Broken Roads: Returning to My Amish Father by Ira Wagler

Genre: Adult, Amish, Memoir

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

Ira Wagler left his Amish background. This is something he did with lots of thought. For those who are not familiar with the Amish, leaving results in shunning. Essentially there is not much interaction between the family and the child who has decided to leave.  This doesn’t mean they can’t visit. The family always holds out hope that the one who left will come to their senses and return to their faith.

In this second book by Ira we get what I believe is a deeper look into his life after leaving. It begins with his reason for telling this story. On this occasion, he is preparing to go back home because his father is dying. He wasn’t the only one who left.  He is representing those siblings who left and can’t go back. He would go back to visit his family. There was always an admonishment to come. The title is very appropriate. Through the book, we see how the path he traveled through life was like a broken road. Through sharing his life with the public we see that no matter what our path looks like, no matter how broken it is, there is always hope. He shared both the good and bad decisions he made. He showed how far he strayed and how God always led him back.  This is not a book that is written in a strict chronological order. It felt more like sitting and having a conversation with the author where he shares stories as one thing connects to another.  I read this in just a couple of hours. I didn’t want to put it down.

Angry Books by Tacee Theobald

Genre: children's picture book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this book. I think every parent and every elementary teacher should have this book. This story is told from the perspective of a book. It teaches children how to properly handle books. It not only explains what they should or shouldn't do but actually asks how would you feel if I did this to you. It makes them think about it in a way that they connect.  I teach middle school and I don't know how many times I say some of the very things to my middle school students. Let's start teaching kids at the youngest age how to treat a book.  My favorite in the whole book talked about fake reading. Yes, you can tell she was a former teacher. To all those kids out there who think you are getting away with it, forget it. She nailed it.

Three Books by Michael Gordon

Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Source:  I received a copy from the author

Michael Gordon has written a book using a dinosaur to represent every child who has ever gone through times when they are grumpy. Parents who read this with their young child can ask the question, "What is Sonny doing wrong?"  This opens the floor for gentle conversations about appropriate behavior.  In addition to a great story line you have wonderful pictures to round it out.




Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy from the author

When Josh wakes up grumpy one morning, he and his family become detectives to find out what has put Josh in such a grumpy mood. This book lets kids know it is okay to be grumpy once in a while. It also shows them ways to figure out what caused them to be grumpy so they can try to fix it.







Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I purchased a copy

Jamie doesn't like getting ready for bed and he tells his mother this. She tells him a story about different animals and how they all prepare for bed and why it is important. A simple and cute book that will make getting ready for bedtime much easier for the youngest one.

Chirp by Kate Messner

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Source:  Purchased


I absolutely loved this book. Mia and her family move to Vermont to be near and help her grandmother who had recently had a stroke. When they arrive her mother is determined to help her grandmother slip into retirement. Mia's grandmother has other plans. She has a cricket farm that she plans to expand.  Unfortunately, someone seems to be sabotaging her crickets.
Mia, a former gymnast, has been told she must join two different day camps. She makes friends, finds a way to help her grandmother, and most importantly finds herself, and her courage to speak up.  This is a book that is so important for middle school students. Middle grade years are when students are learning who they are. It is also one of the most vulnerable times for them. So many are taken advantage of at this age and some get lost and never find themselves. In Mia's case she finds her voice and the courage to help someone else.  This is an absolute must read.

Watch Hollow: The Alchemist's Shadow by Gregory Funaro

Gregory Funaro’s first book “Watch Hollow” was a book that had my students lining up to read it. It was full of everything a middle school student loves in a book. It had characters they could identify with and a mystery to be solved. When I told them that I had an advance reader’s copy of the next book "Watch Hollow: The Alchemist's Shadow" they wanted to know if I would be buying it. I will most definitely be buying it.  This is a creepy mystery that kept the action going.

The Tinker family managed to keep away the great evil and set the house right. We all know that it would be boring if things didn’t go south again. This happens when Agatha and Algeron, along with their governess show up claiming they are the heirs to the house.  Of course, you need to expect whenever something or someone strange shows up, there is going to be something that will create chaos in Blackford House once again. A new evil has created a labyrinth along with a minotaur.

The children must work together to solve this mystery, get the governess back and take care of the evil. This is a daunting task, but they will receive help from the wooden animals of the clock. I am really loving this author’s work. I am probably the biggest lover of mysteries and this one has all the elements that I love.  I am hoping there is a third book on its way. This is a must-read series.

New Book Coming Soon by Mark Restaino: Two Robots

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is not yet published. As a beta reader, I often get books to read in advance of publication. I have to say I am very impressed by this author and his work. To me, the quality of writing has always been important. However, books like this that have a message to get across is even more important. Mark writes faith-based picture books. They are not preachy in the least. I as an adult loved these books. The story is of two robots built by two scientists. Both love their creations. One of them creates a robot who obeys everything and does everything right. The other scientist creates a robot that has the ability to learn. It is only when the two robots meet that true learning happens. The lesson learned by the scientist of the blue robot is just as important. This is a modern-day parable for modern-day kids. Every kid loves robots and will be able to relate. I am looking forward to the date this is published and for sale. This along with all of his other books will soon be in the hands of my grandchildren. Finding books to recommend to parents is important to me. Finding books to give to my children and their children is even more important. When this book comes out, run, don't walk to Amazon or his website:  

https://www.authormarkrestaino.com/books

About the Author Mark Restaino (from his website)

I am a full-time youth minister and live in the Chicagoland area with my wife and two daughters. I got the idea for my first story while on a retreat with my youth group students. My other stories also seem to come to me in the quiet moments when I reflect on my life and faith. I am personally drawn to the symbolism and foreshadowing that God weaves throughout the Bible and I believe it serves as a beautiful defense of the faith. In reflection of my creator, I strive to write stories that capture readers' hearts and minds and symbolically share the faith  and gospel message. I pray that my stories kindle the fire of the faith within you, your family, and your church community.

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Maybe by Morris Gleitzman

Maybe by Morris Gleitzman

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Purchased

            In the previous book in this series, Felix once again helps a young girl. Anya was a girl he met after saving a baby. He meets Anya, who promises him a way to get powdered milk. Felix learned that the reason Anya was always sick was that she was pregnant. They went back to Gabriek’s farm to learn someone else had taken possession. In town, a mob attacks them, an Aussie is injured when he saves him, then needs Felix’s help to save his life with his medical knowledge. It is decided that Felix will become the face of all that Australia fought for in World War II. He is loaded on a plane leaving Gabriek behind. Unbeknownst to the pilot, Anya has hidden away on board as well. Up to this point, the tension has been a rollercoaster ride. Then the plane is going down. Felix and Anya must jump for their lives. This is their welcome to Australia. I still love this series because I can see how we are coming full circle in Felix’s life. There were so many unanswered questions for me that made me want to dive into the next and last book in this series. Unfortunately, it won't be available until July of this year. If by chance I can get my hands on it before then, just know that I will.

Soon by Morris Gleitzman

Soon by Morris Gleitzman

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Purchased

           

            Soon is the fifth book in this series. The war has ended. Hatred and prejudice seem to have no end. There are those who are still Nazi sympathizers. Those who think the Jews are still filthy beasts. Felix rescues a baby when the mother thrusts it at him before she is killed.  He decides he a Gabriek will raise it. They give it a Ukranian name to hopefully protect it. Gabriek has been so traumatized that he drinks himself to sleep each night. This leaves Felix to go out and find food and work. He meets several young people that will change his life in many ways. This is one of the darker books in the series. I felt this because you would think things would start to change and have a brighter outcome after the defeat of the Nazis. However, as an American who was born well after this war, I never had to face a time when a country had to rebuild itself. It is hard enough to rebuild after a war. Bring into it the same old prejudices by just a handful of people and the outcome is the same for a while.  Change takes time. Unfortunately for some, time runs out.

After by Morris Gleitzman

After by Morris Gleitzman

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Purchased

            This is the fourth book in the series. We go back in time to catch up with what had happened to Felix. Gabriek, whose wife was hiding young Felix and Zelda are dead. Gabriek if part of a resistance movement and has continued to hide Felix in a hole in his barn. On his thirteenth birthday Felix can hear people above him talking. He follows them into the woods. He assumes they are Nazis and are going to kill Gabriek and he yells to give Gabriek a chance to escape. He soon learns that Gabriek is not in danger. When they return to the farm it is on fire. Gabriek is injured and so Felix takes him back into the woods to get help. They are allowed to stay. They do make Felix prove himself. Once again he is an assistant to the doctor. It is his experiences throughout his childhood of helping assist doctors that made him a well known doctor in his adult life. In this book Felix is once again put into the position of helping save three sisters.  He has matured considerably. Now that he knows who Hitler is he no longer prays to him, but to Richmal Crompton who was a well known author at the time. I still found this a funny occurrence. The tension has gone up a notch in this book and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Now by Morris Gleitzman

      This was a unique turn in the book series. In this book, Felix is an old man with a granddaughter named Zelda. She is named after the young girl Felix tried to save and who was brutally murdered by the Nazis. In this book, Felix lives in Australia. His granddaughter loves her grandfather but questions some of the things he does. She doesn’t understand that a part of him is still living in and dealing with a traumatic past. Like her grandfather’s past, Zelda has a bully problem. His pasts experiences and memories help them both. When a brush fire breaks out a lot is lost, while a lot is gained. I found two interesting things about this fire. One was that it was based on an actual fire that occurred in 2009 and the second was that at the time of this post, Australia is going through another traumatic brush fire.  This is the third book in this series. At one point the author had planned to make this the end of a trilogy. As we all know, when our characters are not finished telling their story they must be heard. Because of that, there are three more books in this series. Once again I will say that this is a must-read series.