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!