Give Books Not Roses Winner

Happy Valentines Day and Congratulations to our WINNER  BN100!

Student Saturday: The Year We Disappeared by Cylin Busby and John Busby

Student Reviewer: Elizabeth B.

Genre: Young Adult, Memoir

From Goodreads:

The extraordinary true story of a family, a brutal shooting, and the year that would change their lives forever.

When Cylin Busby was nine years old, she was obsessed with Izod clothing, the Muppets, and her pet box turtle. Then, in the space of a night, everything changed. Her police officer father, John, was driving to work when someone leveled a shotgun at his window. The blasts that followed left John’s jaw on the passenger seat of his car—literally. Overnight, the Busbys went from being the "family next door" to one under 24-hour armed guard, with police escorts to school, and no contact with friends. Worse, the shooter was still on the loose, and it seemed only a matter of time before he’d come after John—or someone else in the family—again. With their lives unraveling around them, and few choices remaining for a future that could ever be secure, the Busby family left everything and everyone they had ever known…and simply disappeared.

As told by both father and daughter, this is a harrowing, and at times heartbreaking account of a shooting and its aftermath, even as it shows a young girl trying to make sense of the unthinkable, and the triumph of a family’s bravery in the face of crisis.

Student Response:

I liked the book, but it was saddening. I would not recommend this book to people who like adventure. It was about a father who was a police officer, and he got shot in the face. He survived. Now the family has to hide in the shadow, away from the rest of the world.

Love Gently Falling by Melody Carlson

Genre: Adult, Romance
Source: I received a book to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Rita's love of hairstyling started in her mom's salon.  Her mom paid her way through one of the best beauty schools in California.  Now Rita has a job she loves with some high-end clientele.  When she receives a call from her father telling her that her mother has suffered a stroke she immediately flys home.  She is surprised to find an old classmate there to pick her up.  Johnny knows her family as Rita's mom is one of his clients.  He fills her in on the happenings since she's been gone.  Rita learns that her mom's former receptionist now has a salon in the same mall her mother's salon is in.  Not only that, but Zinnia is best friends with Rita's former best friend Marley.  They haven't spoken for quite some time.  Rita decides the best way to help her mother is to help her salon get back on its feet.  Can she bring not only the shop back to life, but mend the fences between her and her friends?  Will she discover love in the form of her former classmate Johnny?

I would encourage you to read the book to find out. This is a light-hearted book.  Fun and full of love.  This is perfect for that quiet evening when you have nothing else to do.  Melody Carlson has a way of making you feel like you are a part of the family when you read her books.  Check this book out to find out the Valentine's surprise the author has left us with.