Sweethearts

by Sarah Zarr

Sweethearts is the story of Jennifer/Jenna a seventeen year old semi-popular girl who hates her birthday. On her ninth birthday, something happened at her best friend's house, and she has never really been able to move on. Jennifer (aka Fattifer) is a chubby misfit who only has the one friend. The next school year, her friend (Cameron) moves away and is presumed dead, so Jennifer transforms herself into Jenna who doesn't cry at school and has lots of friends. However, her world is thrown for a loop when Cameron shows up at her school on her 17th birthday, and Jenna must figure out who she really is and what happened to her friend so many years ago.

This story rotates between the memory of her ninth birthday and the present. I thought this format worked really well for the story, and I read more and more trying to figure out exactly what happened that fateful day. Jenna is an interesting character, especially her conflict in trying to figure out who she really is. I think everyone experiences this dilemma at some point growing up (though maybe not to the same extent), and the emotions felt real. Her use of food as a crutch also seemed really true to life. I enjoyed watching her try to determine who she was.

I was disappointed that Cameron's character wasn't developed as thoroughly. It kind of felt like we should just know that he was an amazing friend to someone who didn't have any. The examples of him being an amazing friend (the doll house and the ring) were sweet, but they didn't seem to be enough to have caused such a deep connection. I also thought it was interesting that he didn't seem to have many issues for a kid the grew up in such an abusive/transient household.

My biggest complaint about this book is kind of petty, but it really bothered me, and it took away from my reading enjoyment. The story takes place in Salt Lake City and the two main characters (Jenn and Cam) are not members of the LDS church. Several times in the book the author makes sure to mention that they aren't LDS and that's why they are outcasts. Like when Jennifer is explaining why she was picked on in school she says something along the lines of she was chubby, smelled funny, wasn't Mormon, things like that (I returned the book to the library, so I don't have an exact quote). And later, when Jenna is talking about the school she goes too she says something about how all the kids that go there don't quite fit in for various reasons: behavior issues, not being Mormon enough, etc. I just really felt that this was totally unnecessary, especially since there weren't any characters in the story who were LDS. The "bad guy" was Cam's father, who was not a Mormon. Why bring it up at all if there wasn't a purpose?

I should add that the references only happen a handful of times; it is definately not a theme for the story. I suspect that most people won't even pick up on it. I don't really know what else to say about it; for some reason it just really bothered me and took away from my enjoyment of the story because it was totally unnecessary.

3 out of 5 stars

My Most Favorite Books

So, I recently figured out that I have only reviewed one of my most favorite books for this site. Mostly that's because I only review books as I read them, and I read all the others listed before starting the blog. But, it does make sense to take the time to review the books at the very most top of my favorite list (I have lots and lots of favorites), so I will try to do that over the next little while.
In the mean time here's the list (in no particular order), including a link to the one that I have reviewed:

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick
Moo Baa La La La, by Sandra Boynton
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

What are some of your most favorite books? Ones that you can read over and over and love no matter what anyone else says?

The Case of the Left Handed Lady

by Nancy Springer

Enola spelled backwards is alone, and that is exactly the situation that Enola finds herself in. She's had no contact from her mother and she is still on the run from her brothers (Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes) in order to not have to go to boarding school and become a "proper" lady. She uses a series of disguises to keep herself busy and allude capture. First there's the nightly visits as a sister of mercy - helping the poor and needy in London; then she's also been hired by Dr. Watson to find none other than herself; next she's also decided to try to find the missing teenage daughter of Sir Eustance Austair; finally, she's still constantly on the look out for any sign of her mother. When she discovers that her brother Sherlock is actually concerned for her welfare, she makes an effort to let him know that she's ok, but still has every desire to stay away. Will she be able to remain free from her brothers and solve her new case?

I read the first Enola Holmes mystery thinking that it was an early reader (maybe a step above Judy Moody, but below Gregor the Overlander), which it definately was not. The writing is superb and quite a bit more advanced than Gregor, though it should still be readable by the older elementary school crowd. However, I didn't particularly enjoy it. Since most people really liked Enola, and I am always up to a good mystery, I decided to give this one a chance. I'm really glad I did!

Enola is an interesting character who seems wise beyond her years. Possibly this is due to her odd upbringing and the fact that she's quite bright, but she really doesn't feel like a 14 year old when I read her. Other than that little aside, she really is interesting. Knowing that her brothers probably think she is dressed up as a boy, she chooses instead to remain "hidden" by dressing as various women and working right out in the open. She cleverly uses clothing required at the time (ie corsets) to her advantage and seems to have a gift in disguises.

I'm not sure how much I liked how Sherlock was portrayed in this book - I love the grouchy old Holmes with all of my heart. But, I do tend to think that even grouchy old men hold a soft spot somewhere, and if his soft spot is for his much younger sister than so be it. He plays such a minor roll that I try not to worry about it.

The mystery itself was pretty good as well. I'm not really sure I understood the significance of the left hand - or at least why Enola jumped on it so quickly when she realized that Miss Austair used her left hand to draw some pictures. However, the mystery felt real, and kept me guessing for a while (I did figure most of it out before Enola), which is the most important aspect for me in a good mystery.

Overally, I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and I think I will re-read the first. Maybe I was just so shocked by how much better the story was developed that I had imagined that I judge the book prematurely.

4 out of 5 stars

Oh, the first one is called: The Case of the Missing Marquess and you do not have to read it first, though it will help explain why Enola is on the run and what happened to her mother.

Someone Named Eva

by Joan M. Wolf

Just a few weeks after Milada's 11th birthday, the Nazi's snatch her family from their home. The women and (young) children are separated from the men and taken to a school where they are held for several days. Because of her Aryan features, at the end of the time in the school Milada and one other girl are taken from their families and put on a bus to Poland, where their Germanization will begin. At Milada's new school, she is treated well: plenty of food, clean clothes, her own bed, etc; but at the same time, she is forced to take on a new name (Eva), learn and speak exclusively German and accept the views of her new teachers. Eventually, Eva is adopted into a German family where she deals with trying to remember the Milada from Czechoslovakia and guilt regarding the fact that she has genuinely come to love her new German family.

I really liked this book. It's a fictionalized account of actual events, and I had a hard time putting it down. It focuses on an aspect of WWII that I knew nothing about, and I just ate it up. I actually spent several hours yesterday looking up more information about Germinazation, Lidice (the town Milada was born in), and various other things I learned about in the book. I love books that spark (or renew) an interest in something to the degree that I actually seek out more information about the subject.

Milada is a likable character and her struggles throughout the book felt real. Especially the the times when she is trying to figure out how she can hate the Nazis and everything about them while loving her new found family, who consisted of Nazis. The conflicts seemed so real, and I spent the whole book longing along with Milada to know what had happened to her family and friends.

Be sure to read the author's note in the back to learn in more detail what happened in the town of Lidice, Czechoslovakia on June 10, 1942 and survivors the author interviewed while writing this book. It's both horrifying and fascinating at the same time.

The entire time I read this book I kept thinking of Number the Stars, by Lois Lowery. I'm not sure why: they are completely different books (other than the whole WWII thing). Possibly because they are written for about the same age group? Or because they focus on a different part of the war than I'm used to reading/hearing about. But, if you haven't read Number the Stars, it's another great WWII book that I highly recommend.

4.5 out of 5 stars

And the winner is...

Miss Erin!

Thanks everyone who entered, I wish you all could have won!

Erin, if you would please send me an email [krossgen (at) yahoo (dot) com] with the address you'd like me to send the book to, I will get it out to you soon!

Fairy Tale Re-tellings

When I was younger (like through high school), I read mysteries. Almost exclusively. I can probably count on my fingers how many books that weren't mysteries that I read for pleasure during that time (it drove my mother crazy). In college, I got on a classics kick, and read through quite a few boring books that I will probably never re-read. When I got married, I started in on fantasy books because that is what my husband likes.

Today (not actually all that much later), I read a variety of those three categories, but I've found a new genre that really appeals to me. One that I don't really have a name for, but can best be explained as fairy tale re-tellings.

*Pictured: East by Edith Pattou; Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine; Beast by Donna Jo Napoli; The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale; and Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Where an author takes an existing fairy tale and modernizes it. Since the re-tellings (at least the ones I've read) are novel-length, they also tend to give a lot more background information explaining why so and so is in this predicament to begin with. I love these stories. I don't necessarily love every one that I've read, but on the whole I love them. There is something about revisiting fairy tales from my youth (and learning about new ones!) that I really enjoy.

In the past week I've read two fairy tale re-tellings:

Princess Ben, by Catherine Murdock

I'm not sure this one actually qualifies as a re-telling because I don't think it uses any one fairy tale as a start off point, but there are lots of elements that remind you of fairy tales (sleeping princess that "can only be awakened by true loves kiss"; evil mother figure, etc).

I really enjoyed this story of Princess Benevolence growing up and becoming the princess she was destined to be. I especially loved her voice. She is quite funny and it's easy to root for her. Her forays into the wizards tower were always fun, and I loved the attitude the wizard's tower always gives her. Ben didn't get to do whatever she wanted; she had to fulfill the desires of the tower first. I did think it got a little annoying that she kept mentioning that she wasn't skinny. I realize it was probably to emphasize that what's inside counts more than what's outside, but I caught it the first half-dozen times. I didn't need to keep reading about it!

4 out of 5 stars

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

This is a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Stirwaters Mill is cursed. Or maybe not, but the people that own/run the mill sure have a lot of bad luck. Like the fact that no Miller son has survived into adulthood. When Charlotte Miller's father dies, she is left with the responsibility to run the mill. Unfortunately, there is problem after problem and Charlotte nearly looses the mill due to debt. One day, a man identifying himself as Jack Spinner arrives offering to change a roomful of straw into gold. For this favor he only asks for Charlotte's mother's ring, which Charlotte reluctantly gives. Spinner helps out the Miller girls two more times, but payment his last assistance is more than the bargained for. Will Charlotte be able to break the curse in time?

I actually really enjoyed the story. A lot. There is a lot of back story to the Rumpelstiltskin character, which really added to the original story. However, I did not like Charlotte. At first her independence and strength really appealed to me. She even kind of reminded me of me - I stress about money like no one's business. But, as time continued it just got to be too much. How could you marry someone and not trust them with your secret? Maybe it's just me, but I tell my husband everything and I would be devastated if he just up and left one day because he couldn't stand my secret keeping anymore. I understand that she didn't want people to think that she had married him for his money, but it seems like he could have helped her come up with a solution to her many problems. Even if he was just there to support her decisions. It was so frustrating!

Oh, and I really like the cover for this one. There is something very appealing about how simple it is.

3.5 out of 5 stars

If you are interested, the Provo City Library has a book list called Fractured Fairy Tales, that lists all sorts of fairy tale re-tellings. I've only read a few from the list, but most of them sound interesting.

**And don't forget to enter my contest to win a copy of the Water Keep ARC by J. Scott Savage!!**

Win Water Keep by J Scott Savage!

Now that you've had the chance to read my review of Water Keep, and my interview with it's author, J. Scott Savage, it's time to give you a chance to win a signed copy of the ARC (advanced reader's copy)!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and think that most of you will too.

Since this is my first contest, I'm going to keep it simple. All you have to do is comment on this post and you will be entered. If you don't have a blog, please be sure to leave me some way to contact you.

The contest will stay open until July 16 at midnight, and I will announce the winner sometime on the morning of Thursday, July 17.