Great Vacation!

This week we had no school for February vacation. It was great to have so much time to read and relax! 

I started with Halt's Peril by John Flanagan. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love this series. This time around Halt, Will and Horace are back on the trail of the Outsiders and trail them back to their homeland. Unfortunately, while they're hunting for the Outsiders, mercenaries hired by Tennyson are hunting them. Halt is nicked by an arrow and seems fine at first. Shortly though, his behavior changes and the Ranger who always seems to be in control is confused and disoriented. The arrow was poisoned and Halt is dying. Will and Horace do whatever they can to help him, but their skills aren’t up to the task. As every fantasy reader knows, the mentor eventually leaves or dies and the hero has to continue on by himself (think Dumbledore) and it looks like in this story it may be time for Will to say goodbye to Halt. This book started off slowly, but quickly picks up and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I also read Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Twelve-year-old Jamie and her brother TJ have grown up doing thing “the Army way” with their father ‘the Colonel.’ When TJ enlists hoping to get sent overseas to fight in Vietnam.  TJ and Jamie are surprised that both their mother and the Colonel don’t want him to join up.  TJ is sent to Vietnam and sends Jamie rolls of film to develop. Through TJ’s images Jamie learns that war isn’t as exciting as seemed and that there are serious and lasting consequences. This is a very moving story about family and friendship and I enjoyed every page.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles has a fantastic layout. Between the pages of the story are images of the the1960’s. There are song lyrics, historic photos, advertisements and news stories. Frannie Chapman lives with her mother, Air Force pilot father, 2 siblings and an uncle who suffers from PTSD. The Cuban Missile Crisis is in the news and on everyone’s mind – especially while Frannie and her classmates participate in ‘duck and cover drills’ at school. While trying to deal with her fears of the Russians attacking the US, Frannie is trying to deal with her fading friendship with her best friend as well as first love. This is the first in a planned Sixties Trilogy and the groundwork is laid for future books about her college activist sister and aspiring astronaut brother. As these characters struggle through the turmoil of the 1960’s, it is easy to make connections to the turmoil in our country today. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.  

A little mystery

This time around I have a mix of books, 1 adult book, 3 Children's/YA.

First I listened to Skulduggery Pleasant - Playing with Fire by Derek Landy, read by Rupert Degas. Once again, Degas does an amazing job with this story. Great fun! Of course, school-girl turned magician Valkyrie Cane and her mentor skeleton detective Skulduggery Pleasant have to save the world - and have a few close calls along the way. Skulduggery never stops his sarcastic jokes and remarks (and I love him for it). Valkyrie and the bad guys may not appreciate his wit, but it cracks me up.

Next up was the Red Blazer Girls by Michael Beil. Four best-friends who go to Catholic school in Manhattan, hang out at the local coffee shop Perkatory and support each other through thick and thin get involved in a 40 year old mystery. An older woman who lives next door to their school needs help finding a lost birthday gift from her father for her estranged daughter. Using what they know about math, history and literature (with a little help from some teachers), the girls follow the clues and find the missing (not to mention priceless!) ring. A fun read for those who like to solve puzzles.

Dovey Coe by Frances O'Roarke Dowell is up next. Dovey Coe tells of how she is accused of murdering her sister's former sweetheart, Parnell Caraway. Dovey swears that she didn't do it though. Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina in the 1920's, Dovey is pretty happy with her life. She and her brother Amos (who is deaf) and their dogs run freely on the mountains, there's always enough to eat, she and her family live in a 5 room house and they get at least one pair of shoes each winter - what more could you ask for? But when Parnell comes around courting Caroline, Dovey worries everything may fall apart. Dowell does a great job of giving Dovey a wonderful voice that rings true (reminding me of Scout Finch in some ways). The Southern dialect and setting add depth to this story. The ending is a little rushed, but it doesn't really take anything away.

Finally, Room by Emma Donoghue. WOW. Five-year old Jack and his Ma enjoy their days in Room reading stories, having phys ed., eating, and watching TV (but just a little). In fact, from Jack's point of view, life in Room is great. But after Jack's 5th birthday Ma tells him that there is life outside of room and that she was kidnapped 7 years ago and now since he's getting older and braver it is time to make their own Great Escape. Jack's Great Escape is successful but life in Outside may not be all that Jack expected, or wants. Wrenching, tender and even funny at times this is an amazing story. Reminiscent of the real-life Austrian case of Josef Fritzl this book terrifies and inspires at the same time. When I was about two-thirds done I just HAD to talk to someonewho had read it because it was so consuming. This is certainly a story that stays with you.