The Rathbones

The Rathbones by Janice Clark
Doubleday 2013

Wow. I really liked this book. Interesting, engaging, good characters, dirty family secrets, twists I didn't see coming, adventure, love, lust, sheer weirdness, whales, ships... It took me a few chapters, I admit. It is very strange. The pace is different. Once I got into the flow however, I couldn't put it down. One of those books I couldn't wait to read every night. And a highly satisfying ending.

Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games series is a favorite of mine.  They have the perfect amount of romance, action and thrills.  I loved all the different characters and what roles they played.  “The Hunger Games” is the perfect start to the series.  I loved the setting of Panem and the games and I couldn’t put it down.  I thought “The Hunger Games” would end after the first book; there was already so much suspense and thrills.  But somehow Suzanne Collins did it and wrote “Catching Fire” which was great as well.  Then “Mockingjay” came and it was even more adventurous!

Here are some of the things I loved most about this series:

-          People in the Capital had all that crazy hair and tattoos and stuff

-          The different Districts which each had their own industries, structures, climates and ways of life

-          Every story had a bit of tragedy which made them more exciting

-          Katniss did stuff that wasn’t allowed; like going through the fence into the woods to hunt

-          That Katniss knew Gale and Peeta from the very beginning (even though she didn’t remember Peeta the way he remembered her)

-          Katniss started by faking her relationship with Peeta but then it turned real

-          The love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale

I would recommend this series to anyone who likes adventure and romance.

Maeve – grade 4

The Saffron Kitchen

The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
Viking 2006

From the very first paragraph describing the horrible moment when a pregnant Sara loses her unborn child after being kicked in the stomach by her young cousin who is trying to commit suicide, The Saffron Kitchen grabs the reader’s attention and takes you on a journey from London to Iran, the birthplace of Sara’s mother Maryam.   What is doubly heartbreaking for Sara was that it was Maryam’s inexplicably cruel actions that caused the tragedy.  Before she can forgive her mother, Sara must pick up the pieces of her life, and take stock of what is important to her.

In light of her daughter’s rejection, Maryam feels compelled to leave London and travel back to Iran, her homeland and the place where the experiences of a head-strong young woman in a world where men ruled over women, formed the manner in which she would live the rest of in her life.  The unspeakable circumstances surrounding her “move” to London shaped the manner in which she would handle all future relationships.  Her entire adult life Maryam has kept everyone at arm’s length, and neither Sara, nor Edward, her husband of 30 years, could break through the armor that seemed to surround her at times.  It is only when she returns home that she can find her real self and make peace with her past.

This book is an interesting probe into the tragedies of denying your past, keeping dark secrets from those who most love you, and the pain of rejection and exile.  Crowther’s method of alternating between the voice of mother and daughter keeps the story moving along.  It is a wonderful debut novel. 

- E.S.

Wonder

Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Knoph 2012

This is a heart warming tale about a boy trying to fit in. I would recommend it to every middle school kid, and their parents. It is well written and describes how just a little bit of empathy and kindness can transform each and every one of us.

For more comments and reviews, follow the link to "Wonder" on Goodreads.com.

The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Knopf 2012

When reviewing The Sense of an Ending, one wonders if they should focus on the writing, or the content.  Many reviewers have praised Barnes for his literary skill.  Other reviewers have berated him for his inconsistent plot.  All may be right.  Perhaps more important it that this novella causes such long winded debates, such disparaging opinions, harsh critiques, and high praise.

Certainly Julian Barnes must be praised for his writing.  In fewer than 200 pages he brings characters to life and creates a meditative, mysterious plot.  Not a word is wasted.  Not a thought left languishing.

Whether Barnes succeeds in creating a satisfying mystery is another question.  The plot does have holes.  There are inconsistencies that cause readers to question whether they just “didn’t get it” or if the philosophy behind the novel simply went over their heads.  Barnes’ meditation on memory and its place in reconstructing our lives offers some answers; though not enough for some readers.

If you are wondering whether you should read this novella or not, if you are wondering if you will “get it”, then yes, yes you should read it.  At worst you will find yourself angered by the protagonist and maybe annoyed with the presumptions of the author.  But there is no doubt you will appreciate Julian Barnes skill as a writer and you may find you agree with the Booker Prize distinction.

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Atria Books 2012

Once again Kate Morton weaves a tale of love, family and secrets across the years.   The story starts when Laurie Nicolson returns to her family’s farm for her mother, Dolly’s, last days.  Memories churn to the surface and Laurie becomes obsessed with finding the answer to one crucial memory.  When she was 16 years old she witnessed her mother commit a crime.  Now before Dolly passes on, Laurie is determined to find out why.

Fans of Kate Morton will be able to guess what follows.  Laurie’s sudden desire to reopen the past is met with convenient clues, hale and healthy acquaintances of her mother’s, and even a back-story set in Australia.   It may seem formulaic, but Kate Morton still writes an intelligent and entertaining story that is worth the read.

The Secret Keeper takes readers from present day London to the Blitz of 1941.  Dolly is a young woman intent on starting a life of her own during some of the darkest days of World War II.  Her story, which Laurie slowly unravels with the help of her brother, is filled with romance and tragedy.  The characters are well developed, though not always likable.  The history of war torn London is detailed and realistic.  The mystery of Dolly’s crime isn’t totally unique though.  Morton manages to throw a few interesting twists into it but a keen reader can probably guess at the ending.   Admirers of her work will still be pleased.  Newcomers should also enjoy the book, however if they don’t, they should try The Forgotten Garden for Kate Morton at her best.

Matched

Matched by Ally Condi
2010 Dutton Books

A refreshing satisfying YA dystopian novel. 
This is the story of Cassia, a young girl growing up in a future where free-will has disappeared.  Everything in her world is decided for her.  From what she studies, what she eats, how she exercises, to who she will marry.  "Society" no longer leaves life or death or reproduction in the hands of the people but instead controls everything.

Sound familiar?  It is.  You can find similar stuff in Lois Lowry's The Giver or in a Margaret Atwood novel, and it may be that those are better, but Ally Condi does a fine job.  The characters and their relationships are well developed.  The plot moves along at a good pace with all the required twists and turns.  Her descriptions are decent, though not as detailed as an adult reader might want.  And the end is satisfying in a way that other YA novels (like the Meyer ones) are not.  Cassia is a heroine, make no mistake.

This would be a good introduction to dystopian or science fiction literature for teens and tweens.  Kind of a Hunger Games without the crossbow and vicious to-the-death gaming.