Wilda Reads at Recess by Karen Georgiev

 

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

There is a reason my blog is called "The Musings of a Book Addict". Read below to learn why.

I absolutely loved this book. I was Wilda in first grade. My friend played on the swings, slides, and monkey bars while I sat against a tree and read. I preferred reading over everything else. This type of book should be in every kindergarten through second-grade classroom. It shows how some people value reading over everything else. It also shows that it is okay to be that person. This would also make an excellent mentor text when teaching alliteration to students. The story flows naturally, making it easier for children to pick up on. I loved the illustrations. My favorite was the picture of the children looking at Wilda reading, their mouths open in awe or surprise. Definitely, a book I will recommend to my friends who have younger children.

On a personal note, as I said above I was Wilda in first grade.  However, I did not stop there. My first-grade teacher asked if I would help another young girl with reading because she was struggling and I did. I tutored other students throughout my school years.  I have been a teacher for thirty-one years.  I teach middle school English. I make it my goal to turn non-readers into readers. I make them set a reading goal, and in exchange, the classes all choose my reading goal. (Just as a side note, this year my reading goal was set at  95 books by the end of May. When I left school last week I had read six.  I will add four more to that list since we were out for the hurricane.) I check in on them weekly. I know my first two - three weeks are hectic so I get little reading done. When I come in and write books on my list and tell them I'm trying to catch up, the game is on. I've been able to turn several in to life long readers. The best compliment I ever received was on the last day of school. A student told me he hated me. This was just before he grabbed me and hugged me and told me the reason was because I made him love reading.  He had stopped reading when his mother was accidentally killed before his eyes. She had read to him as a young child. His dad remarried 8 months later and that was the end of reading for him.  He keeps in touch and asks for recommendations for his young kids. It is fulfilling to get email with recommendations from former students.  So whether you are a teacher, parent, grandparent, or just someone who loves gifting kids with great books. This is one you must read.

Student Saturday: The Lost by Natasha Preston

 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Student Reviewer:  Benjamin T.

This book is about Piper and Hazel, two teenagers with Hazel having curly hair and usually being a strong person, and with Piper, the main character and which the point of view is from. Piper has dark hair and learns to become hard-minded and is the most rational out of them. Teens in their neighborhood have been going missing and everyone says that they are just runaway teens, as their area is small and there is a bigger city a bit far from there. One day, Piper and Hazel get kidnapped, and they are led to a big old building that was renovated and has a lot of doors and confusing pathways. It has 6 rooms for different physical and mental challenges. As well as other rooms for the group to stay in, with a bathroom and sleeping area. Room 0 puts two people up against each other and there is water, sound, temperature, sleep deprivation room etc. There are some other people there, Theo, Lucia, and Priya, who Theo has been in there the longest, tall, and calm while Lucia has just been put in for a few days and is short and blonde. She also has a temper. Priya is the one who comforts everyone and has been in there for a few weeks. The main antagonists are three people, Matt, Caleb, and Owen who love twisted games and seeing people suffer. They lure in people by trying to be their friends or showing interest. The story follows as Piper goes through the rooms and they plan to break out. Will they escape? What will happen in room 0? Will the three masterminds get caught? If i were in their situation, I would immediately try to create a plan to escape, instead of waiting a bit, but their plan was very thought out and is what I would’ve done in that situation.

Overall, I was not expecting anything from this book, but as I read it more, it became increasingly interesting to me. In all, I liked this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Mystery or psychological thrillers. The ending was surprising, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A Place of Refuge by Marlayne Giron

 

Genre: Adult, Christian Fiction
Source: I purchased a copy.

I loved this sequel to Second Chance Inn.  I have known a few Amish people who were shunned by family and friends because they chose a different path.  I know this is a part of their faith, but I always wondered how they would feel if God shunned them because they did something he didn’t agree with.

Rachel is having a tough time. She is fresh home from the hospital and is really unable to do much. She came back to a disaster. Dishes have been piling up in the sink.  Laundry is sky high. It really isn’t because her daughter just didn’t care. It is because her daughter was trying to help keep the farm running and trying to keep things running smoothly in the Inn.  All Rachel can do is pray that God will provide.  He does just that when Emma shows up. She has been shunned by her family, her car has broken down. She has no money and doesn’t know what to do. Lucky for her she broke down near  “The Second Chance Inn”. She wonders if God is giving her a second chance.  Emma contacts three of her friends, Like Emma they don’t fit into the Amish or the English world. These young men are also give a place to stay and food for the night.

Rachel awakes from a dream and asks God for confirmation, so she will know his will, and she gets it. It becomes clear that the Inn is to be a place of refuge for those like the young kids she has just taken in. She and Samuel had the same dream. The burden is lightened with the help of the three young men and Emma.

There is so much more in this book.  The characters are well developed. Whether you are a Christian or not you will enjoy this book. The author has created characters who have real trials like we do. She doesn’t put them in a fake Amish world where everything just turns up roses. What she does is shows what happens when the two worlds collide. She has shown realistic issues that show up and take them on a rollercoaster ride. She shows that our faith can get us through even the most terrible of trials.  This is a must read. If you have not read her first book, “Second Chance Inn.” You really must read it.  I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I really need to see what happens and how God answers their prayers.