Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Leif Enger's book, Peace Like a River, has occupied a place in my heart for 9 or 10 years and I have waited for him to write another. Like his earlier novel, there are some magical moments and also some dark forces at play in the fictional small midwestern "Bad Luck" town of Greenstone. The author allows you to decide which ends up stronger. I couldn't put down this beautifully written book with its memorable characters, laugh-out-loud scenes, mystery, and lyrical prose. I was absolutely charmed by this heartwarming uplifting read. Goodreads reviewer Larry H said, "This is a difficult book to describe, but it felt so wonderful, almost like a hug in literary form." I can't think of of a more apt comment.

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Silas Marner by George Eliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This classic was required reading 50 years ago i high school and while most of my classmates hated reading it, I loved it. I recently reread it and stil feel the same way. It is a story of English country people, from simple laborers to wealthy landowners, and the role of religion and community in their lives. That makes it sound dull, but there's lots of conflict, injustices, and drama. Uncommon for authors of her time period, she tastefully dealt with forbidden adult themes like sex out of wedlock, unwanted pregnancy, drug abuse and the power of a child’s love and accomplished this without any foul language, gory violence, or gratuitous sex scenes. It is a very touching "reclamation" story with complex characters I came to love. Well worth reading.

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The Lincoln Hypothesis: A Modern-day Abolitionist Investigates the Possible Connection Between Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Abraham Lincoln by Timothy Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a simply amazing book! I enjoyed it so much and learned so much that two days after completing the audio version I listen to it again ! I then ordered the hardbound copy, which I am currently reading along with the author's other book, "The Washington Hypothesis." LDS readers will gain some new insights and non-lds readers will find this a fascinating historical perspective and an interesting hypothesis. It is the subject matter and the historical events presented in the book that make it so fascinating. The author is not a particularly gifted prose writer, but rather a gifted searcher of truth and meaning. I concur with his conclusions and highly recommend this book.

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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Almost 60 years ago, as a teen, I did not care for this book, likely because I *had* to read it but perhaps because it was dystopian sci-fi, a genre which I still don't care for. However rereading as an adult who recognized it as a classic best seller I now give it 5 strong stars as a creative, memorable and well-written, story, but barely 3 stars for the terribly amateurish & overwrought prose. The story is excellent.


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The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The prose is excellent but it is not an empowering or uplifting book and I did not enjoy it, perhaps in part because I do not care for dystopian, post-elliptic, or sci-fi. The primary reason I did not care for it is well-expressed by goodreads reviewer, gaby, here:
". . . I found there to be some really alarming undertones. At its core, this novel tells the story of a woman forced into captivity, who falls in love with the captor class, and is "saved" (at least potentially) by a man. I found it dissatisfying that Atwood appears to be . . . reinforcing the very gender stereotypes she aims to dismantle. Delivered from freedom, Offred does not plot a revolution. She does not attempt escape, even in death. No - instead, she becomes a bumbling schoolgirl with a schoolgirl crush on the one-dimensional house boy, with whom she does not relay a single conversation. She reverts to the most base and childish thoughts, becomes simple in her love and lust for the house boy -- so much so that she simply abandons her nascent alliance with Ofglen, the girl connected to the underground resistance. So too, I found the story arch of Moira to be a self-serving stereotype -- the once-defiant lesbian who submits, not entirely without pleasure we're meant to infer, to being a hooker in a harem. What is Atwood trying to tell us? Stripped of financial and physical freedom, are women really just giggling schoolgirls waiting to be kissed by a cute guy? Are we really so simple and shallow? Does plotting a revolution really come second to kissing behind the bleachers, when everything is on the line? In short, this is not an empowering book. And perhaps that is not its purpose. But that is why I ask, again: beneath the obvious exterior of this narrative, what exactly is Atwood trying to tell us about women? "

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I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood by Dave Barry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I giggled and laughed out loud throughout this delightfully funny audiobook. we all need a Dave Berry in our lives. Highly recommend!

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Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant nonfiction for American History buffs! The book focuses on Lincoln's decision making processes during his presidency and the interactions he had with his cabinet and closest political advisors, most of whom were his rivals for the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination.

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The Sleeping Beauty Killer by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was formulaic with the killer and motive no surprise, book dragged, ending was meh. Not a satisfying read.


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Take Me with You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book but my enthusiasm waned as the book dragged on, and on, with nothing really ever happening except travelogues of national parks. I found it to be a depressing & somewhat sappy tale of redemption that just didn't live up to its potential.

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Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this several months ago and it was not one of my favorites While it gave wonderful insight into the Amish community and beliefs, I was (as I am so often with this otherwise gifted author) put off by some of the foul language and crude references. Although the truth doesn't come out until almost the last page, it was what I suspected at about page 250. That it dragged on another 200 pages before reaching the disappointing conclusion was just too much for me. And then there were the "ghost" references which were just completely unnecessary.

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I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well written, unpredictable, and suspenseful. Perhaps because it was an audiobook, I had an issue with so many characters' points of view, and but when I figured out only the main witness, Ella, had a personal perspective I realized it was the author's clever way of maintaining suspense, and creating the surprise ending, which I never saw coming! I enjoyed it. The audio was well done, but since it's difficult to go back a few, or several pages to reread, you may want to take a few notes to keep track.


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You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This a collection of open-ended short stories written to make you think, but each portrays characters with loose morals and sexuality (much of it unconventional) seems to be the main theme. If I had to come up with a category type for the book it would be something on the order of Psychological Voyeuristic Porn Lit. Ugh.

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Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Historical Fiction. The novel alternates between two points of view, that of Elisa Perez in 1958 - 1959 who is forced to flee the increasingly dangerous streets of Havana with her family when Batista is driven from the country and Fidel Castro takes control during the Cuban Revolution, and that of her granddaughter, Marisol Ferrera, who almost 60 years later, in 2017 has returned to Havana, a city frozen in time but crumbling, for the purpose of fulfilling her grandmother's last wish: for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

With beautiful imagery it is descriptively written in first person by both Elisa in the past, and Marisol in the present. Each face their own struggles in their attempts to find meaning, happiness and safety while living up to their family’s expectations. With themes of family, love, patriotism, freedom, the upheaval and sacrifice of exile, and so much hope, Chanel Cleeton has created a beautiful, heart wrenching tale that brings Cuba and the hopes of its inhabitants, and exiles, to life. This would make a great book club choice with much material for discussion. I very much enjoyed listening to the audio version. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend!

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Beartown by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fredrick Backman is such a great writer and I really enjoyed this well-written book but I was pained by the many F words and harsh language included, so am docking my rating by one star. I read this several months ago yet both the story, with its many layers, and the characters, with their complexities, are still in my mind.
Small town hockey and its impact on a community is one major element of the story. Rape is another major element of the story, but thankfully it is not graphic (a 14-year-old girl is raped by a 16-year-old hockey star and he totally gets away with it).
Goodreads reviewer, Hollis, nailed it with this statement: "It's about doing the right thing when it's the wrong thing.. and the wrong thing when it's right. Choosing family over the team even when the team is your family. And sometimes deciding that the future is more important than the now.

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Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this! Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is an absolute delight of a book that I will be recommending to many people! It is the story of a quirky, uptight woman trying to make a place for herself in a very square world. To me it was reminiscent of The Rosie Project by Don Tillman. Eleanor is an obsessively organized, exceptionally bright, socially inept 30 year old who lives a very safe, but solitary, lonely life. As the story develops she will win the sympathies and heart of any reader as she discovers people are not all bad after all.

When we meet her she is somewhat unlikable but nonetheless entertaining. Her naivety and misunderstandings of certain human behaviors and the resulting interactions with other persons make for some very funny laugh-out-loud scenes. It is also heartrending, but as she embraces the shocking reveals of her past there is a happy, satisfying and realistic conclusion when she and those in her world discover she is completely fine. In fact that is an understatement: she is marvelous!

This debut novel by author Gail Honeyman is original, thoroughly entertaining, heartwarming, and a masterpiece of character development. It is fast-paced, never boring, and a brilliant page turner. I look forward to reading more from this new author!

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Sourdough by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars -This is a very fun creative story. Especially recommend for people who live in or are familiar with the Bay Area, or who love sourdough bread or who are into technology. audio version is great.

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News of the World by Paulette Jiles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought I would love this audio book because so many of my friends gave it 4 & 5 star reviews, but it was just ok due to the narrator whose voice I found particularly annoying. It is however a heart warming story rich with history.

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Every Day by David Levithan


This is a fantasy with a new twist. The main character is a genderless 16 year old with no body, just a soul, and this character wakes up every day as a different person, not knowing who that person is. It is a different body type everyday, male, female, skinny, fat, diabetic, suicidal, healthy, criminal, saint, poverty stricken or wealthy, home-schooled, mainlined or private academy, gay, lesbian, school jock or geek, normal, or any of a variety of 16 year old real persons, a complete pectrum of types, but just for one day. And the next day and every day thereafter our main character is a new person who is not supposed to change anything, but just live that person's life the way they do.. It's an interesting story concept but I felt conflicted by it. The story rambles on, and except for the main character's thoughts and frustrations, all the other characters are flat since they only get one day to introduce themselves. The author is preachy about gender issues and treats sex casually and religion as something only for nutters. It dragged in the middle, is more a romance novel than a philosophical treatise (which it could have been) and is an interesting premise for a story but poorly executed.


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To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
I wanted to read this because I so enjoyed Pulitzer Prize finalist The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Her storytelling gifts and lyrical prose style are strong points in that story and in this, her powerful second novel, To The Bright Edge of the World. It is a man-against-nature story which takes place in 1885 with a small team of explorers trying to chart and tame a fictional remote ­wilderness river in uncivilized Alaska Territory. The novel is loosely based on an actual expedition the same year by Lt. Henry T. Allen.
The fictional story is built around a combination of diary entries, letters, and postcards, mostly written by Col. Forrester and his young, pregnant wife, Sophie, but also upon present day letters between a descendant of Forrester and a museum curator which explain artifacts from the exploration. Additionally, there are newspaper stories and period photographs taken and developed by Sophie, a budding photographer, diagrams and excepts from a book on obstetrics, and pictures at various stages in the book which lend a flavor of reality. Native Alaskan myths folklore are woven into the story. It is lush with magical realism, a vehicle I particularly enjoy. The story includes a secret to which I wish there had been more resolution, but overall this was highly creative and interesting novel.

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The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is easy, fast paced YA fiction, not quite fantasy, with minimal world building, no dragons or other magic, and no gratuitous sex or violence (hooray). The plot is straightforward with a few surprises and the characterization is wonderful with a strong message of loyalty and determination. It won several YA award nominations and I now want to read its sequel, The Runaway King, which won the Whitney Award, but this book stands alone with a satisfying conclusion if you are a reader who doesn't appreciate series. I highly recommend--- everything in the book just works to make it a fun read for a pretty wide audience.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hate U Give, an extremely powerful story about racism and police violence in America, is told from a black 16 year old girl's point of view and is one of the best books I have read so far this year. . . the sort of book that there can always be more of! Considering the amount of profanity used in this impressively important & timely novel, friends who follow my reviews may be surprised by my 5 star rating because I usually dock a book 1 point for language. But it is real and the language is necessary. It is an engaging, well-written story with complex characters that are real, likable, and all-too-human. It’s compassionate, complex, powerful, and profoundly sad yet is also uplifting and positive without being preachey. There is also some humor that had me laughing out loud. I "read" the audio book and the narrator is superb.

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Sourdough by Robin Sloan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a somewhat charming and enjoyable but not compelling read. Basically it's about discovering yourself and about making really good sourdough bread. If you are a foodie who enjoys books about books, fantasy, and mystery , you will find it enjoyable also. Sloan, the author, is good with metaphor, simile, and word choice. It's a short read but I had to push myself to finish it.

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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVED it! Although I read this some months ago I've thought about it often. It is an elegantly written novel about a sophisticated gentleman, Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. In 1913 he wrote a poem which called for political change. The story begins in 1922, at the conclusion of the Bolshevik revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union when many aristocrats are being executed. That poem saves his life. Instead of death, he is sentenced by a tribunal to life arrest at Moscow's Grand Metropole Hotel, across the street from the Russian embassy. Given this sentence, the Count, who is accustomed to the finer things in life, finds a way to master his circumstances rather than be mastered by them.

Amor Towles is a gifted storyteller and this beautifully written tale has memorable characters. He recreates a world and a time so clearly that you long to be there with his characters. The story takes place entirely in one location, but it is a location that attracts the world inside its revolving doors and because of the author's writing style you feel as if you ARE there. It would absolutely make a delightful movie. There is a smattering of Russian history from 1922 - 1954, a bit of mystery and intrigue, pathos and humor.
It made me cry in the end...happy tears. I have often thought about the Count, the other characters, and the hotel itself since its conclusion and will remember it with pleasure for a long time.

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Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a touching, sweet, wholesome coming of age story about a 17-year-old girl who is innocent, kind and gives everyone a chance. She gets hurt by some and is pleasantly surprised by others. It takes place in the 1930s, an era when people made do with what they had and what they had was not much. It is also the time of prohibition and there is an interesting story and, I believe, a little-known fact involving Al Capone. The heroine's struggles with the way she (and all of us) sees and judges events and people, i/e. black and white, good or evil, right and wrong, the laws and the lawless. But the author shares the message that ONE thing is certain, ONE thing is never changing: God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

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A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not many books do I read more than once. This was one. I read it about 35 years ago when I was busy raising 5 kids, and a husband, and it had a big impact on my life. I have just requested it from the library so that I can read it again! I can’t think of higher praise I could give for any book. It was recommended to me by my mother who, I believe, identified with Bess. I certainly saw the comparisons when I read it, as did my sisters.

One reviewer described the story as "A portrait of a woman with all her frailties, strengths, failures and victories combining to prove that living a life is an accomplishment.” Told through personal letters covering a period of about 60 years, it introduced several significant characters without having to keep track of too many. The author was skillful with the flow and cohesiveness of the story despite the lack of return letters, and I enjoyed this epistolary style. One of its strengths was giving the reader the opportunity to read between the lines and see the letter writer’s flaws revealed, flaws of which the character herself was unaware. It made her presence real and authentic. Another thing I found interesting was how she described events in her life differently, depending to whom she was writing. She acknowledges this very human trait in herself when she writes the following:

"by compressing and editing the events of my life, I infuse them with a dramatic intensity totally lacking at the time, but oddly enough I find that years later what I remember is not the event as I lived it but as I described it in a letter.”

Bess, the protagonist, was a fully fleshed out, sympathetic character. I cried when she cried and rejoiced when she rejoiced. I understood her struggles between social conventions and personal choices. She was not a perfect person and some of those choices were unwise. They conveyed a feeling to her children that foreign travel and social status were more valued than they. She was more excited about an article mentioning her in the New York Times than she was about the arrival of another great-grandchild. In her latter years she did not seem to recognize this choice as the cause of a distance between herself and her children.

My feelings for Bess veered between deep admiration and frustration: admiration for her optimism and determination in the face of all the misfortunes in her life, and frustration for her prideful opinions and treatment of others. She maintained a fine thread of control in the lives of her children, and then was truly surprised and hurt by the distance between her and them as adults.

The book inspired me to consider the influence and extent (and limits) of my own words and actions upon the lives of my children and gave me a determination to establish a close relationship with them, especially with my daughters. There were a few of scenes that were so moving I'll never forget them. One of these was a point where she expressed her opinion that a woman needs to have some money of her own. Due to circumstances and persons in my own life at the time, this was something that had a strong impact. Another was a point when Bess realized that if she wanted something done right, she would have to do it herself, a realization I came to myself at the time I read it.

The book clearly gives a social picture of each generation covered. The huge historic and cultural changes of the era come alive through Bess's gaze, and it's fascinating to see her struggling. Her determination and success in handling those things were admirable and inspiring.

This is a short read with a good deal of depth. There is some humor and the story is wonderful.
It will touch your heart, inspire you and make you think. In the words of another reviewer, “Read it slowly, savor it, enjoy it, and then... remember it forever.”

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A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVED IT!!
One of my all-time favorite books, IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
I read it 30 years ago in my bookclub and I am currently re-reading it. I read the series, each about the next generation of the Harte family, and enjoyed them immensely, but each book stands alone with satisfying endings.
A friend described it as a "delicious read," which is an apt description. Another friend refers to as "your biblical guide for attaining excellence."

I remember devouring every page as I learned more about the central character, Emma Harte, her focused commitment to experience success, her determined belief in herself, and her passionate ability to love. I had read Gone With The Wind, but this was the first novel I ever read that modeled not only what it was like to be a strong woman, but also someone I would recommend as a strong role model to any of my daughters or granddaughters.

A rags-to-riches story, it is about a British woman who begins as a simple maid to become the powerful head of a business empire in the early 20th century. It is a magnificent novel about the strength and commitment one woman has to pull herself out of poverty and the sacrifices she makes to survive and become powerful in an age dominated by men. However only her career ends happily ever after... her personal life was a mess (something many years after the fact, to which I can personally relate). Yet in the midst of numerous personal trials she found some of the best friends and business partners for life, and (again, as I am able relate) the book has a happy and upbeat conclusion. When the series ended I missed them as I did a dear friend.

Shortly after reading this I read a news article telling about the life of Estee Lauder and the rise of her eponymous cosmetics empire. It was so similar to Emma Harte's story I told my mother, a devotee of all things Estee Lauder, and she recommended A Woman of Independent Means, which I devoured and it was an equally wonderful novel which also changed my life. I believe I recommended both novels to my newly married daughter at the time.

I highly recommend this wonderful novel. Barbara Taylor Bradford is a master storyteller!

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Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of my favorite reads ever! Absolutely engaging, I was emotionally invested in the story and the characters and I could not put it down. Ng's prose is stunning and her insight into human nature, motherhood, professional ethics, freedom, and preconceived ideas is impressive. Little Fires Everywhere depicts a number of heart-wrenching yet frequently occurring issues in today’s society. It is complex, multi-layered, and so beautifully written I've decided I will read anything by Celeste Ng I can get my hands on.
I need my friends to read this so we can talk about it!
quotes:
"She smelled, Mia thought suddenly, of home, as if home had never been a place, but had always been this little person whom she’d carried alongside her."

"One had followed the rules, and one had not. But the problem with rules... was that they implied a right way and a wrong way to do things. When, in fact, most of the time they were simply ways, none of them quite wrong or quite right, and nothing to tell you for sure what side of the line you stood on."

"Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground, and start over. After the burning the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too. They start over. They find a way."

"Rules existed for a reason: if you followed them, you would succeed; if you didn't, you might burn the world to the ground."



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Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this audio book and because of her metaphors, vivid descriptions, colorful characters and lyrical style I would like to read the manuscript as well! One reviewer said, “She wrote as a Black woman-identified Black woman, valuing her experiences…in a society where these areas of experience are generally regarded as valueless, insignificant, and inferior to white/male culture.” If you have already read the book (or saw the movie) you will love the audio version read by Ruby Dee (who also played the role of Janie's grandmother in Oprah's movie). It is simply fantastic, a real treat! Definitely listen to it if it's available from your library.

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Babette's Feast and Sorrow-Acre: Two Isak Dinesen Short Stories Unabridged

Babette's Feast/Sorrow-Acre by Isak Dinesen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These are both short stories/vignettes, by Danish writer Isak Dineson, the pseudonym of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa and her writing is superb.
"Through all the world there goes one long cry from the heart of the artist: Give me leave to do my utmost." So writes Dinesen in Babette's Feast as she spins a tale of friendship's ultimate sacrifice and the deepest values of life.
Sorrow-Acre is a lyrical story of heartbreaking beauty about an old woman who gives her life for her son's life. These two complete stories echo Babette's plea with haunting poignancy. I listened to the audio book.

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Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This is a fantastically brilliant, heartwarming, and beautifully uplifting little book! It is an amazing story told with empathy and humor.
10 year old Augie Pullman, born with a terrible facial abnormality, won't describe what he looks like but says, "Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." Previously homeschooled, this narrative is about his being mainstreamed into 5th grade at a middle school. It is described in short chapters by 6 different narrators: his older sister, 2 of her friends, 2 of his classmates, & himself.

Palacio, the author, does a skillful job giving each of the narrators a very honest and distinctive voice. They all sound sincere & real. It makes you feel like you really are taking this journey right alongside Auggie as you are given a glimpse into all their lives. The characters are complicated. No one, not even Auggie, is all good or all bad. The situations are realistic, from the bullying in the halls of Beecher Prep to the small family dramas in the Pullman home.

The multiple perspectives also allow the reader to know more than any one character does, even (especially) Auggie. As Mr. Tushman, the school principal, points out, "there are almost always more than two sides to every story."

This is an awesome book about a kid who is truly a Wonder. At times heartbreaking & at times triumphant, it is a story of how one person can make a difference. Despite the expected sadness in Wonder, there is also much humor, joy and hope. Kids and adults alike will love this stellar debut by a first time author. If you haven't read it yet, I think you should - it's worth all five stars and even more.

favorite quotes:
“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.”
“Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.”
“My mom smiled at me. Her smile kind of hugged me.”
“It’s not enough to be friendly. You have to be a friend.”
Don't try too hard to be cool. It always shows, and that's uncool.”

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Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

arghhh.........so disappointing. The story is not particularly exciting, too many POV's , the characters unlikable, writing uneven. This could have been edited to half its size and been a decent novella. It felt like it was written to meet publisher deadlines. I "read" the audio version which was well executed with several narrators.

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Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is 1776 and the Colonies are fighting for freedom from England. In New York a 13 year old girl, Isabel, is looking forward to her own freedom from slavery. She has witnessed her loved elderly owner sign a release from slavery for herself and her younger sister, Ruth, upon the lady's death, but when her owner dies, a distant nephew and the lady's only heir states the promised release from slavery does not exist, and claims the girls as his property.

Isabel and her sister are sold at auction when she meets Curzon, an older boy with ties to the Patriots. He tries to convince her to spy upon her new Loyalist owners. But she is unsympathetic and declares she will aid either Patriot or Loyalist as long as they can help her to break through her own chains. The girls endure harsh work conditions and hateful treatments that are getting worse and worse. "Madam," her mistress is an especially nasty piece of work. Isabel becomes spy for the Patriots after they promised her freedom. She becomes disenchanted with them when it becomes clear they only want freedom for white people. When she learns the Royalists offer freedom to slaves who escape and join the army she switches sides to help them. However, once again she becomes disenchanted when she learns that if a slave does escape from a Loyalist household, that’s a whole different matter.

Her friend Curzon is captured and cruelly treated in a Royalist Prison and she is reluctantly drawn back into the Patriot cause against the Crown, carrying messages from prison to captured officers and back.

The historical context isn't simplified, the Patriot cause isn't glorified, and the characters on both sides are flawed, complex, and rich. A masterful use of period turns of phrase and vocabulary along with a touch of dialect give Isabel a narrative voice that conveys a convincing picture of her times.
Each chapter begins with a quote from a primary source of that time period, which could spark discussion around blending multiple texts, author's craft moves, and integrating non-fiction sources.

Extremely well-written with wonderful metaphors and similes, impeccably researched, exciting, and heart-clenching, this is a fabulous read and a definite contender for the Newbery Award.

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderfully written fantasy, with a sprinkling of magic in it. It is a tale of love, loss, and the inevitable. The characters are delightful. If made into a movie it will be a box office hit. I listened to the audio version which was very well cast. Highly recommend this heartwarming tale.

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Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a well crafted mystery within a mystery, told from two points of view. It is rich in detail with multi faceted characters and even occasional humor. Engaging but at 500 pages a bit too long for me.


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Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier by Stephen E. Ambrose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's incredible trek West to discover an all water route to the Pacific Ocean is certainly one of the most American stories ever. Ambrose has written a detailed account of the courage, determination and resourceful self sufficiency displayed by these men and their companies to complete the expedition, giving great attention to the science, geography and their everyday life on the journey. This was a wonderful, informative and highly enjoyable read.

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As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I so loved reading the Princess Bride many years ago that I encouraged my kids to read it and then we really enjoyed the movie. I reread the book probably 10 years after the first reading and was delighted last year to read Elwes' account of the making of the film. Such a fun read that we watched the movie again on Netflix.

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Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this quirky, fun, sweet, optimistic, highly relatable book. An "experimental memoir," it is a wonderful glimpse into a woman's life and feels like chatting with a best friend. It is an interactive book that contains a pre-test, midterm, and post-test for the reader. It can be read in just a few hours, but if you are like I, you will want to get your own copy, reread it, and give it as a gift to people you love. It is whimsical, poetic and unlike anything I've ever read. It will make you smile, ponder, laugh, and perhaps shed a tear or two. It contains lots of good visuals...photos, diagrams, drawings, illustrations. Don't wait to read this one!

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