Book Pages

Monday, May 27, 2024

I Cheerfully, Refuse by Leif Enger

How I Came Across It... *We chose this novel for our staff book club for the month of May. One staff member knows Leif so we are going to be able to Zoom with him during our book club. I read Peace Like a River years ago which I enjoyed, so I was looking forward to reading his latest work of fiction. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *I believe the story takes place in the future, but not exactly how far into the future.

*I know the main character Rainy has "lost" his wife and sets out on his boat on Lake Superior to find her and/or find answers.

*While on his boat, Rainy comes across a variety of situations and people all of which adds to his journey.

*He is definitely in search of something, but I was never quite sure exactly what.

*This new "world" is full of danger and dangerous people, but Rainy keeps his eye on the future and his goal. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*This was a very different type of story and I'm not sure I "got" it.

*I really tried to engage with the characters and what was happening with them, but I found it difficult to do so.  

*There were moments/chapters that I found myself saying, "Ok, now I'm enjoying this, or now I get it", but then the plot would continue in a different direction and lose me.  

*The writing was beautiful, complex, and unique, but sometimes I found it going over my head.

*Toward the end of the story I found myself scanning so that I could finish the book.  
Who Should Read It...
*Many readers have given this novel either 4 or 5 stars. It wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't grab other readers and bring them into a futuristic world of survival, love, and betrayal. Happy Reading! Rating... 3 out of 5 stars








Telephone of the Tree by Allison McGhee

How I Came Across It... *An online reading "friend" recommended this middle-grade novel when it was an ARC. I was lucky to be able to download an E-ARC via NetGalley. Based on the title, the cover, and of course the author, I knew I was in for a special story. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know...
*Ayla and Kiri have always been best friends. Always!!!

*The bond over many things, but mostly they bond over their love of trees.

*When Kiri goes away, Ayla must adjust her daily life while she "waits" for Kiri's return.

*With the separation of the two best friends, everyone on the neighborhood street is thrown off and not quite sure how to react to Ayla.

*When a telephone appears in Ayla's tree, she is sure it is a sign that Kiri will return by her 11th birthday. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*I knew from the get-go this was going to be a memorable, special, and unique story.  And it was!

*The writing was sparse, but each word, sentence, and section was filled with emotion, heart, and soul.

*I so enjoyed getting to know each of these characters and the special bond they had for each other.

*The mystery of the telephone added greatly to the already engaging story.  

*This is the type of novel I will return to in order to read it again and/or share with a group of readers.  
Who Should Read It...
*I look forward to using the book with my fourth grade class next school year. I think it is the perfect story for readers in grades four, five, and six. It would also be wonderful for a group of middle-school students. Adult readers would also be completely drawn into the story. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

How I Came Across It... *I was in need of an audio book so I went to my "Want to Read" list on the GoodReads app. This title was there and I remembered reading many positive reviews and see the book on "best of" lists. I decided to download it and give it a listen. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know...
*The reader is taken back to 1789 in the state of Maine.

*A man has been found dead underneath the ice on the river.

*The main character Martha, finds herself in the middle of the investigation to uncover what happened to this man, how did he end up under the ice, and who is responsible.

*Martha is a midwife who generally brings life "into" the world, and doesn't spend her time trying to figure out how someone was taken "out of" this world.

*A trial is conducted and everyone in the small town seems to have had some sort of involvement in the mystery of the man in the river. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections...
*Overall, this was an enjoyable listen with a narrator who was easy to listen to.  

*The story did get a bit long for me, but I kept listening to find out "who did it".

*It was quite interesting to read about what life was like back in 1789 and how people lived their daily lives.  

*I also thought it was engaging when the author brought in actual historical figures into the story and had them interact with the fictional characters.

*I'm not sure I enjoyed the story as much as most readers.  That could be because of being a male, being older, or just not connecting to every portion of the plot.


Who Should Read It...
Based on all of the reviews and positive ratings I saw, I would think most readers would enjoy this novel published for adults. If you are a historical fiction fan, this is definitely the story for you. Happy Reading!
Rating... 3 out of 5 stars





Monday, May 20, 2024

Tree Table Book by Lois Lowry

How I Came Across It... When I saw that Lois Lowry had a new novel, I knew I had to read it. When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read it. When I read the title, I knew I had to read it. Ordered, arrived, read!!! What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Sophie Gershowitz is eighty-eight years old. *Sophia Winslow is eleven years old.

*The two Sophies are the best of friends.

*When the young Sophia learns that the older Sophie is having trouble with her memory, she is bound and determined to help her friend.

*She sets out to find a way to truly find out what is going on with her older best friend because that is what best friends do. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *It has been quite a while since I have read a Lois Lowry novel, but it sure was incredible to get back to one of her stories. *This was a beautiful story of friendship.

*My own mother suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, so I think the story touched on a personal level.

*As young Sophia spends time with older Sophie, she helps her open her mind to the stories of yesterday.

*A perfect story with themes of friendship, compassion, and empathy. Who Should Read It...
*I look forward to using this novel next year as a class read aloud in my fourth grade classroom. I think it is the perfect story for readers in grades three, four, and five. Middle-school readers will also enjoy the story of the two Sophie's. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars

Sunday, May 5, 2024

An Inside Look #273 (Author INTERVIEW)

     

An Inside Look with Lisa Fipps

(Author of And Then, Boom)


*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)

*
Season #FOUR
 (Summer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019) 

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019) 

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*Season #NINE (Fall 2020)

*Season #TEN (Winter/Spring 2021)

*Season #ELEVEN (Fall 2021)

*Season #TWELVE (Winter/Spring 2022)

*Season #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)

*Season #FOURTEEN (Fall 2022)

*Season #FIFTEEN (Winter/Spring 2023)

*Season #SIXTEEN (Fall 2023)



*I'm excited to present season #SEVENTEEN with brand new interviews/authors.  

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

*This is the TWELFTH interview in which I'm calling Season #SEVENTEEN 

*Thank you to Lisa for being the Two Hundred Seventy-Second author I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  



And Then, Boom! 
by Lisa Fipps

(May 7, 2024)

How did you come to know Joe?
The bones of this book came to me eighteen years ago. Joe has been living in my head every day since. I often let characters stay in my head and get to know them well long before I start writing. I think he came to me for me to tell his story - which sounds a little odd, but it's how I see it - because his childhood and mine have a lot in common.


What do you think is his most admirable quality?
Eeek! I can't narrow it to one. I'll choose four: resilient, problem-solver, soft-hearted, and hilarious.


Is there anything you wish he would have changed or done differently in his story?
No. I think that readers will see throughout the book that life doesn't give you choices about what's going to happen to you. How we deal with each AND THEN, BOOM! shows who we are and what we're made of.


What do you think Joe can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what he went through?
Hope. Knowing they're not alone. And the importance of reaching out to others and asking for help.


How did you research Joe and the circumstances he found himself in?
I grew up poor. My father died when I was 13 months old, and my mom did not have a job until I was in third grade. When she got overwhelmed, which she often did with three kids to raise, she would say, "If you don't stop, one of these days I'm going to get in that car and leave, and I don't know if I'll ever come back." That was so traumatizing to me, especially since she was the only parent I'd ever had. I was raised in a very dysfunctional home and endured a variety of neglect and abuse. So I didn't have to research the topics addressed in AND THEN, BOOM!; however, I did because I wanted to make sure that my experiences were not unique to me. Sadly, so many kids live the way I lived.


Do you and Joe share any similarities?
Getting hit with one AND THEN, BOOM! after another, and just when you think it's going to be okay or things are getting better - BOOM! Here comes something else to deal with.


What was the hardest scene to write about him?
Emotionally, the poem Leaning on Each Other. My grandmum died unexpectedly. When we were at her house, her stuff was right there, just like it had always been. Every object held a memory, a moment of my time with her. Logistically, the poems Can't Be All That Bad and Bad Beef Stew. I gagged so much.


Who do you think was his biggest supporter and why?
While Uncle Frankie, Hakeem, and Nick had his back from day one, I say Grandmum. She had dealt with AND THEN, BOOMS. Her love and Joe learning from her really got Joe through everything.


Why do you think some young people can show such resilience, strength, and courage during difficult life situations; sometimes even more than the adults in their lives?
Because they have to. Kids who deal with poverty, neglect, abandonment, and all kinds of hunger never choose that path. It becomes a way of life. It's all they've ever known. The not-normal is their normal.


What do you think Joe is doing at the present time?
Continually adjusting to life in a safe space as he works through therapy to undo all the damage and wrong thinking about himself and the world that the AND THEN, BOOMS! caused. And always remembering Grandmum. 


SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)













SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)







SEASON #SEVEN (Fall 2019)




















SEASON #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

Interview #121 with Melissa Savage (Author of Nessie Quest)

Interview #122 with Tamara Bundy (Author of Pixie Pushes On)

Interview #123 with Lindsay Lackey (Author of All the Impossible Things)

Interview #124 with Tae Keller (Author of When You Trap a Tiger)

Interview #125 with Jamie Sumner (Author of Roll With It)

Interview #126 with Hena Khan (Author of More to the Story)

Interview #127 with Phil Bildner (Author of A High-Five for Glenn Burke)

Interview #128 with Leslie Connor (Author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs)

Interview#129 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Queen Bee and Me)

Interview #130 with Jody J. Little (Author of Worse Than Weird)

Interview #131 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Things You Can't Say)

Interview #132 with Kaela Noel (Author of Coo)

Interview #133 with Rebecca Stead (Author of The List of Things That Will Not Change)

Interview #134 with Gae Polisner (Author of Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me)

Interview #135 with Emily Blejwas (Author of Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened)

Interview #136 with Joy McCullough (Author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost)

Interview #137 with Kim Baker (Author of the Water Bears)

Interview #138 with Erin Entrada Kelly (Author of We Dream of Space)

Interview #139 with Jess Redman (Author of Quintessence)

Interview #140 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Every Missing Piece)

Interview #141 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Brave Like That)




SEASON #NINE (Fall 2020)














SEASON #TEN (Winter/Spring 2021)

Interview #158 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The In-Between)

Interview #159 with John David Anderson (Author of One Last Shot) 

Interview #160 with Tracy Holczer (Author of Brave in the Woods)

Interview #161 with James Bird (Author of The Brave) 

Interview #162 with Marcella Pixley (Author of Trowbridge Road)

Interview #163 with Barbara O'Connor (Author of Halfway to Harmony)

Interview #164 with Alan Gratz (Author of Ground Zero) 

Interview #165 with Lisa Fipps (Author of Starfish)

Interview #166 with Ann Braden (Author of Flight of the Puffin)

Interview #167 with Kimberly Willis Holt (Author of The Ambassador of NoWhere Texas) 

Interview #168 with Elana K. Arnold (Author of The House That Wasn't There) 

Interview #169 with Erin Soderberg (Author of The Great Peach Experiment)

Interview #170 with Donna Gephart (Author of Abby, Tried, and True)

Interview #171 with M. Evan Wolkenstein (Author of Turtle Boy)

Interview #172 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of Bea is for Blended)

Interview #173 with Jess Redman (Author of The Adventure is Now)

Interview #174 with David Levithan (Author of The Mysterious Disappearance of Aiden)

Interview #175 with Chris Grabenstein (Author of The Smartest Kid in the Universe)

Interview #176 with Ali Standish (Author of The Mending Summer)

Interview #177 with Holly Goldberg Sloan (Author of The Elephant in the Room)

Interview #178 with Jeff Zentner (Author of In the Wild Light)


SEASON #ELEVEN (Fall/Winter 2021)

Interview #179 with Katherine Applegate (Author of Willow) 

Interview #180 with Padma Venkatraman (Author of Born Behind Bars)

Interview #181 with R.J. Palacio (Author of Pony)

Interview #182 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Too Bright to See)

Interview #183 with Barbara Dee (Author of Violets are Blue)

Interview #184 with Anne Ursu (Author of The Troubled Girls of Dragonmir Academy) 

Interview #185 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of We Could Be Heroes)

Interview #186 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Shape of Thunder)

Interview #187 with Joseph Bruchac (Author of Rez Dogs)

Interview #188 with Kathryn Erskine (Author of Lily's Promise)

Interview #189 with Elly Swartz (Author of Dear Student)

Interview #190 with Heather Clark (Author of Lemon Drop Falls)

Interview #191 with Veera Hiranandani (Author of How to Find What You're Not Looking For)

Interview #192 with Elizabeth Eulberg (Author of The Best Worst Summer)

Interview #193 with Cathy Carr (Author of 365 Days to Alaska)

Interview #194 with Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard (Authors of REAL)

Interview #195 with Gillian McDunn (Author of These Lucky Stars)

Interview #196 with Alyssa Colman (Author of The Gilded Girl) 

Interview #197 with E.L. Chen (Author of The Comeback)

Interview #198 with J.M.M. Nuanez (Author of Birdie and Me) 


SEASON #TWELVE (Winter/Spring 2022)

Interview #199 with Jamie Sumner (Author of One Kid's Trash)

Interview #200 with Chad Lucas (Author of Thanks a Lot, Universe) 

Interview #201 with Jenn Bishop (Author of Where We Used to Roam)

Interview #202 with Rebecca Caprara (Author of Worst-Case Collin) 

Interview #203 with Leslie Connor (Author of Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?)

Interview #204 with Caroline Gertler (Author of Many Points of Me)

Interview #205 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of Susie B. Won't Back Down) 

Interview #206 with Shawn Peters (Author of The Unforgettable Logan Foster)

Interview #207 with Aisha Saeed (Author of Omar Rising)

Interview #208 with Adrianna Cuevas (Author of Cuba in my Pocket)

Interview #209 with Jennifer Swender (Author of Stuck)

Interview #210 with Brenda Woods (Author of When Winter Robeson Came)

Interview #211 with Danya Lorentz (Author of the Book Of a Feather)

Interview #212 with Saadia Faruqi (Author of Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero)

Interview #213 with Ellen Hopkins (Author of What About Will) 


SEASON #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)

Interview #214 with Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner (Authors of What About the Octopus)

Interview #215 with Lauren Wolk (Author of My Own Lightning)

Interview #216 with Rebekah Lowell (Author of the Road to After)

Interview #217 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Honestly Elliott) 

Interview #218 with Dan Gemeinhart (Author of The Midnight Children)

Interview #219 with Melanie Conklin (Author of A Perfect Mistake) 

Interview #220 with Kyle Lukoff (Author of Different Kinds of Fruit)

Interview #221 with Tracy Edward Wymer (Author of The Great and Mighty Benjamin Teller)

Interview #222 with Louise Hawes (Author of Big Rig)

Interview #223 with Paul Acampora (Author of In Honor of Broken Things)

Interview #224 with Shannon Doleski (Author of Gabe in the After)

Interview #225 with Jennifer Ziegler (Author of Worser)

Interview #226 with Natalie Lloyd (Author of Hummingbird)


SEASON #FOURTEEN (Fall 2022)

Interview #227 with Celia C. Perez (Author of Tumble

Interview #228 with Greg Howard (Author of The Visitors)

Interview #229 with Rob Buyea (Author of The Daredevils)

Interview #230 with Sashi Kaufman (Author of Sardines)

Interview #231 with Lindsey Stoddard (Author of The Real Deal)

Interview #232 with Margaret Finnegan (Author of New Kids and Underdogs)

Interterview #233 with Amanda Rawson Hill (Author of The Hope of Elephants)

Interview #234 with Jasmine Warga (Author of A Rover's Story)


SEASON #FIFTEEN (Winter/Spring 2023)

Interview #235 with Varsha Bajaj (Author of Thirst)

Interview #236 with Torrey Maldonado (Author of Hands)

Interview #237 with C.C. Harrington (Author of Wildoak)

Interview #238 with Margi Preus (Author of Windswept)

Interview #239 with Dayna Lorentz (Author of Wayward Creatures)

Interview #240 with Katrina Nannestad (Author of We are Wolves)

Interview #241 with Anika Fajardo (Author of Meet Me Halfway)

Interview #242 with Chrystal D. Giles (Author of Not an Easy Win)

Interview #243 with Gregory Maquire (Author of Cress, Watercress)

Interview #244 with Will Taylor (Author of The Language of Seabirds)

Interview #245 with Gillian McDunn (Author of When Sea Becomes Sky)

Interview #246 with Ann Braden (Author of Opinions and Opossums)

Interview #247 with Jarrett Lerner (Author of A Work in Progress)

Interview #248 with John David Anderson (Author of The Greatest Kid in the Universe)

Interview #249 with Aubrey Hartman (Author of The Lion and Lark-Hayes Manor)

 

Interview #250 with Sally J. Pla (Author of The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn)

Interview #251 with Chris Baron (Author of The Gray)

Interview #252 with Dusti Bowling (Author of DUST)


SEASON #SIXTEEN (Fall 2023)

Interview #253 with Sarah Everett (Author of The Probability of Everything)

Interview #254 with Andrea Beatriz Arango (Author of Something Like Home)

Interview #255 with H.M. Bouwman (Author of Gossamer Summer)

Interview #256 with Kaija Langley (Author of The Order of Things) 

Interview #257 with Elaine Vickers (Author of Half Moon Summer)

Interview #258 with John Gaspard (Author of The Curious Mysteries of Eli Marks)

Interview #259 with Dana Kramaroff (Author of The Do More Club)

Interview #260 with Jessica Vitalis (Author of Coyote Queen)

Interview #261 with Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko (Authors of Dog Town)


SEASON #SEVENTEEN (Winter/Spring 2024)

Interview #262 with Chad Morris and Shelly Brown (Authors of The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry) 

Interview #263 with Anne Ursu (Author of Not Quite a Ghost)

Interview #264 with Erin Soderberg Downing (Author of Just Keep Walking)

Interview #265 With Kate Albus (Author of Nothing Else But Miracles)

Interview #266 with Robin Gow (Author of Dear Mothman)

Interview #267 with Toni Buzzeo (Author of Light Comes to Shadow Mountain) 

Interview #268 with John Schu (Author of Louder Than Hunger)

Interview #269 with Allie Millington (Author of Olivetti)

Interview #270 with Amanda Rawson Hill (Author of Once Upon a Family)

Interview #271 with Lynne Kelly (Author of The Secret Language of Birds)

Interview #272 with Lisa Yee (Author of The Misfits)