentence this story took off at a rapid pace. I absolutely loved this little gem of a book. I relished the whole idea of spying on someone daily and wondering what they were "really" up to. I have to admit that I like to people watch and could totally see myself doing exactly what Tess does as this story unfolds. The story never lagged and was totally plausible. I read this over the course of a few hours and when it was done I wanted more!!! I will be sure to pick up Lippman's books with Tess as the central character. I liked her a lot and now I want to immerse myself in her world a bit longer.

Recommend? A resounding YES! This book has it all...a great plot, fantastic characters, and great story development. There was never a slow moment and seriously I was sad to have the story end. I hope that Lippman writes more of these "shorter" stories with Tess in the future..as I will be sure to read them!!!

Rating: 4/5

About Laura Lippman

Laura Lippman grew up in Baltimore and returned to her hometown in 1989 to work as a journalist. After writing seven books while still a full-time reporter, she left the Baltimore Sun to focus on fiction. The author of two New York Times bestsellers, What the Dead Know and Another Thing to Fall, she has won numerous awards for her work, including the Edgar, Quill, Anthony, Nero Wolfe, Agatha, Gumshoe, Barry, and Macavity.
To learn more about Laura’s work, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.


Please take a moment and check out the other Blog Tour Stops for "The Girl in the Green Raincoat."

Disclaimer:Thank you to TLC Book Tours for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

Published: January 18, 2011

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Pages:158

Genre: Mystery

ISBN: 978006193368

 

© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

'Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal' by Conor Grennan

Genre: Memoir
About the book (from Goodreads) :
In need of some fun and adventure, 30-year-old Conor Grennan traded in his day job for a year-long trip around the globe, a journey that began with a three-month stint volunteering at the Little Princes Orphanage in war-torn Nepal. But what began as a lark became a passionate commitment that would transform the young American and the lives of countless others.


Why I wanted to read this book: I have often wanted to volunteer in another country and Conor's story sounded promising and intriguing. I wanted to know how Nepal and these children changed his life and the impact he made on theirs.
 
What worked for me:

• I was immediately and I mean immediately drawn to Conor's voice. His authentic self shined through page after page and I liked him immediately.
• He brought the orphans to life to me. I knew these children, I could hear their voices and laughter coming from the pages as I immersed myself in their country and culture.
• I was enlightened about the civil war that raged through Nepal from 1996 until 2006. During that time many parents sent their children to live in the city. They were told that if they let their children leave with these people that they would be educated and fed. What they didn't realize is that they were being robbed of their entire life savings and that their children were sold into bondage or even worse, given to the Maoist to fight as soldiers. I never knew about this...I'm ashamed of myself for not being more knowledgeable about current events.
• Conor's growth during this whole process was such a wonderful thing to experience. I utterly fell in love with these children, their stories, and yes, Conor himself...what a great humanitarian!!

Recommend?  Absolutely! Do not miss a chance to read this book. If you purchase a copy of Little Princes, proceeds go to Next Generation Nepal, which is the organization that Conor founded that houses these orphans and ultimately tries to reunite them with their family. Do yourself a favor and watch this short video. I think you'll be moved by Conor's words and will want to experience his story for yourself!!


My Rating: 5/5

Author: Conor Grennan

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages:281 (uncorrected ARC)

Genre: Memoir

ISBN: 9780062031709

Disclaimer:Thank you to Tavia Kowalchuk, William Morrow and Shelf Awareness for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel

  © 2010, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

'Take a Chance on Me' by Jill Mansell

Genre: Fun and engaging Contemporary British Chic' Lit

About: (From Sourcebooks)
Living in a small town like Channings Hill, there are some people you just can’t avoid, no matter how much you really, really want to. When Cleo’s job throws her into constant contact with her childhood nemesis, Johnny LaVenture, she can’t leave the past behind. But for someone she’d rather have nothing to do with, Johnny is impossible to ignore… Then shocking discoveries of past scandals, unrequited loves, old grudges, and not-so-ex-wives throw Cleo’s family and friends into chaos. And as always, you can count on Jill Mansell to have a lively cast of secondary characters that try to steal the show! Life in sleepy Channings Hill may be about to get very complicated, but it’s definitely never been more exciting.

Why I wanted to read this book:

• The whole storyline sounded like it would be a fun time and I have read so many favorable reviews on books from this author that I just wanted to read her work.

What worked for me:

•  The setting of the book. I've never been to England, but I just know that I would love it to pieces. I love books that take me there!!
• I felt like I was watching Notting Hill (the movie) and I really liked the whole cast of characters. Remember that scene where Hugh's character is having dinner with all of his friends?? Well, I love that scene because I would love to live in an area where my friends could drop by daily and where we would frequently have dinners together. This book gives off that same comfortable friend feeling.
• I need to find a pub like the one in this book. Heck, I want to live in the small town of Channings Hill. 
• I liked getting to know Cleo and her sister Abbie. I admired the way Cleo handled a very sticky situation and wished that I could be a bit more like her at times.

What didn't work for me: (everything pretty much worked, the following is just me being cheeky!)

• The British Slang. I love it, but bloody hell I need a dictionary when I'm reading these books!! I wish they would put a glossary in the back for the US editions!!
• I want pictures of Johnny LaVenture. It should be illegal for authors to create such tantalizing and hot characters without pictures to go along with the book!! 

Recommend? I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to friends. What a fun, fresh romp with some delightful characters!! I will be reading more Jill Mansell in the future!!

My Rating: 4/5


Source:  Danielle @ Sourcebooks, Inc Publicity
Author: Jill Mansell- click on her name to visit her website

Published: October, 2010

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages: 412 (Uncorrected ARC)

Genre: Contemporary British Women's Fiction

ISBN: 9781402237515

 

© 2010, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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'The Lumby Lines' - Gail Fraser

Synopsis from back cover: Nestled in the Northwest is a quaint little town that its quirky residents are proud to call home. With charming shops lining its one main thoroughfare, Lumby has the oldest apple tree in the county and the smallest bank in the state. And though it's hours from the nearest big city, you'll always find Lumby close to your heart.....

1. Words to describe the book: comfortable, funny, touching, quirky

2. Location or characters you met:

• The town of Lumby: I want to live there!! The description of Lumby and the front cover just makes me want to be there. This town is alive and a vibrant character in this story.
• Mark and Pam Walker : They're a couple who has it all and risk it for their dream life. I liked them both immensely and could see myself being friends with them.
• The monks: I liked their simplistic way of life and how they worked together to save their monastery.
• Supporting characters: You have your strange, eccentric, busybodies, good-hearted, and a few mean-spirited residents. They each added their own little bit of flavor!

3. Things you liked/disliked:

• Excerpts from The Lumby Lines newspaper- these cracked me up!!
• Hank- the plastic flamingo. I'm a fan of Hank's...I swear he's real!!
• Cast of characters truly makes this book. 
• The author's husband artwork graces this book. I really love it.
• The writing resonated with me and for a few hours I was able to escape to another place.
• That I have four more books to read in this series!!! #2- Stealing Lumby, #3- Lumby's Bounty, #4- The Promise of Lumby, and the most current release #5- Lumby On the Air.

4. Rating:  4/5 



To keep up with what's new in the world of Lumby you can read the Simply Lumby Newsletter.  Gail often does giveaways and includes yummy recipes.  Currently she is featuring a delicious recipe called Lazy Goose Panini #3 which is great to cook on the grill this summer.






Thank you to Caitlin of FSB Associates for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

Published: Paperback May, 2007

Publisher:  New American Library

Pages: 319

Genre:  Fiction

ISBN: 9780451221391

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Review Style patterned after Show Me 5

'Still Missing' by Chevy Stevens

Author: Chevy Stevens

Genre: Fiction

About: A young real estate agent who is kidnapped by a stranger during an open house and kept hostage for over a year.

Descriptive Words: tense, heart-racing, frightening, realistic, horrifying, gut-wrenching, and believe it or not hopeful

Thoughts: I started this book in the early morning and could not put it down until I finished it. I found myself clenching the book at times because of the certain scenes that I was reading made my emotions go over the top. I thought the author wrote a solid, first-rate story that kept my interest from page one and had me rooting for Annie throughout the story. I really liked the way the story was set up with Annie recounting what she endured as she visits almost daily with her psychologist. It was truly amazing that she survived her kidnapping/rape/torture/emotional/physical abuse ordeal. I liked Annie's honesty and her voice. The kicker for me is that this story came across as something I know that women throughout the world have endured. This is a story that must be read to be fully appreciated, telling you much more in my opinion would be ruining the story for those of you who want to read it. I can honestly say that it's a favorite read for me for this year and I highly recommend it.....BUT I do suggest you read it during the daylight hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Source: Shelf Awareness

Why I Chose: I was immediately captured by the plot and thought this could be a good read.

Recommend? Absolutely! But if you're squeamish about women being abused/raped/tortured/...etc. and have nightmares easily then you may want to pass. I only say this because the manner in which Annie was abducted could happen to any one of us and that makes this book so realistic and oh so scary!

Rating: 5/5


Thank you to Shelf Awareness for sending me a review copy.
I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.


Review style courtesy of Lynne's Book Reviews

 

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@Barrie Summy

Book Review Club: 'After the Fall' by Kylie Ladd

Author: Kylie Ladd

Genre: Women's Fiction (Australia)

About: Two sets of married couples who are friends and TRUST each other, until one spouse from each set crosses the line and betrays their loved ones.

Descriptive Words: deceptive, lust, love, betrayal, heartache.....

Thoughts: I've never made any bones about the way I view adultery....it's wrong and I don't care what your reasons are for crossing the line. This book made me uncomfortable because I can see how easy it is for someone to cheat and why they feel they're validated in doing so. I never felt close to Luke or Kate (the cheating spouses), in fact, I really had a hard time feeling anything but disgust for these two characters. I thought the author did a great job of telling the story...you get to know each of the individuals involved and maybe get a clue as to where each one is coming from with their emotions and needs. But in the end, I'm not sure that I was satisfied as to the conclusions of the relationships.

Source: Doubleday

Why I Chose: I thought the story sounded interesting because the reader would be allowed into all 4 spouses world and I'm always curious as to how someone suddenly falls out of love and then quickly back into love with someone else.

Recommend? I'm a bit on the fence with this one. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. Overall, I thought it was a good read, but for those who don't care to read about infidelity...you may want to pass.

Rating: 3/5


Available June 15, 2010


Thank you to Doubleday for sending me a review copy.
I was not compensated for my review.
My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author.
They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.


Review style courtesy of Lynne's Book Reviews 

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Book Review Club: Whiter Than Snow- Sandra Dallas

Author: Sandra Dallas
Pages: 310
Publication Date:  March 30, 2010
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: The Book Report Network
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Whiter Than Snow opens in 1920, on a spring afternoon in Swandyke, a small town near Colorado’s Tenmile Range. Just moments after four o’clock, a large split of snow separates from Jubilee Mountain high above the tiny hamlet and hurtles down the rocky slope, enveloping everything in its path including nine young children who are walking home from school. But only four children survive. Whiter Than Snow takes you into the lives of each of these families

My Thoughts:
I have yet to read a Dallas book that I wasn't totally absorbed into from the very first sentence. She has a way of putting the reader right there in the moment of tragedy. I felt the coldness of the snow. The desperation of the parents. The joy when a loved one was recovered. The anguish when a small child who would not draw another breath was laid to rest. The author does an amazing job of taking you into the lives of each family affected and traces the choices they made that brought them all to Swandyke, Colorado. There are so many different themes explored in this story: redemption, betrayal, forgiveness, racism, and love. It makes you think twice about fate and how nothing is really left to chance and that everything....everything has a reason and purpose. 

Highly Recommended

 If you're interested in reading Sandra's other books please visit her site here.
 Readers on Facebook can become a fan of Sandra Dallas by clicking this link.
 Read an excerpt of Whiter Than Snow here.

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Book Club Review: The Shepherd's Granddaughter

Title: The Shepherd's Granddaughter
Author: Anne Laurel Carter
Genre: Middle School Fiction
Published: 2008
Pages: 221
Source: My middle school library. This book was recommended by Junior Library Guild.

I participate in a once a month Book Review Club, so I was going through my stack of books wondering which one I wanted to talk about for May. I just posted about a mother wanting to label YA books in her Florida public library so censorship was really on my mind. Then another article popped into my mailbox the other day about, The Shepherd's Granddaughter. I recognized the book instantly because when I was processing it I noted that it looked like one that I would like to read. After reading the article about this book being pulled from the shelves of Toronto school libraries I knew that I had found my book for the month.

Quoted from article: But Toronto District School Board trustee Sheila Ward is demanding that the book, about Israeli settlers attacking a young Palestinian shepherd girl and her family, be banned from library shelves. B’nai Brith Canada is also calling for its removal from all school reading lists, and the Canadian-based Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies is cautioning against the title.

Click here for the article in full....trust me you do want to read this.

My thoughts:
When I finished this book I couldn't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to remove it from libraries. This book does not make Israeli's out to be evil people, but it does bring to light some of the issues that Palestinian's live with on a daily basis. I feel that this book is important because it gives notice to both sides of the story and portrays each side in favorable and unfavorable lights. Yes, Israeli's are portrayed, at times, as tyrants pushing their way into the lands occupied by Palestinians. But then the author shows how some Palestinian's want to react with violence and threats. We all know that this way of dealing with conflict can not continue, but how do you stop it??? Well, it sure as hell isn't by censoring and removing books that certain groups of people take issue with. We start by educating our children and showing them that violence, no matter which side of the fence you're on, is not the answer. And hope and pray that this new generation of humans will somehow bridge this cultural difference. Will it happen? I don't know, this conflict is ancient, but I do know that we need to have honest, thoughtful discussions about the issues. I for one will be talking about this book to the students at my school that I feel will appreciate the story within the covers and be smart enough to start asking questions, investigate, and make an informed decision about how they feel in regards to this situation. I urge you, the reader, to pick this book up and make that decision for yourself...should we allow groups who don't like that another point of view (other than theirs) is being brought to light and they want to stop you from questioning the information that you've gathered from the nightly news, newspaper, magazine, and the internet get away with censorship?????? Regardless of where you stand on this issue, this book deserves to be on the shelves of libraries worldwide. I am one librarian who will make sure that the copy at my middle school is never pulled from circulation.

Links that I found interesting:
Number of Palestinian children killed
Facts about Palestine
Facts about Jerusalem
The Wall
Palestine-Israel Links
The Gaza Crisis
UK Guardian article on why soldier was justified killing 13 year-old girl

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@Barrie Summy

Review: The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen

Title: The Power of Half: One Family's Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back
Author: Kevin and Hannah Salwen
Pages: 242
Genre: Non-Fiction/ Personal Growth
Source: FSB Associates
Who Recommended Book to Me: Caitlin Price - FSB Senior Publicist (thanks Caitlin!)


Synopsis:
Written in tandem by the father-daughter team of Kevin and Hallah Salwen, The Power of Half is the story of one family's life-altering decision and its unexpected results. The Salwens hoped that selling their home would allow them to make things better in a small corner of the world. Little did they expect how much they would gain themselves.


What I didn't like in this book:

• I know that it wasn't meant to be construed this way, but I didn't really see how going from a 6,500 sq. ft. home to 3250 sq.ft. was such a hardship. Is this the average size of a home in America??? When you write a book like this it leaves you open to criticism and people questioning your reasons and commitment. So I guess that is what I'm doing here in this comment.

• They were financially able to keep two houses running in regards to a monthly mortgage and upkeep. I applaud that they moved to a smaller house, but honestly where was the "risk" that others will experience if they actually were to do something like this? Again, I didn't feel that by halving the size of their home was a big enough adjustment.....remember, this is my opinion. 

• How many people in America have the financial resources that this family has? Yes, I know they worked hard for it and I respect them for that. I am just saying that when they ventured into this idea of half they really didn't have to worry about losing anything. I'm afraid with these economic times some people may only see how MUCH they still had even after giving away half, instead of focusing on their idea of helping others.

• When Kevin mentions a bag, it is an Eddie Bauer bag. When he mentions a shirt it is a Nike Golf shirt....honestly, he should have left the labels out of the description. Why were they included?? I thought the idea of this book was to INCLUDE as many people as possible in this venture and to make them feel as if they too could do something like this. Was it to remind others that he could still afford to buy the nicer things in life, even while giving up a million dollar house?????????????????

Now on to the positive side of things!!! What I did like about this book:

• Hannah! She is a young lady with a vision and with the guidance of her parents was able to start out with an idea and see it become an actual plan that she could contribute to!

• Hannah's essays which are included in each chapter. I loved her ideas and the activities she included at the end for ideas to jump start your own plans.

• The organization that they ended up pairing with: The Hunger Project. 

• Self-reliance is the key to helping others, not handouts!!!!

• Community- doing this project together as a family brought a sense of well-being to their home. It also showed the children how to bring it to a group of people.

My Final Thoughts:
This was a good book with a lot of great ideas and of course, some criticism from me. None of the criticisms are aimed at the children!! Only to Kevin. I appreciate that he does acknowledge how blessed his family is and I don't feel like he was trying to be uppity about his portfolio and equity, but at times it just seemed to rub me the wrong way. I applaud this family for putting this small seed of an idea into motion and with all of their hard work seeing it blossom into a Giving Tree!!! I found myself being inspired by Hannah and will be keeping my copy to read again and to see how my family may be able to incorporate some ideas from the  Power of Half lifestyle, especially in terms of service and giving to others.

$1 of each copy sold will be donated 

to Rebuilding Together, serving America's

low-income home-owners and providing

critical repairs at no charge to those with the greatest need. 

For more information, visit Rebuilding Together.

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@Barrie Summy

Review: Time of My Life- Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

Title: Time of My Life
Author: Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi
Pages: Audio Version
Genre: Memoir
Source: Library
Who Recommended Book to Me: Lisa @ Books and Cooks

A behind-the-scenes look at a Hollywood life and a remarkable love, this memoir is both entertainment and inspiration. Patrick and Lisa's marriage is a journey of two lives intertwined and lived as one--throughout their years in Hollywood and at home on their working ranch outside Los Angeles, and culminating in the hope and wisdom they've imparted to all who know them. This book will open the door for families, individuals, and husbands and wives to grow, bond and discover entirely new levels of love and sharing, proving that life shouldn't be lived as a series of endings, but rather as the beginning of greater strength and love.

My Thoughts

My heart started to beat a little bit faster when I heard Patrick's voice filling up the silence in my car as I was driving to work. I have loved this man since he rode up on his white horse as Orry Main in the mini-series North and South. I was sixteen and he was gorgeous beyond belief. From there I continued to be a huge fan of his and never missed a movie that he starred in. When I heard the news last year of his pancreatic cancer I was saddened immediately. It didn't surprise me though, that he vowed to kick cancer's ass! This memoir is like jumping in a time machine and getting a first hand look at everything he tackled in his life. There wasn't a moment that I didn't love on this audio CD and my most favorite parts are when Patrick speaks of his passionate love for his wife Lisa. If you have ever been a fan of Patrick's then you have to read or listen to his book. It moved me beyond words in a few spots and left me with tears on my face when it ended. He was indeed a Renaissance man, but most importantly he was a man who lived every single moment of his life.

Highly Recommended!
out of 5

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@Barrie Summy

Review : La's Orchestra Saves the World

Title: La's Orchestra Saves the World
Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Pages: 294

Genre: Fiction

Source: Library
Who Recommended Book to Me: Bonnie from Redlady's Reading Room

La's childhood was spent in the shadow of Death. He was an uninvited guest at their table, sitting patiently, watching La's mother, his target, bemused, perhaps, that such courage and determination could keep illness at bay for so long.
p.14

My Thoughts:
This book was exactly what I needed to read as my first book for 2010. I have finally become accustomed to McCall Smith's approach to writing and how he moves a story along that matches the characters lives at that moment. I've read many historical fiction books that revolved around WWII but not many that talk about the war efforts made by the women, children, and crippled men that were holding down the forts at home. La is a woman that I would truly have enjoyed getting to know. She never expected much and tried to find happiness in every situation that came her way. She was resilient, resourceful, and in the face of death knew that music would help keep people's spirits alive. This book is completely different from any of Smith's previous works and I found it extremely delightful!!!

Highly Recommended
out of 5

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@Barrie Summy