February 2009 - Posts
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation: Volume I: The Pox Party
By: M.T. Anderson
The son of Cassiopeia, an African princess turned slave with benefits, Octavian doesn't realize how different his situation is for an African boy. He has been brought up wearing silks and bright colors, studying the classics (in Latin, no less) and playing the violin. He has been taught to observe. He doesn't even find it weird that he is to measure his daily outputs. He thinks it strange that everyone doesn't measure what comes out versus what goes in. His life has been one continuous experiment and he doesn't even know it.
When Octavian opens the one door in the house that he is not supposed to enter, his whole world starts to change. He is punished by holding out his arms with loads of books on them for quite a long period of time. He also learns that he is an experiment: whether or not black men are equal to white. It sounds so crass to write that, but that was basically what it was.
The Pox Party in the title refers to the leaders of the institute removing to the country to inoculate against the small pox virus. At the time, this is still a risky new treatment, and everyone is given the virus, masters and slaves alike. At first it's very much like a party, but when Octavian learns the real reason behind the party he is appalled. Then he is broken beyond measure. The majority of the book is written in diary format by Octavian. I, personally, had a hard time identifying with him because as the subject of a science experiment he is observant of his thoughts and feelings, but he really doesn't feel. This all changes at the pox party, and then when he tries to write he crosses things out. Then there are numerous letters written by a man who meets Octavian which provide valuable insight to his character before we are again brought back to Octavian's thoughts towards the end.
I had a bit of a difficult time getting into this book. All I had heard were rave reviews about how fantastic it was. It's not that it was bad, because by all accounts it really is an excellent book; it just wasn't as fabulous as I was expecting. Sometimes it's almost bad to have read many, many reviews praising the text, then being disappointed. Fortunately for the book, it ends on a cliffhanger and it had piqued my interest sufficiently enough for me to want to read the next volume. (There are 2).
Notes on the Cover:
Besides the mask covering his face being something that was used at the time and on Octavian, it really speaks to the silence that surrounded the slaves. They could only say so much, and a majority of the time what they would have liked to have said would have left them beaten bloody (depending on their masters). I love the dark background, because it really goes with the story - it's shady and sad and dreary.
Recommended To:
- Anyone who likes to read about fictionalized versions of American History - although, it wouldn't surprise me if something like this really happened
- Those who like their stories with a strong narrative voice
On our shelves!
Mon. - Thurs. Feb. 23rd-26th: 8 am - 12am
Friday Feb. 27th: 8am - 4:30 pm
Saturday Feb. 28th: 9am - 9pm
Sunday March 1st: 1pm - 12am
Mon. - Thurs. March 2nd-5th: 8am - 12am
Friday March 6th: 8am - 4:30pm
Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival
By: Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
Illustrated By: Jean Cassels
In the midst and aftermath of the disastrous confusion that was Hurricane Katrina, many people's pets were left behind in haste, or because they were just not allowed to take them with them. This is the tale of two such pets. Surprisingly; one is a dog and the other, a cat.
I'm going to get my beef with the book on the table right from the get-go. We do not know if Bobbi (the dog) and Bob Cat (the cat!) knew each other before the storm. At the end, the owner(s) of the two animals never came forward to claim them. At least the authors tell you they don't know the beginning history of the two animals before the story even gets its kick-off. But it still irks me since this is a (mostly) true story. Anyways, that is my rant and I'm done.
We basically begin the story with Bobbi and Bob Cat being left behind. Bobbi was chained up and Bob Cat stayed by Bobbi's side waiting for help (or even food and water, for that matter). After who knows how long, Bobbi broke free, and she and Bob Cat took off to find sustenance. The authors do an excellent job of imagining what it was like for the two animals to survive. In January the two friends came across a construction site where a kindly worker began to feed the two animals. Unfortunately, his boss soon put an end to that, but the kindly worker arranged to have them taken to a shelter. Bobbi would growl anytime anyone got near Bob Cat (they were named at the shelter) and their first night was quite the experience, as the two were separated and Bobbi howled and barked the entire night.
The two friends were reunited and soon it was discovered that SPOILER HERE! Bob Cat was blind. Bobbi had taken care of the cat then entire time, literally being her Seeing Eye dog.
The volunteers made efforts to find the owners of these two extraordinary animals, but no one came forward. The animals "made a television appearance on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°" which really made them famous. So many people wanted to adopt these remarkable animals! A woman named Melinda went to visit the animals and they are now one big happy family.
The illustrations are wonderful, especially the ones showing the devastation on New Orleans after the hurricane. You really feel for what the people and animals had to go through. I especially love the picture of Bobbi and Bob Cat when they are reunited at the shelter. It's very heart-warming.
At the end of the story is a picture of the real Bob Cat and Bobbi (who are done in amazing likeness in the story) with a little blurb about the animals.
Notes on the Cover:
So cute! Animal lovers will enjoy the picture of the two friends cuddling, while the devastation in the background helps to show what they had to survive through. I like it!
Recommended To:
- Parents to talk to their children about Hurricane Katrina (or just any natural disaster) - The lesson being that we all can work well together to make it through anything
- Animal Lovers
- Everyone!
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
By: Jeanne Birdsall
The girls and dad are all home and getting back to their normal routines: work and school. The girls are all excited because Aunt Claire is coming to visit. That usually means a gift (but they love her without them) and a great weekend together. Unfortunately, Aunt Claire brings a letter that was written by their mother before she died. In it she requests that her husband go out and meet women because she knows that the children will have become his life and all adults need other adult company.
Needless to say, the letter does not go over well with the girls or Mr. Penderwick. Aunt Claire cuts a deal with him: that he will go out on four dates just to ‘test the water,' so to speak. The girls aren't excited at all and call an emergency meeting, in which the Save-Daddy plan goes into effect. With some pretty great results, I might add! And the plan itself, genius!
This time Jeffrey is more of an outside force. He invites one of the sisters to go visit him, and how they choose is fantastic, but the result of the choice is great! It's also a story about homework assignments and how you just might really hate one and switch with your sister. That part is also interesting, because let's face it, at one point or another we have all wanted to trade assignments with someone else. This swap is made in heaven, until the guilt is too much to bear.
Anyways, the Save-Daddy Plan does work so some surprising results! The end isn't what anyone would have expected - except for the astute reader. You'll see the end a mile away, but that didn't detract from my enjoying the book.
Notes on the Cover:
Again, the shadowy silhouettes of the girls and Hound are to be seen - this time chasing Tommy (a next-door neighbor who adds a little drama to one of the girls' lives). Batty in her wagon is fantastic, because that little incident is just like something a little kid would do. A nice, simple cover. I like it!
Recommended To:
- Fans of the first one
- A person who may have trouble with a parent starting to date
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
By: Jeanne Birdsall
This book was a National Book Award Winner in 2005. I'll admit that I had a bit of a time getting interested in this one, but once I got going I was hooked.
The story of a family's summer vacation, we meet some very interesting, very diverse characters:
Mr. Penderwick: dad and a man who likes to spout Latin quotes
Rosalind: the practical older sister
Skye: stubborn and feisty
Jane: the writer
Batty: the youngest, and also never goes anywhere without her butterfly wings
Hound: the family dog who also gets into his fair share of trouble
Their mother died shortly after Batty was born, and the family has generally taken the same vacation every year, but this year they didn't get their reservation. Instead they rent a cottage on the property of Arundel and manage to thoroughly upset the owner and totally impress her son, gardener and cook. Lovely!
This is an "old-fashioned" type story, but why I want to say that I couldn't tell you, because it could very well be set in today's time. There's really no mention of tv or video games. The girls play outside and come up with ways to pass the time. And really, they're not bad kids and Jeffrey (the owner's son) really needed some friends like the Penderwick sisters. His mother is a great villain, more concerned with winning the flower show than with her own son having fun. The type of mom who thinks a young man makes a good friend because his parents have money. Yeah, that doesn't work out well either!
There's a little bit of unrequited romance, the budding Jane completes another novel and hopes to have it published, the young Batty has an encounter with quite a mean animal, and Jeffrey learns how to talk to his mother, while she learns how to actually listen to her son.
A thoroughly enjoyable and a nice easy read. It would be excellent for summer vacation!
Notes on the Cover:
The cover has a very summery feel. The blue and yellow outline of the house and woods is simple, yet effective. The title is right below a shadowy Batty (including wings) chasing a rabbit and Hound, and below that you'll see the shadows of two of the sisters (I'm guessing Jane and Skye) and Jeffrey with another rabbit in the midst. And yes, the rabbits are part of the adventure and the trouble.
Recommended To:
- Those of you with siblings - the kind you love and the ones that drive you crazy
- Fans of the real-life style story
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller
By: Sarah Miller
This is the story of how Annie Sullivan came to be Helen Keller's teacher and how she taught her very difficult pupil. When people generally think of Helen Keller, they think of a composed and extremely bright woman who overcame major obstacles. They usually don't know that the child Helen was a difficult child who got away with pretty much anything (such as walking around the dinner table and grabbing whatever she wanted off of other people's plates, not combing her hair, not washing her hands and more). That all changed when Annie Sullivan arrived to teach the rambunctious child.
Really, who could blame the little girl for acting out? She couldn't see or hear and was basically locked inside herself. Annie Sullivan took a no-nonsense approach to her teachings of Helen. She made her mind, despite being hit and locked in a room to name a few instances. She had only the example or her former teacher at the Perkins Institute for the Blind who had taught one other young woman who was deaf and blind, and neither the instructor nor Annie was really sure how he succeeded.
The book is told in a diary-style format. Each chapter begins with a quote from one of Annie's letters to a friend. We get to see how Annie ended up being Helen's teacher, and that Annie herself was a difficult child with an even more difficult childhood that she had to overcome. That childhood gave Annie the gumption to punish Helen when she was in need and to teach Helen that the world was really wide open to her, just in a different way.
At the back of the book there is also a section for further reading and pictures. Actual pictures of Helen and Annie, along with important places that are discussed in the story. Hooray!
Notes on the Cover:
I love how the title is in a beautiful script, as well as in Braille. It's an excellent touch for a book about a blind student (and teacher). The little hand holding the apple is precious and really is a part of the story. Annie had to teach Helen by touch, giving her an object then finger spelling it into her hand. Simple, yet effective.
Recommended To:
- Anyone interested in the life of Helen or Annie.
- Anyone who is or who has dealt with a difficult child.
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
That Book Woman
By: Heather Henson
Illustrated By: David Small
Oh how I love this book! It's a great story for readers who are struggling, and for those that just don't see what the point is about reading. Pal lives with his family high up in the Appalachian Mountains. He helps his Pap with all of the outdoors work, while his younger sister, Lark, would rather be reading a book than helping out around the house. Cal sees no use in this habit, even calling her the "readenest child you ever did see." I love that the author uses a word that isn't even a word here! It just makes it so much more fun!
One day a horse comes along with a rider that looks like it may be a man, but upon closer inspection Cal sees that it's "a lady wearing britches for all the world to see." My modern self loves this - a woman being daring and thinking for herself! When Cal realizes that she will be coming every two weeks to swap the books out, he can't believe it (although he's quite grateful that his Pap won't be giving his berries away).
As the weather gets worse and worse, and the family is forced to stay in the cabin, Cal can't believe that "that book woman" is still coming ‘round. He finally gets his little sister to teach him to read so that he can see why that woman keeps coming around. Suddenly being cooped up isn't so bad after all.
The illustrations are beautiful. The watercolors really help to show the beauty of nature all around Cal and his family, and the artist has a fantastic way of capturing Cal in all his sullenness, concentration and glory (as the story progresses).
There is also an author's note at the end of the story telling how she came to write it, as well as a few additional resources for interested readers to pursue. You know I love that!
Notes on the Cover:
I really like it. It shows That Book Woman arriving on her horse, while Cal sulks and his sister is engaged in reading a book. All are elements that apply to the story (hooray!)
Recommended To:
- Family story time - read this to your little one!
- Everyone!
Coming soon!
In honor of the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birthday, it seems only fitting to review a book about him!
Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
By: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated By: Kadir Nelson
The cover of this book is amazingly striking: a portrait of Lincoln against the red and white stripes of a flag. I love that the flag is not the bright red and white of today, but reflects the time period in which this book is set. As to Lincoln's face, I can't even begin to describe how I feel about it: I think it's just a very magnetic image. What I mean by that is it just pulls you in. Lincoln is not happy or sad in it, he looks almost stern, yet there is friendliness in the mouth and eyes.
Inside the book is where it really touches you: the inside cover has a quote from Lincoln: "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think, and feel so." It's written in a blue script, which is conveyed throughout the rest of the text. Rappaport's clear writing style gives us glimpses of Lincoln's life and achievements while the blue scripted words are those of Lincoln. I literally had chills while reading this book. The thought process and achievements of this one person are enough to inspire anyone to shoot for the stars and go for their dreams.
The illustrations throughout this text are phenomenal. If you've been reading my posts for awhile, you will know that I am in love with the works of Kadir Nelson. The man is a genius when it comes to his art. He does not disappoint us in this undertaking. I'm beginning to wonder when the man sleeps!
Notes on the Cover:
Well, I pretty much said what I needed to at the very beginning of this post. Another unique aspect of this book that I adore is that the title, author and illustrator information for this book are on the back cover. This is sheer genius as it really allows Nelson's portrait of Lincoln to really draw your attention to it. I don't know how you could walk by this book and not pick it up!
Recommended To:
- Anyone reading in honor of Lincoln's Birthday (today, February 12th)
- EVERYONE!
Coming soon to our library!
Mona Lisa in Camelot: How Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci's Masterpiece Charmed and Captivated a Nation
By: Margaret Leslie Davis
This is one of the non-fiction titles that caught my attention. I mean, how can the words Mona Lisa, Camelot, Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci not intrigue a person? This is also a story that I has never heard of. I had no idea that President and Mrs. (mostly Mrs.) Kennedy were borrowed what is probably considered the greatest painting of all time during the Cold War and somewhat strained diplomatic relations with France. The author doesn't go into a lot of details about the America/France relations, just enough to give you a taste of what was going on at the time. Mostly she focuses her story on 3 principle characters: Jacqueline Kennedy, John Walker (Director of the National Gallery in Washington) and André Malraux (French Cultural Minister) and how the painting came to America.
Davis includes letters and memos that these principle characters passed back and forth while the idea was being discussed (Walker was quite opposed to moving the over 450 year old masterpiece from its home in the Louvre) and how it eventually came to be.
While I found the story to be fascinating, I wanted more pictures. This I noticed most especially at the beginning when we are first introduced to the relationship between Walker and the First Lady while they are discussing 6 Cézanne pieces that had been gifted to the White House, but which Walker had in the National Gallery. Davis is discussing rather famous works, but not having been to the National Gallery and not a person with an art degree, I really couldn't tell you much about them. These particular paintings figure in at the beginning and the end of the story, so an actual visual would have been fantastic. There are photographs of the people and events included which was nice. I really liked being able to put a face with a name, especially those names (like Walker and Malraux) that I did not know.
Something I found interesting: how those in high places of power can ‘make' others do what they want, even if they don't want to do it. I mean no disrespect to Jackie Kennedy, as she wanted to bring the Arts to the forefront of American culture (which we apparently sorely needed at the time, and still do) but shouldn't it tell you something when a man you respect for his opinions in the art world really doesn't want the responsibility of taking care of the Mona Lisa? It was definitely a great honor (who wouldn't be honored with hosting La Joconde?) but one that was fraught with difficulties that ranged from the logistics of shipping the piece to constant surveillance and protection to maintaining the exact temperature as its home in the Louvre? I can't imagine the headaches Mr. Walker had, but he did it for Jackie, and he did it for the Arts. Of all the people, I think a biography of Mr. Walker would be a fascinating read, especially the sections that deal with these few months of his life.
Notes on the Cover:
I'll say it, I really dislike the pink on the book cover, yet it does seem a good choice to highlight the photo of the Mona Lisa and the black and white photograph of Jackie herself. I like that both women are in gold frames and that the eyes and lips are quite similar on both women. My problem with the pink is that a male interested in the title would potentially pass it by as a ‘woman's book,' when, in fact, there is so much more to it than just being about either Jackie or the Mona Lisa.
Recommended To:
- American Art History enthusiasts. Did you know this?
- Fans of Jackie
- Fans of the Mona Lisa (there's even parts describing just who the woman was - and I think I can guarantee that you'll be blown away by one of the details!)
- Everyone!
Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury
By: Rebecca Dickson
Over the winter break I finally had a chance to watch the movie, ‘Becoming Jane' (which I really enjoyed, and the book is still worth the read to get the additional background movies always leave out). As you probably do not know, I am in lurve with Jane Austen. She has a way of writing that spans time and you can still feel the stinging of her veiled insults and the humor in her social commentary. I have also visited some of the places she has written about: the steps in Lyme Regis where the silly Louisa jumps off the stairs into Captain Wentworth's arms (Persuasion), I have seen the outside of the house she stayed in while at Bath, along with the Jane Austen Museum there and the Ballroom where Miss Austen herself danced and also the place of her burial at Winchester Cathedral. I'm sure there were a few others and my professor of the time would probably be horrified at what I've forgotten, but let me tell you: if you love a particular author or novel, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SEEING THE REAL THING YOURSELF! The places that person lived at and or wrote about. It's just an amazing feeling to walk where they have walked.
Back to the book! (Sorry for the ramble.) This book really is a treasure. It has six chapters that cover the delightful Miss Austen's novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. The author gives insightful commentary into Jane's life at the time each was written and published, as well as how her style changed and developed over time. There are images galore in this book. Some are of places where Jane lived; others are paintings from the time period that really fit into what the author is saying on those pages. Another huge bonus are the envelopes attached in each chapter that have various replications: Jane's silhouette, a letter from Jane to her sister Cassandra, illustration cards, a sketch and watercolor of Jane and more! The handwritten items are a little difficult to decipher, but for the true Janeite they are worth the time and effort!
The book also has little asides in each chapter that explain parts of the ways of life at the time, such as: ‘Making One's Fortune in the Navy,' ‘The Attentions of a Prince,' ‘The Calling of a Clergyman' plus insight into various film productions of the movies done over the years. While I loved the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice, I totally fell in lurve with the BBC version (it's about twice as long and Mrs. Bennet in that version just hits the nail on the head for me). Last year the BBC ran showed their versions of Austen's novels over a period of Sunday nights. That was my first experience with the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and it took 3 WEEKS to get to it all. I was practically beside myself!
Again, back to the book! This is a great volume for someone who is curious as to what exactly Jane Austen was talking about and why the books are still loved and admired by many today. (Not that there weren't those who disliked her books: I believe Charlotte Bronte was not impressed.)
Notes on the Cover:
It looks like it's the cover for a photo album, which I suppose is the point. I love the dark blue on the binding and the light blue on the rest. The flowers are okay, but I suppose they are of the wild variety that would have been what Jane would have picked while out on walks. I'm just guessing there. Honestly, I was on my way out of the bookstore and so proud of myself that I hadn't purchased anything and then there this was, right beside the door! Evil temptress! Seriously, all I had to see was Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury and I was hooked. I almost put it down, but then I opened it and all was lost!
Recommended To:
- Anyone who would like an introduction to the story lines of Austen, as well as a peek into her life and times
- Janeites. Don't look at me like I'm all daft - you know who you are!
For Further Reading:
I read Claire Tomalin's biography of Austen years and years ago called, Jane Austen: A Life. It's not terribly difficult, except for the part where you have to keep all the people with the same names separate. Becoming Jane Austen (1/25/08 blog review)was another good one with a completely different look at her life that's reviewed on this blog. And last, but not least (of the ones I've read anyways) What Charles Dickens Ate and Jane Austen Knew was another great one that talked about the time period (3/17/08 blog review). Fascinating stuff.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
By: E. Lockhart
Frankie, whose family calls her Bunny Rabbit, is a lot more than Zada's little sister and ‘just' a Sophomore at the Alabaster Preparatory Academy. She's also Matthew Livingstone's girlfriend - which is a major reason why she does the things she does. Her thoughts, feelings and emotions are probably more complicated than that of the general population. This girl is special. (So special that I want a sequel that talks about what happens when she grows up. World domination maybe?)
The book begins with A Piece of Evidence in which we read Frankie's confession and we get a glimpse of the joys ahead: the Night of the Thousand Dogs, the Canned Beet Rebellion, the Library Lady, the Doggies in the Window and the abduction of the Guppy (1). Frankie doesn't name her ‘co-conspirators' in her confession, but you will meet them all shortly enough. Lockhart takes us back to the beginning of the school year to explain how these events came to be, and the how and why of why Frankie does the things she does. And like I said, Matthew Livingstone is a major reason, but you can't discount his best friend, Alpha, either, because he's a complicated character himself!
I'm totally afraid of giving too much of this away. Let's see, what's safe to tell you...oh! There's the secret societies, the rebellion of the students, the pranks (named above), and a little romance! It's not the mushy kind, it's the young, somewhat innocent kind. Except that with Frankie you better not be keeping secrets if you're going to be dating her, and Matthew makes that mistake. When Frankie finds out what he's doing, she lays out a plan that will prove she's worth more than the superficial value Matthew has given her - but will it keep him close to her or make her lose him? And what about her ex-boyfriend Porter? Why is he trying to warn her about Matthew? The way Frankie's mind works to sort through these questions is amazing. She is one calculating young woman!
There is just no way that what I've written has done this book justice. The language alone is worth the read: Frankie takes words and uses their inverse, even if there technically isn't one. You'll notice three examples of this in the first two pages. Okay, okay, I'll tell you one: disgruntlement/gruntlement (and in the context of the letter, it's just fantastic!) The prose the author uses to describe Frankie's thoughts is sheer brilliance - you really feel like you're listening in on a very private conversation she's having with herself (you know you do it too!) and Lockhart really lets you feel the emotions that Frankie goes through. Even if it's been awhile since your teen years you'll still recognize a lot of the feelings and emotions Frankie has, but I'm sorry, there's just no way all of you are the masterminds that she is!
Notes on the Cover:
I love it! The seal from the Society of the Bassett Hounds on the pale blue envelope is an important part of the story, and it's a simple, yet inviting cover. That's about all I'm going to say on it - I like it a lot!
Recommended To:
- Anyone interested in secret societies
- Those who read for prose
- Everyone!
On our shelves!
Two Girls of Gettysburg
By: Lisa Klein
The woman who brought us the magnificent Ophelia last Christmas (January 7, 2008 post) has brought us a tale of two cousins on both sides of the Battle of the Civil War.
Lizzie and Rosanna are cousins and best friends. Rosanna is the pretty one who flirts with the boys, while Lizzie feels that she is shy and fairly plain looking. We know immediately that there is more to Lizzie than meets the eye, for the story begins in her diary. She is an observant girl, who sometimes feels that she may no longer be Rosanna's best friend because she is talking to another girl more than her, or because she disagrees with a statement or idea made by Rosanna. Many young girls will identify with this feeling. They want to be liked and they want their current best friend to be their friend tomorrow.
Rosanna has a head for boys, while Lizzie has a head for books. Despite this sometimes major difference in their personalities, they remain friends until Rosanna does something that puts her on the Southern side of the Cause, while Lizzie is firmly entrenched in Northern ideals. The book does go back and forth between the points-of-view of the two girls. We see how Rosanna has hurt Lizzie, but also how her actions have affected her and the life she leads once she leaves Gettysburg. The beautiful thing is that we see the ideals of both girls grow. Rosanna has been affected by Lizzie's ideas of freedom more than she has admitted, and Lizzie realizes that there are some valid points to Rosanna's thoughts on slavery. I thought how the girls' ideals representing their ‘sides' were really well done. Another thing that I really liked was how that even though you may be morally right, it doesn't mean it's going to turn out that way in the end. You can't change the feelings of an entire country overnight.
When the Battle of Gettysburg commences, we see the bravery of both girls in different ways. Rosanna has taken a position that anyone who knew her before the war would have never imagined her in, and Lizzie has given up her school dreams to do what is best for her family.
In the end, we know who ‘wins' this war. (How anyone can really win amidst so much killing is a topic covered in the story.) But will the girls be reunited? Will their friendship endure? Will Lizzie's family come together again, or be separated forever?
Notes on the Cover:
The girls (with their entire face!) look how I would imagine them to look. Rosanna is in the top, right corner with a mischievous, haughty look on her face that goes with her personality. Her image is beside a faded Confederate flag. Lizzie is in the bottom, left corner. She looks sweet and innocent, something that just does not last in a young girl during times of war. She is next to a faded American flag. The lettering in gold stands out against the overall background of the book - a dried blood type of color. I don't mean that to be ghastly, but it does remind me of it. Overall? Love the cover.
Recommended To:
- Girls who like the diary-style format
- History buffs (There's a section about the story from the author, PLUS resources to do your own research!)
- Adults - you'll love this! Really!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
By: Betty Smith
For some reason this book has been considered a ‘classic' in my head since I first heard about it. That's probably because I read a review or heard something in an English class that referred to it in that way. Also, my copy goes out and labels it as a HarperPerennial ModernClassics book right on the front cover. Alright-y then. I'm not going to delve into that touchy/ever-changing issue of whether or not this book is a classic, or that it should be. That's not a debate I want to touch on today. Rather, I want to talk about Francie and how she sees the world.
We meet Francie as a young girl. She lives with her mom, dad and little brother. Times are a bit tough, but they manage. Francie is a daddy's girl, despite his faults. He may drink too much sometimes and not work very often, but she still loves him deeply. I would say that all children have that - a flawed parent that they love despite the flaws. We're all flawed in one way or another, and sometimes those flaws are more obvious to their children than they are to others. That's okay.
Tragedy strikes shortly after Mama tells Papa that another baby is on the way. Francie's life is forever altered after that. She goes to school to better herself, because her Mama wants her children to be educated. When school is over Francie gets a job. She also falls in love, gets her heart broken, and falls in love for real.
Truly this is the story of one young girl's journey from childhood into being an adult. It's a story that many can identify with at some point or another. There's the young Francie, confused and sometimes quite funny in her descriptions of the adults in her life. And her aunts and uncles are some characters! Again, we all have members of our family that we just love to be around, or that we just can't believe they're like the way they are.
The greatest part about Franicie? This quote that's on the back of the book (and also appears in the book, but I was on an airplane and had no way to highlight it because you can bet your bottom dollar I don't like folding the corners of the page down to remember something): "The world was hers for the reading." I love that line!
Notes on the Cover:
I have the ‘ModernClassics' edition which is pretty fantastic for a vintage feel. The book is a paperback made out of some sort of material that has a slight texture to it. You really feel this book when it's in your hands. The edges of the pages are also feathered and not that clean-cut look that is so popular with the vast majority of books these days. The cover does include the tree that grows in Brooklyn (hooray!) and the tree is mentioned in the story. The tree also relates to Francie, but I'll leave that to you to figure out!
Recommended To:
- This is a coming of age tale, so anyone wanting a walk down memory lane, or anyone going through that process (even for a second or third time...)
- Readers. By that I mean people who just love to read. Francie's experiences with the library are fascinating. I want to know how she has time to read a book a day.