A Teacher's Heart by Melissa Lavi

 

A Teacher's Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book would make a great end-of-the-year gift for a teacher. It would also be a great book to read to a youngster about to start school. Teachers, for the most part, are really super great people! This book highlights some of the features of teachers to show their "human" side outside of the classroom.

The illustrations are very well done in this book as well!

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Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper

 

Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bailey's brother Dayton has taken it upon himself to be Bailey's self improvement guru. He's designed a list of her flaws and ways to overcome them. I mean, who wouldn't want a brother as awesome as Dayton?

Bailey is sassy and a bit immature. She flirts her way into a dinner date every night but never goes with the same guy. She loves food and someday wants to travel the world and write a food blog. All these non-committal dates are starting to come back to bite her hiney though. Lots of jaded guys who see they were taken for a free meal.

Then Tanner starts to frequent the froyo shop where Bailey works and she finds herself committed to a dinner date with him. She can't get out of it because of the list. Bailey will soon learn that things may not be as they appear and it's going to take a lot of introspection on her part to see it.

This was a super fun read that young adults will enjoy. It's a very clean book, one that I wouldn't have any qualms about letting a 12 year old read (not sure a younger age would enjoy it as much). There are moments where I was laughing at loud and other times I felt that Bailey needed to be turned over someone's knee (even though she's in her 20's). She's such a spoiled brat!! LOL

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My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez

 

My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tessa and Simon meet on an airplane and things seem to stay up in the air between them for quite some time. Both are fairly successful in their chosen professions. Simon wants more out of life than Tessa does it seems. But are things really as they seem?

One truth about this book: I loved it!!

This book has a few twists and turns. It was a bit predictable for me as well, up to chapter 34 anyway. Then things changed but not as much as I thought they might.

I couldn't put this book down until I read it all the way through though. Overall, a very well written story!

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Fetching Dreams by Mary Bleckwehl

 

Fetching Dreams by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two girls a continent apart. Neyah is super quiet and shy and lives in Africa. Abby is a bubbly socialite in Minnesota, USA. They learn of each other through their social studies teachers and become pen pals.

Neyah rarely gets to go to school. Her family depends on her to fetch water for them to survive. Neyah loves school and learning and aspires to be a doctor.

Abby is ok with school but jealous of the "time off" that Neyah has, not really realizing at first why Neyah isn't able to attend as much.

Through a series of back and forth letters, the girls learn of each others cultures, customs, and norms and both are determined to help make the world a much better place.

I would advise you to read this in a solitary room if you're apt to cry. I was reading this while sitting out at a yard sale in between customers. BAD IDEA because I could not stop the tears. There are happy crying moments, there are sad crying moments. This book is such a beautiful story of two unlikely people to form a bond and then do something with that bond. This story will stick with me awhile!!

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Trapping the Butterfly (Butterflies Fly Free Series Book 1) by Debra Parmley

 

Trapping The Butterfly by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book, set in the 1920's, is very similar to the story of Rapunzel in my mind. Bethany is about to come of age in just a few days. She lives with her aunt and uncle after the untimely death of her parents. They decide as a family to travel to Hot Springs so that her aunt can experience some bathing treatments for ailments that she's suffering.

Bethany is looking forward to being out from under the thumb of her aunt and uncle and she's excited to spend her 18th birthday while on vacation. She's tired of being told what to eat (and that's when she's allowed to), what to wear, how to act, etc.

She meets a man named Paul who warns her to avoid the 4th floor of the hotel she's staying in because it's inhabited by Al Capone. Paul is a detective trying to bring down the mobster. Bethany doesn't take well to being told what to do and finds herself meeting Al Capone face to face.

This story is full of adventure, drama, and of finding oneself. I thoroughly enjoyed this rather short read and now look forward to reading the next story in this series.

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Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom

 

Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many young girls think their daddy hung the moon, but Colleen is convinced that her daddy holds up the sky. Colleen's dad is a giant and most of the townspeople fear him and think that he's made up this story about the sky. One day, Colleen decides to host a party and her dad let's his hands down for awhile. Suddenly, everyone in town becomes concerned and changes their thoughts on how they feel about Colleen's dad.

This is a very well written story by a favorite author of mine. The illustrations are super brilliant and vivid! The story and it's "hidden" meaning are great to share with anyone of any age. This book should be on every library shelf, whether in an actual library, daycare, school, etc.

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Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood Book 1) by Randal Nerhus & Marjorie Carter

 

Talks Like Thunder by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

This is a work of fiction but is inspired by real events that have taken place. Desert Flower is only 7 years old when she is abducted by her grandfather to join his tribe of the Chiricahua. She doesn't understand their ways at all and misses her family, who perished, as well as her friends left behind in her original tribe.

As custom is, Desert Flower receives a new name once she's been assimilated into her grandfather's tribe. She becomes Talks Like Thunder and oh, does she!! Thunder is a force to be reckoned with whether its from her own people or the Blue Coats.

This is a very emotional read. I have studied Native American history to some extent but reading these stories, even though fictional in nature, provides some context as to the treatment of these people. I found myself cheering for Thunder throughout all her trials and look forward to reading more about her people in future books.

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