Librarian

I just accepted an offer to become the librarian at an elementary school. I'm so excited about starting a new job, but I'm a little nervous about working with grades K-4 after teachingg 7th grade for so long.
Since I am starting a new adventure, many of my reviews will be of books for elementary aged kids since I need to get to know the good books out there for kids!

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark

Summary from the back of the book:

At age 83 and in failing health, Olivia Morrow must decide--should she expose a long-held secret? Olivia has letters from her deceased cousin, Catherine, a nun being considered for beatification--the final step before sainthood. The letters are evidence that at age seventeen Catherine gave birth to a son whom she surrendered for adoption. The baby's father was Alex Gannon, who made a fortune inventing orthopedic devices. The rightful heir is Catherine's granddaughter, a 31-year-old pediatrician, Dr. Monica Farrell. Those now squandering the money must prevent Monica from learning the secret and will stop at nothing--even murder.

My thoughts:


Mary Higgins Clark is one of my all-time favorite authors. I started reading her books back in high school, and I have enjoyed them ever since. What I love about Mary Higgins Clark’s books is that it is obvious the book is well planned. The storyline flows, and the characters are woven to together perfectly. Like most books by Clark, the protagonist Monica is a strong, independent woman who is able to think and act for herself (with the help of a nice guy).

Even though the reader knows who the murderer is and who Monica Farrell really is, the ride to find out what will happen to the characters is still entertaining with a slight twist at the end. The supporting characters of Olivia, Ryan, and even Sally are balanced and support the main plotline well. The connection between the main character Monica and a saint was an interesting and thought-provoking subplot.

The one downfall of the novel is that the book seems to follow the same formula as many other books by Clark. The saint/healing subplot is what kept the book unique.

Overall, I recommend this book to readers who like mysteries without too much gore. Mary Higgins Clark is a class lady, and her books reflect that. Therefore, these books are also good for high school kids who want to read a good mystery.

Buy from Amazon: Shadow of Your Smile on Amazon

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Summary: Meena Harper has always been able to tell when someone is going to die….until she meets Lucien Antonescu. She can't see his death because he's been dead for centuries. Their whirlwind romance is cut short when a Palatine Guard comes in town with the sole purpose of tracking down vampires like Lucien. Meena becomes wrapped up in a battle between dueling vampires. Will she choose the man she loves or life?

My thoughts: Meg Cabot is one of my favorite YA authors. Her voice is unique and fun, but I felt her voice didn’t translate as well into this adult book. The dialogue didn’t seem to flow as her books normally do. The minor characters did little to develop the plot. (The best friend is a random character until the final battle of the book.) Several characters were found to be vampires by the end of the book, which didn’t seem realistic (as realistic as a vampire writing soap operas can be). I am tired of the vampire phase, so this could be the reason for my low rating since the book does have some great qualities. For one, Meena is a strong female character. She’s independent and doesn’t follow blindly after a man. Second, Meg Cabot is able to weave humor into a tale of a murderer, a vampire feud, and a boyfriend who turns into a dragon when provoked. Both of these redeeming qualities aren't enough to make me want to buy the book to reread it.

Overall, the book is an average read for an adult or high school (11th up) girl who wants more of the vampire craze.

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

Summary: Paige Rogers is a small-town librarian with a big-city secret. Her name is really Mikaela Olsson, and she is in hiding after a botched mission with the CIA. When a dangerous man from her past wants her cooperation, Mikaela’s cover unravels, and everyone she loves is in danger.

My thoughts: This is the first book I’ve read by DiAnn Mills, and I enjoyed it. It has a little bit of romance and a lot of action. The plot is well-developed, and Mills creates a sense of family with the minor characters that make up the small town. Fans of Dee Henderson will enjoy this book. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Author's website: http://www.diannmills.com/

Find on Amazon: Breach of Trust on Amazon

Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Summary: Jamilah is a Lebanese teen living in Autralia. To diguise her heritage from her racist classmates, Jamilah goes by the name Jamie, dyes her hair blonde, and wears blue contacts. She also keeps herself distant, developing few friendships in an effort to keep her classmates from finding out the truth of her father who has a PhD yet works as a cab driver who barely speaks English, her activist sister, and her fun-loving brother. Although Jamilah does not want to let her classmates know the truth about her, she loves her heritage and enjoys participating in a band with fellow Muslim teens from the center where she takes Arabic lessons.

When Jamilah meets a guy online who allows her to be herself, Jamiliah must decide whether to be true to herself or to fit in with the crowd.

My thoughts: I loved Randa's first book Does My Head Look Big in This, and I was eager to read this book. It wasn't as good as the first book, partly because it seemed to have the same plot: Muslim girl standing up to her classmates over her heritage. The book was predictable, but the strength of the characters made the book an overall good read. Jamilah is a character teens will like. She lives a sheltered life since her father has a Charter of Curfew Rights, which is a list of rules including one that Jamilah must be home by sunset. She longs to fit in yet still remain true to her family. The parts of the book where her father tells her stories of her mother are heartwarming. Her sister's antics and her brother's frivolousness balance each other and show the differences between males and females in Muslim culture. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Predator by Terri Blackstock

Summary: Krista Carmichael is on a mission: to catch the man who kidnapped and killed her sister. When other young women are stalked and kidnapped in the area, the cops are led to GrapeVyne, a social network where the girls left detailed "thought bubbles" about their day. Ryan, the CEO of GrapeVyne, joins Krista on the search for the killer and online predator.

My thoughts: This book is great! In addition to the plot about Krista and Ryan finding the murderer, there are also several intriguing subplots: social networks and what information people, teenagers in particular, put out for anyone to see; the grief of a father who has lost his wife and now his daughter; Krista's mission work in a low-income area; and the corruption of GrapeVyne's partners.

The book leaves the reader wondering what exactly these ad companies have access to on our social networking pages. Remember to only add friends that you actually know, and always keep your page private!

Author's website: http://www.terriblackstock.com/

Take Four by Karen Kingsbury

Take Four is the final book in the Above the Line series. Readers find Andi, in her final months of pregnancy, struggling to decide whether or not to give up her baby for adoption. Bailey and Cody have declared their love for one another, but their new relationship is tested. The Jeremiah Production company films the much-anticipated movie Unlocked, which involved Bailey and a famous actor, Brandon Paul. 

Although the book is the final book in the series, the ending leaves openings for several new stories. (Hopefully, the new series featuring Bailey will answer many of the questions readers have at the end of this book like what happens with Brandon, Cody, and Bailey.)

Take Three was a little disappointing, but this book left me satisfied. It was less preachy than the last book, and I was thrilled with how the Andi storyline finished. Brandon Paul was an interesting new character who added a spark to the familiar characters. I hope Karen will let us readers know what happens next for Andi and her family. I was frustrated with the Cody and Bailey ending since I’ve looked forward to their relationship for like ten books, but I’ll buy the new books to find out what happens to this great couple.

This is a good series for people who enjoy realistic Christian fiction with characters who make mistakes, face the consequences of their mistakes, and sometimes learn from them.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl in Nepal. Her family is poor, and her mother sells to her to be a maid for a rich family. Sadly, like many girls in Nepal, Lakshmi is sold as a prostitute. Sold, written in free verse poetry, tells Lakshmi's tale of horror and eventual triumph. McCormick does a wonderful job of illustrating the plight of these girls without going into graphic details.

Sold deals with a topic that many parents may not want to let their children read in middle school, but it's a book I recommend to mature middle school girls or high school girls.

This book moved me. It broke my heart to know how many girls suffer from this horrible modern day slave trade. I read it during silent reading time with my students, and I actually screamed out at the end because I desperately wanted Lakshmi to be rescued. My kids all looked up in shock at me screaming, "Tell him your name. GO!" You'll have to read the book to see if she does.

Lisi Harrison's Books

On the surface level, Lisi Harrison's books appear superficial and petty. The Clique series is about a group of popular girls and the lengths they will go to stay popular. The girls focus on boys, designer brands, and getting even with girls who cross them. In the Alpha series, the girls are competing for a number one spot in a prestigious school. Some of them will stop at nothing to get to the top. While some parents and even readers may be concerned that the books focus on beauty, fashion, and doing anything to get ahead, the books actually point out that girls are the same: they all want acceptance.

I used The Clique in literature circle a few years ago, and the group of girls who read the book had some amazing discussions about fitting in, what people do to fit in, and how mean girls are to one another. These are topics middle school girls need to discuss.

I recommend these books for middle school girls. It is a great book to read and then discuss as middle school girls face some tough decisions when they try to fit in or become popular.

Chick Lit

I love chick lit. I am not ashamed to say it!

Here are some YA chick lit authors I enjoy.

1. Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot has a unique writing voice; it never gets old. I have read all of her YA books except the Mediator series, and I have enjoyed them all. Her protagonists range from average girls to princesses, yet each character is someone with whom the reader can relate.

Note for parents: some of Meg's books talk about sex (NOT graphic), so that is something parents may want to know. (The Princess Diaries series is the first series by Meg that I would suggest for cautious parents.)

2. Jen Calonita

Jen Calonia's character in the Secrets of my Hollywood Life series is down-to-earth yet fun. She's a nice girl who lives a glamorous life. I like that combination because many of today's girls believe you have to be mean to get ahead or to be popular. This series shows that niceness does win in the end.

3. Melody Carlson: Christian fiction author

Melody Carlson's one of the few Christian fiction writers for teens. (Kristin Billerbeck is coming out with a YA book, and I can't wait!) The TrueColors series can seem a little preachy. In each book, a girl deals with a problem (alcohol, bad boyfriend, tough home life), and she eventually finds her way to Christ. The Carter House series is about several girls, each with her own set of unique problems, living in a boarding house. The Diary of a Teenage Girl series is written in journal form, recording the thoughts of a girl as she goes through high school.

That's all for now.