Category: Fiction

Children, Fantasy, Fiction, Series & Collections, Young Adult

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 3, (The Unseen Guest,) by Maryrose Wood

Kristie

unseen2In this installation of the Incorrigible Children series, we meet Lord Fredrick’s mother, the Widow Ashton.  She arrives with little notice–sending Lady Constance into a state of frenzy–accompanied by Admiral Faucet (pronounced Faw-say,) her gentleman friend who hopes to marry her.

The 3 Incorrigible Children still maintain some of their wolf-ish qualities, obtained from having been raised by them, but are making great strides in English speech and manners.  Admiral Faucet, however, dwells only on their ability to track things in the forest and, when his imported African ostrich, Bertha, goes missing, he invites the siblings and their governess on a mini safari to find her in the surrounding forest.  When Penelope and the children become separated from the admiral (whose intentions for the ostrich and the Incorrigibles are quite sinister,) they encounter a cave that only deepens the mystery of the children’s upbringing.

As with the first 2 books, this is a unique story with many twists and turns.  Although told in the 3rd person, it is mostly from Penelope’s viewpoint.  The language is charming and conversational with the reader, reminding me more and more of Roald Dahl’s style (my favorite author.)

By the 3rd book, however, I was ready for some of the questions about the children’s and Penelope’s backgrounds to be answered.  Instead of answers, there were only more questions.  Clearly, Penelope and the children are connected in a way more than a governess is to her charges.  And, clearly, Lord Fredrick has a secret that is becoming increasingly difficult to keep.

The story-lines with the supporting characters did wrap up satisfactorily, setting the stage for a new adventure in Book 4, which debuts on December 17th.  Like other readers, I will just have to be patient.

8.5 out of 10 stars

Children, Fantasy, Fiction, Series & Collections, Young Adult

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 2 (The Hidden Gallery,) by Maryrose Wood

Kristie

image

“Navigation, you see, is not just a problem for sailors.  Everyone must go adventuring sooner or later, yet finding one’s way home is not easy. Just like the North Star and all it’s whirling, starry brethren, a person’s idea of where “home” is remains in perpetual motion, one’s whole life long.”

–Page 311, The Hidden Gallery

Shall I mention again how much I am enjoying the series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place?

Book 2, The Hidden Gallery, takes young governess Penelope Lumley and her 3 charges to London. She has received a letter from her former headmistress and an invitation to meet in the city. When Lady Ashton of Ashton Place becomes aware of this, she decides to pack up the entire household and rent a home in London so they can all go. While Lady Ashton cares only about nurturing her social connections, Penelope becomes involved in a series of odd coincidences that raise more and more questions about her background and the origin of The Incorrigibles (Lord Ashton’s name for the wolf-raised brood.)

Once again, author Maryrose Wood writes her gothic tale in a way that is both effortless and charming. Even as an adult, I felt like I was sitting at the knee of a great storyteller, completely engrossed in the characters and the action.

Three themes emerge continuously throughout the book: navigation, the moon, and home. Some of the mysteries in Book 1 become a little clearer if you can read between the lines and unravel the clues, but there are plenty of new questions which are not resolved by the end. It doesn’t matter, the ending is satisfying enough to make you let out a temporary sigh before wanting to delve into Book 3. I’m hooked.

9.5 out of 10 stars

Children, Fantasy, Fiction, Series & Collections, Young Adult

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1 (The Mysterious Howling,) by Maryrose Wood

Kristie

9780061791055When 15 year old Penelope Lumley stepped off the carriage at Ashton Place to interview for a governess post, she had no idea what awaited her.  After quickly being hired by flighty Lady Ashton, Penelope suddenly found herself in charge of 3 feral children that Lord Ashton had discovered on his property the only week before.  All of Penelope’s hopes of imparting her knowledge of languages, math, and geography were dashed so she could teach the children the most basic skills.  They had no language, no manners, and couldn’t even dress themselves properly.  Meanwhile, Lady Ashton is thinking only of planning her first big party as mistress of the house and Lord Ashton spends all his days at the gentleman’s club.

Written in a charming style that makes Miss Lumley appear both loving and determined, author Maryrose Wood has managed to make this first book in the series akin to children’s books of old, like Mary Poppins or Alice in Wonderland.  The story is nothing if not unique, as well as engaging and well-paced.  I was enraptured and read it in less than a day.

This is a little gem of a book, and I have already begun Book 2 (The Hidden Gallery.)  How wonderful to read a novel that doesn’t talk down to its reader, doesn’t resort to the current trends of zombies and vampires, and even makes an effort to introduce its readers to new words (“irony” and “hyperbole” are cleverly explained in context.)  Penelope Lumley is smart, plucky and likeable, yet rarely discouraged despite her circumstances.  Since leaving the classroom 4 years ago, this is the first series I have encountered that made me wish I had students again with which to share it.

10 out of 10 stars

Fiction

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg

Kristie

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If you could describe yourself in 3 sentences, what would you say?  Dena Nordstrom’s problem when asked that question by her psychiatrist is that her answers only expressed her image (an up and coming TV journalist) and nothing else.

Once again, author Fannie Flagg’s main character is an ambitious, beautiful woman with a sad childhood and backwards priorities.  Dena is a confident newscaster who leapfrogs from local weather girl to a young Diane Sawyer within a few years.  Admired by both men and women, her job is her life until that nosy busybody called “conscience” starts to emerge.  Next comes the biological response:  panic attacks and ulcers.  Her physician’s advice?  Talk to a shrink or go on complete bed rest.

The solution for a workaholic like Dena is a no-brainer, so she begins sessions with Dr. Gerry O’Malley, who then passes her off to hypnotherapist Elizabeth Diggers.

Meanwhile, people from Dena’s youth remember her fondly and pray for her return to Elmwood Springs, Missouri.  A college roommate, neighbors, and distant relatives follow Dena’s career and public life, worrying and wondering what the frantic pace could be doing to her.  They know that going home would be the best thing for her.  But will she?

Fannie Flagg again shows her tremendous gift of storytelling in this novel.  She has a talent for making her writing light and fun yet the characters’ feelings deep.  Her character development is superb, and done in such a way that other writers should take notice.  Having previously finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which also dealt with a myriad of characters (somewhat forgettable) and different time periods (somewhat confusing), Fannie Flagg’s books are an example of how this can be done successfully.  Her formula is simple, really. Each chapter begins with the date when it is set and is devoted to a specific character.  Eventually you know them all so well that, when they start to come together, it isn’t confusing and they are like old friends. Some are friends you care about and some are friends whose lives have meandered down a path of darkness and deserve some come-uppance.

I feel like finding this author is like hitting a gold mine, and I intend to continue reading her books until I’ve read them all.  They are treasures.

9.5 out of 10 stars

Fantasy, Fiction, Series & Collections, Young Adult

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

Kristie

miss p book cover with borderSomewhere between the X-Men comics and the movie Groundhog Day lies the story of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, a debut novel for its author.

Aimed at teens, this book begins by introducing us to Jacob Portman, an introverted young man with no direction who works at a drug store.  The caveat is that his family owns the drug store and hundreds just like it.  Like many teens who come from considerable wealth, Jacob values little and has no direction, secure in the knowledge that his family’s money will always support him.  His circle consists of his heiress mother, frustrated father, condescending psychologist, and a grandfather he adores.

His grandfather, Abe, who was a survivor of the Nazi regime, grew up in a children’s home.  Never knowing which stories to believe, Jacob was entertained by Abe’s collection of freaky vintage photographs.  The photos, taken long before Photoshop existed, contain images that have clearly been manipulated in some way.  Or have they?  A girl who floats in air, another who holds a ball of fire in her hand, these cannot be real, right?

Jacob’s life is suddenly sent into a tailspin when he witnesses his grandfather’s death, which is both horrific and mysterious. Using his grandfather’s last words as his guide, Jacob begins a quest to find out the truth about the man he loved most in the world and where he came from.

It is on this quest that the story and setting changes dramatically, from a posh Florida suburb to a tiny island near Wales.  Everything Jacob knows about home, family and himself is about to change.

I was riveted for the first half of the book. Any story that takes its protagonist on the journey this one does is going to hold your attention. The plot is definitely unique and has the makings for a film, which I read is already being made.  My issue is character development.  Jacob and Emma–a “peculiar” child who takes center stage–are developed well, but don’t make us care about them much. (In reading other reviews I know I’m in the minority when I say that.) The other peculiar children are difficult to keep track of, as in which one has which peculiar ability. (Some “peculiarities” are a bit disturbing.) And one of the most important characters, Miss Peregrine herself, feels like a mystery even at the book’s end.  The person I found myself caring about the most, Jacob’s father, had no ending to his plot line.

Two things are clear by the end. This story is an outline for a film and it is going to have a sequel (available 1/14/14.)  But it could have been so much more.  And, in a shameless comparison with the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling showed us that you can have magnificent writing in modern times without profanity.  Riggs seems to want to make friends with his readers by peppering the book with words you hear kids say today.  If the writing is of high enough quality, you can connect with today’s teens without doing that.

Overall, Miss Peregrine is an interesting story that did not meet its full potential. However, I am curious to see where the sequel takes us.

8 out of 10 stars

Fiction

I Still Dream About You, by Fannie Flagg

Kristie

still dream

There are average novels, fun novels, and there are thoroughly enjoyable novels.  I Still Dream About You, by Fannie Flagg, is thoroughly enjoyable.

The story centers around an aging former Miss Alabama, Maggie Fortenberry.  Disgusted with her life’s lack of direction and, with the world in general, she makes plans to end her life.  This is a Type A suicide plan:  To Do Lists, a formal goodbye note, and leaving behind as little fuss and mess as possible for others.  A “considerate” suicide. Still, despite her depression, Maggie is double-take gorgeous and known for her chic sense of style.

Surrounding Maggie is a cast of colorful supporting characters.  Her best friend, Brenda, a member of Overeaters Anonymous who has dreams of becoming Birmingham’s first African American female mayer; Ethel Clipp, Maggie’s 90-something co-worker at the real estate agency; Babs “The Beast” Bingingham, the agency’s #1 rival and nemesis; and the late Hazel Wisenknott, the diminutive woman who started the agency, and Maggie’s mentor in business and in Life.

Like in her novel, Fried Green Tomatoes and the Whistle Stop Cafe’, Fannie Flagg cuts back and forth between time periods in this story.  Enter the Victorian Era and the story of Edward Crocker, the former owner of Crestview, a magnificent old estate that Maggie has always admired and which has now become her final listing.

Many themes run throughout the story, with the “grass is always greener” being the major one.  The second being that no matter how much we plan ahead, Life often leads us in other directions.

With its Southern setting, driving story, memorable characters, and optimism (despite the protagonist’s ultimate goal,) I Still Dream About You is rich and full-bodied–like a really good piece of cake.  It completely draws you in and holds you in comfort until the last bite, or in this case, the last page.  I cannot remember enjoying a novel so much.

9.5 out of 10 stars

Children, Fiction, Young Adult

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

Kristie

WitchBlackbird7Despite being an avid reader all of my life, there are books from my youth that have eluded me.  Some I remember passing again and again in the libraries I frequented.  They called to me, yet I never picked them up.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is one of those books.  Long before the days of Harry Potter there were innocent and fun stories about witches that satisfied young readers.  I remember one I read several times about a bumbling witch hiding on the ceiling of a young girl’s closet.  And of course, there is Roald Dahl’s Witches, a personal favorite.

But the irony of The Witch of Blackbird Pond is that there is no witch. This story is set in puritanical times, when accusations of witchcraft had more to do with hatred and ignorance than truth and evidence. But in their defense, it was a very hard life they led.

The protagonist is a teenage girl named Kit Tyler who is newly arrived in colonial Connecticut after being raised by her late grandfather in Barbados.  Used to sunshine, the laid-back island atmosphere, and a life of privilege, Kit must now adjust to a sterile life full of physical labor with her aunt’s family.

It is your classic “fish out of water” story, with the differences in Kit’s former life and her new, austere one being so vast, that everything she says and does seems wrong.  In an effort to befriend the loneliest members in town, she brings more suspicion upon herself. Her intentions are always good, but her methods attract attention.

This is a story with great character development and several minor story lines that intertwine with each other.  I began reading it last night and finished it this morning.  Much of it is gripping and fluid.  Perfect for young adults, the most dramatic parts are just enough, not overdone.

It also gives the reader much to think about in regards to prejudice, ignorance, and what it means to be a truly God-fearing person.

9.5 out of 10 stars

As an extra tidbit, I learned that when this book was being considered for the prestigious Newbery Award, it is the first time a book was chosen by unanimous vote on the very first vote.  The authoress is also one of only 5 people to win the Newbery award twice.  (Another is Lois Lowry, author of Number the Stars, also found on this site.)

Fiction, Series & Collections

Back Home Again, by Melody Carlson

Kristie

back-home-again-melody-carlson-paperback-cover-artIn keeping with my light, summer reading (which is coming to an end, sob!) I recently finished Book 1 in the Grace Chapel Inn series, Back Home Again, by Melody Carlson.  Obviously, I have really been enjoying this author, who writes interesting stories with good character development, and is able to do so without being controversial or offensive.

The Grace Chapel Inn series is one that uses many different authors as contributors.  I’m not a big fan of that because each one will have their own style.  As the first book in the series with an author I already like a lot, I knew I was safe with Back Home Again.

The story is simple enough.  Three sisters in their sixties decide to turn the family home into a bed and breakfast after the passing of their father, Acorn Hill’s beloved minister. Each sister brings her own ideas and talents to the endeavor, but, like any small town, everyone knows everyone else’s business.  The trio of women quickly discover who supports them and who does not in a town where maintaining the status quo is almost overly important.

A quick, light read, but it keeps your interest and is well written.  Sometimes that is enough.

8.5 out of 10 stars

Fiction, Romance

Seeking Persephone, by Sarah M. Eden

Kristie

SP_front_CoverLast night I finished Seeking Persephone, by Sarah M. Eden, a story I have been visiting between other books for about 3 months.  With only a quarter of the book remaining, I decided to see how these characters ended up.

Like Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson, Seeking Persephone is part of the genre of LDS romantic regency fiction. These books are written by women for women.  Their authors are loyal Jane Austen devotees who want to carry on the tradition of clean literature set in a simpler time of good manners, lovely dresses, and when marriage to a wealthy man is a woman’s top priority.

After reading two books in this genre by two different authors, I am finding this kind of escapist reading teetering on the ridiculous.  Escapist lit is fine, the regency setting is fine, but unoriginality is not.  So far, both Edenbrooke and Seeking Persephone have obvious shades of famous stories that are classics because they were the first of their kind.  While Edenbrooke’s characters had a lot of similarities to Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth and Darcy, Seeking Persephone is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

In it, the poor but beautiful Persephone is sacrificed into marriage to the brooding and scarred Duke of Kielder.  It is unapologetic in its predictability, and shameless in its attempt to try and be something more than fluff.  Harsh but true.  For the same reasons I have vowed not to read another ridiculous book by the highly overrated Nicholas Sparks, I do not see myself returning to this genre again.  Intelligent readers deserve something better than this.

A disappointing 5/10 Stars

Children, Fiction, Young Adult

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls

Kristie

Where-the-Red-Fern-GrowsAs I sit here with my dog, Bailey, nearby, I ponder the love a dog has for its owner.  Since the beginning of time dogs have proven to be the most loyal of furry companions, a reminder of the kind of love God wants all of us to have for each other–unconditional and constant.

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, lovingly tells the story of a young boy and his 2 coon hounds, Old Dan and Little Ann.  When I say “lovingly,” I mean that the love this boy feels for his dogs is so strong that it motivates everything he does, even before he meets them.  How is this possible?  Because we love what we value, and after saving up for more than 2 years just to afford their hefty prices, Billy Coleman valued his dogs immensely. Tears came to his eyes the moment he first saw them and they were inseparable to the end.

As any pet owner knows, we usually outlive our furry family members, and it is a sad event that we must all prepare for, even when we adopt them as pups.  But we also know that the time we have together is very special.  Billy made the most of every moment with his two dogs, training and working with them until their skills were renowned in the rural Ozark mountains and beyond.

Wilson Rawls illustrates the growth of the dogs and their young master with a craft I have rarely seen in literature.  His writing is artistic.  Everything about these characters is sincere, good and believable.  In a world where that hardly seems probable, he makes it possible.

The best writers say to beginners to write what you know.  Growing up in the Ozarks himself, this is what Wilson Rawls knew.  Being highly influenced by Jack London’s Call of the Wild surely assisted in creating his subject.

This story is a winner of the highly prestigious Newbery Medal, awarded to quality books for children and young adults.  It is extremely worthy of this honor.  Anyone of any age will be moved and touched by the adventures of our morally sound, young protagonist and his 2 loyal companions.

10/10 Stars

Children, Fiction, History, Young Adult

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry

Kristie

9128dHoa9dL._SL1500_After finishing the Four Lindas series, last night it was time to dive into a new book. Somehow I found myself looking at some young adult fiction online.  After coming across Number the Stars and seeing the overwhelmingly positive reviews for it, I decided to read it.  Only $1.99 for the Kindle version and a mere 160 pages, I was done two hours later, satisfied and awash in the author’s marvelous prose.

The story is a fictionalized account of a true story told to the author by a Jewish friend who was hidden during WWII.  It centers around a ten year old girl named Annemarie Johannesen who lives in Denmark at the time of the German occupation.  She is the middle child of 3 girls, with a mysteriously deceased older sister.  Annemarie’s best friend is Ellen Rosen, a Jewish girl who lives with her mother and father in the same apartment building.

Lois Lowry has a gift for character development, suspense, and driving the story forward.  She writes efficiently, which I wish more writers did.  There is nothing superfluous about the dialogue or events.

Within a few pages, as Jews in the neighborhood are disappearing, Annemarie is thrust into an adult situation.  Her parents make the decision to take in her friend, Ellen, and hide her.  I learned they were like many Danish families who successfully hid and helped their Jewish friends, many of whom made their way to safety in Sweden.

And here is where the adventure begins.  I will say no more about the plot except that it is excellently crafted.  Seeing everything through the eyes of Annemarie, who soon starts to make sense of the cat-and-mouse game her family is involved in, makes the story develop at just the right pace. She matures quickly, keenly observing the adults, and discovers her own role during this dangerous time.

I highly recommend this book.  This is a Newbery Award-winner (the highest honor for children’s literature.)  There is nothing scary or inappropriate.  Everything is explained at a child’s emotional level of about 10 years and up. At no time does it seem like the author is talking down to her readers.  This book is a treasure, and I wish I had known of it when I was in the classroom.

An enthusiastic 10/10 Stars.

Fiction, Series & Collections

All for One & Here’s to Friends–Books 3 & 4 of the Four Lindas Series, by Melody Carlson

Kristie

allforone heres_to_friendsI cannot remember the last time I’ve read an entire series of books.  It may have been the Harry Potter series.  After reading As Young As We Feel, the first book of the Four Lindas series, for our local book club, I felt compelled to carry on with the characters.

Just as a quick recap, they are 4 ladies named Linda who have known each other from childhood but now go by their middle names.  They are brought back together at a class reunion and the 3 who are not currently living in their small Oregon hometown eventually return.  All of the ladies are at a crossroads in their lives.

Book 1, As Young As We Feel, describes them getting reunited and reacquainted, as well as the moves to fictional Clifdon, Oregon. They also make decisions of how they are going to go forward with their lives.

Book 2, Hometown Ties, is a creamy book.  With the exception of one of the ladies who is caring for an elderly parent, the rest seem to have settled in to a happy new normal with budding relationships for a couple of them.

Book 3, All for One, shows that no matter how we think our lives are going, there are always challenges around the corner that we were completely unprepared for.  There is a lot of upheaval in this book, but the ladies’ friendship and commitment to each other buffers what could have been a lot worse.

Book 4, Here’s to Friends, sees the ladies still dealing with some of the challenges of Book 3.  Most of them are relationship based, deciding whether to take the leap with possible new loves or to stay single and independent.  I will note that the one thing about Book 4 that I found annoying is that a couple of the ladies suspected good, trustworthy men of not being faithful, even though they had clearly done nothing.  The doubts were born completely out of the women’s own insecurities and got a little tiresome after a while.

The good thing is that the ending is satisfying, even though everything is not sewn up in a tight little bow.  It is a conclusion of hope, not perfection, which is more realistic.  And when all is said and done, the reader wishes they had friends like these.

Whole series:  8/10 Stars