March Books

Copying my friend Mrs. Gamgee's idea...thought it would be a good idea to do mini reviews of the books I read.

March Books Read:

The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I'd give it a 4 out of 5. Unique plot with an interesting premise. I did find the first few chapters a little confusing and had to re-read them in order to determine who was "speaking" at first, Melanie or Wanderer. Not at all as romantic as The Twilight saga, but still an entertaining read.

All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark. 3 out of 5. One of my students discovered my Mary Higgins Clark collection, most of which were purchased when I myself was in middle school. Thought I'd re-read this one so I could discuss it with her. Enjoyed the suspenseful read. However, a 3 out of 5 because I thought some parts were predictable and hated that the synopsis on the back cover revealed a lot of the beginning portions of the story.

The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake 4 out of 5. Neat story about a teenager who becomes comfortable with herself. I will recommend this to my students. The story has connections to racism, hatred, and the importance of positive role models. I especially like the "moral" of the story, which is in order to be accepted by others, it is best to be accepting of yourself first.

Quentins by Maeve Binchy. 3 out of 5. I find that Ms. Binchy's books are quick reads. However, I also find that the more Binchy novels I read, the more similar they seem. This novel follows the life of an Irish woman as she struggles to find love and happiness. It correlates this quest with her working to make a documentary about a local restaurant called Quentins.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. 5 out of 5. Loved this teen lit novel about a boy who tries to find the meaning of life. Jeremy's father died when he was 8, and left a locked wooden box for him to open on his 13th birthday. Jeremy's journey to find the keys that unlock the box left by his father leaves him with acceptance and peace. I especially loved the ending when the contents of the box are revealed. I found the father's description of the box's contents very moving. (And couldn't help thinking as a mom, what would I want to leave behind in a similar scenario for my daughter?)