Mrs. D’s Reads

This summer is flying, but fortunately, I am finding lots of time to read (although the Tour de France is taking some of my reading time right now. I can’t help it. I’m hooked!)

What have I read so far…

Weedflower
by Cynthia Kodohata
Grades 4-8

I loved Kira Kira, which won the Newbery a couple of years ago. This is a wonderful novel of a Japanese-American family right around the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It traces their journey from a thriving flower farm in California through the different camps and relocations the government forced on them. Powerful and touching.

Becoming Naomi Leon
by Pam Munoz Ryan
Grades 5-8

I have heard about this book forever, but never got around to reading it. It is a really wonderful story about a girl being raised by her grandmother. But when her unreliable mother returns after several years and tries to claim her, everyone has to band together to figure out how they can keep their family together. A great study in what really makes a family, and how to survive when the people you should be able to count on don’t come through.

Death Collector
by Justin Richards
Grades5-8

A fun and creepy mystery set in Victorian England. This was a time when scientific study was exploding and technology was ont he rise, and Richards uses those elements to create an exciting adventure with a surprising resolution.

Whale Talk
by Chris Crutcher
Grades 9 and up

Crutcher is famous for his controversial material, but I find his books more realistic and authentic than almost any other young adult writer I have read. This is an intensely moving story of family, racism, and abuse. It is, I think, an important book, but not for those looking for a lighthearted read. Of local interest, Whale talk is set near Spokane and even includes scenes at Hoopfest.

Lollipop Shoes
by Joanne Harris
Grades 9-adult

Harris is one of my favorite storytellers, and this sequel to her novel Chocolat really delivers. Set four years after the events of the first novel, Vianne and her children find themselves in Paris trying to live a “normal” life. But Harris’ bent for magical realism brings the magic back into their lives, with almost disastrous results.

Leonardo’s Swans
by Karen Essex
Adult

This was a fascinating historical novel about the women who were behind the powerful men who ruled the Italian city states during the Renaissance. This is an extremely accurate novel in terms of the history, and I think Essex’s speculation about the feelings and actions of these women is very believeable. A fun read for anyone interested in the Renaissance.

Austenland
by Shannon Hale
Grades 10-Adult

If you are a Jane Austen fan, or even just a fan of the BBC Pride and Predjudice mini-series, you will love this book. It is full of inside jokes and characters, and a witty dedication to Colin Firth. This is the same Shannon Hale who wrote Princess Academy among other middle reader fiction. Here is a link to her website, which has additional information about her obsession with P&P. http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_austen.html