"Finding Me" by Kathryn Cushman

Finding Me (Apr. 7, 2015) by Kathryn Cushman.*

What would you do if you discovered that your past wasn’t what you’d been brought up to believe? If you’re Kelli Huddleston, you drive across the country to find answers. She’d always been told that her mother and two older siblings died in a house fire when she was an infant and that they’d come to central California (just outside of Santa Barbara) from Louisiana. But names aren’t matching up, and there are news clippings about a boat accident in South Carolina killing a young father and his infant daughter …

            Armed with Miscellaneous and Odds and Ends, she takes off for Shoal Creek, Tennessee. Kelli intends to stay for a week, but that week turns into a temporary summer job at Moore’s More Store and a rental unit to reside in. She has a boss (Ken Moore a.k.a. Kenmore) who values honesty, the boss’ son (Shane) who’s more than a little suspicious of her intentions in tiny Shoal Creek, new friends in Beth & Rand and Miss Birdyshaw, and a very mom-like figure in Alison Waters. Her life is going to do a 180, and Kelli’s not sure she can handle it, especially when the spark of romance lights within her and she becomes closer to a few of Shoal Creek’s residents. Should Kelli throw the doors open wide and discover what she may? Or are some doors better left shut?

            On top of the tragedy of losing loved ones, Kelli also deals with the horrific realization that her life could’ve been completely different with a birthmother and siblings and that her father was a lout for what he did. It’s a story of contemporary Christian fiction, yet it’s written so realistically. Sadness, despair, anger, denial, acceptance – it’s all there, and I felt it as a reader, but I also felt Kelli’s joys and doubts in connecting with those she never knew. I rooted for her the entire time. Cushman’s story is one of rising above grief and adversity. But perseverance, too, to find the missing pieces Kelli never knew she was missing. It is a winsome, well-written tale.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"After a Fashion" by Jen Turano

After a Fashion (Mar. 3, 2015) by Jen Turano.*

In an era (it’s NYC in 1882) when it’s difficult to be an independent woman of self-supporting means, Miss Harriet Peabody works hard. Having no father and a deceased mother, a year has passed since she left the clutches of her confidence-scheming aunt (she’s a con artist) and secured employment from a local milliner. It’s a respectable job, and she adores the fashion industry, plus she’s adept at sewing garments and hats. She’s innovative as well, trying to perfect a collapsible bustle, and kind-hearted, wanting to someday open a shop selling refashioned gowns to other working women like herself who can’t afford gowns from the likes of Arnold Constable & Co. in the elite Ladies’ Mile district.

            Harriet’s employment comes to an abrupt halt when she has the great misfortune of delivering hats to Mr. Oliver Addleshaw’s not-fiancée. Knowing that she is now unemployed and assuming (wrongly) that she’s desperate for any new employment, Oliver eventually enlists her help by presenting her as his fiancée for appearance’s sake when meeting with a business partner, the Duke of Westmoore. It is a business partnership only. Which is fine by Harriet, as she’ll never really fit into Oliver’s world of wealth, prestige, fancy dinners and elegant balls. She’s a fraud wearing expensive garments, but that’s a trifle compared to the fake relationship the two are in. After all, the relationship is just for business purposes, right?

            As a reader who’s enjoyed all four books in Turano’s ‘Ladies of Distinction’ series, and a fan of the author’s because of them, I looked tremendously toward this new novel. I was not disappointed. I liked the “business partnership” that Turano incorporated into the story to keep Harriet and Oliver involved in each other’s lives. I always love that her female characters aren’t damsels-in-distress, but ladies who seem to value independence and independent thinking. Of course, we expect a romance to develop, but this story isn’t just about two people falling in love. It’s also a tale wrapped in business, mayhem, charm, wit’s end and trickery. It’s posh lifestyle versus life just scraping by. It’s trusting in God and finding that trust again. And at the center of it all are two imperfect people from two very different walks of life and a strong cast of supporting characters, also diverse in their current predicaments and upbringings. Highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Unblogged: A Letter

Dear Rutabaga Readers,

For those of you who are regulars to my blog, you’ll notice that I don’t post very often. This is going to change, and I will be posting even less often than I already do. I have some projects that need to take priority, and since there never seems to be enough time in a day, a week or a year, my reviews are going on the backburner. That isn’t to say that I will stop completely. I won’t. I’ll still try to post once or twice a month, but I can’t promise that it’ll be a regular thing.

            So for those of you who have checked into my blog on a regular basis, THANK YOU so much. And thank you to everyone who’s paused at my site and taken the time to read just one post. And/or post a comment or two.

            In closing, I want to list some books which I have read over the course of these past months, but which I never got write-ups completed for (and won’t rule out going back to them). They are all books which I enjoyed immensely, and most from authors whom I’m already a fan of, so you can find posts related to them elsewhere in this blog. (I’ll denote authors whose works I’ve never reviewed on my blog to this date with an asterisk: *.)

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Oct. 21, 2014) by Maggie Stiefvater.

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends (Oct. 8, 2013) by Shannon Hale.¹

Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All (Mar. 25, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World (Aug. 26, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Illusions of Fate (Sept. 9, 2014) by Kiersten White.

Mortal Gods (Oct. 14, 2014) by Kendare Blake.

The 5^th Wave (May 7, 2013) by Rick Yancey.*

The Bone Season (Aug. 20, 2013) by Samantha Shannon.*

The Screaming Staircase (Sept. 17, 2013) by Jonathan Stroud.*

The Young Elites (Oct. 7, 2014) by Marie Lu.

Happy reading, you wonderful people!

--Lisa Rutabaga

¹ I did get my write-up complete for this one, but I still have hopes of doing that three-book post someday. If that “someday” doesn’t happen, then you may see the lone-book post on a further, future someday date.

"Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date" by Katie Heaney

I was going to lump this title in the “hodgepodge” compilation post I’ve been piecing together for months. But I took it out once I began reading it because it is JUST THAT FUNNY. To me, anyway, because so many pieces of her story resonated with me. In fact, the similarities are alarming, because it seems that we’re fairly close in age.

            And surely not because of the whole not-[long-term-]dating thing. But anyway …

Never Have I Ever (Jan. 14, 2014) by Katie Heaney.

Single for a quarter-of-a-century. That is the way of Katie Heaney’s [non-] love life for her first 25 years on this planet. She has had numerous crushes and infatuations on local guys (and celebrities – who hasn’t?). Her memoir – a word which may seem at odds with her age – is sectioned into four distinct parts, complete with an introduction and an epilogue. It is very organized, and from reading her book, she strikes me as an organized person. The witty author writes using humor, but also contemplates throughout the book. Her reflections remind me of how we might say something aloud to work out our thoughts on something. So there is confusion and self-doubt and reassurance (the latter from members of her “cabinet”). Katie is equipped with a graduate degree, best friends and a good family, but there is that matter of the elusive actual-boyfriend. Why the absence of a love life? Maybe it’s related to her idea of herself as the “Bermuda Triangle” and her best friend – who tends to have no problem attaining a relationship status – as a “lighthouse.”

            I am not a lighthouse. Katie said that. But it pertains to me, too. So it’s almost like it’s my line. Except it’s hers. But I could’ve said it even though  I didn’t because I didn’t think of it in the first place … Yep. Exactly.

            I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh. To be fair, it is perhaps not as amusing to those who are married or in a serious relationship or actively dating on a regular basis. The humor may also be less understood in those not familiar with such things as Home Improvement’s middle-child or Dream Phone. But I think a lot of us – especially women – can relate to her frustrations over childhood crushes and teenaged ones. We can relate to the over-analysis of anything from cute guys to the perfect outfit to [insert something here that’s personal to you]. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out with Katie.

            So, I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not, perhaps, for the obvious reason based on the title. Though there is that. But for all the parts in the book that could’ve been me. Crushing on JTT. Being a goody-two-shoes in school. General sarcastic attitude. Harry Potter. The Sims (The Sims 2, in my case). And, fine, the lack of long-term dating. Of course, there are some major differences. I am petite, and she is apparently not. I have never been drunk, and I have never smoked a cigarette. I quite enjoy the game “Apples to Apples.” And, still to this day, I have NOT attempted online dating.

            Nor have I ever made matching, themed T-shirts. But for Bermuda Triangles, I totally would!

"Linh and the Red Envelope" by Diane Tran [+ Interview]

I am thrilled to share this post with you about Linh and the Red Envelope. The author, Diane Tran, is someone whom I’ve been able to call friend for over a decade. She’s a world traveler, leader, project manager, German Marshall Fund of the United Sates American Fellow, and overall inspiring friend, role model and individual. I’m so proud of her newest title: author!

Linh and the Red Envelope (September 2013) by Diane Tran.

   Alex Patrick Shimkus, illustrator.

Young Linh is excited for the Vietnamese New Year. She puts on her áo dài (“ow yai”), a traditional Vietnamese dress, and even puts a Vietnamese hat on Pinky, her stuffed animal pig. Linh wants everything to go just right so that she and everyone in the household will have good luck in the coming year. She also wants to earn her red envelope with lucky money. But things don’t exactly go as expected. What will Linh learn from her experiences?

            One of the things I really appreciate about this story is that the title character is Asian. As someone of Asian descent, I’ve taken notice of the lack of Asian characters, not just as main characters, but even as major supporting characters. I also really appreciate the message of the story, because the message isn’t solely for kids or exclusively for Asian Pacific Islanders. Life isn’t about only getting things right, but about wanting to do them and being willing to learn them. Tran has shown that she is a very capable writer. She writes a story based on tradition that can be understood by young elementary-aged children with an important message. And Shimkus creates accompanying illustrations that are simple yet delightful and convey Tran’s words as pictures. Congratulations to you both!

 *   *   *

Diane, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions! You have an impressive resumé. What is it like to add “author” to your list?

Thanks for the invitation to join you on the Reading Rutabaga, Lisa! I've really enjoyed your insights here on different pieces of writing and literature, and consider it an honor to be featured on your blog.

As an experiential learner, one of my favorite things to do is to try things for the first time. While I have blogged for several years, it has been a long-held dream of mine to write a children's book, so it was an incredibly gratifying endeavor. I'm especially excited because it's the kind of story—a young female Asian protagonist relating to challenges that are at once universal and distinct to her culture—that I never knew existed when I was young. I often wonder whether and how things might have been different or easier for me if I'd had access to these kinds of narratives when I was younger. And so I'm hopeful that this book being out in the world now can make a positive difference for young children today.

You wrote your story for the Reading Together Project for a specific purpose: “to address the lack of children’s books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander (API) child or youth in the United States.” Especially for APIs, what kind of impact do you think reading of API title characters will have on them? Do you think it might have a creative or proud cultural impact?

I'm hopeful that through getting to know Linh, her mom, and her grandmother, API children will be able to see their own realities and experiences reflected back to them as normal and significant. For API and other marginalized communities, the result of not seeing others like you—your race, class, ability, immigration status, faith, etc.—in literature, the media, or popular culture has the effect of making you feel invisible. Unnoticed, unimportant. (Paradoxically, it can also create the feeling of being overly exposed and in the spotlight in an undesired way: When as the only different person in the room, you're looked at as the "other" or presumed to be speaking for your entire ethnicity, gender, etc.) And if there are characters that look like you, they often times serve to portray stereotypes that are limiting and/or harmful. This effectively reduces diverse populations to a single characteristic or function, devoid of any further humanity. This under-representation and mis-representation mirrors the way in which the dominant culture relates to or experiences minority groups. And so, by creating our own narratives and sharing our lived experiences, we can begin to see our realities as valid and meaningful and in the process, and humanize ourselves and each other.

Can you tell us about the Reading Together Project?

Funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and created as a partnership between the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM), the Reading Together Project focuses on amplifying missing narratives from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, supports the development of English literacy skills while recognizing cultural heritage, and creates opportunities for children and families to learn about API cultural heritage together. Seeking to address the lack of children’s books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander (API) child or youth in the United States, the project has published six children's books in recent years. In 2012, the project produced two chapter books written for a third grade reading level, and in 2013, four picture books written for a 1st - 3rd grade reading level were published. My book was published in the most recent round, which selected four writers and four illustrators through a competitive process and allowed us to pair up and work collaboratively to develop the books. A copy-editor helped provide clarity to and tighten up my original writing submission, my book's illustrator, Alex Shimkus, brought the story to life with vivid imagery and visual detail, and the project's layout editor and publisher fashioned it into a 32-page paperback book. The whole process took nine months from submission and selection to the book launch event in October, and was exciting, challenging, and a lot of fun!

Can you tell us more about the tradition of giving red envelopes?
In Chinese and some other Asian cultures, red envelopes are given during holidays, such as the Lunar New Year, or to celebrate special occasions, including weddings, graduations, and the birth of a baby. Red envelopes usually contain money, though you may occasionally find candy or a proverb enclosed. Traditionally, red envelopes are given by married couples to the unmarried, who are typically younger and/or children. The red color signifies good luck and so my mom always tells me, the money you find inside is lucky!

Red envelopes

Where did you draw the inspiration for your story?

In many ways, this story is autobiographical. As a young girl growing up as the first generation born in the United States to refugee parents, I struggled to know how to be a "good daughter." In terms of my family and Asian culture, I understood this to mean that I should respect my elders, help to clean the house, and care for my siblings. As I navigated my school and community surroundings, though, I found that there were other measures of success, including academic ambition, student leadership, and civic engagement. While it was clear to me that these were all important values and roles, in some ways it felt like they were in conflict with one another. Pursuing too much of one or the other might diminish my chances for public or professional success or alternatively, move me further away from the heritage and traditions that felt core to my identity.

I attempted (with varying results) to balance the two, and over the years, I began to see opportunities to apply my love for organizing and community building to advocating for my family members and building a stronger sense of cohesion within my family of origin as well as extended family. I supported my dad on his journey to earning his citizenship and I leveraged my perspective as a member of several marginalized communities to deepen policy discussions that impacted those communities. What I came to see over time was that there was not one "right" or "good"' way to care for those in my life, but that my search to discover where my duties, strengths, and passions aligned was part of my path to being fully myself - as a loving daughter and sister as well as an engaged community leader. 

Your main character, Linh, struggles to know that goodness doesn’t come from doing things perfectly, but having a willing spirit and wanting to do the right thing. How important is it to you to get that message across to all children? That it isn’t about being perfect at new things, but of wanting to do each thing and be willing to work at it?

My book's dedication reads: "For every kid trying to do the right thing. Know that you already are the right thing." While I think it is critical for children to know and believe this, part of me wonders if it's really the kids that we need to tell this to, or instead the adults. Children are full of boundless energy and observations and curiosity. As adults, we have the responsibility of rearing our children, nieces and nephews, and students so that they respect themselves and each other, and can contribute positively to this world. But in so doing, we may inadvertently relay to children that we are the ones who know best for them and that they need to behave or be a certain way in order to be acceptable. This poses a challenge to children just as they are beginning to learn the important life skills of trusting themselves and accepting themselves for who they are. So, I think I'd offer messages to both children and their parents: Children, you don't have to earn your role as someone's child, you already are. Parents, guide your children lovingly, knowing that viewing your child as the gift that they are allows them to fully trust and believe it.

Where can readers purchase your book?

The book is available for purchase on Lulu.com. A free PDF copy of the book is available online, along with an Educator Guide, in the Minnesota Humanities Center Absent Narratives Resource Collection.

"Of Neptune" by Anna Banks

Of Neptune (May 13, 2014) by Anna Banks.

Young love in itself can be trying, but that’s putting it mildly for half Syrena/half human Emma McIntosh and her full-blooded Syrena boyfriend Galen Forza. The two need to get away, especially after the events in “Of Triton,” but a road trip seems out of the question. At least until Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon King Antonis, encourages them to visit the small town of Neptune, which is far from the ocean somewhere in Tennessee. It turns out that Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds like Emma. Here Emma thought she was the only one of “her kind” and now she has proof of the existence of others, including a handsome Half-Breed named Reed Conway. And Reed, much to Galen’s chagrin, has no problem showing visible interest in Emma. Reed’s dad, Reder, is a full-blooded Syrena and is like the mayor of Neptune. But there are those who want to unseat Reder for more than just being the head of a community. Power struggles. And then Galen goes missing after an argument. So even when they finally get away, they still can’t leave behind the drama. And drama such as this is dangerous.

            Meeting the residents of Neptune is akin to meeting freshwater fish that are also land-dwellers. Sure, the whole love triangle thing has been vastly overdone, but that Banks included that with her introduction of more Half-Breeds added intrigue to this final story in a trilogy. As with the first two books, this one is told from the alternating viewpoints of Emma and Galen. I missed the presence of Rayna’s hotheadedness and Toraf’s brotherliness, as they were mostly absent in this story. But the feisty humor is still present. Also, I’m a sucker for happy endings, and this story did not disappoint.

            Book One: Of Poseidon

            Book Two: Of Triton

Rutabaga's Reads 2015: Part 2

While a slim portion of my blog has seen middle-grade novels in posts, this is my first compilation of middle-grade books since the first month I began this blog (see: August 2012). These books are good choices for anyone teaching those around 8-12 years of age or want to personally read stories that are lighter fare than, say, young adult, new adult or adult novels.

            I’d like to thank my brother and sister-in-law for “The Wells Bequest.” It was one of several I received from them this past Christmas.

A Tangle of Knots (Feb. 5, 2013) by Lisa Graff.

Most everyone has a Talent. Yes, Talent with a capital T. The Fair are generally middle children – the Middlings – without any Talent. Talents range from something as ordinary as whistling to the phenomenal ability to bake the perfect cake for anyone. Cady (short for Cadence) has that ability. She’s Talented enough to create it all: the perfect pie, muffin, bread or even the perfect pizza if she wanted to. But above all else, she loves to bake cakes. She’s also an orphan, and her caretaker, Miss Jennifer Mallory, has been on the alert for her perfect family. She’s highly skilled at it (after all, her Talent is matching). Only when Cady finds her perfect family will she allow herself to bake her own perfect cake for her Adoption Day party.

            Cady has a weeklong trial period with Toby Darlington, and it might be right, but it might not be. Still, by staying with Toby, Cady meets new people: The Owner, a grumpy man obsessed with powder blue St. Anthony’s suitcases, V, a 60-year-old woman who’s lost her speech after a stroke, and the Asher family of five. Mr. Asher is a businessman with a soft spot for orange nougat, Mrs. Asher is a knitting Talent with an interesting hair pin, eldest Zane is a thieving troublemaker with a spitting Talent (“worthless”), Will has a Talent for getting lost (though he feels he’s never once been lost in six years), and Marigold is a Fair middle child, though she’s hopeful she’ll discover her Talent with the help of a red Talent bracelet. Somehow these people are all connected, and they will discover their connection with some discreet nudging by a giant-of-a-man in a gray suit.

            Graff’s literary world, including the very real town of Poughkeepsie, New York, is like our own, but with a drop of magic. There is a simplicity to the story that makes it easy to read, yet still includes rich layers. There are tasty-looking cake recipes at different points in the book, and her story is much like its own cake recipe. It is full of charm, warmth, regrets, Talent, fun and youthful adventure with a dash of whimsy and a sprinkling of magic all mixed together to create a well-written story that is quietly magical and totally pleasant for a light palette. Rich, but not heavy, and light, but not too fluffy. It’s a good mix, and it’s a mix that, if it could smile, might smile that type of grin that suggests it knows more than it’s letting on.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (Apr. 9, 2013) by Liesl Shurtliff.

We all know the name, but for many years, Rumpelstiltskin only knows himself as Rump. Rump is the butt of many a joke (pun intended) and only has one friend, Red, who’s interestingly touchy on the subject of her “strange” granny. Things turn interesting for Rump when he finds an old spinning wheel. With nothing to spin but straw, imagine his surprise when he spins that straw into gold. But as anyone knows, especially if you watch ABC’s Once Upon a Time, magic always comes with a price. For Rump in his little village, The Mountain, gold equals food. Not a fair share, mind you, for the miller (Oswald) is a fat, greedy man with a beautiful daughter named Opal and rotten sons named Frederick and Bruno. When gold-obsessed King Barf – that is, King Bartholomew Archibald Reginald Fife – comes to town and discovers skeins of spun gold, Oswald declares that Opal has the gold-spinning magic, and King Barf immediately whisks her away. Rump feels obligated to help her through terrible trades (especially her firstborn), but even more regrettable is that the magic dictates that he must accept the trade. He sets out to find his stiltskin, which The Witch of the Woods said is the one thing that can free him from his bindings. He’s also in search of his real name.

            In this tale, pixies aren’t sweet as pixy stix or as adorable as Disney fairies. They’re gold-craving and can be downright mean, biting you left and right (note: dirt deters pixies). This tale; however, is beguiling, light-hearted and inventive. It actually has you rooting for Rump. This story would also be good for classroom discussions. While the story contains humor and uncharacteristically hospitable trolls and messenger gnomes, it also contains tough stuff like the death of a loved one, despair and famine. Then there’s the avarice of both the miller and the king. “Rump” not only has a good back story for the character, but a good backbone as far as plot goes, and a good deal of spunk in Red. This fantasy contains familiar fairytale elements infused with innovative world-building and emotional depth. Summed up, it’s a quaint, little novel that’s as good as gold (pun intended).

The Wells Bequest (June 13, 2013) by Polly Shulman.

There is a new group of pages working at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a [mostly] magical place which lends out objects instead of books, and Leo Novikov isn’t one of them. Yet. His science teacher, Ms. Kang, recommends the repository when he inquires about an idea for his science fair project. Science fairs are a big deal, considering he comes from a family of scientists. Unfortunately, he feels like the dumb one. He attends Manhattan Polytechnic Academy, which his older sister, Sofia, commonly referred to as “Tech for Dummies.” Now that Leo attends the school, Sofia tells others that the students there “are really very creative.” But is Leo creative or losing it? After all, he sees a tiny version of himself and a girl named Jaya Rao – she’s real! – on a small time machine. And they talk to him!

            Once Leo’s a page, he learns the ropes at the Repository, including its more impressive magical qualities. And in the basement is the Wells Bequest, a secret collection of objects from science fiction novels. It’s the perfect place for a time machine! When a very serious threat arises, Leo and Jaya decide the time machine is their only hope. They have to whisk themselves to Nikola Tesla’s lab in 1895. What adventures will they find there?

            I enjoyed this middle-grade novel just as much as Shulman’s “The Grimm Legacy.” In fact, this story is a companion to that one. The story starts off running – Leo meets the tiny versions of himself and Jaya in the first chapter – and doesn’t take a breather. Whereas the Grimm Collection focuses on magical fairytale objects, this one focuses on science fiction and Leo’s character is perfect as an inventor, one who makes plenty of mistakes and whose inventions don’t always do as anticipated. There’s excitement, adventure, peril, humor and nerd-fare (this is a great thing). This clever story read very quickly. All of the science and the science fiction makes for an engaging read but without overdoing the scientific stuff. Shulman keeps it fun. For example, Leo uses, “Schist!” as a curse, but it’s not an actual curse word. Schist is “a kind of rock. It’s what happens to hot sandstone when it gets squished really hard for a few million years.” Jaya mentions, “It sounds really bad – in a good way.” And the best part, as Leo points out, is, “Even strict teachers can’t object to a word from a vocabulary list, right?” Ha.

            I don’t know if she’s going to continue with stories involving the New-York Circulating Material Repository, but I hope she is. There are two additional Special Collections mentioned in this story that she hasn’t yet made novels out of. They are: the Lovecraft Corpus (objects from gothic stories and horror) and the Gibson Chrestomathy (a collection of cyber stuff such as A.I. and computer viruses). In the meantime, this great little tale puts readers in a landscape of science fiction made reality. So fun!

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop (Mar. 12, 2013) by Kate Saunders.

A stout but beautiful cat with golden-brown fur and green, square-shaped eyes recruits twins Lily and Oscar (a.k.a. Oz) Spoffard to work for the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained (SMU) as, naturally, secret government agents. That is, after she defends Lily from the derisive wallpaper of her new bedroom. Demerara, the cat, is a secret agent herself. She is invisible to most, knows of magic, is immortal and can talk. She’s self-important and completely vain over her appearance. In other words, she’s often very cat-like. She recruits the twins and fellow Skittle Street resident Caydon Campbell to join the SMU because they are magic, even though they didn’t know it. The three eleven-year-olds have learned that an evil gang wants a secret chocolate recipe, one infused with magic. But they also have to ward off their great-great-uncle (Isadore), long-thought dead, who was the murderer of his two brothers in 1938. It turns out he’s immortal! They have the help of, not only Demerara, but Spike, an immortal, talking rat, and the SMU team, which may or may not include an invisible ghost elephant named Edwin.

            What a cute story! The title is what initially drew me to this middle-grade novel of family dynamics (the good, the bad and the annoying), secrets (to protect their parents, of course), fantasy and magic. Saunders has put obvious thought into her characters and given them enough depth to make them feel real – even within the magical quality of the book – without overwhelming the story with too many character traits to remember. The chocolate shop on Skittle Street hasn’t been filled with chocolate confections for decades, but with the Spoffards, it is filled with youthful suspense, cheekiness, humor and a sense for righting past wrongs and preventing future devastation. Isadore’s dependence on alcohol is definitely off-putting, but it is not a focus of the story, and should therefore not take away from it. “Whizz Pop” takes places in London amongst British folks, so I would recommend adopting a British accent while reading this fun romp-of-a-tale. :-)

"Sabotaged" by Dani Pettrey

Sabotaged (Feb. 3, 2015) by Dani Pettrey.*

Talk about opposites. Former troublemaking playboy Reef McKenna and goody-two-shoes veterinarian Kirra Jacobs were always at odds as youngsters. Different locales for life (Reef) and school (Kirra) separated them, but they’ve both returned to their hometown of Yancey and have even more recently been paired together as search-and-rescue (SAR) volunteers for the world-famous Iditarod race. Reef wants Kirra to see him as he is now: an upstanding guy close to his family and his relationship with God, and her opinion of him matters, not that he’d have expected that in a million years. The true can be said of Kirra, but first, her Uncle Frank, a highly experienced musher, has her very worried. Frank’s taken himself out of the race with nothing more than a cryptic explanation right before their lives are threatened. She is to find her cousin before he reaches the finish line in Nome so Meg lives and lots of people remain uninjured. And so begins a frantic search by Reef, Kirra and the entire McKenna family to stop a villain who’s willing to risk, not just one life, but the lives of so many others to get the result wanted. Reef and Kirra will do a lot of traveling around the state of Alaska … and they’ll be followed almost every step of the way.

            “Sabotaged” rounds out the five books in Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, and I have enjoyed it every step of the way. The novel is deemed romantic suspense, but it’s also Christian inspirational fiction, so one can expect suspense, yet also the satisfaction of a happy ending. And I love happy endings! Throughout this story and her others, it is nice to see the burgeoning faith of her main characters (especially Kirra, who’s holding onto much anger, guilt and pain from the past) and the steadfast faith of the previous main characters. She pairs the suspense and faith with strong characters who have distinct personalities, plenty of adventures and clean romance. The story moves as fast as those top-running sled dogs of the Iditarod! I highly recommend this story, but like with any race, I’d start at the beginning of the series.

            Alaskan Courage 1: Submerged

            Alaskan Courage 2: Shattered

            Alaskan Courage 3: Stranded

            Alaskan Courage 4: Silenced

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2015: Part 1

These stories regard an American Girl historical character re-branded in their BeForever line.* I would like potential purchasers of the BeForever line of books to be aware, if they’re not already, that the first two books in each doll’s “new” collection are the original six in a now-condensed form. So, if you’re worried about missing out on new material, you aren’t with the first two books. If the line comes with a third book, that one will contain any new content.

Sunlight and Shadows: A Josefina Classic 1 (Aug. 28, 2014) by Valerie Tripp.

The Montoya family has been reeling. Josefina and her older sisters – Ana, Francisca and Clara – have been trying to care for their family’s rancho just as their mother did. They each harbor grief in their hearts and worry that with the passing of days, so too do their memories of Mamá. This worry is intensified when their abuelito brings their Tía Dolores to them. Josefina has never met her, as she was not yet born the last time Dolores visited from Mexico City. Josefina’s papá invites Tía Dolores to stay with them in order to teach the girls and help the rancho, which struggles when a torrential rain floods the area, taking with it crops that their village friends depend on and hundreds of the Montoyas’ sheep. As Dolores steps in, the girls wonder if her ways will chase away their memories of Mamá.

            It has been awhile since I’ve read the six books in Josefina’s collection, but I still recalled much of the stories. This first volume covers the first three books: “Meet Josefina,” “Josefina Learns a Lesson” and “Josefina’s Surprise.” Ultimately, I prefer the original six-book set, but this is still a nice, slender volume published in chapter book fashion. It hits all of the high points, including the Christmas tradition of Las Posadas. Through the story, the reader understands that Josefina and her sisters will always carry precious memories of their mother, and that their individual talents reflect gifts that their mom held. In knowing that, they find healing and hope for the future.

Second Chances: A Josefina Classic 2 (Aug. 28, 2014) by Valerie Tripp.

To be a curandera is to know how to make medicines from plants and be skilled at healing others. When Josefina asks Tía Magdalena how she’ll know if she’s a healer, her aunt replies, “You’ll know.” She cares for a runty, motherless goat and watches her grow into a healthy “little shadow,” whom she names Sombrita. Josefina and her sisters meet their first americano trader, whom her father is hoping to establish good trading ties with. Things turn shaky, though, when it appears that the americano has cheated them and Tía Dolores makes plans to leave the Montoya family. Josefina is good at finding “the sweet in the sour” and “the light in the dark,” but even a light has its limits. When her heart’s desire is dashed, how can she find hope to heal the heartache and her inner light to drive away the darkness?

            The second volume covers the remaining three books: “Happy Birthday, Josefina!,” “Josefina Saves the Day” and “Changes for Josefina.” The condensed version segues seamlessly so that you don’t really realize that the volume is actually comprised of three books. These volumes are easy-to-read and may be a better option for some than the original six-book set. However, I do miss the family portraits that are included at the very beginning of the original books. Imagination is a great thing, but I have always felt that the pictures were a nice touch to the young chapter books. Still, these are good books to own, for they bring a little history lesson wrapped up in a cute story that’s easy to understand. Plus, young girls will relate to Josefina’s strength of character and youthful spirit more than a plain history lesson of places and dates. In these books there are connections. Connections of family, hope and a brighter, progressive future.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: While I am not required or obligated to read and review these books, I want to disclose that I did receive them at no cost. That was thanks to promotional coupons that were mailed by American Girl to hundreds of thousands of people. All opinions are expressly my own, and I have no connection to American Girl, Mattel or Valerie Tripp.

"Submerged" by Dani Pettrey

A quick shout-out to my brother and sister-in-law for this book. THANK YOU! It was one of four gifted to me from them this past Christmas. How wise they are to gift books my way!

Submerged (May 1, 2012) by Dani Pettrey.

Yancey, Alaska, isn’t a place that Bailey Craig ever planned on returning to. Not even for the briefest of visits. But she’s back for the worst reason: the death of her beloved aunt. Bailey has a past that she is ashamed of and sees herself as a woman undeserving of love and goodness. She’s found faith again, but she can’t forgive herself for the tumultuous and self-destructive ways of her teens. She doesn’t want to face the people of Yancey, whom she expects to be judgmental of her based on her long-ago transgressions. And she doesn’t want to face Cole McKenna.

            But Cole wants to see Bailey. Having endured the loss of both of his parents, he understands the loss of loved ones and knows that Bailey is grieving terribly. He tells himself he wants to keep things platonic and just be a supportive friend, but he remembers all-too-well the feelings he had for Bailey a decade ago. And how she dashed his heart then.

            There’s no avoiding each other completely in the small town where everyone knows one another and news seems to travel faster than the speed of light. Before long, Cole and Bailey find themselves working together, as evidence shows that her aunt’s plane crash was no accident. There’s also a rising body count to make it obvious that something is very wrong. Bailey’s expertise in Russian history proves invaluable to the case, and curiosity gets the best of her. She’s searching and now wants the answers. But in doing that, she may cast herself under the spotlight of the murderer, along with those she discovers she cares very much about.

            It may seem like I’m doing this a bit backwards. Thanks to the publisher, I have read the second, third and fourth books in this series (with the fifth one soon to come my way). But I’ve enjoyed the Alaskan Courage series enough that I’ve wanted to read the one that started the series. I was not disappointed.

            As I’ve felt while reading the other books in the series, the McKennas are a family to want to know. Their faith is deep, their bond is strong, and their love for others is enduring. Pettrey’s got a good storyline going and the characters are created distinctly with characteristics we may see in ourselves and others, so their questions and trials resonate with us. About the only awkward thing is how the characters are all so bloody good-looking and have amazing talents. What I’m saying is, they may seem a little too perfect despite their imperfections. But that’s not the heart of this story. Faith is, first of all, but not in a preachy way. It’s more encouraging and quietly persistent – like water lapping gently against a boat. There’s also an air of mystery to the story, along with the power of love, learning to forgive oneself and allowing yourself to accept second chances. After all, we are all imperfect, yet we are His beloved children!