Country by Danielle Steel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wish I could give this four and a half stars. This was a typical Danielle Steel novel, a cheesy love story, and it was very predictable and entirely unrealistic, but a fun beach read for the summer. One thing this book did very well was the portrayal of grief after a spouse dies. Danielle Steel gave a very accurate picture of the emotional roller coaster that a grieving widow goes through, and some of the common and very frustrating situations that happen after a spouse dies. The Country music star, Chase felt very one dimensional, but he was a likable character. I related well to the main character, Stephanie, but her search to find meaning seemed forced and not genuine. If you enjoy Danielle Steel novels, you will love this book.
View all my reviews
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. The story of two very different sisters, Isabelle and Vianne, who both try to deal with the struggles and horrors of war, but each in their very own way. Vianne is the older sister, but she has always been more timid than her rebellious younger sister Isabelle. When Vianne's husband goes to war, France's army is no match for Germany and he is quickly captured by the Nazi's and sent to a prison camp. Vianne is left to care for her daughter. As she faces the struggles of life in France during the war, a German officer moves in, creating even more struggles for Vianne. Isabelle is outspoken and impulsive, she finds herself in the middle of the German invasion and she soon turns her anger and frustration into action by joining the resistance. Their relationship is often very strained, but they both care deeply about each other. Both Vianne and Isabelle deal with hardships and find strength, as the face dangerous conditions. Kristin Hannah does a tremendous job of sharing the deep relationships that form in the midst of war, the sacrifices that were made by so many of the French people. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
View all my reviews
The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire by Suzanne Lieurance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. The author does a great job of infusing accurate history into the story of this immigrant family. The main character and her sister both work in the sweatshops of the New York garment industry, at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. As Galena deals with everyday life at the factory and living in the tenements, she is also worried about her older sister and the boy her sister has been hanging around with, who is trying to talk her sister Anya into joining the union. Galena's family is typical of many immigrant families at the time, struggling to survive. When a fire breaks out at the factory, Galena cannot find her sister anywhere. The author does an excellent job of sharing the horrific events of this tragedy in a very real and personal way. The story may be too violent for some younger children, but overall this is a fantastic book for middle grade students, they will relate well to Galena and her struggles.
View all my reviews
ADHD Parenting: A Mother's Guide to Strength, Organization, and Beautiful Living with an ADHD Child by Emma Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this short little book about raising a child with ADHD. Despite a few grammatical errors and typos, the book is a very genuine and personal look at life for a parent dealing with a child who has ADHD. I did not like how the author used the term 'afflicted' with this disorder, but the book does share some strategies that may be helpful for other families. The title clearly reflects the content, this book is written from a mother's perspective, and the author offers a very open and honest look at what worked and what did not work as she was raising her son. I would recommend this book to all families who have a child with ADHD.
View all my reviews
Iris by Stephanie Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this middle grades book about a young girl named Iris, who is dealing with many transitions in her life. Iris and her brother are still struggling with their parents divorce, when they learn their mom has taken a new job in America. Iris is scared about leaving her father, and all her friends in Holland, but she soon finds out that America is not as scary as she thought it might be. Iris makes a friend and even finds a boy that she really likes, but her brother is not willing to give up on his dream of reuniting his parents and restoring his family. The book is written well for middle grade students and they will easily relate to these characters and their struggles. Readers will appreciate the challenges Iris faces as she tries to be loyal to her brother while she adjusts to life in her new country. I would highly recommend this book for middle grade students.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
View all my reviews
