Kid Konnection: Gingersnap

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a very sweet middle grade book by a two-time Newbery Honor-winning author.

Summary: It's 1944, W.W. II is raging. Jayna's big brother Rob is her only family. When Rob is called to duty on a destroyer, Jayna is left in their small town in upstate New York with their cranky landlady. But right before he leaves, Rob tells Jayna a secret: they may have a grandmother in Brooklyn. Rob found a little blue recipe book with her name and an address for a bakery. When Jayna learns that Rob is missing in action, she's devastated. Along with her turtle Theresa, the recipe book, and an encouraging, ghostly voice as her guide, Jayna sets out for Brooklyn in hopes of finding the family she so desperately needs. -- Wendy Lamb Books

When I received a copy of GINGERSNAP by Patricia Reilly Giff in the mail, I was immediately drawn to the cover. This picture of the young girl walking by the row houses gave me the impression that this book took place in the past, and I found myself scrambling to learn more about the story. Turns out that GINGERSNAP is a historical fiction middle grade novel. It takes place during the last year of World War II and tells the story of an orphaned young girl named Jayna whose brother is called to serve on a destroyer in the Pacific.
 

The fears surrounding the war are a constant force in the novel; however, most of the story is really Jayna's. Right before her brother leaves, he reveals that they might have a grandmother who lives in Brooklyn. When Jayna learns that her brother is missing in action, she goes looking for a recipe book that he had mentioned in hopes of learning more about her grandmother. She discovers that the book is full of French recipes, but it also mentions her nickname and a bakery address in Brooklyn. Feeling that she has nothing to lose, Jayna ventures out on her own to Brooklyn to locate her grandmother.

Despite some mishaps along the way, Jayna is able to locate the bakery; however, she learns that things aren't always what they seem. More importantly, she realizes some very important lessons about love, friendship, and family.

I thought GINGERSNAP was a delightful middle grade book. Jayna was truly sweet and I loved her courage and determination. As a mother, my heart went out to her not only for losing her parents, but then losing her brother too. She was forced to live with a virtual stranger (who was a bit different) and she didn't seem to have a lot of friends besides her pet turtle. I especially liked that Jayna was such a master soup chef. The author even included a variety of Jayna's soup recipes with her personal notes!

 

I also loved how the author incorporated so much World War II history in this story. As someone who enjoys getting my history lessons from novels, I love that there are quality books out there for kids who feel the same way! In addition to all of the information about the war in the Pacific, I appreciated how the author brought 1940s Brooklyn to life. I loved the descriptions of the streets, the people, and the shops, and I especially liked the details about the bakery -- how they had to make due without butter and eggs.

One element of the story that I was a bit surprised that I liked as much as I did had to do with a ghost. I'm not usually one for supernatural elements thrown into a story, but I think in the case of GINGERSNAP, this ghostly voice really worked. I have my own ideas about this "presence," but I'd be very curious to talk to some late elementary age children to get their impressions.

 

GINGERSNAP actually would be a wonderful book for mother/daughter book clubs or even classroom discussions. The book does introduce some important aspects of our history, but it also has some wonderful lessons. Some of the themes you might want to further explore include war, love, family, sacrifice, respect, longing, and hope.

 

In conclusion, I adored GINGERSNAP for many reasons, but especially for the messages that the novel conveyed. 

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too! 

Review: This Cake Is for the Party

Summary: Shortlisted for the acclaimed 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award, and the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize Best First Book Award, This Cake Is for the Party has received consistent rave reviews praising debut writer Sarah Selecky.  

In these ten stories, linked frequently by the sharing of food, Sarah Selecky reaffirms the life of everyday situations with startling significance. For upmarket women’s fiction readers that love stories which reflect the joys and pitfalls of marriage, fidelity, fertility, and relationship woes, this collection is a conversation starter. This Cake Is for the Party reminds us that the best parts of our lives are often the least flashy. Reminiscent of early Margaret Atwood, with echoes of Lisa Moore and Ali Smith, these absorbing stories are about love and longing, that touch us in a myriad of subtle and affecting ways.

With more than 10,000 copies sold in Canada, where she was named the CBC Book Award's Best New Writer, Sarah Selecky proves she is an exciting new voice with a promising future. -- Thomas Dunne Books
 
In the past, I would preface this review for THIS CAKE IS FOR THE PARTY by Sarah Selecky by saying that I don't enjoy short stories. However over the past few years (and after adoring OLIVE KITTERIDGE), I've come to realize that I do appreciate some short story collections. THIS CAKE IS FOR THE PARTY is one of them. I thought this literary book about the ups and downs of everyday life was extremely well-written.

It's hard for me to summarize THIS CAKE IS FOR THE PARTY. It is a collection of ten stories, many of which have a common theme of food (although I think it's misleading to think this is a foodie novel.) Rather, this book deals with some of the complex issues of early adult life including marriage, adultery, friendship, and parenting. Many of the stories have a common thread of longing, surprise, and even disappointment.

What I can definitely say about this collection is that the characters and their actions are extremely real and many of these stories will resonate with readers. I think that's a huge testament to the author, Ms. Selecky. Her prose is gorgeous and her descriptions are so precise. I found the actual writing in this book to be even more interesting that the stories themselves. (Not that the stories and the characters weren't interesting, but the writing is exquisite!)

As is the case any time I read a collection of short stories, there are some that work better for me than others. I can honestly say that all of the stories were quite good, but the last story called One Thousand Wax Buddhas really impressed me. It is the story of a woman named Robin who basically sees the world through a different lens than the rest of us. It is apparent from the beginning that this story will not end happily -- there is a great deal of foreshadowing. What I enjoyed was how the tension in the story built and how the story was paced. It was extremely well executed.

THIS CAKE IS FOR THE PARTY would make a fantastic book club selection for groups who enjoy literary fiction or short stories. The characters and their actions are thought-provoking and most people will find a lot to discuss. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a readers guide, but I'm fairly confident that most clubs will find plenty to talk about on their own.

Overall, I enjoyed THIS CAKE IS FOR THE PARTY. It's a beautifully written collection of short stories that is sure to resonate with readers because of the realism of the characters.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

Review: Me Before You

Summary: They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart? -- Pamela Dorman Books

It's rare that you'll find me reading a love story, but I made an exception for ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes. First of all, it's a Pamela Dorman Book -- enough said. Second, this novel was a big-time word-of-mouth success in the UK so I figured it must be pretty good, right? And finally, I had read another book by Ms. Moyes called THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER, and I really liked it (my review.) I figured, if nothing else, I could handle a love story right around the holidays.

Overall, I have to say that I really enjoyed ME BEFORE YOU - maybe even loved it a little bit. And if I'm being entirely honest, that surprised me since it is pretty much a love story. However, ME BEFORE YOU is anything but a traditional, sappy, love story. Rather, it's a beautiful story about two unlikely people who fall in love with each other despite a very difficult situation. It's smart and witty, yet also extremely touching -- don't even ask me how many times I cried; and the ending was entirely unexpected, but perfect!

ME BEFORE YOU tells the story of Louisa and Will. Louisa is a young girl who hasn't experienced much beyond the limits of her small village. She still lives with her parents, her sister, and her nephew in a small house, and Louisa is forced to live in a very small bedroom -- not much larger than a closet. Without many options, Louisa takes a job as Will's caretaker.

A few years back, Will had a wonderful life. He had success in his career and his relationships, and he loved taking risks. Unfortunately, he was in a horrible accident that took away the use of his arms and his legs. Needless to say, Will was miserable and not sure that he wanted to life out the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

So when Louisa enters the picture as Will's companion, Will is less than thrilled. He's bitter, sarcastic, and even mean to Louisa; however, she doesn't take his crap. She considers leaving, but then realizes that she has feelings towards Will that might not be exactly appropriate for a caretaker. When Louisa realizes that Will has his own ideas about his future, she decides that she can prove to Will that he still can have a fulfilling life... despite having to experience it as a paralyzed man.

ME BEFORE YOU is a beautiful story about the true meaning of love. At the surface, Louisa and Will's story proved that opposites do attract. However, it also showed the sacrifices that people are willing to make for those they love. In many ways, this novel broke my heart, yet it also demonstrated the magic of love and how it can bring the best out in people.

While I did love the story and the characters, there were some other really good things about ME BEFORE YOU. First and foremost, I appreciated Ms. Moyes' writing. This is the second book by her that has blown me away, and I've found that she's a wonderful storyteller. I also loved the pace of the novel -- from the introduction of the characters, to the building of their relationship, to the ending; and I didn't want the story to end. Furthermore, I liked how she explored life in a small village as well as the differences in the class structure of the characters. And I even thought the portrayal of family life was very honest.

I normally wouldn't recommend a love story as a fantastic book club selection, but as I mentioned before, ME BEFORE YOU isn't a typical love story. Because this novel was so smart and did such a wonderful job of exploring all types of loving relationships, I think it would be a perfect book club pick. There is a reading guide available with twelve intriguing questions. Some of the topics you might want to explore include family dynamics, love, sacrifice, sibling relationships, secrets, second chances, and even a few ethical dilemmas. There is also a great book club kit here.

I adored ME BEFORE YOU and I highly recommend it to fans of women's fiction!

I received a copy of ME BEFORE YOU at the 2012 BEA.

Giveaway: Come In and Cover Me

Summary: When Ren was twelve years old, she lost her older brother to a car accident. For twenty-five years he’s been a presence in her life, appearing with a song or a reflection in the moonlight. Her connection to the ghosts around her has made her especially sensitive as an archaeologist, understanding the bare outline of our ancestors, recreating lives and stories, and breathing life into those who occupied this world long before us. On the cusp of the most important find of her career, it is the ghosts who are guiding her way. But what they have to tell Ren about herself, and her developing relationship with the first man to really know her since her brother’s death, is unexpected—a discovery about the relationship between the past and the future, and the importance of living in the moment. -- Riverhead

Last January, I reviewed a very interesting novel called COME IN AND COVER ME by Gin Phillips. I am not usually a big fan of ghost stories, but I found the description of this book to be so unique that I decided to pick it up. I'm not sure that I fell in love with the story or all of the characters, but overall, this novel was extremely well written and sure to impress many readers. You can read more about my opinion here.

Thanks to the publisher, I have a copy of the newly released paperback of COME IN AND COVER ME to share with one lucky reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before Tuesday, January 15th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2013 is the best year yet for you and your loved ones!

Reading Highlights of 2012 - Part 2

Yesterday, I featured some of my favorite books of the year for audio, mystery, and YA/MG/Kids. I'm back today with my favorite novels of the year. Of course, I'm worried that I've left off some fantastic reads, but I decided to stop with "just" thirteen. In all reality, I probably could come up with at least five more!

So without further ado, here are some of my reading highlights of 2012 (in no particular order):

Best Novels

• THE MIDDLESTEINS by Jami Attenberg - Review
• BEAUTIFUL RUINS by  Jess Walter - Review
• IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN by Vaddey Ratner- Review
• THE UNFINISHED WORK OF ELIZABETH D. by Nichole Bernier - Review
• THE BAKER'S DAUGHTER by Sarah McCoy - Review
• THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman - Review
• THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU by Jonathan Tropper - Review
• WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple - Review
• CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham - Review
• THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty - Review
• A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY by Joshilyn Jackson - Review
• A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME by Wiley Cash - Review
• THE YELLOW BIRDS by Kevin Powers - Review

I'm almost certain I've forgotten some really great books in 2012, so please chime in with some of your favorite reads!

Reading Highlights from 2012 - Part 1

One of the things that I most enjoy about the end of the year is reading everyone's "Best of ..." lists. I devour People Magazine's and Entertainment Weekly's lists, and I read as many book bloggers' posts as possible. However, I have never written one of my own... until now!

I have always been reluctant to write a "Best of Books" list because I find it so difficult to just narrow down my year in reading to just a few favorite books. I also fear that I will leave out one or two fantastic books, and I also wonder if my list would change if I did it a few days or weeks from now.

Anyway, here's my "Reading Highlights from 2012" for Best Audio Books, Best Mystery Books, and Best YA/MG/Kids Books (in no particular order):

Best Audio Books

• THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller - Review
• THE RACKETEER by John Grisham - Review
• THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB by Will Schwalbe - Review
• MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE by Annabel Pitcher - Review
• WHY WE BROKE UP written by Daniel Handler and artwork by Maira Kalman - Review

Best Mystery Books

• GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn - Review
• THE BLACK BOX by Michael Connelly - Review
• THE ART FORGER by B.A. Shapiro - Review
• BROKEN HARBOR by Tana French  - Review
• THE GODS OF GOTHAM by Lindsay Faye - Review

Best YA/MG/Kids Books

• ASK THE PASSENGERS by A.S. King - Review
• WONDER by R.J. Palacio - Review
• ENDANGERED by Eliot Schrefer - Review
• I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga - Review
• MAY B by Caroline Starr Rose - Review
• BON APPETIT!: THE DELICIOUS LIFE OF JULIA CHILD by Jessie Hartland - Review
• ROCKET WRITES A STORY by Tad Hills - Review
• ARLO NEEDS GLASSES by Barney Saltzberg - Review
• ANNIE AND HELEN by Deborah Hopkinson - Review

Make sure you stop by tomorrow for Part 2 of my Reading Highlights from 2012. I will be featuring my favorite novels!