Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen

Book Summary

Rachel Berman and Len Bean are two single parents who develop a relationship after meeting by the side of the road one day. Rachel is an overprotective mother of her two teenaged children. Len is navigating the difficult waters of parenting his daughter, Olivia, who has a nonverbal learning disability. The relationship slowly strengthens, despite the deep, dark secrets that surround them.

My Review

It is clear to see why this book was a best seller in the "Globe and Mail" newspaper. Inside Out Girl is an easy page turner. Readers can sympathise with Rachel's attempts to be the perfect parent. Olivia is a real, realistic heroine, and Tish Cohen did a wonderful job of developing her character. While the subplot involving Rachel's daughter was weak, the conclusion is optimistic and well planned.

Princess Pigtoria and the Pea by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Summary
Princess Pigtoria visits Prince Proudfoot to decide if they should marry. But, after the Princess orders a pizza party…


My Review
A positively perfect new picture book! It playfully updates the classic story. The plot twist will please preschoolers! A fun opportunity to practice “p” words and expand vocabulary.


My Notes
I recently taught programs for preschoolers about farms and farm animals. I highly recommend this book to read aloud, and to make a construction paper pig with the story.


Need to pair this with another good book? Try Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin.

Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Book Summary

Thirteen year old amateur lawyer Theodore Boone has unwittingly become wrapped up in his town's largest murder trial.

My Review

In Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer, John Grisham has written a mystery/suspense novel that is neither mysterious nor suspenseful. Grisham passes by many chances to introduce action to the novel, and there is no mystery. The law information that Grisham introduces to readers slows down the pace of the plot. 

Devoted young mystery readers should seek out other authors and novels, including:

Richard Scrimger's "From Charlie's Point of View" and
Brian Doyle's "Angel Square"

Young mystery readers will also enjoy Graeme Base's illustrated books: "The Eleventh Hour" and "Enigma"

The Real Grey's Anatomy by Andrew Holtz

My Summary and Review

This book is for anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of surgical interns. Grey's Anatomy fans will like the many references to the show that are peppered throughout the book. The book's comparison between the show and real-life will really raise your eyebrows. Find out how surgical interns and residents balance work with relationships during their hospital residency.

My Notes

Though I am not a dedicated Grey's watcher, this book had even me hooked with all of its facts (and the real challenges that surgeons have to go through in order to gain their full license). I am looking forward to finding Holtz's book on the science behind the early episodes of House, M.D.

The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Book Summary

Geraldine is a very fairy princess, from her royal pink dress to her scabby knees. Another hit from the authors of the Dumpy the Dumptruck series.

My Review

This simple story is engaging for all young princesses. The ink-and-colour pencil illustrations are lively and FUNNY.

My Notes

A four year old recently asked me for help with finding princess books that she could read "all by her very self." If I had only had this on hand...

E-Readers, Kindles and Tablets, Oh My!

What current book blog does not have at least one posting on the new digital reading devices, including the E-Reader, the Kobo and the Kindle??

As I see it, there are different considerations to be made when purchasing an e-book device.

Advantages

1) It reduces the amount of weight and space in your purse that a book would take. I originally thought that these would be unpleasant and eye-straining, but after using an E-reader once, I saw an immediate difference between the device and a computer screen. The device can also hold multiple books at a time.

2) It is very convenient -- with a few clicks and whirrs from the mouse and your computer, the book is right at your fingertips.

3) It can be considered accessible by multiple user groups, including individuals with vision impairments.

Disadvantages

Asides from the cost of the device, I see that there is one disadvantage to the e-reader. The differences between e-book devices means that not all devices can support all e-books (i.e. a Kindle cannot download/store books of the same file type as a Sony E-Reader). 

 At this moment, I enjoy reading novels that are paperbacks or hardcovers. But I also enjoy the convenience of downloading books to my mp3 player and to my computer. I see that, in time, e-reading devices will join these as an equally valuable way to read and learn.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Book Information

Erskine, Kathryn. Mockingbird. New York: Philomel Books, 2010.

Book Summary

Caitlin loves reading and drawing. In Caitlin's opinion, books and pencil sketches are black-and-white, clear, and easy to understand. Especially when you compare them with the challenges of making and keeping friends at school.

After her brother dies, Caitlin's world changes. She looks up the word "closure" in a dictionary, and decides that she should find it for her and her father. But since she is only ten, and she has Asperger's, finding closure is not easy. Her search takes many funny missteps that add colour to her world, transforming her from outsider to friend and "big sister".

My Review

Mockingbird is a children's novel that works well on many levels. First, the author's writing style is clear and funny throughout the book. Erskine tackles difficult issues using simple vocabulary and short sentences. She plays with words, exploring their different meanings, and capitalizes some of them for special emphasis. For example, when Caitlin is confused, she often doesn't "Get It".

The title of the book comes from the movie To Kill a Mockingbird, which Caitlin discusses many times. Caitlin's brother is the obvious "mockingbird", as he was young and innocent at the time of his death. Caitlin is a less obvious "mockingbird", since she loses some of her innocence, and matures into a more outgoing girl.