Asleep Without Dreaming by Barbara Forte Abate

Pages: 319

Genre: Young Adult, Adult, Mystery

Source: Review copy from author

From Goodreads:

Fourteen year old Willa Burkett has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls—a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory.

But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is only to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out.

Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Bodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel—a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens—except now, when everything does.

It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn't immediately comprehend. The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time—and Jesse Truman. A boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired as handyman at the Moonglow—who Willa longs to save—if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.

My Thoughts:

If you are looking for a feel good book to read then put this down and find something else.  This is one of the most depressing, dark books I have read in a long time.  I loved it.   I have never cared for the syrupy, sweet romances out in the world.  Give me a story full of emotion, no matter how dark and I love it.  I want to feel something when I read a story.  I want to be able to relate.  I want to think I know where the story is going and then have the author surprise me with the ending.  This book is all that and more.

Willa has the most dysfunctional, selfish parents.  Her father won a lot of money and left Willa and her mother with only a thousand dollars.  Her mom Stella is so selfish and disgusting.  She is one of those parents you would like to see locked up.  She wakes Willa up in the middle of the night to leave.  Their car breaks down and they are taken in by the owner of the Moonglow Motel.  Stella is given a job cleaning cottages for a small salary and their room and board. Willa does the cleaning.  Add to this a escaped convict seeking revenge on the town.  Fires popping up everywhere and you have the most depressing town around.  Willa falls hard for the teenage handyman Jesse.  But even that doesn’t go the way the reader thinks it should.  I won’t give away any spoilers.  If you are like me and like those dark novels then this is a must read.  It will keep you turning pages.  This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I am so thrilled to do it.  I love her writing style.

With Unwashed Hands by Joanie Bolton

Pages:  202

Genre: Adult, Christian, Biography

Source:  I received a copy from the author. The opinions expressed in this review are my own

From Goodreads:

Darrell Bolton, a retired Air Force officer, never imagined that his military career could still cost him his life--even after he had retired. While on a missionary trip to the Far East, Darrell, overcome with severe pain, was rushed to the hospital. Suddenly, he found himself viewed as "the enemy"! This gripping, true story will captivate you as you live with the Boltons through the horrific stress of being stranded in a third-world hospital...with a doctor whose only plan for his critically ill patient involved a slab in the morgue! "As a medical professional, I am appalled that such reprehensible abuse and neglect should be inflicted upon any human being...especially in the name of medicine! As someone who actually knows this kind and gentle man, I felt physically sickened by the mere reading of these events. This was truly a hate crime against one of our very own American heroes."

My Thoughts:

Imagine your loved on in the hospital going through unspeakable trials. Now take that same situation and place it in another country and add to it that the suffering is actually added to by the doctor who is supposed to be helping your loved one.  That is exactly what happened to this author’s husband. The things they went through are things you would think would have happened years ago.  It has only been a few years since this happened.  This story is one to be enjoyed by Christian and non-Christian alike. This story shows how God holds us close to him, and how he comforts us when no one else can.

This is definitely a story of faith, miracles, and love. It proves the point that what man means for evil God can use for good.  Break out your box of tissues and prepare to have your heart wrenched out and your soul inspired.

The Magician’s Doll by M.L. Roble

Pages: 318

Source: Review copy from the author:  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult Fantasy

Synopsis

How is twelve-year-old Natalie supposed to cope when her mother opens shop as a psychic?

Or when she herself starts to "see" things?

Burying her head in the sand is Natalie's preferred method for dealing, but no one else wants to leave it at that. Her friend Phillip wants her to stop being so stubborn and use her gift to help him find his missing father already! Natalie's mother wishes she would work on developing her gift instead of hoping it will wither up and die. Then there is the gift itself, which does not care one whit about what Natalie feels and takes control of her at inopportune moments to give her knowledge she does not seek.

Natalie's biggest obstacle to denial, however, is the big top circus that rolls into town, bringing with it Beausoleil the Magician, his daughter Louisa and his mysterious doll. Strange things are afoot with Beausoleil and his ilk, and in their wake, a storm is brewing: one that will threaten everything Natalie knows about her life and the people around her. Soon Natalie must decide whether to keep her head in the sand, or whether to embrace her gift and face the growing threat that will change her world forever.

My Thoughts:
When I first read the synopsis and then started reading the book I was reminded of the Ray Bradbury Book and Movie "Something Wicked This Way Comes".  It was always one of my favorites.  I wondered if maybe this would be too intense for my sixth graders.  Every year my students are different.  Some more mature than others.  I had no reason to worry. When the first student turned the book back in and declared it was "Just Right", I knew I had a winner for my shelves. He told me if you like to read mysteries and magic then this was the book to read.  The line to have their name put on the list to check out the book grew because of that student's remarks.
I loved the character Natalie from the very start.  She doesn't want to feel like an outsider, yet she does because her mom puts up her "psychic" sign.  The kids tease her.  However, Natalie can hold her own against them.  She hates that her mother is weird.  I think one of the reasons is because Natalie has a "gift" that she has kept hidden.  Unfortunately when a carnival comes to town she has to make some tough choices.  This is perfect for kids of the middle grade age.  It forces them to look at the way they treat each other and their differences.  It makes them look at what true friendship is and what they would do in certain circumstances.  I am sure this book was written to be a wonderful story, yet I find it is a great example of teaching kids something without them realizing they are learning  I will definitely continue to recommend this book to parents and students.