The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

What can I say?  I loved this book, and I read it in one evening.

I love mysteries, but I do not like mysteries where I have figured out the "mystery" way before the end of the book. I was surprised, to say the least, when the book came to an end and I had no idea where the plot was going to end up.  I was engrossed from the start.

Lo is a thirty-ish journalist who has some issues with anxiety.  She struggles with panic attacks and knows she must take her medication to keep the attacks at bay.  Her home is burglarized, and the thief shuts the bedroom door on her face while he ransacks the flat where she lives.  Fighting a panic attack, she knows her life is in his hands.  He leaves, but takes her purse, and all the contents inside.  But he leaves Lo a anxious, miserable mess.

As she tries to put her life back together, she also realizes that she is to leave in TWO days to board a luxury cruise yacht and provide an article for the magazine where she is employed.  She is already suffering from PTSD, and wonders how she will keep it together on the yacht.  However, she believes that some time away will be good for her and will allow some healing to occur.

However, her time on the yacht is anything but calm and restful. A series of strange happenings occur, and our protagonist realizes she is cruising the frigid North Sea and nearing the Arctic Circle all the while knowing that one of the passengers is a killer - and that passenger realizes that Lo is gaining on the truth.

I very much recommend this book.  It is perfect for a winter evening's read while you hear the rain/ice hitting the windows.  Just was the case with me.  Enjoy.

Be Uncomfortable.

We all have a story to tell.  This story started a year ago, but I only told a few people about my experience.  Why?  I needed to process it, and it was highly personal.  However, I feel the time has come to tell my story.  Stories are meant to be shared when the author is ready.  The author and the  story are ready.

It was Friday, November 20, 2015, and a colleague and I had just arrived in Minneapolis for the NCTE Conference.  (National Council of Teachers of English)  We drove in from the south, and had to drive through a potentially dangerous snowstorm on our journey.

We arrived safe and sound, although a bit relieved that the snow was not going to follow us to the Twin Cities. We settled into my son's apartment (which was luckily vacant for the weekend), and headed to the conference.

The NCTE conference is one of my favorite conferences because there is an abundance of authors, and since I love to read.... I get to "Meet and Greet" with so many authors, but I also bring back lots of goodies for the library.   It's a win-win!

I had made reservations to attend the Cultural Celebration that was to be held that evening at 7:00.  My colleague and I thought it sounded fun and interesting.  Little did I know that the events of that evening would change my thinking and change my life.

The event started as most events do - with hors d'oeuvres.  We ended up sitting with some friends that we had met in line or at lunch.  One new friend was a kindergarten teacher near Memphis, and the other was a lovely lady who immigrated from Jamaica and taught in the Fort Lauderdale area.

We sat and talked about our jobs and schools until the entertainment began.  The first group was called Ketzal/Coatlique or Precious Mother Earth.   This group is a learning community for those who want to study Mexican Aztec dance - and what a powerful dance it was.  With the beating of the drums, the costumes, and the power in the movements, I was swept with the beauty and history that surrounded the participants.

Danez Smith was the next one to perform.  He is the author of [insert] Boy.  Danez Smith wrote the poem to call for a world in which black boys are not feared.  Smith wants a world that is free from violence and where black boys and men can believe they are worthy of love. He read his poetry with all of the force from his heart.  His anger, his grief, his call for change was heard as he slammed his words into our hearts.

Ironically, and tragically, the week before the conference a young black man was shot by Minneapolis police.  There are inconsistent reports of what exactly happened, but the fact of the matter is the young man was unarmed when he was shot.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened.  The anger and tension in the room was palpable.  At a glance, I saw that my colleague and I were two of three white people in the room of over one hundred people.  Was I frightened?  No.  Was I uncomfortable?  Yes.  Did I believe that the anger would be directed at me?  I didn't know, but I felt I deserved some of that anger.

I have never been profiled, or followed by a police officer because I looked suspicious.  I have never been judged by the color of my skin.  I have never been denied a job because of my race or religion.  I do not understand, nor can I even begin to understand what it is like to experience these things on a daily basis for an entire lifetime.  For me to say that I can understand is a ludicrous statement.  I cannot even fathom what it would be like to experience this daily.

The final group to perform was Voice of Culture.  This group works to educate young Black children on the beauty of Black Arts and Culture.  The students involved in this set danced with their hearts.  They danced the theme that Black Lives Matter.

Then it was over.  I was numb.  My colleague was numb.  We Ubered back to the apartment without saying a lot.  We both understood that we had experienced something that changed us and molded us.

The next day we met up with the lady from Fort Lauderdale.  She pulled us aside and apologized if we were frightened or uncomfortable with the events of the previous evening.  I looked into her eyes and said, You have been made to feel uncomfortable many, many times.  We NEED to be made uncomfortable.  We need to try to understand what you live with on a daily basis."

The events of that evening have never left me.  When I see or hear people saying that we are "too sensitive" or that we need to "quit being scared" or "to stop crying around," I think of that night in Minneapolis when I stepped in someone else's shoes and walked around for a little bit.  We can never, ever judge what another race or culture is dealing with unless we live it.  Most of us do not want to become uncomfortable.  To step outside of our comfortable, safe boxes is scary.  But if we truly, TRULY want to try to understand someone not in the majority, we need to open our eyes a little wider and try to be an advocate.

It is so easy to fall into the blame game.  It's easier to do that than work for understanding.  My plea is that you live this with an open mind, and try to empathize and have compassion for those whose lives are so much different from your own.  We are journeying together, and together we are stronger.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick

Miriam Pepper died a year ago.  Her husband, Arthur, has tried to keep the house together and set a routine for his life.  His neighbors check on him and bring him food, but sometimes, many times, he doesn't want to get out of bed.

On the one year anniversary of Miriam's death, Arthur decides he should probably clean out her clothes and other belongings.  As he is putting her boots in the bag, he notices there is something in the toe of one boot.  It is a box, and within that box is a charm bracelet.

The charm bracelet is a piece of jewelry that he doesn't recognize, and on the bracelet is an elephant charm that appears to have a phone number.  On a whim, he called the number on the bracelet.  It is a number in India, and a male voice answers.  That person on the other end of the line changes Arthur's life and balance.  His wife had a life that he knew nothing about.  The elephant charm was the first charm on the bracelet. What about all of the other charms on the bracelet?  What do they mean?  How can he find out the mystery of his wife's past?

Arthur starts out on a journey that leads him to many locales, including India and Paris.  On his search, he learns a lot about himself and the person he was when he worked as a locksmith.  As he tries to learn who his wife really was, he struggles with the information and says, "I'm learning that it's the things you say and do that people remember you for.  She is no longer here, but she lives on in people's hearts and minds."

Arthur always thought of himself as boring.  He wondered what Miriam ever saw in him.  But Arthur learns that he is anything but boring, and that he really is open to new adventures - if he just lets himself feel alive again.

This is now one of my favorite books.  I love the character and his spunkiness.  I also love his outlook on life.  Several times as I was reading, I thought to myself that I could use a good dose of Arthur Pepper spunk.

This is Patrick's first novel, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

The Importance of Digital Citizenship - Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship

"Every student at MSD of Martinsville will strive to become a responsible digital citizen who knows how to harness the learning potential of digital media in a 24/7 connected world, safely, effectively, ethically, and respectfully. "

This is our district's motto. This is something we take very seriously. Why? Our students will be exposed to all that the world has to offer through digital media. While students are in school, we can restrict and somewhat control what they are able to see and do online. However, once they are out of a filtered environment, what happens?

If our students have been trained to be digitally aware and to be resilient, this will better help them safely navigate the world of the internet. This is precisely why teaching Digital Citizenship is so crucial to the safety and welfare of our students.

At MSD of Martinsville on August 30, 2016, two to three representatives from each school in the district met after school hours to prepare for Indiana's Digital Citizenship week on September 12 - 16, 2016. We planned what units we were going to teach to our students and how to collect the artifacts. Everyone left very excited because they really found the curriculum of Common Sense Education very detailed and helpful.

At Martinsville High School, all 1,575 students saw a video, did activities, and discussed the importance of being good digital citizens with their teachers and peers. In some of the elementary schools, students were giving short presentations, talking about their experiences, and thinking about ways to make sure they were safe while online.

As the week ended, I received phone calls from teachers who were really excited about using the Common Sense curriculum, and will definitely add it to their class curriculum. As our school representatives push the importance of digital citizenship to their students, our overall involvement will continue to grow.

If our educators exhibit good digital citizenship qualities, this will help enable our students to navigate and prepare for a future in the digital age. They will be able to access the wealth of information they need while knowing they are protecting themselves and others from anything that might prove harmful.

Our district received its Digital Citizenship Certification on Friday, October 14, 2016. We are honored, but we also recognize that our job to educate and inform our students is only beginning. We must continue to regularly have conversations about our digital footprints. We accept the challenge.

Empire of Storms - Throne of Glass Series #5

I am worn out.  I am literally worn out.  Reading the Empire of Storms exhausted me because it was so packed full of action that I had to mentally prepare myself each time I picked up the book to read.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Throne of Glass series.  Aelin Galathynius is my hero.  She meets her foes head on and for the most part, uses her intuition and wit to figure out her most difficult problems.  But, this poor girl can't catch a break.  There are so many people who would like to kill her, and others who just want to take advantage of her power that Aelin never knows who is safe, and who is her enemy.  Thankfully, she has a small group of trusted friends and advisors who love her enough to die for her.  They also believe in her cause enough to die for it as well.

But what is the history of the fracturing of Erilea, and what does that all have to do with Aelin who was born 1,000 years after the world starting going mad?

If you haven't read book 1 of the series, then you really need to start at the beginning.  Be sure to read the novellas as well.  One needs to know all of the background before one can get an understanding of who Aelin is, and why she is so important to the future - a future that is full of peace.  

I think you will like her as much as I do.

The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter

Cassie nearly drowned once - her family was busy arguing, and no one saw Cassie jump into the deep end of the pool.  She knew she couldn't swim, but in her child's mind, she thought she would take the attention away from the argument.  Even before that, Cassie has been trying to keep her head above water.  When she was sixteen, her mother, brother, and father tied her with ropes and forcibly took her to a mental institution.  Cassie's life had never been easy, but now with her entire family against her, she must struggle to find herself and her worth.  

Cassie continues her education while at the mental institution, and when she is eighteen, her mother decides that she is ready to attend college, her alma mater.  In a series of events, Cassie nearly drowns again, nearly dies from an illness, and is forced to come face to face with long buried issues she has hidden within herself.  

This book is geared toward young adults, but every person who has a dysfunctional family (most of us) would benefit from Cassie's story of learning to love herself and realizing that our parents are not perfect humans, and never will be.  You will cry with her and cheer for her.  This was a great read, and I will definitely read more from this author.  

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Mia Dennett is an art teacher in a small impoverished school in Chicago.  She dates irregularly, and has never had a serious boyfriend.  One night, Mia is waiting for her on again/off again friend when she catches the eye of another man in the bar.  The two start a conversation and before Mia knows it, she is drunk.  She makes the decision to leave the bar with the stranger and follows him to his apartment.  This decision will haunt her forever.

Colin Thatcher needs money.  He works two jobs, but he can never get caught up.  He has found ways to supplement his income, and these ways aren't always legal.  The latest job: Find the daughter of a prominent judge, grab her, and bring her to a man who is heavily involved in crime.

Colin has been following Mia for weeks.  He knows her schedule, her friends, and her habits.  He will grab her, deliver her to his boss, and be $5,000.00 richer.  Once Mia is in his bosses' hands, she is no longer his problem.  He follows her to the bar, then makes his move.

Mia has no idea what is about to happen to her, and Colin realizes that his bosses' men will do whatever they want to her while they are waiting for the ransom money.  So....he makes a change in plans.

Gabe Hoffman is the detective assigned to Mia' kidnapping case.  He knows his career rests on getting Judge Dennett's daughter back alive and well.  The trail is fairly cold, but then he gets a lead...

If there is one thing I don't like about a book, it is figuring out the ending before I finish the book.  I like to be surprised and shocked -if you will.  This book did deliver.  I was shocked at the ending.  The characters are well developed, and Kubica kept me guessing.

I would absolutely recommend this book!  Enjoy the twists and turns!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Do I love Harry Potter?  Absolutely!  Do I love the entire premise of the series?  Definitely!  Did I love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?  I didn't LOVE it, but I didn't hate it either.

I have read the Harry Potter series at least four times.  (And yes, it is nearly time to start again.)  I love Harry Potter, and I particularly loved the vivid descriptions that abounded in the books.  That being said, I liked the plot, story line and new characters in the Cursed Child.  I understand Harry's parenting woes, and since I have raised two children, I totally get that our we misunderstand our children, and they misunderstand us.

If I were watching this as a play, or reading this with a group of students,  this play would be amazing, and I do hope to see it very soon,  but here I am stuck in my Potter World, and I missed the old ways.

If you are a Potter fan like me, I would recommend that you read the play, but I would also recommend that you see the play as soon as you possibly can.  That, I think, will bring back some of the magic.

"Expelliarmus!

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I remember when I was a sophomore in college, the FBI came to my school to look for recruits.  I was so, so tempted to drop everything, my studies, my boyfriend, my life, and follow the FBI where it led.  It seemed like such a great adventure, and it didn't help that the girl who lived adjacent from me DID decide to make the decision to leave school and join the recruit class.  I have lost track of Lorna and never learned whether she made a good decision or not.  I made the right decision and stayed in school, but that "what if" is always lurking in the back of my brain.

This book caught my interest because of that "what if."  Cassie is a teenager with a gift.  She has a knack for noticing details and reading people's emotions by their dress, and their body language.  When the FBI wants Cassie to join their team, she knows that her family will be very upset, but this might be the opportunity she needs to help her find her mother's killer.

Does Cassie fit in?  Might her gift possibly help her catch a serial killer that has been terrorizing the country?  Is there even a possibility that Cassie's training will help her find her mother's killer.

This book is on the Rosie list for 2016 - 2017.  No, I didn't join the FBI, but I can live vicariously through Cassie's experiences.  I invite you to do that too.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candice Fleming

I admit it!  When I taught the book Animal Farm to my students, I became quite interested in the Russian Revolution, the Romanov family, and of course, Rasputin. We also learned about Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky and their rise and fall from power.

There was also the mystery of Anastasia and if she survived the brutal assassination of her family.  Was she living in Europe?  In the United States?  Was the the sole survivor of a brutal attack?

This book traces the lives of the Romanov family from 1903 until their assassinations in 1918.  We are given the history of Nicholas and his relationship with his father.  We see how Nicholas and Alix (Alexandra) met and fell in love.  We also see the excesses of the privileged and wealthy, and the sheer poverty of the poor.

Nicholas never had the proper training to be the Tzar.  His father never took the time to teach him how to read military maps, or meet with leaders of other countries.  Because of this, Nicholas had no idea what his subjects were subjected to on a daily basis.  Mothers had no food for their children, people had less than an acre to farm and feed their families, and those who had jobs barely made enough to pay for the food that they ate.  This caused many people to become disillusioned with the Tzar because they felt he didn't understand their needs.

This opened the door for a revolution, a Marxist leader named Lenin who believed in equal for all (except those who had been landowners, and they were either imprisoned or shot), and lives no better than what they were before.

As I read this book, I thought about the people of Russia.  Since the fall of the Romanov family, there have been a series of heavy fisted leaders.  Lenin died of a stroke at the age of 52, and that left the door open for Stalin, who was said to be responsible for more deaths than Hitler.  Now they are led by Putin who has no care for human rights.  He is a seemingly cold man, and I wonder how the people of Russia really are faring.  Are their struggles still as great as they were in 1918?

What about us?  What kind of leader will we choose?  We need a leader who cares about human rights, who has experience working with world leaders, and understands diplomacy.  Think about it.  I certainly did as I read this book.

"The Promise"

While I usually review books that I have read, I am going to take a different path and write about a story I know well - my life.  This is but one chapter, and one experience that totally changed my life.

It was quite dark when I called for a Lyft.  The time was around 5:30 in the morning, and my flight back to Indiana was due to depart at 10:30.  I try to be at the airport two hours ahead of departure, and I knew the trip to LAX could possibly take an hour or more.  Nevertheless, the street was quiet, and Los Angeles still slept when I saw my driver approach.

I am always somewhat apprehensive when I travel alone in a Lyft or Uber, but my driver jumped out, grabbed my carry on, and opened the door for me.  As we headed to LAX, we started a casual conversation.  He was a recent immigrant from Armenia, and he was working two jobs to help make ends meet.  He had recently married a girl that was his friend, then he realized that what he felt for her was more than friendship.

He had been in this country for a year, and he had a lot of dreams and hopes for his future.  He asked me where I was from and he stated that he would love to see this part of the country at some point. I laughed and said that Indiana would welcome his visit.

By this time we had developed more of a rapport, and he told me that he had been a foreign exchange student in North Dakota.  He loved his experience in North Dakota, and but more importantly, he received a "taste" of democracy.  "Susan," he said, "I tasted democracy, and I can never look back.  I cannot return to my country because I am a target.  They would kill me."  I asked him who "they" was.  He told me that his country was not a democracy, and that the Armenian people were suppressed.

"Once I returned home from North Dakota, I became very outspoken.  The police were sent to silence me."  His father protected his life and made sure he was able to leave the country.  "But don't you worry about your father's safety?" I asked.  He said that his father was considered "old" and "unimportant."  "They think his voice counts for nothing.  It is the young they want to silence."  It is the young people like me who they kill to keep them quiet.  They don't want people to know about democracy."

Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Iran to the south. While Armenia is listed as a unitary multi-party democratic  nation state, he said there is much corruption, and the elections are fixed.  The people vote, but their votes are never counted.  The winners are who the government wants in control.

We talked more about his home country, Armenia, and his current job prospects.  We also talked about his fears of deportation - both for himself and his bride.  He knew that if he was sent back to his country, it would be a death sentence for both of them.

Los Angeles International Airport was in the distance, and the sun was coming up on the west coast.  Another day had begun, and my ride was soon to be over.  The driver and I were silent for a few minutes as we pulled up the the curb at the United terminal.  I knew we both had tears in our eyes.

As I prepared to leave my Lyft, my driver once again helped me with my luggage.  As I stopped to thank him, he gathered me into a hug and told me how much the time we had spent together had meant to him.

 What I had experienced was what Pastor Jill calls an "Encounter."  Both of our lives were changed by this chance meeting, and we both were once again reminded that we are brothers and sisters in this human race.

You see, before I left that Lyft, I made a promise to this young man.  I promised him that even though I was one in a sea of many, even though I was of a different culture, even though I had never experienced what he had lived through, I would do everything in my power to help him feel safe in this country. That was why we were both weeping.

I have thought of this Encounter many, many times since that day.  This young man will remain nameless for his protection.  All the while, thirty-two thousand feet in the air, I repeated this mantra.  I will never choose hate.  I will never support hate.  I will do what I can to support those who are oppressed.  I will chose love.  I will speak out.  I will not be silent.

Morrighan by Mary E. Pearson

If you read Kiss of Deception, you know that Lia comes from a country called Morrighan, and Morrighan was named after a very powerful woman who had the "gift" and created her own nation.  In this novella, we learn the history of Morrighan and how she became the great leader of her nation. 

Before nations were ever born, tribes wandered the area trying to survive.  Morrighan meets a boy from another fierce tribe, and their meeting changes their worlds forever.  This novella also gives you the necessary background to understand how the factions came to be.  

There is also a prophesy.  There is one who is coming who will save the nations and bring peace.  Read The Kiss of Deception,  then read Morrighan.   

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (The Remnant Chronicles Book 1)

Lia does not want to marry a man that she doesn't know, and certainly doesn't love.  As preparations are being made for her wedding day, she and her servant run away.   She knows that running away from her wedding will anger her father and create havoc as this was not only a wedding, but an agreement between two nations.  Lia doesn't care for any of these things as she decides to make a new life for herself.

Once she is settled in her new home, two strangers come to town.  Little does she know, one is the prince she has snubbed, who is planning on killing her, and the other is a paid assassin who is also going to kill her.  Not only are these two men after her, but her angry father has sent bounty hunters after her to take her life.  

Lia is also supposed to have the a gift.  She knows she doesn't have the gift, so there is no reason to marry a man she doesn't love and be miserable all of her life.  However, as time passes, and the bounty hunters close in, she realizes that she might have more of the gift than she realizes.  

Lia also finds herself falling in love.  But who is she falling in love with?  Her spurned prince?  Or the Assassin?  Will love win in the end?

This book is an Eliot Rosewater 2016-2017 choice.  

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts by KC Tansley

Kat Preston doesn't believe in ghosts.  She absolutely does NOT believe in ghosts!  She keeps repeating this over and over to protect herself from what she knows are the "Unbelievables."  When Kat was eight, an "unbelievable" tried to inhabit her body, and she never wants another experience like that again!

Kat is offered the scholarship of a lifetime with Dr. Astor and his team.  What Kat doesn't realize when she accepts the scholarship is that the summer research class she is taking with Dr. Astor involves researching family curses and hauntings.  She is also expected to spend at least two weeks at the Castle Creighton off the coast of Connecticut.  The castle is owned by the Radcliffe family, and a terrible tragedy occurred on the island in the 1800's.  Ever since that tragedy, the first born son of the Radcliffe family meets a tragic death at the age of twenty-three.

It is up to Kat and her team to break the curse and save the life of the current owner, Joshua Radcliffe.  They must learn the terrible secrets of the castle before Joshua turns twenty-three - which is in three weeks.

This was a free download from Amazon, and I read it on a whim.  I liked it....a lot.  This is a Young Adult novel with great character development, and plot.  I had the culprit figured out, but I didn't have a clue how the plot would be resolved.

This is Book 1 in a series that I will continue to read.  I hope you take a chance on it as well.

Night by Elie Wiesel

In order to honor a man whose words have changed my life and outlook, I am going to write about Elie Wiesel's Nobel Prize winning book, Night.

The freshman curriculum at MHS needed another book added for all levels of freshman English.  It wasn't much of a choice, really.  Night had been chosen a couple of years before to be added to the Eliot Rosewater reading list, and I had read this powerful book then.  We wanted something that would bring about awareness, and we also wanted a voice in which the students could relate.  Night was the best choice by far. 

Elie Wiesel is only fifteen when he and his family are sent to the concentration camps.  "Men to the left.  Women to the right."  Those eight words caused the family to be separated, and Elie never saw his mother or his sister again.  

Elie and his father are sent to Auschwitz, and Elie promises to take care of his father.  He questions God and the reasons for all of the inhumanities that he has to endure.  He questions humanity, and he wonders why the world is standing by not getting involved when men, women, and children are being burned.  

This book was one I taught to many, many students.  I shall never forget the day that one of the toughest girls I had ever had in class broke down in tears and asked me how people could be so awful to each other?  I had no answer to that question as I ponder the same thing every time I hear about a mass shooting, a car bomb, a crime against a man, woman, or child, or any act of terrorism. 

I often wonder how many incidents will it take before we stand up and say that we have had enough.  I often feel powerless, but I do have a voice on social media, and I intend to use this voice as I can to bring as much awareness as I can from my little space in the world.  

Elie didn't understand how he survived, and he really doesn't know how he did.  What he did know is that he was the voice for his tortured generation, and he felt that he must speak out for those who couldn't.  

"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe."  Elie Wiesel

Thank you, Elie, for making me wonder what I can do differently each day to make this world a little better.  

Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe

Marietta Muir knows she needs to get the "Summer Girls" back together.  The girls were in their early teens when they last spent their summers together on Sullivan Island, and now the sisters are located in different parts of the country.  Marietta has to get them back together because she is celebrating her 80th birthday, and her wish is to have the girls become as close as they once were.

Carson, the middle sister, lives in Los Angeles, but travels wherever her jobs take her.  She is a photographer, and is currently looking for a job.  Dora is in the midst of a horrible divorce, and Harper feels threatened by her mother.  All three girls share the same father, but all have different mothers.  Mamaw (Marietta) knows there are a lot of wounds that need healing.

This is the first book in the series, and it centers around Carson, the middle sister.  Carson is a water bug and avid surfer, and finds herself in the middle of a terrifying situation in which a dolphin comes to her rescue.  Carson also has several issues to deal with as she tries to come to terms with her past and present.

 Monroe takes the time in her book to explain about the plight of the bottlenose dolphin and what we must do to help protect this species.  The Carolina Lowcountry is also described in breathtaking detail.  I must admit that I am once again wanting to visit this area.

This book is a great summer beach read.  Even though each character has her own secrets, the reader is sympathetic and yearns to know more about the Muir family of South Carolina.

Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase (Jade Calhoun #1)

Jade Calhoun has just moved to New Orleans.  She lives above a Strip Bar, works in the adjoining coffee shop, and is an empath.  What is an empath?  Jade has the ability to read people's emotions.  Sometimes that can be helpful to see what people are feeling about you, but sometimes is can be very overwhelming.

Jade enjoys meeting her new landlord, Kane, but she is also deeply attracted to him.  Along with his business partner, Pyper, and the ladies who work the bar and coffee shop, Jade is finally realizing that she is starting to fit in and really does have friends.  She also realizes that her apartment is haunted.

Jade's life is spiraling out of control.  She has a very affectionate ghost, a ghost dog, a hunky landlord, a nasty ex who moved to town, and two part time jobs.  How many more strange instances can she take?

I started this book somewhere in Georgia.  I was immediately drawn in by the characters.  It isn't easy to read going through the mountains in Tennessee, but I really wanted to keep reading this book.  It was something out of my normal reading choices, but I am glad I took a chance on the book.  I did lose a bit of steam toward the end of the story as things became convoluted, but I rallied and would be interested in reading another book in the series.  If you decide to join me, let me know how you like the book!

Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

Greer Hennessey has been given a task.  That task seems a bit impossible as she drives through the coastal towns near Panama City, Florida.  She is looking for the perfect location for a movie; however, her director/boss wants a certain charm, a certain beach town,  She doesn't want fast food restaurants, Walmart, or anything that resembles a modern town.  She needs a town with Southern charm - with that charm (hopefully) still stuck in the 80s.

As Greer is driving along the coast, she finds the perfect town.  As the drives into Cypress Key, she KNOWS this is the place to make the movie.  Greer's director boss agrees, and now she has been ordered to prepare this town for a movie location and look for a place that can be blown up for the movie's final scene.

There are a few issues with this part of Greer's job, she has to convince the mayor, chief engineer, hotel owner, and grocery store owner to be on board with the movie and all that shooting in that location brings.  Eben Thibadeaux, the mayor, engineer, etc isn't too keen on the idea of changing his town around.  He sees the movie people as an intrusion in the town, and he believes Greer is bringing more than money to his town.  He sees other potential issues - and problems.  He also finds himself attracted to the new gal in town.  

I enjoyed Beach Town.  I connected with the entire idea of the small Florida town as I was in Florida at the time I was reading this book.  I could almost smell the salt of the sea, and I loved reading about the small town of Cypress Key.  I also didn't realize what the job of a movie location manager entails.  One thinks about the actors and of course, the director, but we often don't think about the location manager's job which involves managing everything from catering to nosy and obnoxious neighbors.  

I enjoyed Beach Town for my beach read.  I am missing the sandy toes right now though!

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

What does it mean to do the right thing?  How does know what is the right thing, and how does one go about it?  Werner has a special talent with electronics, especially  with radios and signals.  He and his sister reside at a home for orphans, and he knows he will be sent to the mines when he turns sixteen.  The mines are what caused his father's death, and Werner knows he will die if he goes to the mines.

Werner takes a chance and tries to make something of himself by earning a place at an academy where young boys are trained to become "Hitler's Youth."  Because of Werner's talent for tracking radio signals and his understanding of electronics, he is soon commissioned to travel with a team that tracks illegal radio signals throughout Europe.  Werner is very good at his job, but being good at his job also brings some experiences that a boy of sixteen doesn't understand or expect.

Marie -Laure lives in Paris and loses her sight by the age of six.  Her father works in a museum and is very good at crafting model replicas. It is these replicas that help Marie-Laure learn her way around her neighborhood.  She and her father have to flee Paris when she is twelve because of the German occupation.  They have to leave the city so quickly that she must leave behind her beloved book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne.  They travel to a small town in France called Saint-Malo, and that is where the lives of Werner and Marie-Laure intertwine.

When people are dying all around you, and a foreign army is occupying your country, where is the good?  Where is the light?  How can we see the beauty that is around us?  All the Light We Cannot See helps us see that the human spirit can be strong, brave, and compassionate. We can also try to atone for those terrible mistakes that we sometimes make that causes pain to others.

This book is the winner of the Pultizer Prize.  Written over a span of ten years, it has the makings of a masterpiece.

The Shack by William P. Young

I first saw this book while I was attending the calling for a man who died way too young.  He was my son's Scoutmaster, and in his short life he touched my son in a positive way as I know he touched countless other boys.  As I mentioned earlier, he passed away tragically and way too soon.

I was moving my way along the line, along the way there were items that represented important pieces of Mark's life and this book was lying on the table next to the urn.  I had heard of the book, but I had never read the book.  I decided immediately to see what was in this book that would be of such significance to my friend.  I borrowed the book from my friend and started to read.

After discovering the basis for "The Great Sadness," I almost couldn't continue, honestly.  It was difficult.  Life can be so hard sometimes, and knowing that a parent would ever have to live through such a traumatic and horrifying experience was almost too much to bear.

I won't go into great detail about this book because I don't want to throw out any spoilers, but there were a couple of parts that have stuck with me, and continue to speak to me.  Here is the first example:  When Mack meets Sophia, he is asked to sit in judgement.  He tells Sophia that he doesn't have that ability.  She reminds him how many times he has judged in his lifetime.  He is reminded of the many times he has judged by the actions and motivations of others.  He is reminded of the times he judged someone by the color of their skin or their body odor.  He has also judged someone based on his concept of beauty.  He is reminded that he is well practiced in the activity.

Wow.  Now that was an uncomfortable moment!  How many of those am I guilty of?  And the next question - "What criteria do you base your judgements?"  Again, I felt like squirming in my seat.

The second example comes in the same chapter just a few pages from where Mack is asked to sit in judgement.  Along the same lines, Mack is asked to judge the world since he has been judging God for all that seems to fall short in his life.  Sophia tells Mack that if we are all God's children, which of those children would he condemn to spend an eternity in Hell?  She then asks Mack to choose three of his five children to spend their eternity in Hell.  Two children can go to Heaven, and three must be sentenced to Hell.  Hell is a torment away from their father's love and presence, and many believe that God will sit in judgement of his children.

As a parent, I cannot make that choice.   What loving parent could? How could I condemn either of my children to Hell?  I couldn't. I wouldn't.  I am still thinking over this chapter, and I am still wrapping my head around these words.

If you are mad at God, and feel He has let things happen to you and/or your loved ones that He COULD have stopped from happening, this might be the book you choose to read.  If you are struggling with religion and concerned about all the evil in this world, this book again might be a good choice for you.

This book will sit for a few weeks while I wrap by head around some of the concepts brought out by the author, but I will pick this book up again... and again.

Glass Sword - The Red Queen Series Book 2 by Victoria Aveyard

In the first book, The Red Queen, Mare Barrow knows she is different after she defies death, and realizes that she can control lightning.  After she was betrayed by someone whom she thought was a friend, suddenly she and Cal, the king's son are on the run for their lives.  Cal's brother, Maven, has betrayed them both and wants them both dead.  Maven has also taken the throne.

Mare and Cal take off on a journey to find other "newbloods" like Mare.  Her blood bleeds red, but she has considerable powers.  Cal's blood bleeds silver, and for years the Silvers have oppressed the Reds.  The two of them seek to make the world better, but also seek to put an end to Maven and his mother and the terrible powers they control.

Darkness follows Mare, and she must decide what kind of ruler she will be.  Will she be able to defeat the darkness that follows her?  Will she be able to triumph over Maven and create equality for both Reds and Silvers?

Book Two ends with our character in a serious predicament.  I am excited for Book #3.  How about you?

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Alyssa has always known she was different, but she tried to hide her differences as best she could.  Even her best friends don't know the truth about her mother, and the fact that the flowers and insects talk to her.

One evening while she is working at the secondhand clothing shop, she notices strange things happening.  She feels she is being watched and has been having some flashbacks from her childhood.
When she visits her mother for the last time, she realizes that her mother isn't crazy, but that her mother has been trying to save her from a family curse.  Alyssa knows that if she doesn't find the rabbit hole and break the family curse, her mother will be considered insane and will be heavily medicated.  Her friend, Jeb, ends up accidentally going down the rabbit hole with her and they try to find the secrets of Wonderland and correct the mistakes her ancestor created.  Her guide and childhood friend, Morpheus, says he is going to help her, but she doesn't know if she can trust him.

Splintered is the first book in the Splintered series.  Now on to the second book, Unhinged.  I cannot wait!

On another note, I had the extreme pleasure of being able to meet A.G. Howard at Alan in Minneapolis in November 2016.  She was also kind enough to Hangout during our Read Across America overnight on March 4th.  Our students were engaged, and she truly was a class act!  She even sent our student signed bookmarks!

We are huge fans of the Splintered series and A.G. Howard!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Jennifer Donnelly and me at the ALAN Conference, November 2015.

Andi is very troubled.  Her brother, Truman, is dead, and Andi feels she killed him.  Her mother loses herself in her paintings, and all of her paintings are of her brother, Truman. Her father is absent and appears not to care. The only way Andi is surviving is by pills and her music. Andi is also about to flunk out of her prestigious school - until her father has her mother admitted to a mental health facility and forces Andi to accompany him to Paris for winter break.  

While visiting her father's friends, Andi finds a guitar and hidden within the case is a diary of a girl. Alex is a young girl who lived in Paris in the 1770s.  Also hidden in the guitar case is the picture of a young boy who looks startlingly like Truman.  Andi realizes from the diary that Alex becomes the caretaker for the young boy, Louis-Charles, the king's third child and grows to love the boy. Andi is startled and chilled because Andi finds that her life and Alex's life become intertwined. Even stranger, Andi realizes that Alex wants Andi to know her story and to finish the job that Alex has started.  Andi becomes obsessed with Alex's story and the time period of the French Revolution.  

While Andi is working on her final thesis paper, she learns more about Louis Charles, a musician named Armade, and herself.  One of the most powerful themes in the book is the thought that the French Revolution didn't happen because of power hungry people like Robespierre or Marat.  "No, not because of Robespierre and Marat. Or people like them.  Because of people like us."  

People like us who don't do anything to stop the bad things from happening.  People like us who lock ourselves away from the tragedies of the world and pretend they aren't happening.  Let's make a change.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Elias is a soldier.  He has been trained at the Blackcliff Military Academy to keep the Scholars in order.  He and his best friend, Helene, know what is expected of them as Martials, and that once they graduate in a few days, they will make sure that the Scholars remain under their rule.  They wear Masks that have adhered to their faces so they become what the Emperors expects.

Laia is a Scholar.  The Masks killed her parents and her grandparents.  She knows they have her brother in a jail somewhere, and she has vowed to break him free no matter what the cost.  She must infiltrate the Blackcliff Military Academy to find out where her brother has been taken.  This means she must be the slave of the Commandant.  The last two people who were her personal slaves are now dead.  Before they died, they were horribly disfigured.  Will Laia survive long enough to find her brother?

Elias and Laia will soon discover that their lives will be become intertwined.  The future of the empire is at stake, and the Augurs have predicted a leader will emerge that will forever change the landscape of the world as they know it.  Will that leader be Elias?  Laia?

There are many, many unanswered questions at the end of this book, therefore, I am looking forward to book 2 of the series.  What is their Destiny?

Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

What do a frat house, bubonic plague, an ex-hooker, and a bounty hunter have in common?  At first thought, one would think they have nothing in common, but that person has never read Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich.

I have reviewed Evanovich's books before, but if you haven't taken the time to read them, now is a good time to start!  Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula, are always on the lookout to make some extra money - and have time to stop at the Cluck in a Bucket.  Invariably, these two always seem to find trouble - or trouble finds them!  This time trouble involves a missing fraternity brother, and some wacky professors.

Not only is there something strange going on at Kiltman College, but something strange is going on with Morelli, Stephanie's on again, off again boyfriend.  He feels he needs to take a break from her, and maybe his job.  Does that mean that Stephanie can run to the arms of Ranger, the mysterious hottie who runs a security business and helps Stephanie stay out of trouble?

Evanovich's' books are always good for laugh out loud moments, so if you haven't read them, you need to start with the first one One for the Money.  You might be waiting at the airport, doctor's office, or in the car, but know that you will have some good belly laughs at the antics of Stephanie and the gang.  Game on!

Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher

       

With the recent opening of the new Star Wars movie, and the fact that I thought Carrie Fisher's interview with Today's Amy Robach was hilarious, I thought it was time to read one of her books.  

Carrie is irreverent, frank, and unapologetic.  She grew up in an extremely dysfunctional family, and she understands how Hollywood really works.  Her mother is the famous Debbie Reynolds who was once married to Eddie Fisher, who left Debbie Reynolds for the famous Elizabeth Taylor, who then dumped Eddie Fisher for the brooding Richard Burton.  Carrie really didn't know her famous father very well until she was well into her adult years.  This book covers her troubled relationship with her father, and helps us understand the real person who suddenly became famous at nineteen.  

Fisher mentions in the book that she thought she would do this little movie for about three months, then she would get on with her life and decide what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.  The little movie turned out to be one of the biggest blockbuster movies in history, and her life was never the same after.  

She hobnobs with senators, namely on Ted Kennedy.  She is quite truthful as to the type of man he was as well as the lifestyle she lived.  She openly admits that she suffered from severe depression, and came to the conclusion that she would try anything to get better.  Shock therapy was recommended for her situation, and she decided to try it.  Because shock therapy does wipe out huge chunks of memory, Fisher speaks about some of the memories that stand out more than others.  

Carrie Fisher is not known for being quiet and demure.  She even calls out Elizabeth Taylor for breaking up the marriage of her parents - at an awards show.  You will sometimes be shocked at her stories, but you will love her spirit, dedication to her father at the end of life, and her wit.  I predict there will be other books written by Carrie Fisher, and I look forward to seeing what does in the future.  

Happy New Year! Book Recommendations for 2016!

Happy New Year!  Here are some book recommendations from my former students.  I am so proud and happy that they are lifelong readers.  If you have recommendations, please comment - and add to the list.  

The Martian by Andy Weir  "The cadence was great. The science was great. The story was great. I tend to only read at night before bed so any book that makes me stay up until 5 in the morning because I don't want to put it down is a win for me. "  (Jess) 

The Martian was at the top. I liked the story, the science, and his sense of humor. Mark Watney just won't give up." (Molly)

Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. "I love how Bolz-Weber gets into the sometimes ugly,nitty-gritty realness of our lives and into the broken places of our hearts and finds God there. Fantastic read." (Michael) 

Revolution by Russell Brand . "I thought it was amazingly insightful." (Donna)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte "It was my favorite bc it's a classic and I couldn't put it down." (Brittany)

 The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins "If I had to go new age/best seller, it would be The Girl On The Train only because I couldn't guess it. It had the "Oh my God " moments where you're talking to yourself aloud." (Brittany) 

Water for Elephants and The Glass Castle would be some good picks. 

I'm in the process of reading The Sun Also Rises right now.  (Josh)

Never Knowing and Those Girls by Chevy Stephens  Very good psychological thrillers.  (Rachel)

Ready Player One by "Ernest Cline is fantastic. It's a slightly dystopian setting and a movie is in the works. The detail put into the book was absolutely enthralling and easily my favorite book that I read all year." (Paul)

Splintered by A. G. Howard "I've read too many books to name or remember this year. During my senior year of high school & my first semester of college. But by far my favorite was the Rosie book Splintered." (Catelin)

"Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory was wonderful. I have a secret love of historical fiction, and all of hers are fantastic." (Morgan)

Hild by Nicola Griffith (Jess)

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson. "I honestly, think everyone should read this book. She talks about her anxiety and mental health problems in a quirky, humorous way. I think those with depression/anxiety/etc. would find comfort and solace in not being alone and those without could start to understand what going on with those that do suffer." (Jess)

"Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates was another great read. loved the letter style. although a bleak atmosphere, it is a truthful piece of writing." (Donna)

Up Jumps the Devil by Michael Poore was my favorite book of the year. Other great ones were Dumplin by Julie Murphy, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, and Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano. (Brittany)

Up Jumps The Devil was incredibly original and funny, and the main character was sympathetic. What made all of these books great was that they all had such strong voices and characters who I really cared about. (Brittany)

Graceling by Kristen Cashore, Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. All well told with complex characters, particularly the female characters. (Katie)

And a couple of non-students who read books that deserved mention:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  "Why do I love it? Let me count the ways. Beautiful, unpretentious prose. Riveting story. Complex, unforgettable characters. Fresh metaphors which give new meaning to everything around me. Information and insights about war in general and WWII in particular--details which I had never heard of or would have ever thought about. (I want to visit St. Malo again and see what I missed when I was a clueless high school student.) Quotes from famous literary and musical works, and passages which show how art affects us if we let it. An amazing fusion of art and science and spirituality and humanity which I find very appealing." (Lynette)

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand "As is the case most often, the book was the best. I'm not sure it was my favorite but it was a book that almost anyone could enjoy and appreciate the message." (Rick)

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 I want to extend a special thank you to those students who responded to my request.  Keep reading, and keep sending book recommendations!  I am wishing you a prosperous, healthy, happy, and carefree 2016!