All That's Bright and Gone by Eliza Nellums

How I Heard About It:

*I always love to see which books the editors at Amazon.Com recommend each month.  I've enjoyed some of their "picks' and others not so much.  I saw this title and found the premise interesting.  I downloaded it on Audible and listened during my last several days at work.  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1.  *Narrator Aoife, a six year old, tells the story of her family which includes herself, her older brother, an uncle, and her mama.

2.  *Aoife is dealing with the loss of her brother Theo and the fact that her mama can't get beyond it and has landed herself in the hospital.

3.  *While her mother "recovers" in the hospital, Aoife spends time with her uncle.  The more time she is alone with him, the mom she begins to wonder and question what happened to Theo.

4.  *Aoife and a neighbor girl decide to be "detectives" and begin a hunt to find out the answers to all of their questions.

5.  *Many of the adults in Aoife's life have been lying to her and once she finds out the answers, she will realize the past was not what it seemed.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *I have mixed feelings about the story.  I enjoyed it overall, but had a hard time believing a six-year old would have the thoughts, feelings, and ideas that Aoife did.

2.  *The experience listening to it on Audible may have been the issue.  The narrator was good, but the little girl "voice" did get a bit irritating from time to time.  Reading the actual novel may have been a better option.

3.  *The fact that two young children went on a "hunt" for answers was a bit unrealistic.

4.  *I did enjoy the mystery and finding out what actually happened to Theo.  The imaginary friend of Teddy was also a strong point of the story.

5.  *The themes of family, secrets, and letting go were also well developed and believable.


Who Should Read It:
*As a reader, I would recommend you reading this instead of listening to it.  The plot may be more believable.  If you enjoy a family story with some great mysteries along the way, this is the novel for you.  Happy Reading!

Rating:   3 STARS out of 5 Stars

Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

How I Heard About It:

*While viewing a friend's "GoodReads" account, I saw her review of this young adult novel.  I pretty much respect anything she has to say, so I knew I wanted to give this book a try.  I decided to listen to via Audible.  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1.  *Moss is in high school while trying to stay out of the "spotlight".  This isn't always easy since he and his mother have been in the news since his father's murder.

2.  *Since his father's death, Moss has had to deal with his anxiety and panic attacks.  With the help of his mother and a few close friends, he thinks he has them under control.

3.  *Moss is excited when he meets a new boy and they begin a fresh and unique relationship.

4.  *During school hours, Moss and his friends begin to deal with new security restrictions which have a major impact on all the students.

5.  *The high school students decide to take a stand against their administration, and take their "concerns" beyond the school walls.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *The audio version of the story was absolutely incredible.  The intense, fast-paced plot made for enjoyable and quick commutes to and from work.

2.  *The story line was quite current and dealt with a variety of important and timely issues our country is facing.

3.  *As a reader, I enjoyed reading about a group of high school students that cared about more than themselves and fought for the bigger cause.

4.  *Mark Oshiro wrote a powerful story that didn't shy away from difficult subject matter and incredible loss.

5.  *The transformation Moss took was real, special, and poignant.  He is one special young adult.


Who Should Read It:
*I definitely think all high-school students should be exposed to this incredible story.  There is so much to learn from it and would create in-depth discussions.  I also think college-age and adult readers would gain a whole lot from the novel.  Happy Reading!

Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard

How I Heard About It:

*I so enjoyed Right as Rain and Just Like Jackie.  When I learned that Lindsey Stoddard was going to release a third middle-grade novel, I was thrilled.  I was even more thrilled when she sent #bookexpedition an Arc that we could all read, review, and enjoy!  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1.  *Cyrus was left in front of the local fire house when he was a baby.  One of the fire fighters took him in as his own and raised him.

2.  *Twelve years later, a stray dog ends up at the fire house and Cyrus feels an instant connection with the little pup.

3.  *Cyrus and his father take the dog to the veterinarian so he can receive the care he needs.

4.  *Cyrus can't think of anything else but the puppy.  Football try outs are just getting in the way.  His father was a star back in the day and everything thinks Cyrus should follow in his footsteps.

5.  *As focus on the football try outs revs up, Cyrus does everything he can to make his father proud of him while also finding a way to bring the new dog into his life.


What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1.  *As soon as I began, I knew this was going to be one heck of a special story.  When I finished the last page, I knew I had been right.

2.  *One aspect that was such fun for me was the setting of the story.  Lindsey Stoddard put her characters in the small town of Northfield, MN which is about 30 minutes south from where I live.  While reading, it was interesting to read about all the "local" attractions.

3.  *Cyrus' story was touching, emotional, and heart-warming.  I could relate to his plight of not being in love with sports when his heart was on something else altogether.  Stoddard did a beautiful job writing about the conflict her character was dealing with.

4.  *The character development was top-notch and one factor that brought me into the story, pulled on my heart-strings, and created a strong sense of connection.  I find myself still thinking about the people in Cyrus' life.

5.  *I'm always looking for stories that stress the importance of being yourself, being brave, and taking risks in the world.  This novel does all of those things and more.


Who Should Read It:
*The novel is perfect for readers in grades four, five, and six.  The story would also be awesome for middle-school readers.  If you know of a young reader who has read Lindsey Stoddard's first two novels, then this is a must-read for them.  Any adult reader who enjoys a strong, current, and emotional middle-grade story, must put this on their TBR list.  Happy Reading!

Rating:   5 STARS out of 5 Stars

Wonder Wednesday #297 (Breakfast with Books).

Wonder Wednesday - The Miraculous by Jess Redman

*We had our third "Breakfast with Books" book club on Friday, December 13th.

*Our third selection was The Miraculous by Jess Redman.  When I read it last summer, I knew it had to be a book club selection.  I absolutely LOVED the story.

*During the last several weeks, the readers have been immersed in the story of Wunder, Faye, and all the people that surrounded their story.


*The morning is always so exciting when the readers arrrive with their book in hand along with some tasty breakfast treats.

*We had a wonderful, meaningful, and powerful Skype visit with Jess.  The conversation was engaging and thought-provoking.

*Jess was welcoming with all the comments and questions that the members of the book club had.

*I love it when a story can come to life via the author's interaction with us.

*Here are some images from our time with Jess...

An Inside Look #119 (Author INTERVIEW)

1

An Inside Look with Sarah Baughman

(Author of The Light in the Lake)

*During the summer of 2016, I added this feature to the blog which was called "Season #ONE".  This first season ran from June of 2016 to March of 2017.  

*I started up the interviews again in June of 2017.  It was great to get back to Season #TWO.  This season ran throughout the summer.  

 

*Season #THREE ran during the school year of 2017-2018.  


*The next season (season #FOUR) of interviews took place during the summer and fall of 2018.  With each interview I became more and more impressed with the authors I was having interactions with.  

*Season #FIVE ran during the 2018/2019 school year.  I took a little break at the start of June 2019.  

*During my summer 2019 vacation I continued a series of interviews in which I put under the heading of Season #SIX.

*To kick off my 29th year of teaching, I'm adding Season #SEVEN with a whole new season of authors, books, and interviews.  

*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the SIXTEENTH interview in which I'm calling Season #SEVEN.  

*Thank you to Sarah Baughman for being the One-Hundred Nineteenth author that I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  

*Here are links to the One Hundred Eight interviews…

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

Interview #1 with Elly Swartz (Author of Finding Perfect)

Interview #2 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Serpent King)

Interview #3 with Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author of Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story)

Interview #4 with Cammie McGovern (Author of Just My Luck)

Interview #5 with Kate Messner (Author of The Seventh Wish)

Interview #6 with Paul Griffin (Author of When Friendship Followed Me Home)

Interview #7 with K.A. Holt (Author of House Arrest)

Interview #8 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #9 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Counting Thyme)

Interview #10 with Claire Legrand (Author of Some Kind of Happiness)

Interview #11 with Lynn Plourde (Author of Maxi's Secrets)

Interview #12 with Shaun David Hutchinson (Author of The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley)

Interview #13 with Gae Polisner (Author of The Memory of Things)

Interview #14 with Mike Grosso (Author of I Am Drums)

Interview #15 (Towers Fallings by  Jewell Parker Rhodes)

Interview #16 (My Seventh Grade Life in Tights by Brooks Benjamin)

Interview #17 with Donna Gephart (Author of Lily and Dunkin) 

Interview #18 with Ally Condie (Author of Summerlost)

Interview #19 with Phil Bildner (Author of Rip and Red Series)

Interview #20 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Wish)

Interview #21 with Monika Schroder (Author of Be Light Like a Bird)

Interview #22 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Goodbye Days)

SEASON #TWO (Summer 2017)

Interview #23 with Elena K. Arnold (Author of A Boy Named Bat)

Interview #24 with Dusti Bowling (Author of The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus)

Interview #25 with Melissa Savage (Author of Lemons)

Interview #26 with Elaine Vickers (Author of Paper Chains)

Interview #27 with Kate Messner (Author of The Exact Location of Home)

Interview #28 with Paul Griffin (Author of Saving Marty)

Interview #29 with Elly Swartz (Author of Smart Cookie)

Interview #30 with Ellie Terry (Author of Forget Me Not)

Interview #31 with Katherine Paterson (Author of wishtree)

Interview #32 with Jordan Sonnenblick (Author of The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade)

Interview #33 with Alan Gratz (Author Refugee)

SEASON #THREE (2017/2018)

Interview #34 with Corey Ann Haydu (Author of The Someday Suitcase)

Interview #35 with Amy Sarig King (Author of Me and Marvin Gardens)

Interview #36 with Jared Reck (Author of The Short History of the Girl Next Door)

Interview #37 with Shelley Johannes (Author of Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker)

Interview#38 with Terri Libenson (Author of Invisible Emmie)

Interview#39 with Tony Abbott (Author of The Summer of Owen Todd)

Interview #40 with Rob Buyea (Author of The Perfect Score)

Interview #41 with Alan Gratz (Author of Ban This Book)

Interview #42 with Sally J Pla (Author of Stanley Will Probably Be Fine)

Interview #43 with Jake Burt (Author of Greetings from Witness Protection)

Interview #44 with John David Anderson (Author of Granted)

Interview #45 with Jarrett Lerner (Author of Enginerds)

Interview #46 with Leslie Connor (Author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle)

Interview #47 with Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison (Every Shining Thing)

Interview #48 with Jacqueline Resnick (Author of Raffie on the Run)

Interview #49 with Sarah Weeks (Author of Soof) 

Interview #50 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Good Dog)

Interview #51 with Gae Polisner (Author of In Sight of Stars)

SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)

Interview #52 with Tony Abbott (Author of Denis Ever After)

Interview #53 with Preston Norton (Author of Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe)

Interview #54 with Jonathan Auxier (Author of Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster)

Interview #55 with Sharon Creech (Author of Saving Winslow)

Interview #56 with Stacy McAnulty (Author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl)

Interview #57 with Kelly Yang (Author of Front Desk)

Interview #58 with Jennifer A. Nielsen (Author of Resistance)

Interview 59 with Christina Collins (Author of After Zero)

Interview #60 with Eric Walters (Author of Elephant Secrets)

Interview #61 with Phil Bildner (Author of The Rip and Red Series)

Interview #62 with Erin Soderberg (Author of Milla in Charge)

Interview #63 with Laura Shovan (Author of Take Down)

Interview #64 with Donna Gephart (Author of In Your Shoes)

Interview #65 with Alan Gratz (Author of Grenade)

Interview #66 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Wonderland)

Interview #67 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Just Like Jackie)

Interview #68 with Katherine Marsh (Author of Nowhere Boy)

Interview #69 with Dusti Bowling (Author of 24 Hours in Nowhere)

Interview #70 with Christina Uss (Author of The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle)

Interview #71 with Adam P. Schmitt (Author of Speechless)

SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)

Interview #72 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise)

Interview #73 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #74 with Abby Cooper (Author of Bubbles)

Interview #75 with Abby Cooper (Author of Friend or Fiction)

Interview #76 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of The Bridge Home)

Interview #77 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Lost Girl)

Interview #78 with Corey Ann Haydu (Author of Eventown)

Interview #79 with Jeff Zentner (Author of Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee)

Interview #80 with Allison Varnes (Author of The Property of the Rebel Librarian)

Interview #81 with Tony Abbott (Author of The Great Jeff)

Interview #82 with Susan Ross (Author of Searching for Lottie)

Interview #83 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Caterpillar Summer)

Interview #84 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly)

Interview #85 with Ali Standish (Author of August Isle)

Interview #86 with Shaun David Hutchinson (Author of The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried)

Interview #87 with Greg Howard (Author of The Whispers)

Interview #88 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of Shouting at the Rain)

Interview #89 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of One for the Murphys)

Interview #90 with Laurie Morrison (Author of Up for Air)

Interview #91 with Jody J. Little (Author of Mostly the Honest Truth)



SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)

Interview #92 with John David Anderson (Author of Finding Orion)

Interview #93 with Lisa Thompson (Author of The Light Jar)

Interview #94 with Keith Calabrese (Author of A Drop of Hope)

Interview #95 with Alicia D. Williams (Author of Genesis Begins Again)

Interview #96 with Kim Ventrella (Author of Bone Hollow)

Interview #97 with Natalie Lloyd (Author of Over the Moon)

Interview #98 with Cynthia Lord (Author of Because of the Rabbit)

Interview #99 with Tina Athaide (Author of Orange for the Sunsets)

Interview #100 with Elly Swartz (Author of Give and Take)

Interview #101 with Amy Rebecca Tan (Author of A Kind of Paradise)

Interview #102 with Varsha Bajaj (Author of Count Me In)

Interview #103 with Laura Resau (Author of Tree of Dreams)



SEASON #SEVEN (2019/2020)

Interview #104 with Laurel Snyder (Author of My Jasper June)

Interview #105 with Lisa Bunker (Author of Zenobia July)

Interview #106 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Other Words for Home)

Interview #107 with Barbara Dee (Author of Maybe He Just Likes You)

Interview #108 with Graham Salisbury (Author of Banjo)

Interview #109 with Donna Gephart (Author of The Paris Project)

Interview #110 with Jake Burt (Author of The Tornado)

Interview #111 with Jess Redman (Author of The Miraculous)

Interview #112 with Karen Strong (Author of Just South of Home)

Interview #113 with Nicole Melleby (Author of Hurricane Season)

Interview #114 with J.J. and Chris Grabenstein (Authors of Shine)

Interview #115 with Susan Vaught (Author of Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalyse)

Interview #116 with Chris Baron (Author of All of Me)

Interview #117 with Meredith Russo (Author of Birthday)

Interview #118 with Abdi Nazemian (Author of Like a Love Story)

*Sarah was kind, gracious, and giving with her answers to the questions.  It is an honor to post her responses here on the blog. 

*Thank you Sarah Baughman for writing this incredible and thought-provoking book.

*Here is my book review...

The Light in the Lake Book Review

The Light in the Lake

by Sarah Baughman

(September 3, 2019)

How did you come to know Addie?
Addie's voice was actually the first thing I knew about The Light in the Lake.  The first sentence in the book, which is in her voice, came to me while I was walking my dog in the woods.  I knew it wa the beginning of a story.  


What do you think is her most admirable quality?
Addie has the courage to take a stand, and the open-mindedness to consider multiple perspectives.


Is there anything you wish Addie would have changed or done differently in her story?
Especially considering her difficulties, I think Addie did everything right.


What do you think Addie can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
Hopefully Addie can offer some hope to children who are struggling with loss.


How did you research Addie and the circumstances she found herself in?
I spoke with a scientist at the University of Vermont to learn more about water pollution issues and checked in with a couple of dairy farmers I knew as well. I wanted to make sure I portrayed both sides of the situation with nuance and care.


Do you and Addie share any similarities?
We both love nature and family.


What was the hardest scene to write about Addie?
I had a hard time writing the scene where she and her mother go on a hike towards the end of the story. I wanted to show that their relationship was growing, but finding the right words wasn't easy, and I had to do quite a bit of rewriting.


Who do you think was her biggest supporter and why?
Addie knew her biggest supporter was Amos, and even though he couldn't be there anymore, she felt his influence.


Why do you think some young people, like Addie, are so driven to find the answers to some of life’s hardest and most difficult questions?
Young people are naturally curious, and they haven't been ruined by cynicism! It makes them ideal questioners and researchers.


What do you think Addie is doing as the present time?
I have no doubt she's on or near Maple Lake.