Iris, Messenger by Sarah Deming

Deming, Sarah. 2007. Iris, Messenger.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

The main difference between school and prison is that prisons release you early for good behavior. School lasts about thirteen years no matter how good you are. Also, prison has better food. (1)

When Iris Greenwold turns twelve and receives a copy of Bulfinch's mythology, her world changes dramatically. Imagine going from black and white to technicolor. Clue #1? The book was delivered by a strange boy on a skateboard. (Not your typical UPS or mail man.) Clue #2? The book has a strange and mysterious note. To Iris, on the occasion of her twelfth birthday. Knowledge is power and then Didn't you ever wonder, Iris, what happens to gods when people stop worshipping them? Where do they go? What do they do? (11, 13).

Iris attends Erebus Middle School, a place where the teachers are weird and the punishments cruel and unusual. And while typically Iris is a bit of a dreamer--always on the verge of getting detention, she is still your average middle schooler. But Iris is about to witness the incredible as she discovers the wonderfully awful truth about herself. The Greek gods and goddesses? Not dead. The gods and goddesses are alive and living in a small town in Pennsylvania... Sad and prone to melancholy, yes. But far from dead. Her brief encounters with each god and goddess is an opportunity to listen, to learn, to appreciate the stories in a whole new way. For example, Apollo, he's a jazz musician. The loss of his son, Phaethon, has him singing the blues. Well, acting as muse as Iris makes her unexpected debut on stage. Each story is unique. And Deming gets the voices of these gods and goddesses just right.

Iris is a great heroine. She's a daydreamer. She may not have a lot of friends her own age, but she has her own unique way of seeing the world, and a gift for listening and understanding. Deming's writing style is charming and enjoyable through and through. There are so many great lines--observations that ring so true--but I don't want to spoil the plot by quoting them here. (You're just going to have to trust me on this one!)I really loved this one and I am very happy that Sarah Deming agreed to be interviewed! My interview is here. I think you will enjoy it as she sheds light on Iris, Messenger. So be sure to come and read it!

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

I recently received TWO reviews of A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban, so I'm posting both together. Thanks for sending them, Ladies. Keep the reviews comin'!

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Review by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

http://www.joycemoyerhostetter.com/
http://www.joycemoyerhostetter.blogspot.com/

Zoe Elias fantasizes about playing the piano – in Carnegie Hall.

The problem is - she does not have a piano.

There are other things she doesn’t have. Like a mother who has time for her or a father who can function in the real world. Or even a best friend, now that Emma Dent ditched her for Joella Tinstella.

But then, suddenly she has an organ (whether she wanted it or not), and organ lessons, and a wacky instructor. She also has a new friend – well not a friend, exactly. Just Wheeler Diggs who one day, follows Zoe home from school to get cookies baked by her dad. Somehow Wheeler and Zoe’s dad seem to hit it off which only adds to Zoe’s feeling of alienation.

So there are things that Zoe longs for and things that she feels stuck with. Somehow she has to find a way to deal with this less than perfect life of hers.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect is both funny and heartbreaking. It is populated with wacky characters that readers care about and is told in such a simple spare manner that one could almost miss how profound it really is!

Urban, Linda. 2007. A Crooked Kind of Perfect.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

I read this book initially for Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon. Now, less than a week later, I have reread this little gem of a book. It's a book that I would describe as practically perfect in every way. (I don't know if Linda Urban would want me to stress the near-perfect part since the message of the book seems to be that nobody can be perfect, that life isn't perfect. But even the message seems perfect to me.) Our heroine, Zoe Elias, is ten-going-on eleven. She has one dream--a very big dream. She wants to play the piano. In what could be one of the best openings of all times we read about "How It Was Supposed To Be" versus "How It Is."

I was supposed to play the piano.

The piano is a beautiful instrument.

Elegant.

Dignified.

People wear ball gowns and tuxedos to hear the piano.

With the piano, you could play Carnegie Hall. You could wear a tiara. you could come out on stage wearing gloves up to your elbows. You could pull them off, one finger at a time.

Everybody is quiet when you are about to play the piano. They don't even breathe. They wait for the first notes.

They wait.

They wait.

And then you lift your hands high above your head and slam them down on the keys and the first notes come crashing out and your fingers fly up and down and your foot--in its tiny slipper with rubies at the toe--your foot peeks out from under your gown to press lightly on the pedals.

A piano is glamorous. Sophisticated. Worldly.

It is a wonderful thing to play the piano.

The next chapter...Zoe's reality...

I play the organ.

A wood-grained, vinyl-seated, wheeze-bag organ.

The Perfectone D-60.

That's it. The entire second chapter. What a statement! But I better watch my exclamation points in this review, just in case Zoe (or her creator) is reading. Zoe really doesn't like the excessive and unnecessary use of exclamation points.

Zoe's life isn't perfect. She wants to play piano, but she's stuck with the Perfectone D-60. She wants to be playing real music. She's stuck with beginning level songbooks like Television Theme songs and Hits from the Seventies. And her social life? Well, she's been recently dumped by her best friend because her friend's interests are changing--lip gloss, tv, music, clothes, and boys. That leaves Zoe with no one to sit with at lunch, doesn't it?

Enter Wheeler.

Usually, Wheeler Diggs is a mess.

Except his hair.

On anybody else, his curly hair might look goofy, but on Wheeler Diggs it looks just the right kind of wild. And it's dark, which makes his blue eyes look even brighter. And his smile, which is kind of lopsided, looks like he's trying not to smile, but he can't help it.

Which is why, sometimes, every once in a while, somebody will smile back. And sometimes, most of the time, those people will get punched in the stomach. Which is why even the kids who sit with him at lunch are a little bit scared of him and why, really, Wheeler Diggs doesn't have a best friend, either. (58-59)

Wheeler and Zoe are the unlikeliest of friends. But when he follows her home from school one day--to get his hands on some more of her dad's cookies--it's the beginning of an odd but satisfying friendship. Though Zoe doesn't admit this for the longest time. In this book, the reader sees if practice really does make perfect. . .and if wishes really can come true.

The characters, the relationships are about as perfect as can be. I've never seen family dynamics so well captured, so well displayed. Linda Urban has created memorable, authentic characters. The book has it all--moments of happiness, frustration, disappointment, loneliness, and joy. And plenty of humor!

It kind of goes without saying, but for the record...this is one that I love, love, loved!

Linda Urban's website is great too! (I better watch those exclamations.) You can find the recipe for Bada-Bings cookies. You can read her thoughts on writing 'the perfect' book. (She writes in part that: "There is no perfect book. But there is a novel to be written that is perfectly you.")

And of course, you can find out more about Linda Urban on her bio page. She also has a livejournal page where you can read her latest thoughts.

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

Sandell, Lisa Ann. 2007. Song of the Sparrow.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/ Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Song of the Sparrow is a wonderful verse novel that retells the story of Elaine the Lady of Shalott. While the literary tradition has her as beautiful but essentially weak and desperate, Sandell's Elaine is strong, brave, and while she, for a time, is lovesick on Lancelot, she is not too desperate or clingy. (Not, I'll die without his love desperate.) Meet Arthur, Elaine, Gwynivere, Lancelot, Tristan, and Gawain in this new telling of love and war. The poetry is powerful and quite effective in communicating the behind the scenes emotions as well as capturing the senses--especially the sights and sounds of battle camps and war.

Here is a snippet from the tenth chapter:

I wish I could go back to that time,

when my mother would smile

the gentle smile that told me,

all is right and well.

Back to that time when I was

young

and loved

and safe.

When we were all safe.

That things change,

that people change,

and die,

that we grow older,

that life brings the unexpected,

the unwanted,

oh,

some days it feels me with

a measure of lightness, for

I will be a woman soon.

But other days,

the very thought

of growing older,

of not being that small girl

who danced over river rocks,

whose brothers held her hands,

whose mother lived,

the very thought of itcrushes me,

till it is stopped,by the world

outside

my memories.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/ Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Meggie is a young girl who loves to read. She's seriously obsessed. She even sleeps with books under her pillows. Her best friends are books. There's few things she loves more than a good book, a good story. Mo is Meggie's father. He loves books too. He mends them. He's a book doctor. But as much as he loves books, he knows they can be dangerous as well. He's hiding a secret. A big secret. One rainy night, the secret is forced out into the open. Meggie sees a man staring at the house, watching the house, waiting for something or someone. As soon as her father sees this man, you can begin to feel the danger, sense the adventure. Dustfinger. He has found them at last. Found them again. Dustfinger is one of those semi-likable semi-villains. Neither good, nor evil. Selfish, yet not heartless. He wants what he wants. But he doesn't necessarily want other people to suffer. He's full of longing and desire for something that is completely impossible. So he's hopelessly miserable. The secret? Well, Mo, her father, has another name. Silvertongue. Her father has a gift. Or a curse. Depending on your point of view. The 'gift' is something that he's ashamed of, something that he'd be rid of forever if he only knew how. A 'gift' that Capricorn and Basta--the villains--want to use for evil.

Inkheart is full of adventure, full of suspense, full of descriptions. It's exciting but long.

Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM by Garth Nix

Review by Heather, regular contributor

Heather's Blog

Garth Nix is in the process of writing a seven-book series--The Keys to the Kingdom Series--and I wish I could read them all, but I will be patient while the author writes. The currently published books in the series are: Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, and Lady Friday. I have not yet had the opportunity to read Lady Friday, but I am excited to do so.

The series starts as Arthur Penhaligon has a severe asthma attack. He is supposed to die, but a mysterious Mister Monday gives him a large minute hand of a clock right before his death. The minute hand turns out to be a magical key that saves Arthur's life, but also makes it so he is the Rightful Heir to the House. The House, created by the Architect, is responsible for recording everything that happens in the Secondary Realms, but the House has started to interfere in the Realms in ways it shouldn't. The Architect has left and now there are seven evil leaders of the House, all of them assigned to a specific day.

Arthur must defeat each leader (starting with Mister Monday), gain control of the house, and stop it from interfering with the Secondary Realms. He does this aided by the Will of the Architect (the parts of which manifest themselves as different animals), Suzy Turquoise Blue, Leaf, and others.

The tension is high, especially as the series progresses. So many things go wrong with Arthur, yet he always ends up all right in the end. All he wants is to go back home and live an ordinary life, but the people of the House keep making this impossible. He doesn't want to be heroic or brave, and he goes about his adventures not fighting strongly, but just trying his best and doing whatever he feels is right for himself and for the people around him. Sometimes he is exasperated with the whole situation, but he continues to fight to save his family and his life on earth.

The books go in many different directions--the back of the book explains it well: "On the first day, there was mystery. On the second day, there was darkness. On the third day, there were pirates. On the fourth day, there was war. . ." and so on. All the books are packed with action, tension, enjoyable characters, humor, and emotion. The setting is quirky, eccentric, and original.

The books are fun to read and fun to experience, and you become genuinely worried whether the characters are going to turn out all right.This series is currently my favorite fantasy series of its type. I love reading these books and can't wait (though I'll have to) to read more.

Recommended Readers: 10 and up.

THE WONDER KID by George Harrar

The Wonder Kid by George Harrar

Review by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

http://www.joycemoyerhostetter.com/


The Wonder Kid is one that I like to recommend when I speak to school groups about polio. It’s a lovely little book. Such a great size and so kid friendly with its comic strip feel. It is the story of Jesse MacLean who faced some serious life changing things one summer. As Jesse puts it:

Summer is when you’re supposed to have all sorts of fun, like one long recess…
Well, 1954, when Gramps moved in with us, was the summer of no fun—and it was all because of polio.

1954 was also the year that Jonas Salk conducted his field trial for the polio vaccine and one year later he announced the vaccine’s success. Meanwhile parents were deathly afraid for their children’s health and Jesse’s mom was no exception. So she kept him in the house as much as possible – no swimming whatsoever and only one trip alone to the picture show. Jesse spent his time drawing, visiting with his Gramps, and imagining himself strong like Charles Atlas.

Then grief strikes Jesse and polio does too. He feels weaker than ever. But in some ways he is just finding his own strength.

This story is about much more than polio. It is about relationships and how they carry us through difficult times, how the smallest things we say have a lasting impact on others, and how people who seem really tough on the outside may actually feel as vulnerable as we do on the inside.

Jesse shares this story in first person. His voice is “easy listening” – not in the relaxing sense of the word; there are some disturbing things in his story. But he shares them with humor and honesty and the reader cares about him right away.

The author note at the end is a really good overview of polio history.

Oh, and I loved this word of wisdom from Jesse MacLean:

Sometimes when a mean thought goes through your head, it’s better to zip your mouth closed.

THE BOOK OF TIME by Guillaume Prevost

THE BOOK OF TIME by Guillaume Prevost

Review by Allana, regular contributor.

The Book of Time: By Guillaume Prevost is a book that from the fifth page, will suck you in. I read it in one day, and couldn't put it down. From the detailed descriptions of the scenery, to the characters vibrant personalities, this book has more than one reason to dive in. It is the first book of a series, so even when you finish, you'll have more to look forward to after you are done.

This is the story of Sam, a young boy who is sent on a journey of epic proportions. When Sam's father disappears, Sam, who usually lives with his grandparents, goes over to his father's house. But what he finds is more than he is willing to take on. A stone statue in a secret area in his father's basement. The secret of the statue is what sends Sam off on a journey of a lifetime. He learns that with the power of the statue, he can travel through time. With some help from his cousin Lilly, a nagging Aunt, and a few newspaper articles, Sam might just be able to take on his worst fear; A bully named Monk. Whether or not Sam succeeds is for you to find out.

This book is full of suprises, and with throw you for many loops. I loved The Book of Time and I hope you do too!

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/ Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Number the Stars is a Newbery winner. It is the story of a young girl, Annemarie, and her family. The book is set during World War II in Denmark, 1943 to be precise. Annemarie and Ellen are best friends. The two live together in the same apartment building. The two go to school together. The two do practically everything together. But all that is about to change, you see, Ellen and her family are Jewish. And while the soldiers--Nazis--have been occupying Denmark for over a year, their policies are about to change. There is danger in the air, and everyone--young and old--can feel it. This is the story of two girls, two friends, and two brave families. I always enjoy reading about the war and the holocaust from the danish perspective. For one thing, the resistance movement is strong, powerful. Denmark was a nation with people who cared, who took risks, who did the right thing, who saved lives. I think this book can be read and enjoyed by everyone--no matter your age--despite the fact that it is a "children's book."

It's a Mall World After All by Janette Rallison

IT'S A MALL WORLD AFTER ALL by Janette Rallison

Review by Emily, Head Mama of DCR

Emily's other blog: Whimsy Books

There's a good chance you read the title of this book and had similar thoughts to mine...sounds like cheesy chick lit. Well, maybe it kind of is, but it is written well, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. In fact, I read it in about a day.

I strongly recommend IT'S A MALL WORLD AFTER ALL if you like clean teen romances. Similar movie flicks would include A Cinderella Story, High School Musical...you know, the fun, innocent high-schoolish romances.

Charlotte, a tall-and-pretty klutz, works at the mall as a perfume spritzer for Bloomingdale's. From the entry of Bloomingdale's, she watches life at the mall, often spying on classmates. However, sometimes spying can get you into trouble. A funny series of events unfolds. I honestly laughed out loud, which I rarely do, while reading.

Besides being an active member of NHS (the National Honor Society), Charlotte loves to head up service projects, but being a klutz, something always goes wrong. During the course of the story, she finds a way to help disadvantaged kids for a Christmas project.

It is pretty obvious who Charlotte likes and how the story will end, but does that matter? Most chick flicks are predictable. That certainly doesn't stop me from loving them. If you don't like predictability, IT'S A MALL WORLD AFTER ALL may not be for you. However, if you love a quick-n-funny chick flick now and then, like I obviously do, read this one.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Lowry, Lois. 2006. GOSSAMER.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

I’m not unfamiliar with Lois Lowry. I’ve read Number the Stars. I’ve read The Giver (which is one of "Our Favorites"). And I had really loved those books. Enough to buy my own copies instead of relying on the library. But I didn’t expect to be so swept up with her newest book GOSSAMER. I expected it to be good. But I didn’t expect it to be a WOW book. It’s like this book was written just for me. Instant connection. Instant love.

What is it about? Gossamer is the story of Littlest. What is Littlest you ask? She isn’t a human. She isn’t a dog. (You’ll have to read it to get the joke). She’s an imaginary creature of sorts. A dream giver. Or to be more precise. A dream giver in training. If you’re like me you’ve always wondered why you dream the things you do. Wondered why certain fragments fit together in your dream in a completely random way. Sometimes in a wonderfully pleasant way. Small details of your life--whether recent or from years or even decades past--suddenly confront you in your dreams. The answer is provided in Gossamer. Dream givers. Benevolent creatures that bestow dreams to humans. One dream giver per house...unless you’re training a little one. Thin Elderly is training Littlest and their household is an interesting one. An elderly woman and her dog...until one day an eight year old boy (foster care???) from an abused background moves in with her over the summer. Can an old woman and two dream givers bring peace and joy to an angry boy? Or will his nightmares follow him? Can good dreams overpower bad with a little loving help? It’s a simple story really covering a wide range of human emotions: anger, pain, shame, guilt, despair, love, joy, peace, hope, laughter.

This gathering, this dwelling place where they slept now, heaped together, was only one, a relatively small one, of many. It was a small subcolony of dream-givers. Every human population has countless such colonies--invisible always--of these well-organized, attentive, and hard-working creatures who move silently through the nights at their task. Their task is both simple and at the same time immensely difficult. Through touching, they gather material: memories, colors, words once spoken, hints of scents and the tiniest fragments of forgotten sound. They collect pieces of the past, of long ago and of yesterday. They combine these things carefully, creating dreams... (13).

If the premise doesn’t get you...perhaps Littlest will. She is a lovable, memorable character.

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis, 2007

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's reviews can also be found at...

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Elijah of Buxton is about as perfect as a book can get. What can I really say about it? It's historical fiction. It's set in Canada. It is about the community of Buxton--a safe haven for runaway slaves. The Canada border means one thing to a slave--ultimate freedom. Elijah was not a runaway slave. He was the first "free" child born into this community. He also holds the dubious honor of having thrown up on Frederick Douglass. (Elijah was an infant at the time.)

Doggone-it-all, seems like the things that people enjoy sticking to your name permanent ain't never good things, they're always things that are tragical. I ain't the kind of person that complains for no reason, but I gotta say, I already got one tragedy tied up with my name that is so horrible that it wouldn't be one bit fair that I'd get another. The tragedy that's so horrible put a scar on me that I'm-a be carrying till the day I die. You'd think growned folks would cry when they saw me, but that don't happen atall. Even Ma and Pa try to act like it ain't all that noticeable and that they ain't 'shamed to have folks see they're raising me, but I know better. It happened when I waren't nothing but a baby and I caint see why I'm to blame, but that's when the famousest, smartest man who ever escaped from slavery stood on a tall stage that had got built in the schoolhouse and raised me way up over his head in front of a crowd of people. From the way Pa tells it, the man must've had me twenty feet up in the air. He was giving a speech when the accident happened 'cause every time he made a point he'd give me a little shake way up there over top of his head. I waren't even a year old back when Mr. Frederick Douglass and Mr. John Brown visited Buxton. . . They'll tell you I throwed up on Mr. Douglass for a whole half a hour afore Ma come and snatched me away and pointed me out the schoolhouse window. They say I near drownded the man. Some folks swear I throwed up so hard that desks and chairs rose up and floated out of the schoolhouse. Mr. Polite said I throwed up so plentiful that didn't no deers nor rabbits die in the woods for five years after. He said the bears and the wolves et my vomit for that long since it was considerable easier for them to do that than to try to run down some animal that waren't looking to get et. And that don't make no sense. That don't make no sense atall. First off, 'cause they're always telling us how smart Mr. Frederick Douglass is. They tell us he can talk Greek like a Greek and Latin like a Latin, and anybody who's that smart ain't gonna sit and hold no baby over his head that's throwing up on him for no whole half a hour... (from chapter two)

The rich narrative style, the characters, everything is so well done, so perfect. Elijah is a great narrator. He gives a great portrait of his family, his friends, his community--from school to church and everything in between. The first two-thirds of the book has a relaxed framework. It's all about establishing the setting, getting to know the characters, just sitting back and enjoying story after story after story. But the last third of the book the plot becomes focused--centered--around one story in particular. Elijah and one of the men from the community, Mr. Leroy, set out to go to America. Mr. Leroy is hoping to buy his children out of slavery. But there are many problems and set backs along the way. The good news for Elijah is that finally he has a chance to redeem himself and get something good attached to his name. It is his chance to be a hero.

I loved this book so much. I definitely recommend this one to one and all--young and old.

Mr Travis, when he's being our Sabbath school teacher, says the Lord rested on Sunday and commanded us to do the same. But, doggone-it-all, that's one lesson that ain't sticking too good with him and all the other growned folks 'cause half of every Sunday ain't spent resting, it's spent in church. And whilst Ma and Pa say church ain't work, some of the time if I had my druthers, I'd druther clean five stables and dig two miles of drainage ditch and clear three acres of woodland than sit through a whole morning and afternoon of church. . . I ain't trying to show no disrespect. . . Reverend King's a mighty good man, after all he is the one that started the Settlement, I am saying his sermons go on so long that some of the time you feel like begging, "Take me now, Jesus" 'bout halfway through'em. (201-202)

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

Review by me, Emily

My other blog: Whimsy Books

I'm a little bit torn about this book. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it. It's funny, meaningful, creative, compelling, thoughtful, realistic, and hopeful. It's a teen version of the "miracle books" I've talked about before, like The Wednesday Letters, Letters for Emily, and the Blue Bottle Club.

There is a difference, though...and, despite how wonderful Jeremy Fink is, and how well written, I admit that this difference is bothering me a bit.

The adult miracle books I have mentioned all incorporate God into the meaning of life. To me, God and the meaning of life go hand-in-hand and cannot exist without the other.

There are a couple brief mentions of religion in Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life...but these almost make it worse. I think the story would have been better without addressing religion at all than the way it was done. Jeremy and his best friend, Lizzy, have some time to kill and wander into a church where they are healing people. They leave more confused than ever but don't really talk about what was confusing.

Anyway, the book was wonderful. I just feel like it is missing something. God. It still has a great message (enjoy every moment of life), but, in my opinion, lacks the bigger picture. I certainly don't think all novels need to talk about God. I read more regular fiction than Christian fiction, but I feel that talking about the meaning of life without God is a little bit...empty.

So, you may be wondering why I am reviewing it at all since I don't review books I'm not excited to share...well, I AM excited to share this one. I just want to be upfront about what you are getting into.

Jeremy Fink is almost thirteen when a package arrives for his mother. Encouraged by his best friend, Lizzy, he opens the box to find another box. A beautiful wooden box engraved with the words, "The Meaning of Life, For Jeremy Fink to open on his thirteenth birthday." The ornate box is accompanied by a note that says the four keys (one for each side) have been lost.

As you can imagine, an adventure begins. Jeremy, who is afraid of subways, has a mutant candy collection, and sweats peanut butter, is the ultimate fun character. Wendy Mass has nailed his voice. He takes us on his quest to understand the meaning of life. He wonders what is wrong with himself that he never pondered the meaning of life before.

The journey takes Jeremy and Lizzy to a fortune-teller, a Natural History museum, a comic shop, an abandoned law firm, and even to a makeshift police office.

Despite my one minor reservation about it, I am recommending Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Check it out. I bet you'll love it.

Please send reviews...

My reserve of reviews is getting low. You know, DCR is not possible without your help. I LOVE to read, but I certainly don't read three novels/week. My hope for DCR is that it will be helpful for more and more people and that eventually I will receive enough reviews to post daily.

If you have read a delicious book lately that would be rated G or PG and is free of sex and profanity, please send me a review at emykate03 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com.

Many thanks!

PS...I just finished Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass and will be posting a review of it later today or tomorrow morning. See you then.

Winner Winner Winners!

Shannon Hale Week was a success. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Many comments were made. I wish I had books to give all of you....but, alas, I only have three signed books.

And the winners are...(as chosen by my lil guy)...
Bohae
Sarah (from Iceland)
Dasha-girl

If you are one of these lucky people, email me at emykate03 *AT* yahoo *COM*. I need your street address. I also need you tell me which book you want most. I have a hardcover of Book of a Thousand Days, and softcovers of The Goose Girl and Princess Academy. All three have been personalized by Ms. Hale.

Winners have a full week to email me. If any of the winners do not email me during that time, I will choose another winner to take their place.

If you didn't win, click on a bookcover to buy it on Amazon.




Remember, if you purchase books through DCR, a portion of the money comes back to us and helps fund giveaways. Thanks.

PS...I'm low on reviews again! If you have read a delicious book lately that is free of sex and profanity, please email me a review! Thanks.

Shannon Hale: Austenland and Book of a Thousand Days

I didn't get a chance to blog about Shannon Hale yesterday, because I was too busy driving out to meet her. Yesterday, she spoke and signed books at All Tucked In in the Salt Lake area. This was the second time I had the opportunity to hear her and have books signed (you can read about the first here).

Yesterday, Shannon told us about her two latest books, Austenland and Book of a Thousand Days (reviewed here). Following will be my notes from yesterday.

In 1996, the world changed. Do you know what happened? The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice was released on VHS. (Some of you young people probably don't even know what that is....) Shannon was first exposed to the movie when her little brother was supposed to read the book for high school. Although Shannon loved the book, her brother got caught up on words like "clergy" and wasn't really seeing the magic of it all. So, they sat down to watch, along with Shannon's boyfriend (who later became her hubby). She didn't understand why the movie made her feel sweaty and nervous. She only hoped the boys wouldn't notice. After a couple hours, the guys went outside, and Shannon, saying she wanted to rest, stayed in to finish the movie...and then re-watch the best parts.


Upon talking to some friends, she found that she wasn't alone in her love of the movie. One friend in particular had to ground herself from Pride and Prejudice, get it out of the house even.


Because of Shannon's past in acting, she thought about how fun it would be to go to a place where she could be immersed in the world of Jane Austen. So she wrote the book.


Austenland is the story of Jane Hayes, who is completely obsessed with Mr. Darcy, and more specifically, Mr. Darcy as played by Colin Firth.


Just making sure you're still awake...


Anyway, Jane's Great-Aunt dies and leaves her an all-expense paid to Austenland. Jane decides to use it as one last obsessive act, and drop her beloved BBC addiction forever...but, on her dream vacation, will she find a Darcy of her own?


When Shannon wrote Austenland, she kept showing it to her first test audience, her supportive husband. For five years, she worked on it, and he wasn't too impressed. Finally, she realized he really wasn't the ideal audience, published it, and the rest is history, as they say.

Book of a Thousand Days is loosely based on a Grimm Brothers fairy tale called Maid Maleen. She didn't choose to write the story because she loved it, she chose it because it made her want to slap the Grimm Brothers. After all, there was a maid locked into a tour with a lady for a very long time, and she hardly got any attention in the original tale. In fact, the Grimm Brothers completely dropped her halfway through the story.

Shannon asked herself lots of questions about the 3 page story. Eventually, after lots of research, she knew it had the potential to be a full novel. A diary-style novel from the maid's point of view.

In researching, she found a few nuggets of gold. She discovered that Mongolians believed in strong powers of song, that when you hold someone close, you can smell the scent of their soul, and that the ultimate humiliating, debasing act is for someone to be in public without clothes on.

I suppose that's all I'm going to share. I recommend that if you ever have a chance to hear her speak, you take it.

After her speech, a long line formed to have books signed. I had THREE books signed for giveaways! A hardcover of Book of a Thousand Days, a softcover of Princess Academy, and a softcover of Goose Girl. She wrote a brief, unique message in each. Be sure to leave a comment (or many comments) on any of the Shannon Hale posts this week to be entered into the drawing. I will close the drawing at midnight MST on Sunday, November 11th. 3 winners will be announced Monday.

I had my ARC of Austenland signed. It was the first ARC I ever received, so I was happy to have the opportunity to have it personalized. When I told Shannon who I was, she stood up and hugged me. I was so flattered. In fact, I was so happy about the whole evening (except the fact that my kids knocked over her life-sized Mr. Darcy with an I Heart SH button on his lapel) that I actually dreamed I went to a museum with her and another LDS celebrity of sorts last night (I probably shouldn't have admitted that)...but don't worry, it's not an obsession...I promise.

And, if you are LDS and wondering who in the world went to the museum with us, it was...

...Random...

Interview with Shannon Hale

Here it is! My interview with the fabulous, Shannon Hale:

I asked some of my blog readers what questions they had for you. Here are some of their questions...

1. Lindsey Leavitt asked: Will you be my best friend?

Of course. I’m wearing our BFF bracelet right now.

2. Olmue wants to know how you balance it all--writing, family, other responsibilities?

Ha! That’s my favorite joke. Umm…okay, really, I put my family first, grab writing time whenever I can, and try not to stress about anything else.

3. Sarah Johnson and her daughters asked how many more Bayern books there will be.

I’m writing a fourth right now. I have other books I want to do next, but I imagine I’ll always return to Bayern as often as a good story occurs to me.

4. Kelly R. Fineman would like to know how much research you did for Book of a Thousand Days and how you organize your research.

I’m not very organized. I do a good deal of research, before I write and while I write. I take notes, keep a folder of ideas, and always use much less than I’d like.

Okay, now a couple questions from me.

1. Austenland is very different from the rest of your published books. Do you plan to write any more books like it?

I’m writing another of the same ilk that may be out in 2009. I get bored easily and it’s nice for me to vary my writing (first person, third, contemporary, fantasy, graphic novel…)

2. Personally, I think Book of a Thousand Days is ONE INCREDIBLY WRITTEN book (sorry to yell at you). I've always been a fan, but this one is my favorite so far. If I were on the Newbery committee, I'd vote it to the top. Please tell us how you got the idea for it. Do you struggle for great ideas or do they pop into your head all the time?

Thank you! I get lots and lots of ideas. That’s not the problem. The struggle in writing for me is finding the story in the idea and the words to tell it right. This is based on an obscure fairy tale, Maid Maleen, and my desire to tell the maid’s story, as she was just mentioned and then forgotten in the original tale, which really chapped my hide.

3. What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

When I find just the perfect sentence.

4. What is the hardest part of being a writer?

When I know it’s not working but I don’t know how to fix it. And getting through a first draft.

5. And finally (because I know you are a fan of flattery), how does it feel to be witty, pretty and intelligent and basically an all-around Writer Rockstar?

What? I don’t know what you mean. I’m incredibly humble and modest, and my fabulous good looks are more a curse than a blessing. But if you insist…

Thanks, again!

I know, I know. It's kind of silly, but isn't she fabulous? She used to be a stand-up comedian. You couldn't tell, could you?

Don't forget to comment to be entered into the drawing for one of two signed Shannon Hale books. You can enter as many times as you want!

Shannon Hale's Books on Amazon

I've been playing around with Amazon's widgets. This one shows all of Shannon Hale's published books.



Remember, if you purchase books through DCR, a portion of the money comes back to us and helps fund giveaways. Click on any of the book covers to see its Amazon page. Thanks.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

PRINCESS ACADEMY by Shannon Hale



Review by Emily, Head Mama of DCR
My other blog: Whimsy Books



I believe Princess Academy was my first experience with Shannon Hale's books. I expected a typical novel about a normal girl who falls in love with a prince, becomes a princess, and lives happily ever after. I was wrong.



What I discovered, instead, was something fresh and unique, something different than all the other princess books I had ever read.



Miri wishes to be helpful in her small mountain community, but her father will not let her work. Miri assumes it is because she is so small. The people of her community work very hard in the quarries to make a meager living.



Soon, their whole world is turned upside-down. The king's priests determine that the prince's bride will come from their little town of Mount Eskel. All eligible girls are sent down the mountain to a makeshift princess academy, where they are to learn how to become princesses. At the end of their training, the prince will choose a bride from among them.



Miri has mixed feelings about the whole thing. Does she want to be the princess? Fierce competition ensues, but Miri is still battling with herself as well. At the academy, Miri finds herself, and, at the same time, is able to save the girls and the whole village.



I think what makes Princess Academy so different is the setting. A beautiful world of light fantasy that feels completely realistic. You won't find mystical creatures in Princess Academy, but you will find magic, magic that stems from the people of Mount Eskel and the mountain itself.



Miri is a well-developed strong female character. She is small in size, named after a tiny mountain flower, but big in heart and inner strength. Her relationships with her father, a mountain boy, her best friend, and the prince are complex and realistic.



I recommend this Newbery-honor book to readers of all ages. It was a pleasant surprise for me, and I have become the kind of fan that reads each new Shannon Hale title as soon as it is released.



PS...Don't forget to leave a comment on any (or all) of the Shannon Hale posts to be entered into the drawing for one of two signed Shannon Hale books!

PSS...We'll be posting the interview tomorrow. See you then!

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale Review Giveaway

Today is the start of 100 Week! We are celebrating our 100th review by spotlighting Shannon Hale all week. We will be posting reviews, an exclusive interview, and a book group discussion.



And GUESS WHAT? If you comment on ANY of the Shannon Hale posts this week, you will be entered into a drawing for one of two signed books by Mrs. Hale. You may enter as many times as you wish, but please make comments that are relevant to the posts. THANKS. Winners will be announced one week from today, on November 12, 2007. (Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you, a blog link or email addy.)





BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS by Shannon Hale

Review by Heather Walker
Heather Walker's Blog


I have read quite a few good reviews of Book of a Thousand Days, by the wonderful Shannon Hale so I was expecting good thing.

It was better than I could have ever hoped for. It was perfect.

The book follows Dashti, a lady's maid, and Lady Saren as they are locked up into the tower for seven years and their subsequent adventures as they try to survive in a war-ridden land.
It was a story that made you forget every story you have ever read before. I had no idea what was going to happen with the characters–I was reading something new and raw, with no expectations. I read as if it were the only book that existed in the world.
Why? Because of Dashti. Dashti is the author of the book. The book is her journal. I usually end up understanding characters, relating to them, and liking them. I loved Dashti. I loved her as if she were my best friend, as if she were my sister. As if she were real. I've read many books and stories where the characters are real, but I haven't loved them as I have loved Dashti. I loved Lady Saren as Dashti loved her. I knew these people and I became a part of their world.
The setting was magnificent. Gone with the Western norm, this was set in a world based off of Asia. Gone was the cliched magic of fantasy books. It was Shannon Hale magic in its best: subtle, gentle, feminine, beautiful.

The voice and tone were Dashti. The words were so different from what many books are, but the newness and rawness of the words became part of me. There was beauty, and there was deep, deep sadness in the book. I have never read a book that so adequately portrayed the sadness of life and war–it could have been real. This never seemed like a world of fiction, ever, it was real. Instead of pretty heroines with feisty attitudes, the book offered something heartfelt, real, and full of inner beauty.

I love Book of a Thousand Days. Wow. Wow. Wow. Please read it. It isn't an enjoyable, fun read. It isn't something that you laugh through and are entertained. You do laugh, but it is the deep laugh that comes from sadness. You cry, but it is because you are happy. You see these characters and you join them and can weep for them, laugh with them, and rejoice with them. This book is what any book should aspire to be.

Recommended readers: 12 and up. Some of the material is somewhat dark, involving death and tragedy (there is some kissing as well).

The original review was posted at: http://heatherwalker.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/book-of-a-thousand-days/

A Comic for Stephenie Meyer Lovers...

Love Bella and Edward? Check this Twilight-inspired comic out.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mutts.asp?date=20071022

100th Week is Coming Soon!

Next week we are celebrating 100th week at Deliciously Clean Reads. 100 reviews that is!

I am terribly THRILLED to announce that we are celebrating with a Shannon Hale spotlight week, which will include an exclusive interview, reviews of several of her books, AND a giveaway for a signed copy of one or more of her books!

I can't wait. Make sure to check back!

A Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer

A VALLEY OF BETRAYAL by Tricia Goyer

Review by Lauren, regular contributor.

Baseballs and Bows

A Valley of Betrayal is the first book in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series by Tricia Goyer. In this novel, Sophie Grace heads to Madrid to find her fiance. Little does she know she is entering a country torn apart by conflict. As war erupts around her, she learns that her dreams of a happy reunion and marriage may be destroyed along with the lives of the Spanish people. Sophie must decide what to do next and determine if God has a role for her amidst the desolation and heartache all around her.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so this book piqued my interest from the beginning. From there, I found myself drawn into Sophie's story as well as the mysteries surrounding some of the other characters. I will admit that I was a little disappointed when some of my questions were left unanswered at the end. But, now I can look forward to finding the answers in A Shadow of Treason, the second book in the series, soon!

This book is for adults.

Interview with Linda Press Wulf, author of The Night of the Burning

A couple days ago, we posted a review by Joyce Moyer Hostetter of THE NIGHT OF THE BURNING by Linda Press Wulf. Now, we get a special treat!

An interview with Linda Press Wulf – author of THE NIGHT OF THE BURNING: DEVORAH’S STORY

Joyce: I am wondering about your mother-in-law’s story. Can you share a few sentences about how her story was kept alive and why you were moved to tell it in The Night of the Burning?
Linda: My mother in law died while my husband was in medical school, when she was in her 60s, and I never met her. I knew only the bare bones of her story, told to me by my husband as she had told it to him. The initial coincidence that attracted me was the part about the Isaac Ochberg prize but that was soon eclipsed by the rest of the extraordinary story.

Joyce: I’m sure very few witnesses are still living, huh?
Linda: I did interview an elderly woman who was one of the last survivors of the group of children forming the core of the book. Her mind was sharp, her memories vivid, and I not only made her a character in the book but I also turned her stories over and over in my mind until they became background material for the main character, a different girl in that group.

Joyce: When you were writing The Night of the Burning, what were your favorite or most helpful resources?
Linda: I did some formal research in a wonderful institute in Manhattan called YIVO, which is a wide-reaching collection and library concerning Yiddish life, and in the Jewish Community Library in San Francisco . It actually thrills me each time I find that librarians are so willing to give of their time to help those with questions, without any condition being placed on the competence of the questioner or the importance of the question.

Joyce: How hard do you have to work to make time for writing?
Linda: I write very quickly when I sit down and begin, but, like many people, I’ve always found it very hard to take that first step. While I was writing my first book, I told myself that Tuesdays were my writing days. Before I took my little boys to their morning “nursery school” nearby, I would dress in a pair of white wool pants and sweater, which were a symbol of getting away from spilled children’s food and sticky fingers and being a professional for the day. Then I would write from about 9.30 until about 12.30. That once-a-week commitment actually took me through the bulk of the first draft of my manuscript, which I hope will be encouraging to others.

After a few years I found it too distracting to write at home (the fridge can draw me several times an hour with its magnetic power, not to mention the phone ringing), so eventually I started writing in a café, where the considerable background noise is strangely undistracting.

Now… I have had to find an alternative – a quiet and attractive library in my older son’s high school, where I can tuck myself at an out-of-the-way desk, stare occasionally at the beautiful old trees on the sidewalk, and write uninterruptedly. This location has the added benefit of not selling muffins and lattes, although I do sneak in a little pile of coffee candies. The librarians are welcoming (if I were a librarian, I would enjoy having people write in my library), and I like this new place very much.

Joyce: What do you love most about the writing life?
Linda: I write because I’ve thought of myself since elementary school as a writer and it’s one of my few talents. And because I love writing. When I go into that trance-like state, all the niggling little things of life disappear and I feel pure and focused. My writing companion expressed it as a private island, where only you, the writer, can set foot. The affirmation I received from the fact of my first book being accepted for publication was a waking call. That must mean I CAN do it, I reason, and therefore I SHOULD do it.

There’s a powerful little story about Rabbi Y. who was very harsh on himself because he was not as pious or as learned or as good as Rabbi A. Then he was told, “At the end of your life, God will not ask, ‘Why were you not like Rabbi A?’ Instead, God will ask, ‘Why were you not like Rabbi Y?” That influenced me to believe that we have to find what we do best and actually do it, so as not to waste a skill that we were born with, which we did nothing to deserve.

Joyce: I understand you’re writing another historical novel. Have you been surprised to find yourself writing about history or did you always know you wanted to do this?
Linda: I loved reading historical fiction when I was a child, influenced by my older brother, who had a deep interest in history. I think the two of us knew much more about the Catholic Church, the dominant factor in European history for so many centuries, than any of our Christian friends! The pleasure of it for me was (and still is) that I was reading about real people, in a real period of history, well packaged in an exciting story.


Thanks Linda Press Wulf – you have given us just that - a well packaged exciting story abut real people in a real period of history!

THE SCRIBE by Francine Rivers

THE SCRIBE by Francine Rivers

Review by Lauren, regular contributor.
Baseballs and Bows

The Scribe, the fifth and final book in Francine Rivers' Sons of Encouragement Series, is the story of Silas, an important figure in the early church. The story begins shortly before the apostle Peter's death, but much of the narrative focuses on Silas' memories of the events surrounding Jesus' ministry, Jesus' death, and the spread of the gospel after Jesus' resurrection. The book is short and easy to read, but it carries a powerful punch. As with all the books in this series, I am so glad I read it.

Although this is a fictional story, Mrs. Rivers sticks closely to the Biblical text; the details she adds are based on research and what she believes could have happened. One of the aspects of this book that I appreciated was that after reading this book, I wanted to reread the Biblical account to compare and contrast the two. Additionally, reading this book gave me a greater appreciation for the historical setting and the context in which the early Christians lived.

The other books in this series are written in a similar style; they tell the stories of Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, and Amos. Mrs. Rivers also has five books, called the Lineage of Grace Series, highlighting the five women that are named in the lineage of Christ: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary (I enjoyed this series tremendously). Be sure to give these books a try!

This book is suitable for older teens and adults.

Robert's Snow Week 3

Here we go again. Another wonderful week of illustrator features to benefit Robert's Snow to raise money for cancer research at Dana-Farber! Please note that I will be featuring Sylvia Long (of An Egg is Quiet fame) at Whimsy Books on Friday!
(Many, many thanks to Jen Robinson for preparing the html codes for the schedule and the intro/end notes again this week! She saved me SO MUCH time!)

As you know if you've been visiting any children's book blogs for the past few weeks, Robert's Snow is an online auction that benefits Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Over 200 children's book illustrators have created art on individual snowflake-shaped wooden templates. The snowflakes will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to cancer research. You can view all of the 2007 snowflakes here. Jules and Eisha from Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast have found a way for bloggers to help with this effort, by blogging about individual illustrators and their snowflakes. The idea is to drive traffic to the Robert's Snow site so that many snowflakes will be sold, and much money raised to fight cancer. The illustrator profiles have been wonderful so far - diverse and creative and colorful. And there are lots more to go.

Here's the schedule for Week 3, which starts Monday. As previously, this early schedule links to the participating blogs, instead of to the individual posts. You can find links to the posts themselves, and any last-minute updates, each morning at 7-Imp. Jules and Eisha have also set up a special page at 7-Imp containing a comprehensive list of links to the profiles posted so far. Also not to be missed is Kris Bordessa's post summarizing snowflake-related contests to date over at Paradise Found.

Monday, October 29

• Dan Santat at Writing and Ruminating



• Joanne Friar at The Longstockings



• Alissa Imre Geis at Wild Rose Reader



• Diane Greenseid at Just One More Book!!



• Sean Qualls at Brooklyn Arden

Tuesday, October 30

• Ann Koffsky at Book Buds



• Bill Carman at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy



• Gretel Parker at Finding Wonderland



• Matt Phelan at A Year of Reading



• Stephanie Roth at Writing with a broken tusk

Wednesday, October 31

• Shawna Tenney at Kate's Book Blog



• Adam Rex at Booktopia and Welcome to my Tweendom



• Mo Willems at MotherReader



• Rolandas Kiaulevicius at a wrung sponge

Thursday, November 1

• Karen Lee at sruble's world



• Diana Magnuson at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy



• Melissa Iwai at Brooklyn Arden



• Victoria Jamieson at AmoXcalli and Cuentecitos



• Molly Idle at The Shady Glade



• Meghan McCarthy at A Fuse #8 Production

Friday, November 2

• Tracy McGuinness-Kelly at Sam Riddleburger's blog



• Sarah Kahn at Kate's Book Blog



• Sylvia Long at Whimsy Books



• Jeremy Tankard at the excelsior file



• Holli Conger at Please Come Flying

Saturday, November 3

• Susan Miller at Your Neighborhood Librarian



• Ellen Beier at What Adrienne Thinks About That



• Hideko Takahashi at The Silver Lining



• Judith Moffat at Jo's Journal



• Wendell Minor at Wild Rose Reader

Sunday, November 4

• Joy Allen at Check It Out



• Robin Brickman at Greetings from Nowhere



• Lauren Stringer at laurasalas



• Nancy Wallace at In the Pages . . .

Please take time out to visit all of these blogs, and read about these fabulous illustrators. And, if you're so inclined, think about bidding for a snowflake in the Robert's Snow auction. Each snowflake makes a unique gift (for yourself or for someone else), and supports an important cause.

See also the following note from Elaine Magliaro of Wild Rose Reader:

Note to Blog Readers about Blogging for a Cure: When Jules of 7-Imp put out her call in September for bloggers to interview/feature artists who had created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007 at their blogs, a number of artists had not yet sent in their snowflakes to Dana-Farber. As time was of the essence to get Blogging for a Cure underway, we worked with the list of artists whose snowflakes were already in possession of Dana-Farber. Therefore, not all the participating artists will be featured. This in no way diminishes our appreciation for their contributions to this worthy cause. We hope everyone will understand that once the list of artists was emailed to bloggers and it was determined which bloggers would feature which artists at their blogs, a schedule was organized and sent out so we could get to work on Blogging for a Cure ASAP. Our aim is to raise people’s awareness about Robert’s Snow and to promote the three auctions. We hope our efforts will help to make Robert’s Snow 2007 a resounding success.

THE NIGHT OF THE BURNING: DEVORAH'S STORY by Linda Press Wulf

THE NIGHT OF THE BURNING: Devorah’s Story by Linda Press Wulf

Review by Joyce Moyer Hostetter

http://www.joycemoyerhostetter.com/
http://www.joycemoyerhostetter.blogspot.com/

I love stories that take place in eastern Europe so it was natural for me to pick up The Night of the Burning. This story begins in an orphanage in Poland but immediately the reader realizes the setting is about to change. Devorah Lerhman and her sister Nechama receive an invitation to move to a strange land – Africa.
Devorah is leery. Her life so far has been filled with loss. Why should she risk new attachments?
But there is the man with the funny hat. Mr. Ochberg has come to transport two hundred Jewish orphans to South Africa. In spite of herself Devorah is drawn to him.
And so she sets out on a journey, moving back in time even as she chooses a new future. She reflects on the early years with Mama and Papa – before typhoid fever robbed her of both parents. She relives the Night of the Burning when Aunt Friedka was killed during a pogram – an unprovoked senseless attack on the Jews in her village.

After that night, an orphanage becomes her home. It isn’t easy living in the orphanage but at least it is predictable. Traveling with Mr. Ochberg to South Africa is not. The trip is a risky one and it calls forth all of Devorah’s courage – courage to move emotionally as well as physically.
Author Linda Press Wulf snatches her readers up in the earliest pages and takes us on this journey too. We feel the forward movement as Devorah lets down her guard and learns to give and receive love again. Her ability to make us feel Devorah’s emotions is phenomenal.
Wulf is passionate about preserving stories. You feel this when Devorah says to her papa in the early part of her life – “I vow before God and before Papa that I will always remember our stories.” And again at the close of this book when she says “Mama, Papa, wake up. I need to tell you something important. It’s this: the stories won’t be forgotten….There is to be a book, a book that will tell it all.

Thanks to Linda Press Wulf for this book, The Night of the Burning, historical fiction which preserves and validates the story of Devorah Lehrman, the mother-in-law she never met.