June & July: Sustain

June went by so fast and then the beginning of July was even faster - so here's two months in one!

Connection:

 June: I went to a Summer Leadership conference for my sorority that I still volunteer for. It was great connecting with old friends and meeting new people! As a bonus, I stayed with a long-time friend to explore Dallas for a few extra days.

July: I volunteered at Camp Kinawind for Packs, Paddles and Saddles which is a camp for Middle School kids. Again, I connected with life-long friends, met new people, connected with nature and God.

Family: We took our annual end-of school year trip to my sister's in Northern Michigan so we got a ton of family time!   

In July my husband and I have found ourselves childless quite a few times leaving us to see what life may hold for us in the next few years.

Faith: 2 Peter, 1 & 2 John, Jude, Revelations and Matthew. I've started asking myself during my devotions time where I've seen God.

Health: Except while I was at camp hiking, canoeing and horseback riding - I've kept up exercising formally every day. I can also tell how much I've loved eating out during July, but I figure there is time to focus on eating healthier home cooked meals as we approach the Fall.

Intellect: Books I read this month

 Book club - 

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I read this book for book club and it really isn't my genre. It was well written, but more suspenseful than I prefer.

Second Chance by Jane Green. Fun read about friends who become reacquainted after another friend dies. They explore how much they have changed - and how much they are the same, since being in school together.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. I actually really liked this book. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but as the book unfolds in layers we find out that Pat has had a head injury which has resulted in memory loss. He befriends/is befriended by Tiffany who has lost her husband and they begin to form a bond. Throughout the book there are themes of family, friendship, trust, happiness and who you can depend on.

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen. This was an enjoyable read! I liked the alternating narratives between 13 year old Stewart and 14 year old Ashley as their lives collide when their families blend together. They both learn about each other and themselves as they navigate through the social stratus as school. This book would work best with older middle school ages since it deals with realistic situations of friendship, who to trust, underage drinking, and bullying. By the end of the book Stewart and Ashley have found their own ways to deal with these issues and find that they are stronger together.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. We just re-read this book 5 years after the original time, what stuck out to me this time was the self-reliance of the children in the book and how they worked together to solve mysteries.
Original review:
Although this book was long it kept mine, and my kid's, attention!
I loved the rich vocabulary of the book and that it was a great mystery without being morbid.
Looking forward to the next one!

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman.
Wow! This book was so good. I received it as a Goodread giveaway and was expecting a heartwarming tale. However, I was immediately drawn in by the rich story line. Not only does Patience describe midwifery but also life in the small town she occupies in 1929 as Wall Street crashes far away and ripples its effects through Appalachia. As Patience thinks back on her life we see it is filled with varied experiences such as union organizing and protesting for workers rights, a dead lover and husband as well as her baby, losses and gains that keep life circling in an unpredictable pattern.

Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo Crucet. This book shows how Lizet straddles two cultures when she attends an elite college in the North after growing up in a low-income Cuban-immigrant neighborhood of Miami. While she learns to navigate a system that everyone else already seems to know, she is concerned for her family back at home as immigration issues rear up when a young boy is rescued from the sea after fleeing Cuba with his mother who died on the journey. Although this book was written to take place in the 1999-2000 school year, so many issues are still pertinent such as support for first generation college students, the inequality of the public school system and the inability of colleges to address that, and, of course, what does asylum mean for immigration and when is it applied?

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart. Re-read, original review: Love this series for my kids (ages 7 & 11). The text is so descriptive I feel like I'm adding to their vocabulary. The characters are realistic and the danger is never downplayed so the children realize that they are extraordinary and have adults who realize this - but also who are concerned for their safety. If I have any compliant, its just that the books are a little on the long side - but my kids would say that means more to love!

Melissa Explains It All: Tales from My Abnormally Normal Life by Melissa Joan Hart. What caught my interest about this book was that the author and I are the same age, so I could remember much of what she was writing about happening. It was interesting to see the differences in our lives as she pursued an acting career. Although I am not convinced that her life was "abnormally normal."

The Beach House by Jane Green. I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, relaxing read and yet The Beach House delves into the life of 3 families that end up becoming involved with each other as they spend parts of the summer together in Nantucket.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. A day in the life of Daniel and Natasha. They start the day off not knowing each other and find that fate conspires so they are thrown together at different curves. One is a first generation child of immigrants, the other is undocumented and being deported. One believes in science, the other in poetry. Do opposites attract? Is there only one person for everyone, as the day continues these two 17 year olds ask themselves these questions and more.

May: Sustain

Connection: My favorite connection this month was attending a friend's wedding. And the festivities before and after!

Family: For Memorial Day weekend it was just me and the kids. On Sunday we met up with the wedding party for lunch and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Afterwards we went to see the movie RGB about Ruth Bader Ginsburg - which was excellent.

My husband and I got in two date nights this month. Once for a sushi dinner and another time that was just browsing for house items while the kids were at youth group.  

Faith: I read 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter.

Health: 34 hours of exercise in a 31 day month! I kept up with weights and am starting to add abs on those days.

Intellect: Books I read this month
Book club - The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison. While this book was a very compelling read, I found it hard to put down, it also was a tough read because it dealt with tough topics. We meet Maya in the middle of an investigation that aims to find out why a man known as the "Gardener" has collected a garden full of missing young girls for his own uses.

The Gender Game by Bella Forrest. I found this book fascinating up until the end. I did feel the last chapter was a little rushed and didn't quite go with the rest of the book, but I'm willing to read the next book in the series to find out!
What happens when society has been separated into two kingdoms - one ruled by males and one by females? Violet has found life hard as an orphan and with little options left has agreed to an espionage mission that will take her from the female ruled Matrus to the male ruled Patrius, where she finds that things are not always as they seem.

 

The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis. I found this book very hard to read because of the topics of slavery and cruelty. Curtis usually mixes a little more humor in his books and I missed that in Little Charlie. I did like learning about the Canadian settlements during the pre-Civil War era and I liked how Charlie grew on his journey.
 

The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski. While the book starts on a morbid premise: Jane is in a car accident with an acquaintance who dies, it turns cute as Jane finds a countdown list and begins to complete it for the near-stranger. Jane works her way through the list of life activities as she finds herself connecting with other in ways she hasn't before and learning to live her life in a way that puts herself out to new experiences.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I spent the first third of the book off-kilter because I knew there was more going on than the author was disclosing. But as the book began to unfold, I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to find out what happened next. As more pieces of the puzzle were placed I could begin to see the complexity of Eleanor.

Still Me by Jojo Moyes. Each book in this series keeps getting better! Older characters grow and change as new ones introduce themselves. This book sees Louisa traveling to the US to work for a wealthy couple. Through a series of events Louisa finds herself unemployed, homeless and single. As she begins to re-invent herself, Louisa finds that she questions who she is and what she wants from life.

Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs. Another interesting read from Gibbs! This adventure had Ben going to ski school with his fellow classmates to try and befriend a girl who's father is suspected to be a criminal. Of course there are plenty of mis-adventures along the way! Perfect for Middle School ages.
 

When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket. I am enjoying this series more on the second time through!

Detroit Books & Cookies

It's been a while since I've posted about Prime Time Family Reading Time, but I just finished a session with the Detroit Public Library. Below you will find the books we read each week and the snacks to go along with them that I made.

The first week we read The Lion and the Mouse and The Jungle Grapevine. I have to admit that after a busy week I didn't make a snack for these books.

However, the next week I was ready! In addition to Peppe the Lamplighter, we read Tar Beach. In the book, the young girl and her brother take a blanket up to their roof and pretend they are at "Tar Beach" so I made a beach blanket sheet cookie. Click for the recipe for sugar cookie bars and frosting.

The third week brought us Click, Clack, Moo and The Bremen-Town Musicians. In honor of the plethora of animals featured, I made haystack cookies which were very well received!  Recipe here.

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub was paired with Horton Hears a Who. I was really excited to make these Bears-In-A-Bubblebath brownies and they were super yummy! I may make these again just for fun since they were so cute!  Recipe here.

In week 5 we read A Chair for My Mother and Fish is Fish. The goldfish snacks were so easy and surprisingly tasty - but how could I have doubted chocolate and salty pretzels? Recipe here.

The last week was a challenge with the Ox-Cart Man and The Great Kapok Tree. Since the Ox-Cart Man brings peppermints home to his family after a trip to sell their homemade goods, I picked a recipe for peppermint shortbread.

April: Sustain

Connection:
For Spring Break my youngest son and I took a trip to Philadelphia and New York City. Not only did we get to connect with each other, but I met up with an old friend from Middle School and we spent more time together than we had in over 20 years!


I started Prime Time Family Reading Time at the Detroit Public Library. I've always loved this program, how it brings families together with books. And in putting my own little twist on it, I love to come up with a dessert to match the books each week.

I went with a friend and her family to see Meadowbrook Hall, a gorgeous 1920's house on the grounds of Oakland University. And also went out with another friend to see Wayne State's theatre production of Sister Act.

And in case that's not enough connection - I did make it to my sorority's alumnae dinner and then went out afterwards with the only other sister who made it who wasn't in her 20's :)

Family:
My younger son and I connected on our Spring Break trip!

I realized last month that my older son and I did not get a chance to do anything on our own, so I purposefully made a date to go out with him for dinner. We had to switch days because of rowing practices and he seemed anxious that we still have time together. Although our dinner wasn't the greatest (Chipotle was out of lettuce!) we did spend good time together and he talked me into taking him shopping for summer clothes.


My husband and I even got in a date night to go out to dinner! And one night snuck out for frozen custard without the kids.

Faith: I read Galations, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and  1 & 2 Thessalonians.

Health: With a week long vacation at the beginning of the month and being sick at the end of the month, I'm pretty happy that I got in 26 hours of exercise and 4 days of walking around big cities! I didn't get in weights as much as I wanted - but I'll tackle that again next month!

Intellect: Books I read this month

Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan. This was a fun read as we follow Ashley through her attempts to become a better parent. It is also raw and true as to all the feelings she goes through on a daily basis. 

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. This was a re-read for me and a first time for the kids.

14 year old Audrey describes her wacky family and how they are all trying to cope, and help her cope, with a bullying event that led to her eventual breakdown and detachment from society. Through the help of a therapist and a new friend, Audrey comes to terms with the ups and downs life brings everyone and how we can all help each other out. Kinsella does a perfect job of describing the families foibles while also endearing each character to the reader. While I enjoyed this book as an adult, this would be perfect for middle-school aged kids, especially as a conversation starter regarding the tough topics Finding Audrey handles. 

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein. When we were getting ready for vacation, Grant wanted to check out some books we had previously read - however I realized that he may not remember some of them because when you are 11, a few years is a long time ago. 
We enjoyed Grabenstein's book, Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library, so much and this book also did not disappoint! Billy is stuck at a cabin with his mom for the summer, but finds that book characters come alive on Dr Libris' Island. I love how the author weaves classic tales and characters into his books that either remind you of great reads - or make you want to discover the books you haven't read yet! The plot had both my kids wanting to know what would happen next. This book is great for late elementary through middle school ages.

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg. This book was really good! Two seemingly unrelated story lines weave together to show us how we are all connected. Amedeo has moved to a new town as he begins to make friends he finds there is a mystery that connects him not only to his Godfather's family, but can be traced back to Nazi Germany.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket. It seems I enjoyed the second reading of this book better than the first! I originally gave it 2 stars, but I must have gotten used to the cadence of the series because I enjoyed picking up things I didn't the first time around.

2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino. I did like that this book was different from what I usually read, more modern. And I enjoyed getting the feel of Philadelphia after visiting there earlier this month. This book took place over a day, weaving in and out and intertwining characters, from 9 year old Madeline to her grade school principal. However I couldn't really relate to any of the characters.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick. I really enjoyed this book! A year after his wife dies, Arthur Pepper finds a charm bracelet of hers that he knew nothing about. Each charm tells a little of his wife's life before she met him and Arthur sets off to discover each story. Along the way he makes new friends and reconnects with his family. 

March: Sustain

Connection:
 I started the month with a great night out at Alpha Epsilon Phi's Silent Auction to benefit Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. I had a great time with old friends, new friends and my husband while supporting a great cause!

I got to volunteer at my son's middle school for career day! It was great connecting with an age group I don't always see a lot of. 

After attending a Shabbat dinner, my friend Beth and I went out to Chartreuse and the Detroit Institute of Arts. I also had a great dinner with my co-worker Christie and got to try a new Mediterranean place!

And of course, another great book club this month!

Family:
We all took a trip to Kalamazoo to see a friend in a concert performance. We all saw A Wrinkle in Time and Ready Player One together which were books we had listened to.

Faith: I read 1 & 2 Corinthians and purposefully prayed each day.

Health: I exercised 37 1/2 hours in a month with 31 days, yea! I did weights at 3 times a week and moved up to 15lbs.


Intellect: Books I read this month
Michelangelo in Ravensbruck: One Woman's War Against the Nazis by Karolina Lanckoronska. This was a really heavy book, so it took me a while to read. But it was also a very interesting account of one woman's experience resisting the Nazis and subsequent imprisonment. Countess Lanckoronska was a University professor in Poland who's social standing and education often gave her preferential treatment once she was imprisoned. One of her most vivid descriptions happens close to the end of WWII when the city around Ravensbruck was being bombed and yet the concentration camp saw balloons lighting the sky and later found out they served as guides so they wouldn't be touched by the bombing. So much history happened during the 94 years Countess Lanckoronska lived, but the defining era became WWII during which she was in her 40's, not young and not yet old.

The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams. I really enjoyed this book and the story of Olive, her daughter and her granddaughter who's lives are intertwined by a room at the top of a mansion that Olive's father designed and who all seem fated to miss their one great loves.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. I really liked this book, it was different from what I usually read and had varying viewpoints. Tucker Crowe has been out of the spotlight for two decades after abruptly leaving behind a successful music career. Duncan has been obsessed with Crowe's music and his girlfriend Annie is not quite sure why. When their relationship ends, Annie begins an email relationship with Tucker Crowe and all of their lives take turns they weren't expecting.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli. I really liked this book about a boy searching for home and the routes he takes to get there. The backstory has him confronting racism in the town he races to.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. What happens when a guest from another country arrives in town and finds her host has died? Sara makes herself part of the community and opens a bookstore in a seemingly dying town. All of the characters in this small town have rich histories that contribute to their growth and changes throughout the book. This is a story about small towns, the love of books and being open to change. 

This is a preview of our upcoming road trip!

Feburary: Sustain

How did I do this month?

Connection:
Book club is one of my favorite connections! It has it all; friends, discussion, food and books! This month we discussed Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Our discussion mostly centered around book-to-movie adaptations.

I attended a training for Prime Time Family Reading Time. I've written a lot about this program in this blog - I absolutely love it! I am excited that I will be involved in a program this spring. Also, I enjoyed meeting up with people I had known in New Orleans at this training!

I also had a night out with my friend Susan!

Family:
Youngest son: This month my youngest and I read Who Is Sonia Sotomayor? by Megan Stine together over 2 days! He also taught me how to play the game Exploding Kittens. And there was a Friday night that we got to go out to dinner and play Rock Band on the Xbox. 

Oldest son: When a friend got sick, I roped my son into going to the theater with me! First we went to a fairly fancy restaurant in Detroit, Grey Ghost and then we went to the Fisher Theatre to see Finding Neverland. He may have enjoyed the candy at the theater most of all!

Husband: We got in a date night now that youth group has re-started at church on Sunday nights.

Extended Family: I got in a visit to my sister in Traverse City and it was a great visit "Up North." I had a really great time visiting and also walking across the frozen Grand Traverse Bay with my oldest nephew.

Faith: I kept up reading 29 chapter this month in Acts and Romans and purposefully prayed each day. I also started a Lent Photo-A-Day challenge on Instagram.

Health: I exercised 30 hours in a month with 28 days, yea! I did weights at least twice a week. I'd like to do weights at least 3 times a week next month and move up from my little 5lbs!

Intellect: 
I got to take a tour of the Reuther Library at Wayne State and saw tons of memorabilia as part of Wayne State's 150th Year celebration.

Books I read this month

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.  Wow, this book was eye-opening. Trevor Noah tells about his childhood in the 80's & 90's in South Africa as apartheid was ending. His story is also made different from others by his experience of having a black mother and white father. Noah infuses much humor as he tells tales of growing up as well as adding commentary on apartheid, racism and domestic violence. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio book which was narrated by Noah himself and I also learned more about the experiences of others that happened in my lifetime but were half a world away.

Hunger Point by Jillian Medof. Ugh, this book was a disturbing and dysfunctional look at a family's experience with anorexia and suicide.

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan. Listened to with my kids. As the Magnus Chase (and Percy Jackson) saga gets drawn out, there were parts of this book and series that I really enjoyed. I appreciate that this series has the most diverse characters with attention to Muslim and transgender characters.

Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams. I loved this book right up to the last sentence. Williams seamlessly alternates between 1917 WWI France and 1922 bootlegging Florida with a few flashbacks to early 1900's NYC. Virginia became an ambulance driver during the war and fell in love with a man who may not be what he seems. This is further complicated by memories of her early years when she witnessed the murder of her mother. My only complaint is that after things are wrapped up in the end, two characters come to the door needing help and I was confused as to whether I should know how they are. By reading other reviews I can see they are characters from another book which I am now curious to read!

Great Kid's Books

I have a friend who was looking for suggestions for an advanced reader - so here you go! Great kid's books that I've read over the last couple of years with my kids, in no particular order. If they were part of a series, only the first book is listed. All are appropriate for elementary and/or middle school.

The View from Saturday
by E.L. Konigsburg. 4 sixth graders learn about each other as they train for an Academic Bowl. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Lee Stewart.  Although this book was long it kept mine, and my kid's, attention! I loved the rich vocabulary of the book and that it was a great mystery without being morbid. Looking forward to the next one! (This book is the first in the series).

Crenshawby Katherine Applegate. This book was a heartfelt tale of a young boy who used an imaginary friend - a giant cat - to deal with his family being homeless, "car camping," when he was younger. After his family has enjoyed some stability, it looks like they may be sliding into the predicament again and Crenshaw the cat comes back. This book is perfect for older elementary and explores truth, trust and imagination.

The Worst Class Trip Everby Dave Barry. My kids, grades 4th & 7th, LOVED this action packed (fart jokes included) book. When Wyatt and his 8th grade classmates embark on a class trip to Washington DC they encounter spies, terrorists and a presidential assassination plot. Taking matters into their own hands they hilariously foil evil-doers.

The Island of Dr. Libris
by Chris Grabenstein. We enjoyed Grabenstein's last book, Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library, so much I couldn't wait to read this book. And it did not disappoint! Billy is stuck at a cabin with his mom for the summer, but finds that book characters come alive on Dr Libris' Island. I love how the author weaves classic tales and characters into his books that either remind you of great reads - or make you want to discover the books you haven't read yet! The plot had both my kids wanting to know what would happen next. This book is great for late elementary through middle school ages.

Things Not Seen 
by Andrew Clements. Read this book out loud to my kids, ages 10 & 6, and it was surprisingly deep for a younger reader novel. Bobby wakes up one morning invisible and in his quest to figure out what happens he learns a lot about life and what kind of life he wants to lead. He and others struggle with what it means to "be seen." Although my kids did not pick up on the complexities of this, they were amused by what it would mean to navigate the world while being invisible and the scientific aspects of invisibility. I highly recommend this book to others and especially the middle school age group. 

Revolution 
by Deborah Wiles. Excellent book. This book takes place in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964 - Freedom Summer. History intertwines with the lives of 3 youth who are figuring out their town, their families, themselves, and their future. The incident that stands out to me the most is when the front porches in town are peppered with fliers from the KKK, because this also happened in my town this summer. While listening to this book with my children I could see how closely the past and the present are woven together. The present doesn't exist without the past and how we view the present has been shaped by the past. Also poignant is the voter registration drive, when blacks are risking their jobs and sometimes their lives to register to vote. As we embark on a presidential election season the candidates are just as important as the voters. Even without the lens of current events, the story line of this novel brings the past to life while illustrating social events of the 1960s such as The Beatles, integration, the Vietnam War, and divorce through relatable characters.

The World According to Humphrey
by Betty G. Birney. My kids and I both enjoyed this book about a hamster who learns about life by getting to know the kids, and adults, of Room 26.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library 
by Chris Grabenstein. This book was GREAT! My 7 year old, 10 year old, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was based around a game-maker who built a library for his hometown since the library was where he got him game-making start. 12 12-year olds win an essay contest to win spending a night in the new library filled with all the latest technology. The next morning they are asked if they would like to continue their time at the library and enter a contest to see who can escape the library without using the only door. Clues are provided, all based on new and classic literature and based on the Dewey decimal system. This book was just an all around fun read. If you like games, puzzles, or literature - you will love this book!

Bedknob and Broomstick 
by Mary Norton. My kids, ages 8 & 11, LOVED this book. But then, what's not to love about a witch, time travel and 3 kids!

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio. My 8 year old & 11 year old LOVED this book. I think what they liked best was the changing narrators, different voices between 5th grade and 9th grade, with changing perspectives. This was a story of friendship, learning, growing, loyalty, bullying, and change.

The Mighty Miss Malone
by Christopher Paul Curtis. There was so much to this book: The Great Depression, how minorities fared, learning what it meant to have things stacked against you from how you looked, perseverance, hope, kindness, family. We listened to this on CD in the car and my kids kept begging to turn it back on as soon as we got in again since they wanted to see what happened next.

Troublemaker
by Andrew Clements. Great book! Especially for exploring the effects of our actions on others.

Emily's Runaway Imagination
by Beverly Cleary. My kids and I thoroughly enjoyed the places Emily's imagination took her when it ran away! It was also interesting to see a slice of life in 1920's Oregon and a few times this book led to discussions about how life was different from then to now. The capers that Emily got herself into had us laughing out loud.

A Long Way from Chicago 
by Richard Peck. My entire family loved this book - from ages 9-42! When Joey and Mary Alice are forced to spend the summers with their Grandmother in the country they can't even begin to imagine the tall tale type adventures they are in for! Stories that are funny, engaging and clean cut like this don't come along often!

Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech. This book was really good. As Sal sets off on a cross-country trip with her Grandparents she tells them a story about her friend Phoebe, however Phoebe's story and Sal's own echo each other. A journey across the country also is a journey of grief and discovery. Death, friendship, relationships, secrets and the definition of family are all explored. I loved getting to know the people in Sal & Phoebe's lives as this story unfolded.

Extra Credit
by Andrew Clements. This book was a little different from previous ones we had read by Clements. I was a little skeptical at first, but really enjoyed the perspectives of children from the US and Afghanistan. It was also interesting to see how their point of views changed throughout the book.

Here Lies the Librarian
by Richard Peck. I really enjoyed this book about female auto mechanics and race car drivers in the early 1900's! Add in four Butler University library science majors and this small Indiana town is in for lots of changes! Richard Peck's writing style always has you seeing the characters in vivid detail and of course has hilarious plot details.

No Talking
by Andrew Clements. I listened to this book in the car with my kids and it started out as a boys against girls contest, but I really liked the underlying themes of civil disobedience, social action and social behavior.

A Week in the Woods
by Andrew Clements. Another great book from Clements! My kids loved reading how this city kid learned outdoor skills and was able to survive being lost in the woods on a class camping trip.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis. The story of the Watson family from Flint, Michigan who travel to visit relatives in Birmingham only to end up witnessing a tragedy. I laughed at their antics until I cried for humanity. Curtis weaves a powerful story around historic events. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 
by Barbara Robinson. Love, love, love rereading this book at Christmas with my kids. It ALWAYS makes me reflect on the Christmas story differently, like how Mary & Joseph were refugees, dirty and tired and probably not like the squeaky clean version we tend to think of. And what if the wise men had gone back to Herod? And all these are brought about by a group of kids who were the unlikely suspects for telling the Christmas story.

Home of the Brave
by Katherine Applegate. This short children's book was excellent. Kek describes coming to the US as a refuge who has been separated from his family. He struggles to make sense of his new home and what he experienced. He finds help from his neighbor who lives with her foster mom. When Kek starts to work at a small farm he finds hope and encouragement, but also heartbreak again. This book would be good for upper elementary ages as an introduction to other cultures.

Twenty and Ten
by Claire Huchet Bishop. Great short read on 20 evacuated French school children who hide 10 Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of France.

Al Capone Does My Shirts 
by Gennifer Choldenko. We re-read this book since we wanted to freshen our memories before we read the most recent in the series. There is great historical detail in this book - from post-Depression living, San Francisco, Alcatraz, and gangster lore all told from the view point of a 12 year old. There is also the great storyline of having a sibling who is "different" especially in the un-diagnosed era of the 1930's.

Frindle
by Andrew Clements. LOVED this book! The kids in this book showed a lot of imagination and learned a lot about how to start social movements. The ending was perfect.

Mary Poppins 
by P.L. Travers. This book was a joy to read aloud to my 8yo & 11yo. I was surprised that both boys kept wanting to hear what would happen next! Sometimes "classics" become a little outdated for "modern" kids, but not this book!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 
by Ian Fleming. My kids, ages 8 & 11, LOVED this book. There is adventure and magic and cars! I was left wishing Ian Fleming had written more children's books! The narrative flowed so smoothly and was interesting for me to read as an adult!

The Wednesday Wars
by Gary D. Schmidt. The story of a 7th graders adventures over the 1967-1968 school year including Shakespeare, a school camping trip, track meets, meeting a baseball hero and learning what it means to grow up. 

January: Sustain

Sustain

sus·tain
verb
strengthen or support physically or mentally.

synonyms:

comfort, help, assist, encourage, succor, support, give strength to, buoy up, carry, cheer up, hearten; informalbuck up

I saw people posting about their "word" for 2018 and all I could think was, "This Fall was so tough, I just want to sustain." What I want is to be better prepared for the next round of storms, because they always come. What I thought was a simple word and concept took on deeper meaning as I thought about what areas I wanted to sustain, what did I want to strengthen? And I came up with the areas of connection, family, faith, health and intellect.

January

Connection: Between work and family, it sometimes seems there is not a lot of left-over time, but I know from past experience that it is important for me to have connections outside of these two main components of my life.
I had two really good connections this month: Alumni dinner with my sorority where I got to do a lot of catching up with my old friend Susan and a lunch out with my almost-as-old friends Megann and Heather

Family: Again, life is so busy, I wanted to look at how I am connecting with my family and making time for each person.
Youngest son: I sometimes feel he gets left out in the hustle & bustle of everyone else's lives. We had two Wednesday Game Nights with just the two of us. We also had a Saturday date where we went to the library, got treats at Panera and grocery shopped together.
Oldest son: We participated in a bottle drive together that benefits a mission trip that he has taken in past years. I was also able to watch 5 of his swim meets.

Husband: My husband has been sick lately, so I count it a victory that we did get a lunch alone this month!
Extended family: My sister was visiting at the beginning of the month and it's always nice to spend time with her! I also took the kids for a weekend at my parent's house for my mom's birthday and it was nice to spend time with everyone.

Faith: I've struggled with disconnection in this area. This month I wanted to focus on getting back into the habit of Bible reading and I was able to read 31 chapters in John and Acts. My goal for next month will be to include more prayer time.

Health: I've gotten into the habit over the last year of exercising an hour a day. I kept that up and met my new goal of adding weights at least twice a week! My Wellness Coach at work praised me for losing weight in 2017 and lowering my total cholesterol, however my HDL level was significantly lowered also so I took suggestions and changed my weekly lunch to a salad with walnuts and avocado.

Intellect:
Books I read this month: 
The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang.
This book follows the Wangs on a cross country trip from their newly repossessed home in LA to the eldest child's home in upstate New York. On the way Mr and Mrs Wang each reflect on their immigration experiences while the teenagers reflect on their childhood experiences.

Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich.
This one was just for fun! It had my family laughing as we listened to Stephanie's adventures in bounty hunting - this time including zombies. 

The Sword of Kuromori by Jason Rohan. This book the kids and I read together and they seemed to like this book about Kenny who travels to Japan thinking he will visit his professor Father and ends up stopping the destruction of the American west coast by defeating a dragon with an enchanted sword.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan. This book was delightful! I really liked this book that is really about a love of books. When Nina is downsized from her local librarian job she realizes her passion has been to open her own bookshop. To reduce overhead she buys a van and moves to a remote Scottish town where she excels at finding the perfect book for each reader as she frequents local farm markets.

Also, I took a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts at lunch! 

A Year of Books - 2017

A Year of Books - 2017

I read 63 books this year. I am slowing down! My top 10% picks are highlighted in red.

Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction
1. Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding. I enjoyed seeing Bridget in the role as a parent and juggling responsibilities. Being a widow added a dimension to her character that was not there before. There were many laugh out loud moments as Bridget sailed through single-working-parent scenarios with things never quite working out as planned, but often with a better ending.

2. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. This book was a little different than the things that I usually read - and I loved it. When Elsa's Grandmother dies, she begins the task of delivering letters to others in her apartment building, all with the message that her Grandmother is sorry. Elsa learns that all of the fairy tales her Grandmother has told her has their roots in the lives of all of these people.

3. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy. I really enjoyed this light read about Dumplin' and her journey through high school romance, balancing changing friendships and family situations and entering the beauty pageant her mother runs.

4. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. I was surprised to learn how much of this novel was historical. This story follows the life of Sarah, a well-to-do daughter of the Charleston elite and her household slave Handful. While Sarah goes out into the world and discovers Quaker values and fights for the abolition of slavery she also discovers that fighting for the rights of others awakens a discovery that women's rights are important to her. Meanwhile Handful navigates the strict slave laws of Charleston and yearns for a life where she is in charge of her destiny.

5. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. An interesting read on security, privacy, terrorism and freedom. This fictional book describes how a movement among teenagers to regain privacy after a terrorism attach in San Francisco has everyone questioning what is privacy and what is the cost to security.

6. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. While this book started off as goofy, it seemed that the characters will a little too scripted for modern day - I ended up getting really involved in the storyline! This retelling of Pride and Prejudice is set in modern day Cincinnati, OH and has a slightly older cast. Modern issues such as artificial insemination, transgendered spouses and reality tv make their way into the novel as storylines. But, of course, it's Liz and Darcy's story that leaves you wanting to find out what happens next!

7. Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King. I had a little harder time getting into this book than previous in the series. For most of the book Mary Russell does not remember who she is as she is in unfamiliar Morocco with the backdrop of revolutions.

8. The Hope Chest by Viola Shipman. A heartwarming tale of loss, change and family. Don and Mattie find their lives altered with Mattie's ALS diagnosis. Rose enters the story as their caretaker who brings a young daughter into their lives. While Don and Mattie grow to love Rose and Jeri, Rose finds healing from her mother's earlier death.

9. The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams. This book drew me in right from the start. In 1964 Vivian receives a suitcase that her Aunt Violet lost in 1914 on the eve of the first World War - although she previously did not know of this aunt. As she digs deeper into the mystery she has to sort through the intrigue, assumptions, lies, dead-ends and parallels to her own life. I loved the sense of history this book gave, jumping between two time-lines, and especially how women were perceived and treated in two different eras that also differ from my own.

10. Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie impersonates an English daughter trying to get her father back from the German government in pre-WWII Munich and discovers how close to war Germany is.

11. Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown. This was the exception where the movie was better than the book!

12. Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes. When I got this book I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to relate to Janey because I thought it would be the journey of a 20-something on her way to the perfect body and therefore perfect life. It turned out that 40 year old Janey, who never had to try to control her weight before, was totally relatable. Janey has reached a point in her life where everything she thought she knew gets turned upside down. She has a falling out with her best friend/business partner and gets the ultimatum to lose weight. Janey explores many wacky weight-loss and exercise schemes and along the way meets colorful characters and reconnects with old friends and family. I enjoyed reading Janey's journey as she discovers who she wants to be on her own terms.

13. Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams. This is the second book I've read by Beatriz Williams and I LOVE them! This book also switches timelines from pre-WWII in France & Germany to 1960s Florida. Both timelines tell about Annabelle from being young and in love to matron who presides over a large family. Pepper Schuyler's life begins to intertwine with Annabelle's when she finds Annabelle's abandoned Mercedes that was used by her family to escape from Nazi occupied Germany. As the timelines flipped back and forth, I couldn't wait to hear how the stories would end up!

14. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand. This novel shows the life of three women over a summer and how they all handle the looming crises in their lives.

15. Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer. When Martin finds out his life is a computer program he sets out to alter it and ends up in England during the Middle Ages only to find he is not the only person who has figured this out.

16. My (Underground) American Dream: My True Story as an Undocumented Immigrant Who Became a Wall Street Executive by Julissa Arce. Book review at https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Book-Reviews/Current-Past-Book-Reviews/My-Underground-American-Dream.aspx 

17. Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams. I read this book out of order and it ended up being my least favorite in the series - however there was a twist at the end I really enjoyed. Tiny is the perfect wife of an aspiring politician in the 1960s, but she comes to realize that she is only what others expect her to be. Can she find her way back to being herself?

18. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. While this book was not a religious books, there were moments in it that I found holy. Ed starts receiving names of people who he must find out what they need. Along the way Ed becomes more connected to those in his town and learns about himself and those he loves more. I didn't really like the ending about who the messenger was - but I loved Ed's moments of connection.

19. The Senator's Children by Nicholas Montemarano. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and I really enjoyed it. The Senator's Children jumps around through timelines to tell the story of 6 people all intertwined by their links to the Senator. The chapters almost read as vignettes. The topic of loss is reoccurring. The loss of a privacy through a political lifestyle, death of a child, loss of trust, loss of a parent, loss of health and yet there is hope through new relationships. We see the Senator as he first runs for office, as a seasoned politician running for President, as a father who grieves the death of his son, and as an aging elderly man who cannot always remember what has happened. We get to know his wife, son, daughter and another daughter who was the result of an affair. Each chapter in this book reveals another slice of their life. The Senator's Children does not offer platitudes or solutions, but does offer a look into the Christie family and events that shaped the lives of everyone who was important to the Senator.

20. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman. This book was a little drier than I thought it would be. I expected a more intimate introspection into the zoo's human family. However, the facts about Warsaw's occupation were eye opening.
21. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I loved this book. Alice awakens after an accident at the gym and finds she can't remember the last 10 years. She last remembers being pregnant, newly married and renovating a house together. She finds she now has 3 children, a fully renovated house and is in the middle of a divorce. Not only does Alice question how she became the person she is, but others around her start looking at their lives in different ways.

22. Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews. This was an enjoyable fun read! What happens with Bebe's fling takes off with her money? She sets out to get even while also restoring an old motel on Tybee Island. 

23. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. This book brings up powerful topics. What is race? What is racism? Can we "not see color?" Ruth is a nurse who is asked by white supremacist parents not to care for their newborn because of her color -and the hospital honors their request. When the baby dies after a routine surgery Ruth becomes embroiled in a court case which leaves her white public defender questioning institutional racism and what she has taken granted up to now in her life. Not only are these topics timely, but the narrative of the story takes many twists and turns so that you are always wondering what will happen next.


24. Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty. So far I have loved everything I've read by Moriatry, this book is no exception. As the Kettle triplets turn 34, they look back on their past year. A year that has been filled with an affair, a divorce, new love, pregnancies, miscarriage, parenting trials and not to mention their estranged parents dating again. Looking at the lives of these three sisters was entertaining, enlightening and made me reminisce myself.

25. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot. This book was a fun read that involved yet another murder at Fisher Hall. When her ex-boyfriends wife hosts a singing camp in the dorm where she is a director, Heather Wells needs to not only keep the campers safe, but also figure out who is behind the murder and additional attempts. Very fun and light read.

26. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. This book was as good as everyone said it was! I laughed, I cried. Ove is a man seeming without friends until new neighbors change that, although as the story goes a long you realize there were connections there all along. I am really fascinated by the concept of how we are connected to each other and what are responsibilities to keeping each other connected are.
27. Antiques Roadkill by Barbara Allan. Fun, easy murder mystery. What happens when Brandy moves back to her hometown after a divorce and finds her eccentric mother has lost a house full of antiques to an unscrupulous dealer? Of course, they next stumble (or drive) across his dead body and then interfere with the police as they investigate on their own. 
 

28.Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life by Jen Hatmaker.
A funny, uplifting read with Jen Hatmaker's musings on family, children, community and faith. I found so much in common with her since we are the same age with the same family makeup.
 

Book Club

1. After You by Jojo Moyes. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first. I felt the characters developed more fully and I could see their growth. Life seemed to happen around them while they struggled to keep up and yet their interactions with each other and new people made for a more vibrant experience.

2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany (Adaptation), Jack Thorne, J.K. Rowling. This book was picked for book club and I was not really looking forward to it since I stopped reading the Harry Potter series due to the increasing size of the books. However, the play format made for a very fast read! I also really liked seeing the characters as adults with children of their own.

3. The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman. I liked the Michigan references in this book, but the plot was a little predictable.

4. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. There was mystery upon mystery in this book that lead to a good discussion!

5. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. While I enjoyed reading about the lives of Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney, the ending of this historical book was deeply disturbing.

6. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. At first I didn't like this book. It seemed so violent, but as the book developed the plot began to make more sense and I devoured the last 1/6 of the book to see what would happen next!

7. The Circle by Dave Eggers. I read this book for bookclub and it really made me think. Security vs Privacy. And what is your limit as to what should be public information - is it the same limit everyone else has? I actually found myself agreeing with many parts of the book until my line was crossed and that made me go back and question how long it took me to get there.

Children & Young Adult

1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Milo starts the book by wondering why he has to learn about useless information in school but a trip through the Phantom Tollbooth shows him the usefulness of language and numbers.

2. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. My 10 year old and 13 year old boys loved this book. I found it a little slow, but I'm glad they liked it. I did like how it was based on a historical event and how O'Dell imagined life alone on an island may have went for a girl who spent many years alone.

3. Double Down by Jeff Kinney. Classic antics made us laugh again at Greg Heffley.

4. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. This book was really good. As Sal sets off on a cross-country trip with her Grandparents she tells them a story about her friend Phoebe, however Phoebe's story and Sal's own echo each other. A journey across the country also is a journey of grief and discovery. Death, friendship, relationships, secrets and the definition of family are all explored. I loved getting to know the people in Sal & Phoebe's lives as this story unfolded.

5. Little Rock Nine by Marshall Poe. This graphic novel is a great way to introduce kids to history - however, I'd put a disclaimer on what age group this is appropriate for due to racial slurs and messages of hate and killing, so I'd put this as more appropriate for middle school and higher.

6. Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. I think this was the best so far in this series! When Ben gets kicked out of spy school, he has an inkling that Erica arranged circumstances so that he would be available to join the evil spy organization SPYDER. Ben infiltrates SPYDER and makes friends with the "evil spies" his age but is still not sure what the evil master plan is until it's too late - or is it?

7. Countdown by Deborah Wiles. Franny navigates middle school friendship with the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the communist scare.

8. Armstrong & Charlie by Steven B. Frank. I read this book with my 10 year old and 14 year old and we loved hearing about Armstrong & Charlie's antics! I enjoyed the historical perspective of the mid-1970's and the social movements of the time - this book focusing on school busing between black and white neighborhoods in California. Armstrong and Charlie both learned that there are similarities that bind us together and differences that make us unique. Not only did they learn from each other, but also from each other's families. We now have a new phrase in our house, "do me an Armstrong!" when we ask someone to get our laundry from the basement like Armstrong bringing in his sisters' clothes from the laundry line. Language alert: this book had quite a bit of swearing for being a book about 6th graders.

9. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. This short children's book was excellent. Kek describes coming to the US as a refuge who has been separated from his family. He struggles to make sense of his new home and what he experienced. He finds help from his neighbor who lives with her foster mom. When Kek starts to work at a small farm he finds hope and encouragement, but also heartbreak again. This book would be good for upper elementary ages as an introduction to other cultures.

10. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. Suzy struggles to make sense of life and death and growing up.

11. The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan. Magnus Chase and his friends search for the hammer of Thor.

12. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan. After Apollo falls to earth as a mortal, he must figure out what has happened to all the oracles.

13.The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. Gilly has to navigate growing up while being a foster child who is always on the lookout for her mother. Just as she grows attached to her foster family, Gilly's biological family re-enters.

14. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. I laughed my way through this book that addresses serious topics: bullying and mental health. 14 year old Audrey describes her wacky family and how they are all trying to cope, and help her cope, with a bullying event that led to her eventual breakdown and detachment from society. Through the help of a therapist and a new friend, Audrey comes to terms with the ups and downs life brings everyone and how we can all help each other out. Kinsella does a perfect job of describing the families foibles while also endearing each character to the reader. While I enjoyed this book as an adult, this would be perfect for middle-school aged kids, especially as a conversation starter regarding the tough topics Finding Audrey handles.

15. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Isabel is a slave who finds herself involved in Patriot and Loyalist plots during the Revolutionary War.

16. The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I had just finished reading a heavy historical novel, so this young adult book was a fast-paced break that I really enjoyed. Tess Kendrick unexpectedly moves in with her older sister in Washington DC only to find that she's not exactly sure what her sister does as a job, but she is a "fixer." Tess further gets the reputation at her new school of following in her sister's footsteps, only to be embroiled in a mystery with her new friends.

17. The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin. This book was a powerful description of the events that took place at the naval Port Chicago during WWII that shaped civil rights in the military. Having never heard of Port Chicago I was fascinated to read about these historical events. This is a Young Adult book so it is written on a jr high level, which made it a quick read.

18. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. Brother and sister Evan and Jessie start a lemonade war to see who can win by selling the most lemonade. Along the way the reader is exposed to business strategies. Perfect for elementary aged children.

19. The Land by Mildred D. Taylor. Paul grows up in the post-Civil War era torn between two worlds. He has grown up on his white father's plantation, but as he gets older he sees the differences in how blacks and whites are treated. While his mother is a former slave, his complexion is light enough to make everyone unsure of how to interact with him. Throughout this book Paul shows a determination to own his own land even though he encounters prejudice and many stumbling blocks along the way. While this book was hard to read at times, I loved Paul's perseverance and the sense of community that develops as Paul allows himself to trust others.

20. Flunked by Jen Calonita. Cute read about envisioning how "the other half" lives in fairy tales. Gillian in a cobblers daughter from a large family who steals to supplement their income. When she is caught one to many times, she is sent to Fairy Tale Reform School and finds the evil villains plotting to take over the kingdom.

21. The Time Hackers by Gary Paulsen. Very interesting short read on time travel. My kids, ages 10 & 14, and I both enjoyed Dorso's adventures as his computer is hacked and takes him through time as the hackers engage in a game that could bring serious changes to the future's timeline.

22. The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan. Apollo and his friends seek the ancient oracles and end up in the Midwest. The character of Apollo is still funny with his dry humor. But beware, the book doesn't really end, it just says "to be continued."

23. Charmed by Jen Calonita. This book continues the story of Gillian Cobbler and her array of friends at Fairy Tale Reform School who battle villains in their attempt to take over their town of Enchantasia.

24.The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I really enjoyed this series and would love if there were a 3rd book available. In this fast-paced book teenage Tess uncovers conspiracies, plots and discovers that things aren't always as they seem especially in the political capital of the nation.

25. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. The kids and I re-listened to this book, I think it's been 3 years since we first heard it. The characters, plot and mystery are so great that you can come back to this book and still find it fresh and entertaining.


26. Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher.  This was a cute book on what might happen if a 6th grade class didn't have a substitute and ran their day themselves. 

27. Tricked by Jen Calonita.

In this third installment, Gillian and her friends embark on a quest that takes them outside Fairy Tale Reform School to find the Golden Goose to appease Rumpelstiltskin who has taken control of FTRS. Along with meeting new challenges Gilliam comes to the realization that she is in control of her own destiny and also has to leave choices about the future up to each individual - even when it's her own family and she wants something different for them.
28. The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12) by Jeff Kinney. Another funny book about the Heffley family as they stumble their way through a Christmas family vacation.