06.29.08
Outside Beauty
by Cynthia Kadohata
“My mother had four daughters, by four different men.”
Shelby and her sisters know their mother well. Their mother collects men (along with gifts and money) all the time. But that’s fine: they’re used to it. In fact, it’s the only life they’ve ever known. Shelby doesn’t want any other life.
But maybe she’ll have to have one. A midnight phone call scatters Shelby and her three sisters to their respective fathers. But they will find a way to get back together.
I have to say, I first chose this book because of the author, because I loved Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata. I picked the book after I saw the author’s name (plus, it has an awesome cover); then read the blurb and expected something totally different; then I read the book and was instantly reminded of Kira-Kira.
Outside Beauty, in its tone and humor, is a lot like Kira-Kira. And despite what one might expect, after reading the blurb, it’s a family book, in its own way. I enjoyed reading it, and I liked the plot, but I was disappointed.
For one thing, it wasn’t very capturing. I mean, I was interested enough to keep reading, but if I had to, I was well able to set it down for however long was wanted. It was the sort of book you read halfheartedly: caring, but not really.
And I didn’t really like the ending. It didn’t seem realistic to me. It didn’t seem to me like it would happen in real life, that the characters truly said that. It seemed to me that the ending was a little too much resolved, too easily resolved.
I think what I enjoyed most were the fathers. The fathers of Marilyn, Shelby, Lakey and Maddie who were all well-rounded, realistic people, despite their not-so-realistic daughters. As for their mother, well she was definitely believable, but I didn’t really go for her. I tend to like characters who remind me of myself. But their mother did not, in any way, remind me of anyone I knew, and more than that, I definitely did not approve of her actions, which made her a little hard to be liked.
But yes, I do believe it’s a family book, in its own way. Not the normal kind of family book. But it encourages family, and what’s more, it does it in a way different from other family books, which makes it interesting. This was a nice book, and while it’s not a favorite, it’s special in its own way.
06.21.08
If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
by Gennifer Choldenko, read by Ariadne Meyers & Francois Battiste (4 Discs)
“Kirsten’s world is crumbling. Her parents are always fighting; her best friend prefers the popular Brianna to her; and to top it off, she’s definitely fat. She’s gained forty pounds in three months.
“Walker Jones’ main goal is to survive his new (basically all white) private school. His mother has sent him there because she thinks he’s going to screw up like his cousin. But he’s a good kid, as is his new friend Matteo, though for some reason, Matteo will do anything the blonde Brianna asks.”
This is a good, nicely written book. It’s sweet and realistic and painful too, in parts. I was really fond of Kirsten and her fresh, honest voice. There were some things that bothered me, like how she almost seemed to have no peer pressure, but it was smoothed over most of the time.
Walk I had a harder time getting used to, but I think he’s a well rounded character; funny, nice, and sometimes bad, sometimes stupid.
I also liked Kirsten’s mom. Sure, I about hated her, but I think she was crafted nicely. A mom who tends to think her daughter is a recluse and that her daughter is picky and that her daughter needs to get out more, a mother who sides with the popular moms’ kids. Yes, not a very good mom, but yes, a nicely formed character. Especially because she didn’t mean bad; she thought she was helping.
One thing that struck me as strange (not necessarily bad but strange) is that on the blurb it says:
“Then Kirsten discovers something that shakes her and Walk to their cores…”
I spent a long time waiting for this secret. If I remember correctly, it didn’t come until Disc 3. It didn’t make the book any more boring, because I suppose the author needed ample time to supply us on the characters, and normal life, but I thought she spent most of the time filling us in and not as much time solving the problem outlined on the back. Not that I was ever bored, or compelled to turn it off, because a lot of other problems were also brought up, but I thought it might have been better if the secret was brought up a little sooner. I pretty much predicted it by Disc 2. I wasn’t perfectly sure, but I was pretty sure.
But on the whole, it’s a nice book, nice and full of the unpredictable behavior and feeling that is a very normal occurrence, at least for me. I liked it how Kirsten and Walk were uncertain about things and flipping back and forth on others. Very, very nice.
06.19.08
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree
by Lauren Tarshis
“Emma-Jean Lazarus is definitely different from everyone else at William Gladstone Middle School. That’s okay; she knows it. She is fond of her peers but she prefers to stand and watch their illogical behavior from afar.
“Colleen Pomerantz tries so hard to be nice—to everyone, even strange Emma-Jean Lazarus. But now the meanest girl in school is trying to steal her best friend, and it seems that the only one who cares is Emma-Jean Lazarus.
“Emma-Jean thinks it prudent to observe her fellow seventh graders instead of getting mixed up in their troubles. But now Colleen Pomerantz is asking for her help, and how can she say no?”
I really loved this book. It kind of reminded me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, in the way that it was centered on friendship (though in different ways) and the humor, the way it was serious but funny at the same time. I liked how both TSofTP and this book is deep, but in a light, enjoyable way. It, at times, made me giggle out loud (which is unusual) and other times feel sympathy for the people. But through the entire book, I was rooting for Emma-Jean and Colleen.
I found Emma-Jean and Colleen and all their fellow classmates believable people. Definitely real in the way that none are perfect, but none are ridiculously bad, either, the way some books seem to portray people. They are well rounded, sweet, and all have ups and downs. (Perhaps that’s what I like best about them: they all have downs).
It did slightly strike me as unusual that Colleen was one of the most popular girls in school, and yet she still took weird Emma-Jean as a close friend, and managed to convince all her friends to do the same. But I guess that situation is possible if not probable, and, other than that, it was an enjoyable book.
I’m not usually the sort to love books right off the bat and to continue to love them, even as it finishes and even days later, but I have the feeling that I’ll enjoy this book always. It’s sweet, funny, serious, and deep. The caption says it’s ‘for listeners ages 8 to 11’, but I think it can be enjoyable to everyone—maybe more to older people, who might understand it—and appreciate it—as much as it deserves to be.
06.12.08
Heartbeat
written by Sharon Creech, read by Mandy Siegfried
I haven’t been reading lately, so I’ve been stocking up on audio books. I just finished reading Heartbeat by Sharon Creech. I love audio books—I used to think they were slow, but now I like that about them; they let you think in between, while you’re listening and while you’re resting.
When I’m reading, I tend to finish reading, then wait for a day or two until I write the book review. During that day or two, I think what happens is that the story gets arranged in my mind, and that makes it fairer when I judge. I tend to judge better a day or so after than right after with the words still ringing in my head or ears.
But with audio books, they’re nice, because I think I have the strange tendency to rush through books. I think this is because I read so many books of little worth when my reading career was beginning, that I tended to rush to the end, for hope of better plot, character design, etc., even if I didn’t realize it. And it’s been a habit ever since. I usually go back a few times, to reread certain sections, and it seems that every time I reread a book, I realize something new, which probably means I skim a lot.
In audio books, I can’t miss anything. Not anything. And it’s gives me a lot of time to think in between.
Um, to Heartbeat.
“Annie is twelve years old. Lately, her world has been changing, and she’s not exactly sure to good or bad. Her mother’s expecting a baby, and Annie’s been an only child all her life. Her grandfather seems all mixed up and confused, and much more forgetful. And her best friend, Max, is preoccupied with ambitions, which she’s not sure if she’s part of or not.”
This was a sweet, lovely book. I’m not sure if the voice of Mandy Siegfried is really the voice I’d imagine for Annie if I’d been reading instead of listening. I thought briefly about that at the beginning of the first CD, when I was beginning to know Annie. But by the time it was done, I didn’t think about it any more. Not that my opinion of the voice changed, but it was so familiar it didn’t really matter before.
I listened to the CDs (there were 2) first while I packed for the weekend camp, then while I hemmed my skirt, then while I knit a scarf, and then I just sat on my bed, hearing Annie’s bright, clear voice fill the room.
And I loved the book. I loved the rhythm of her voice, pure and sure. There was humor, and there were sentimental parts.
One thing I love about Sharon Creech is that often she leaves the character at the end of the voice, with things still unresolved, but with the hope that the main character can fix things now. You get the feeling that it doesn’t matter if she didn’t narrate it; the main character is going to fix it all, anyway.
It was the same with Heartbeat. The ending wasn’t absolutely clear, and it wasn’t the usual sort of ending, but at the same time, it was nice and comforting and sweet and kind.
And I would like to recommend Heartbeat to anyone, and everyone.
06.09.08
The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey
by Trenton Lee Stewart
Publication date: May 2008
“Reynie is excited because he’s supposed see Kate and Sticky and Constance again, soon. He’s supposed to meet Sticky and Kate at Kate’s farm; then they’re supposed to go and meet Constance and Mr. Benedict at their house. But right after the set off to see Constance, Mr. Benedict, Rhonda and Number Two, a telegram arrives: CHILDREN YOU MUST NOT COME, it reads, TOO DANGEROUS. When they get to Mr. Benedict’s house, Rhonda tells them the bad news: Mr. Benedict and Number Two have been kidnapped. And they have no idea to where.
“So Reynie and his friends set off find Mr. Benedict. But there’s already a time limit, and they must save Mr. Benedict while evading capture themselves.”
I have to say I was slightly disappointed in this sequel to The Mysterious Benedict Society. It seemed to me that the basic brainwork in the plot was in the riddles. I liked the riddles; they were hard (and I solved a grand total of one by myself), but it seemed like they were over too quickly. And afterward, it was mostly action.
I liked the plot, but it seemed a lot easier for the kids this time. There wasn’t the constant danger of their being caught. Sure, there was some—but it seemed to be written off in a way that you might forget about it if it weren’t for the reminders in the children’s conversations. To keep up the suspense it briefly showed others’ points of view in between, and I suppose that did work pretty well, while the author kept that up.
The plot did go somewhat along with many of the changes in the people. While the changes weren’t so obvious, the characters were a year older, and definitely different, and I think it nicely dealt with those changes to accommodate the book. And I did love the ending, and there were plenty of other parts I really liked too.
As for the writing itself, it was clear and detailed. I think it didn’t switch from each of their thoughts so easily as the first book, but the language was accurate and simple; and lots of paragraphs were easily smile inducing. And I usually note clearly to see if a person who hadn’t read the first book would be lost in the second, but on tMBSatPJ I don’t think that wouldn’t happen.
So if asked to give a recommendation on this book, I would say it would be best not compared to its successor, but be thought of as its own book, because it is, and there are many differences. Despite that, I think it would go well with people who loved the first book, because many things—the writing, the action, the riddles—are of the same sort.
And if there was a third book, or if there will be one, I would pick it up enthusiastically—perhaps not with as much enthusiasm that I picked up this book, but with enthusiasm all the same—and settle down for a few hours of entertainment, for both the first book, and this one, provided just that.
Hello world!
Hi! This is my first post, so I’ll give a brief explanation of what to expect.
My name is Verity, and this is a book blog, so most posts will be book reviews. If they aren’t, I guarantee they will at least be book related.
On each review, I promise to add a description of the book, along with thoughts on the literature and plot, plus opinions on it. (They might be a little biased because of personal preferences; I can’t promise that they won’t be.) But I promise to do my best to be fair.
Along with the reviews, I’ll also do my best to include links to authors’ websites (if they have ones), personal interviews with the author, and others’ reviews (so you can get a fuller view of it).
An overview… I expect to post a review on The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey(by Trenton Lee Stewart) tomorrow, and possibly Dragon Flight (by Jessica Day George) later this week.
Thank you for visiting my site. 
Verity
