Student Saturday: Love That Dog - Sharon Creech

Publisher:  Harper Trophy
Pages:  112
Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Poetry
Reviewer:  Lillian

Anyone who likes to read poetry would like this book! "Love That Dog" is a book about a boy who hates to do poetry and thinks poetry is only for girls.  he thinks any words in short lines is poetry.  After a while Jack decides to write a poem about an old dog he used to have.  Jack is a boy who obviously doesn't like to write poetry.  He also worries a lot and doesn't like his name on the board if it's his poetry at school where he is mostly at all times.

My connection with this book is that I like to read poetry but don't like to write it, just like Jack.  I kind of liked this book because the topic really didn't grab me like other books I have read but I still enjoyed the time to read it.

The Priest and the Peaches - Larry Peterson

Publisher:  Tribute Books
Pages: 285
Genre:  Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Source:  Review copy from publisher in exchange for my honest review

The Priest and the Peaches Book Summary

Historical fiction novel set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, uncharted and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

My Thoughts:
I could not imagine being an eighteen year old with my life ahead of me and suddenly my life is changed drastically.  Teddy must find a way to take care of his siblings after their father dies.  He does the best he can.  The neighbor downstairs is causing problems for Teddy.  He needs help so he turns to Father Tim Sullivan.  Help comes in many forms including guidance in matters of everyday life.  There are moral lessons to be learned seasoned with a touch of Christianity.  There were pats where I just cracked up, like the boys jumping on the bed and pretending to be super-heroes.  I think the reason I loved this so much was because I could relate to it so much.  I remember jumping on our bed with the wire springs and having it collapse on us.  I also remember my mom trudging up the steps to reprimand us.  I remember tying scarves around my neck and pretending to be mighty mouse as I jumped off our back steps.  When my mother was injured in a car accident and spent a month in the hospital in traction, my father put me in charge of my younger sisters aged 11 and 7.  I was only 13 years old.  I had to cook breakfast and get us ready for school, take care of my normal chores on our farm, help with homework, then fix dinner and take care of the dishes.  It was tough.  I could relate also because my experiences took place around the same time period.


I felt Teddy's burdens as he tried to hold it all together.  I felt his stress and heartache.  This was one of those books that had you laughing one minute and then had your heart being squished.  This is a young adult book, but I am telling you that adults will enjoy this book just as much.  I definitely recommend it to my friends and anyone else that loves historical fiction.

Larry Peterson's Bio:

Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. A former Metal Lather/Reinforcing Iron-worker, he left that business after coming down with MS. He, his wife and three kids moved to Florida 30 years ago. Larry began doing freelance newspaper commentary after graduating from Tampa College in 1984.

His first children's picture book, Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes was published in 2011. In 2012, his full length novel, The Priest and the Peaches was released and he is presently working on the sequel.

Links:  
Larry Peterson's Blog
http://www.ThePriestandthePeaches.com

Larry Peterson's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/larrytpbx

Larry Peterson's Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/slipperwillie

Tribute Books website:

http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tributes-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Facebook:

http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

A Rare Titanic Family - Julie Williams

Publisher:  NewSouth Books

Pages:  208

Source:  Received a copy from publicist

Genre:  Adult, Biography

April 12, 2012 will mark 100 years since the Titanic sank.  Julie Williams is the great-niece of Albert Caldwell.  Albert and his first wife Sylvia went to college together, accepted a mission to Siam and then married.  The day they married they left for their new life.  Sylvia was not recommended to go because of possible future health issues.  She went anyway.  The weather was very agreeable with Albert.  A combination of the tropical weather and pregnancy made Sylvia very sick.  After Alden was born she just couldn't seem to get her strength back.  She was unable to hold her own child.  Upon the recommendation of a doctor the Caldwells left Siam, headed to Europe where they ended up on the ill-fated Titanic.  Albert was a very personable person.  He made friends with everyone.  According to Mrs. Williams it is because of this that he and his wife and child managed to survive.  

Julie Williams has told a story that was passed down to her from Albert.  She became so intrigued she had to find out more.  A photograph started it all, and graces the cover of the book.  This biography held my attention not only because of the topic, but because of the other story.  Haunted by the Titanic and Hunted by the Presbyterian mission board took its toll on their marriage.    This story was told in a hauntingly beautiful way.  It is full of emotions and memories but doesn't dwell on the macabre.  This is a book I will most definitely recommend to my friends.  

About the Author

Julie Hedgepeth Williams is a journalism professor at Samford University.

She received a B.A. in English and history from Principia College

in Elsah, Illinois, and a Masters in Journalism and a Ph.D in Mass

Communications from the University of Alabama. She is the author of

Wings of Opportunity: The Wright Brothers in Montgomery, Alabama, 1910

(NewSouth Books, 2010).