A clumsy 13-year-old gets a strange birthday gift from his long-gone parents, which is then stolen. That may be the last "normal" thing to ever happen to Al Smedry.
I picked this up on the recommendation of a former library employee - I'm not sure what he's trying to tell me here?!? Just kidding.
It's a fantasy sci-fi story which reveals to you that we're living in a world of limited information. Turns out the librarians have been holding us back through their throttling of available information, and there's actually a whole big world out there that's way more advanced than we are. And there's a war on to save us.
The book's intended for kids, but it's not written down to them and is just as enjoyable to an adult. It's funny and moves briskly. The omniscient narrator is the main character (just a few years more mature) and he's fond of popping in, breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the audience, interrupting himself, and generally making a straight-forward battle story into a lively romp where you'll question your own prejudices and perspective.
I'm not sure I'll be reading the whole series, but I did enjoy the exposure to a whole new world.
Showing posts with label foster families. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foster families. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Bryan Stevenson has spent his career working for the poor, the mentally ill, for youth tried as adults, and for other people somehow disadvantaged and lost in the American justice system. It's hard work, and it doesn't pay well. Every day he's faced with horrible stories of lives lost and damaged - yet he keeps at it with grace and diligence and perseverance.
In this book, Stevenson discusses his legal cases, uses notable individual stories to exemplify his points, and outlines the cultural need for compassion.
The book is heartbreaking, yet optimistic. The plight of some of their clients is truly upsetting - innocent people on death row, children abused in all ways and incarcerated with adults, mentally ill individuals without medical treatment. Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative staff have made great strides in cases argued and won with the Supreme Court.
It's the kind of book that forces you to look around you and wonder how you can make some difference. I can't argue a case before the Supreme Court. But I could lend a hand to the homeless. I could try to be a role model for disadvantaged kids. I could ... do something. And that's where it starts.
In this book, Stevenson discusses his legal cases, uses notable individual stories to exemplify his points, and outlines the cultural need for compassion.
The book is heartbreaking, yet optimistic. The plight of some of their clients is truly upsetting - innocent people on death row, children abused in all ways and incarcerated with adults, mentally ill individuals without medical treatment. Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative staff have made great strides in cases argued and won with the Supreme Court.
It's the kind of book that forces you to look around you and wonder how you can make some difference. I can't argue a case before the Supreme Court. But I could lend a hand to the homeless. I could try to be a role model for disadvantaged kids. I could ... do something. And that's where it starts.
Monday, December 14, 2015
A Million Ways Home by Dianna Dorisi-Winget
Suddenly every part of Poppy's life is uncertain: her only relative, her grandmother, had a stroke. And then, when running away from the group home to visit Grandma Beth in the hospital, she gets lost, witnesses a burglary, and is the only one to see the guy's face when he flees.
Poppy makes an impression on the detective called to the scene, and Detective Brannigan goes out of his way to accommodate his star witness until they can apprehend the bad guy. Along the way, she even helps the police in another, unexpected way.
This is a wonderful story about a girl living on the fringes. While there's turmoil and upheaval in the story, the book isn't super scary and the message of friendship comes through strongest. There's an interesting thread about kids' desire to act out in various ways when they've lost control of their life, and it's handled honestly and realistically.
Poppy's a middle schooler, but I think this book could be read younger. It's not too scary, and the conflicts and emotional struggle will be familiar for many kids whose parents have divorced or who have lost a loved one.
Poppy makes an impression on the detective called to the scene, and Detective Brannigan goes out of his way to accommodate his star witness until they can apprehend the bad guy. Along the way, she even helps the police in another, unexpected way.
This is a wonderful story about a girl living on the fringes. While there's turmoil and upheaval in the story, the book isn't super scary and the message of friendship comes through strongest. There's an interesting thread about kids' desire to act out in various ways when they've lost control of their life, and it's handled honestly and realistically.
Poppy's a middle schooler, but I think this book could be read younger. It's not too scary, and the conflicts and emotional struggle will be familiar for many kids whose parents have divorced or who have lost a loved one.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Kinda Like Brothers
by Coe Booth
Many kids in small towns likely know very little about life in an inner city. Hopefully, they know just as little about the foster care system. This novel gives a peek into both those worlds.
Jarrett's mom is a foster parent. He's used to babies coming and going in his life. What he's not used to is a baby that comes with a brother who is actually older than he. Late one night, he finds himself suddenly sharing a room with a boy filled with secrets.
Thinking of himself as a super spy, Jarrett finds far more information than he should about his new roommate. The real challenge is determining the best path he can take with this knowledge. He walks a fine line between trying to help reunite a family and just wanting to have his own room again. Jarrett and Kevon both learn hard lessons about getting along, acting like a responsible person and family dynamics.
This is, at times, a heart-wrenching view into an all too common part of our world. It is also a story with a realistic ending. There's no tidy bow showcasing happily-ever-after: a welcome feature for the genre.
Many kids in small towns likely know very little about life in an inner city. Hopefully, they know just as little about the foster care system. This novel gives a peek into both those worlds.
Jarrett's mom is a foster parent. He's used to babies coming and going in his life. What he's not used to is a baby that comes with a brother who is actually older than he. Late one night, he finds himself suddenly sharing a room with a boy filled with secrets.
Thinking of himself as a super spy, Jarrett finds far more information than he should about his new roommate. The real challenge is determining the best path he can take with this knowledge. He walks a fine line between trying to help reunite a family and just wanting to have his own room again. Jarrett and Kevon both learn hard lessons about getting along, acting like a responsible person and family dynamics.
This is, at times, a heart-wrenching view into an all too common part of our world. It is also a story with a realistic ending. There's no tidy bow showcasing happily-ever-after: a welcome feature for the genre.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Law man
by Kristen Ashley
This book's so hot, my fingers should be scorched from flipping pages. Sweet Mara has spent a lifetime believing she's low girl on the totem pole when it comes to what makes someone attractive. That said, she's great at friendships, but any encounter with her sizzling neighbor, Detective Mitch Lawson, sends her running for cover. Quite literally, this gal will trip over her own to feet to avoid the man of her dreams.
Mitch has spent years waiting for Mara to give him just one opening. It'll take everything he's got to show her how completely whacked Mara world is.
Following her desperate escape, their worlds collide in order to provide stability for Mara's two young cousins. Luckily, Mitch has all the skills to get those kids and Mara through the maze of protective services while protecting them from the Russian mob, drug dealers, and the genetic cesspool out of which this adorable trio has risen.
Seriously, CRAP, I've found a new series. Not only that, it appears the Chaos series has characters tied to some other series in Ms. Ashley's repertoire. Hmm, maybe I should start to be grateful for this bitterly cold winter and the abundant opportunities to snuggle up with a good book.
This book's so hot, my fingers should be scorched from flipping pages. Sweet Mara has spent a lifetime believing she's low girl on the totem pole when it comes to what makes someone attractive. That said, she's great at friendships, but any encounter with her sizzling neighbor, Detective Mitch Lawson, sends her running for cover. Quite literally, this gal will trip over her own to feet to avoid the man of her dreams.
Mitch has spent years waiting for Mara to give him just one opening. It'll take everything he's got to show her how completely whacked Mara world is.
Following her desperate escape, their worlds collide in order to provide stability for Mara's two young cousins. Luckily, Mitch has all the skills to get those kids and Mara through the maze of protective services while protecting them from the Russian mob, drug dealers, and the genetic cesspool out of which this adorable trio has risen.
Seriously, CRAP, I've found a new series. Not only that, it appears the Chaos series has characters tied to some other series in Ms. Ashley's repertoire. Hmm, maybe I should start to be grateful for this bitterly cold winter and the abundant opportunities to snuggle up with a good book.
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