Review: With a Name Like Love

Summary: When Ollie’s daddy, the Reverend Everlasting Love, pulls their travel trailer into Binder to lead a three-day revival, Ollie knows that this town will be like all the others they visit— it is exactly the kind of nothing Ollie has come to expect. But on their first day in town, Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy insists that his mother is innocent, and Ollie believes him. Still, even if Ollie convinces her daddy to stay in town, how can two kids free a grown woman who has signed a confession?  Ollie’s longing for a friend and her daddy’s penchant for searching out lost souls prove to be a formidable force in this tiny town where everyone seems bent on judging and jailing without a trial. -- FSG

This isn't a typical Mystery Monday post. In fact, the book I'm about to review usually would appear as part of my Saturday Kid Konnection post because it's a middle grade novel. However, I chose to feature it today because the story actually contains a bit of a mystery. I thought it might be fun to do something a little different than my usual cozy or thriller, and WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE by Tess Hilmo is certainly a book worth talking about.

WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE tells the story of Ollie, a 13 year old girl whose father, the Reverend Everlasting Love, is a traveling evangelist. Her family is constantly on the move, only staying a few days in each town -- just long enough for a three day revival. Ollie's life with her five sisters is fairly routine until they arrive in Binder where she meets Jimmy Koppel, a boy whose mother in in jail for murdering his father. Ollie is drawn to Jimmy and desperate to stay in town and help him. She asks her father for some assistance in helping Jimmy's mother, and both Ollie and her father work together to convince the entire town that she is innocent of the crime.

I thought WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE was a wonderful middle grade novel. It encompassed so many of the things I look for in a good book -- an intriguing story, well developed characters, and beautiful writing. And it didn't hurt that it was a coming-of-age novel -- you know how I love those types of books. It has already received starred reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Kirkus, so it's obvious that I'm not alone in my praise of this story. WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE is, indeed, a very special book.

Probably the first thing that jumps out to me about WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE is the character of Ollie. She is such a special character and I absolutely loved her! Ollie is at a pretty rough age, thirteen years old, a time when there are so many changes for a girl; and when you add that she is moving every three days, Ollie is definitely feeling out of sorts. She is desperate for some sort of permanence -- a home with running water, a regular school, and most importantly, friends; so when she meets Jimmy, she pleads her case to stay in town a little longer.

I could really relate to Ollie and I think many tween girls will agree. She is sincere and honest and so sweet, but she was also a little bit vulnerable. As a child, I moved a great deal (nothing like Ollie though) and I remember how hard it was to make new friends and fit in at new schools -- and I was only moving every year or two. My heart just broke for Ollie, but I loved that she was such a strong girl who tried to assume the best in people (although it was really hard for her with some of the mean townspeople!) I especially admired her for her sense of responsibility, her courage, and for doing the "right thing."

In addition to Ollie, there were some other fabulous characters in this novel -- like Jimmy! He was another character that broke my heart, and I couldn't believe the pain and abuse that he experience as a young child. I also adored Ollie's parents, especially her father, who felt as if he had a calling to save lost souls. His faith and love were quite inspiring. And I can't forget the older woman who took in Ollie's family, Mrs. Mahoney. She was another person who had experienced some loss in her life but still managed to be a kind and non-judgmental person.

As a mother, I loved so many of the themes in this novel. It was a heartwarming story about some very special (and strong) individuals. Maybe it's because of everything that's happened concerning Penn State in the past week, but WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE really resonated with me. This novel showed the importance of doing the right thing and the power an individual can have. It is a message that I feel needs to be stressed over and over again to our young people.

And because I am reviewing this book as part of my Mystery Monday feature, I should probably mention the mystery angle of the novel. It is fairly obvious to anyone reading this novel that Jimmy's mother is definitely not the murderer that the town has painted her to be. Ollie initially suspects that Jimmy has murdered his father; however, when he denies it to her, she is forced to reconsider. Through some wonderful insights and intuition, Ollie begins to realize who the murderer is; and she uses some creative tricks to prove her case. The resolution of the mystery isn't exactly shocking, but it is still interesting and satisfying.

WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE would make an excellent pick for a mother/daughter book club. There is a reading guide available which delves more deeply into many of the topics I've already mentioned. There are some before and after activities as well as discussion questions, activities, and a dialectical journal. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include families, faith, courage, home, responsibility, friendship, and truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed WITH A NAME LIKE LOVE and I highly recommend it to tween and adults alike.

Thanks to Blue Slip Media for sending a copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Big Giveaway: 2011 Fall Toon Books

Last Saturday, I reviewed two fantastic early reader graphic novel from Toon Books -- NINA IN THAT MAKES ME MAD! and BENJAMIN BEAR IN FUZZY THINKING. Booking Son and I are HUGE fans of this entire series, and these two books were especially cute.

Summary: What makes Nina mad? Lots of things—lots of little, everyday things, frustrations that all children will recognize. But Nina knows how to speak her mind and that makes her feel much better.

In a series of humorous vignettes, Hilary Knight, the artist who brought the enormously successful Eloise to life, applies his magic to a text by veteran children's book writer Steven Kroll, and brings to life a spunky character who will show young readers how to articulate their feelings. -- Toon Books

Summary: BENJAMIN BEAR DOES EVERYTHING IN HIS OWN FUNNY WAY, whether it's drying dishes on a rabbit’s back or sharing his sweater without taking it off.

In this series of gags starring a very loopy bear, Philippe Coudray creates a zany world that makes kids think and solve puzzles, drawing all readers into the game. -- Toon Books

Thanks to the fine folks at Toon Books, I am giving away two sets of NINA: THAT MAKES ME MAD! and BENJAMIN BEAR IN FUZZY THINKING. To enter, just fill out the form below before Saturday, November 26th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Kid Konnection: Blowin' in the Wind

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 special picture book that Booking Son and I enjoyed this past week.

Summary: With words by one of the most admired songwriters of all time and illustrations by a Caldecott Honor medalist, this powerful and timely picture book will be treasured by adults and children alike.

Following the success of Man Gave Names to All the Animals comes a stunning version of Bob Dylan's beloved song: the anthemic “Blowin' in the Wind.” Jon J Muth is the perfect artist to interpret Dylan's poetic lyrics for a new generation of readers.

This beautiful edition includes a CD of Dylan's original 1963 recording, plus a special note by renowned music columnist Greil Marcus, putting the song in historical context. -- Sterling

Do you remember a few months ago when I mentioned a beautiful book called MAN GAVE NAMES TO ALL THE ANIMALS which was based on the song by Bob Dylan? Both Booking Son and I absolutely loved it. So you can imagine how excited we were when we received another book based on a classic Bob Dylan song. This picture book, which also happens to be incredibly gorgeous, is called BLOWIN' IN THE WIND; and the text of the story is based on the lyrics of the timeless Bob Dylan song by the same name.

For anyone who is at all familiar with Bob Dylan, you know how poetic his lyrics are; and BLOWIN' IN THE WIND certainly illustrates this fact. I think it goes without saying that Dylan's words have the potential to work perfectly in a children's book; and I so appreciate that Blowin' in the Wind translates so well. And as much as I do think the lyrics work beautifully as text, I am very, very grateful that this book also includes a CD of Bob Dylan's original 1963 recording! I truly enjoyed sharing both the book and the CD with my son.

I admit that the lyrics and the song hold a special place in my heart, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the beautiful illustrations by the Caldecott Honor Medalist Jon J Muth. I think the illustrations truly make BLOWIN' IN THE WIND a spectacular book. They are absolutely gorgeous and truly the perfect complement to Dylan's poetic lyrics. Each watercolor representation is more wonderful than the next, and I love how well they capture the meaning of the song.

Of course, BLOWIN' IN THE WIND is one book that I will never tire of reading to Booking Son (or should I say having read to me?) After reading hundreds of picture books through the years, I get so excited when I discover one that my children and I both adore. And I think that's exactly what makes BLOWIN' IN THE WIND such a special book. Parents and children alike will look forward to reading it.

I know it's getting close to the holidays and many of you are starting to think about gift ideas. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND is a wonderful book to share with the children in your life, and I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Andrea Burnett Public Relations for sending a copy of this book.

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: Song of the Nile

Summary: Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra's daughter is the one woman with the power to destroy an empire...

Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.

The magic of Isis flowing through her veins is what makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra's daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother's throne be more than she's willing to pay? -- Berkley

Earlier this year, I reviewed  LILY OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray. While I was a bit concerned about whether I would appreciate this novel since I so loved  Michelle Moran's CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER (my review), I was happy to discover that LILY OF THE NILE was terrific. After completing the novel, I was very excited because it was the first book in a trilogy; and I was anxious to see what life had in store for Selene.

So when I received a copy of SONG OF THE NILE, I had pretty high expectations. I thought Ms. Dray brought a very unique perspective to Selene's story and I also appreciated her writing style. In addition, I was blown away by the amount of research she did on not only Selene, but also all things ancient Rome. And while SONG OF THE NILE still encompassed these things, I just wasn't as taken with the story as I was with LILY OF THE NILE. Maybe it's my mood this week (because goodness knows it's been a rough week for us Penn Staters), but it took me almost a third of the book to really get into the story. I just felt as if some of the sections were a bit too detailed and I found myself losing interest here and there. And I did have some issues with my ability to "like" Selene.

However, there were many very good things about this book as I mentioned earlier. I have a great deal of respect for Ms. Dray and her storytelling abilities. There is absolutely no doubt that she's thoroughly researched her story, and she managed to create some very interesting scenarios. While there isn't a huge amount of historical information available on Selene, Ms. Dray did a remarkable job of incorporating the facts and fiction to make a compelling story.

Another extremely compelling aspect to SONG OF THE NILE is the character of Selene. She is definitely her mother's daughter and exhibits many of the same traits that made Cleopatra such a memorable figure. I admit that I did have some difficulties relating to her for much of the novel, but I did have to admire her tenacity about assuming the title as Queen of Egypt. Because this book did cover a few years in her adulthood -- years where she was newly married, shipped to another country, and a mother, Selene did manage to mature a great deal by the end of this novel. While I'm still not certain that I absolutely loved her, I liked the direction her character took and I understood her actions.
 
SONG OF THE NILE would make for an interesting book club discussion, especially if your club enjoys historical fiction. Personally, I'm not so sure it would work for my group because the  story includes some "supernatural" elements and we have a few members that would have a hard time getting past that! However, Selene is a complex and interesting character, and as a result, she definitely could generate a great deal of discussion. In addition, there are some other interesting topics including the symbolism in the novel, the role of women in society, the culture of ancient Rome, different religions, family, love, obligation, duty, and much more. There is a wonderful reading guide in the back of the book --with 30 questions. The questions are even divided into the story and the history, culture, and religion aspects of the novel. It truly is one of the most thorough discussion guides that I've come across. Having said that, I wasn't able to find an on-line link anywhere.

While SONG OF THE NILE didn't exactly live up to my high (any maybe unfair) expectations, I did enjoy the novel. I am looking forward to Ms. Dray's next book in the life of Selena.

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this novel.

My Heart is Breaking

We are… sad.
We are… grieving with the families and the victims.
We are… brokenhearted.
We are… trying to make sense of things.
We are… confused.
We are… over 94,000 students strong.
We are… ranked among the top 15 public universities.
We are… the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.
We are... over 8,500 top-ranked faculty.
We are… hard working student athletes in many sporting events with NO connection to former events.
We are… more than 2 university officials and 2 athletic department members.
We are… more than this scandal.

WE ARE PENN STATE. We have always been more than just a football team.

As a graduate of Penn State University, I can't even begin to express my heartache at what has occurred. I feel sadness, disgust, betrayal, outrage, and so much more. However, despite everything, I am still a Penn Stater. With so much attention being paid to the horrific things that have happened (and rightly so!), I worry that people will forget that Penn State is more -- much more -- than these incidents. There are so many good people out there who are affiliated with this university who "do the right thing" every single day of their lives.

My heart goes out to all of the victims and their families, and I can't even begin to understand the pain that they are feeling. I hope that they find some sense of comfort in knowing that so many people are praying for them.

Review: Aftertaste

Summary: Mira Rinaldi lives life at a rolling boil. Co-owner of Grappa, a chic New York City trattoria, she has an enviable apartment, a brand-new baby, and a frenzied schedule befitting her success. 

Everything changes the night she catches her husband, Jake, “wielding his whisk” with Grappa’s new Mâitress d’. Mira’s fiery response earns her a court-ordered stint in anger management and the beginning of legal and personal predicaments as she battles to save her restaurant and pick up the pieces of her life.

Mira falls back on family and friends in Pittsburgh as she struggles to find a recipe for happiness. But the heat is really on when some surprising developments in New York present her with a high stakes opportunity to win back what she thought she had lost forever. For Mira, cooking isn’t just about delicious flavors and textures, but about the pleasure found in filling others’ needs. And the time has come to decide where her own fulfillment lies—even if the answers are unexpected. 

Aftertaste is a novel about rebuilding and rediscovery, about food passionately prepared and unapologetically savored, and about the singular contentment that comes with living—and loving—with gusto. -- Kensington

I've been in a kind of reading rut these past few weeks. It's not that I don't want to read, and it's definitely not that I don't have a lot of books from which to choose. It's just that I can't seem to find the time to read given my current schedule. Reading has almost become "work" for me. For someone like me, who loves (and needs) to read, it's more than a little disconcerting. But that's for another day and possibly another post...

In an effort to actually try to enjoy reading again, I decided that maybe I needed something a little lighter and more fun. I picked up AFTERTASTE: A NOVEL IN FIVE COURSES by Meredith Mileti with the hopes that it would be an escape book -- something that would help me to relax. AFTERTASTE tells the story of Mira Rinaldi, a new mom who also happens to be the owner and chef of a hot New York City restaurant. When she discovers that her husband is having an affair with their new hostess, Mira basically "loses it!" After an arrest and a round of anger management courses (along with a legal battle for her restaurant), Mira decides to go back home to Pittsburgh and try to pull her life back together. Once she is there, she discovers the importance of family and friends; and she also learns a great deal about herself.

AFTERTASTE was a very fun read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I seem to be drawn to books like this, and AFTERTASTE not only encompassed so many of the things that I appreciate about women's fiction, but it also included loads and loads of food references. For someone like me, who loves descriptions of food, this book was an extra-special treat. I did feel as if I got a little peek inside what it's like to run a popular and busy restaurant, but I most enjoyed the general discussion about all types of Italian foods. I have to warn you though... AFTERTASTE will make you extremely hungry!

Like many books in this genre, AFTERTASTE had a very strong main character in Mira. She was extremely accomplished in her career, but not so much in her personal life. She was definitely battling some demons (the loss of her mother, her relationship with her mother, the adultery of her husband, her feelings toward her husband, the issues with being a new mom, the loss of her restaurant, moving to a new town, and many more!), and she was definitely resentful for much of the novel. Since I had a strong feeling that AFTERTASTE was going to be a heartwarming story, I suspected that Mira would eventually change; however, I have to admit that it took me quite awhile to really like her. She was extremely bitter and angry for much of the book (and who could really blame her?), and as a result, I had a very hard time relating to her.

In addition to Mira, there were some great supporting characters too. I loved Mira's friends and her romantic love interest. However, I probably most loved Mira's father's younger girlfriend Fiona. In fact, I thought Mira's relationship with Fiona pretty much summed up how much Mira grew throughout the novel. When Mira first met Fiona, she blew her off as a sort of bimbo based on how she dressed and her lack of Scrabble skills. But as their relationship grew and Mira saw how much Fiona loved her father and her daughter, Mira started to soften towards her. (And it didn't hurt that Fiona was extremely insightful about people!) It almost seemed that when Mira began to accept that she was wrong about Fiona, she was also able to see herself more clearly. She began to realize what was truly important in her life and made better choices for herself and her daughter.

As someone whose family lived in Pittsburgh for a number of years (I only spent a few summer breaks from college there), I really liked how the author incorporated so much of the city into this story. Ms. Mileti is a native Pittsburgher and she definitely captured the feel of the city. Of course, she did the same thing at the beginning of the novel for New York City and The Village, but I could better relate to her descriptions of the Strip and Primanti Brothers. There aren't too many novel that take place in Pittsburgh and it was just another thing that I appreciated about this story!

AFTERTASTE would make a fantastic choice for book clubs that like to discuss women's fiction. There is a reading guide in the back of the book with ten discussion questions. (I wasn't able to find an on-line link.) Since the book does focus on food, there are also some recipes included for a five course meal -- just like the title. Just think how much fun it would be to create an Italian-themed book club meeting! Some of the topics you might want to discuss include family, adultery, trust, passion, the importance of food, motherhood, friendship, love, and self-discovery.

If you are looking for a little calorie-free comfort food, then I suggest checking out AFTERTASTE.

Thanks to Darlene Chan for providing a copy of this novel.

Review: How to Save a Life

Summary: Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.

Critically acclaimed author and National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a heart-wrenching story, told from dual perspectives, about the many roads that can lead us home. -- Little Brown

I have heard some fantastic things about young adult author Sara Zarr; however, it wasn't until recently that I understood what all of the fuss was about. Just a few days ago, I picked up her latest novel HOW TO SAVE A LIFE and I immediately understood why she is an award winning author. I absolutely loved this story and I couldn't put down this book.

I am definitely not alone in my praise of this novel about two very different, but equally troubled teens. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE has already been given Starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly. In addition, it's a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2011 and an Amazon Best Book for October. So in light of all that wonderful praise, I probably don't need to say much more about this book. However, because this book touched my heart like it did, I thought I'd share some of my more personal feeling about HOW TO SAVE A LIFE.

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE tells the story of Jill and Mindy, two teen girls whose lives are brought together when Jill's mother wants to adopt Mindy's baby. Jill is still trying to recover from her father's death, and as a result, has pushed away all of her friends (and her boyfriend.) Mindy, on the other hand, has her own set of issues. Besides being young and pregnant, she doesn't know who is the father of her baby, and she is running away from a troubled home. You can probably see where this is going, but when the two girls meet, Jill is less than crazy about Mindy and doesn't treat her very well.

As I look back on that last paragraph, it tells the framework of this story in very general terms, but it doesn't begin to touch upon the scope of this novel. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE affected me deeply and touched me like few books do. (And if I'm being entirely honest, I was surprised because it was a young adult novel and I wasn't expecting it to move me like it did. I'm not exactly the target audience for a book like this!) Now maybe it's because I'm a mother, but these two girls got under my skin; and my heart broke for both of them over and over again. In fact, I was reading this novel while waiting to pick up my son at his elementary school and I had tears running down my face -- and it wasn't even the end!

I have to give major kudos to Ms. Zarr for writing HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. First and foremost, it's beautifully written story -- from the prose, to the storyline, and especially to the character development. It was incredibly honest and emotional (and even gut-wrenching), but it was also a book that caused me to think. This novel explored love and relationships on many levels, and it also showed the power to change. I found it to be almost inspirational because I so appreciated how these two girls grew (and healed) as a result of their "friendship."

Another thing that really stood out to me about this novel was how Ms. Zarr chose to tell the story. She alternated chapters between Jill and Mindy, and I have to say that I think it was a perfect way to share both girls' lives. She did an outstanding job of capturing the girls' voices and it allowed me to get to know (and understand) both of them. By actually being able to read their own words, I felt as if I was inside of their minds. I truly understood their thoughts and actions, and I admit that it made Jill much more likable to me. Because Jill was in so much pain, she lashed out at those who cared about her. Had I not been able to get inside of her mind and see her insecurities and anger, I'm not sure I would have appreciated her as much -- and therefore, loved the book like I did!

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE would be a perfect mom/daughter book club selection. Because it does delve into parent/child relationships, there is a lot of room for discussion. In addition, I think these two girls, while each battling her own demons, demonstrate a fair amount of authentic teen feelings. Girls will relate to either Jill or Mindy (or maybe both!) There is a reading guide available which has fifteen fantastic questions. Some of the topics you  might want to explore include love, loss, grief, forgiveness, acceptance, parent/child relationships, friendships, families, sacrifice, and adoption. In addition, I think the title of the book is interesting to analyze as well.

I absolutely loved HOW TO SAVE A LIFE and I can't wait to read more of Ms. Zarr's books. I think I might even have one around here somewhere. Do yourself a favor and read this novel!

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this novel