Letters From the Way by Barbara V. Anderson

Genre: Non-fiction, travel book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book is a collection of letters the author sent to friends while walking two paths called "pilgrim paths". The first path took her through France.  It seems there are many "pilgrim paths".  The next trip started in France and ended in Spain.  Along the way she writes letters to friends explaining what she is experiencing and her thoughts on everything that pops into her mind.  I loved when she said, "sometimes we have to get lost to get found." Part of her journey was her wanting to try to find out if God exists and if he would speak to her on these walks.  Raised Catholic, she didn't want to take at face value what the church had to say.  She wanted something more personal. Did she find it?  You'll have to read the book to see.  The letters, along with the beautiful pictures that pepper the pages of the book, make this a book I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about walking through other countries.  I really enjoyed this book.  I had students picking this book up and they were interested in reading it.  I do have to add an update to this  post before it goes live. I learned from a couple of students that they thought the French teacher would be interested in this book because she is from France.  Besides, it mentioned the word sex twice and they didn't want to read the book after that.  I guess I am a little more open minded as there was nothing wrong with those two references and I am sure they hear worse on TV.  However, as sixth graders I know some of the parents would not approve.  So today I gifted the book to the French teacher who said she would put it on her shelves in the classroom after she read it.  We both agree it is a great asset to any classroom.

Button Hill by Michael Bradford

Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure

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

Dekker and his little sister Riley have temporarily moved to Button Hill while their mom is taking college classes at night.  They assume they are going to be bored out of their minds living with their Aunt Primrose.  She is  old, smelly and weird.  But, things take a drastic turn when Dekker finds an old clock made out of bones, with a skull for a face in his aunt’s basement.  His first mistake was moving the skull face.  His aunt has told him not to touch it.  When he locks his sister in the basement while playing a game, thing go from bad to worse.  When she doesn’t respond to him he goes into the basement and finds the old well is now open and his sister is gone.  He goes down the well only to find his sister, his neighbor Harper who he kind of likes, and someone who wants to replace him in his world named Cobb.  Dekker and Riley have traveled from Dayside to Nightside.  Dayside is where the living are, and nightside is where the dead are.  Harper has lived in both places.  In Nightside, making a bargain can have severe consequences as Dekker and his sister both find out.  Will they be able to escape Nightside?  Will their Aunt Primrose be able to help? This was a wonderful book.  It was fun to read and creepy at the same time. This is a story of friendship, family, love and sacrifice.  It is the type of book I know my students will love.

About the Author

(Goodreads author picture)

Michael Bradford was born in 1975, in St. Albert, Alberta. He has worked as a grass cutter, waiter, pizza delivery boy, literacy teacher, elementary school vice-principal and published poet. “Button Hill is his first novel. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with his wife and two children.

Tatiana by Madeline Brock

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

As a debut novel for this author I have to say I will be reading more of her work.  I love the time period when people didn’t take so much for granted.  Tatiana Bergman is the youngest in her family.  She has two other sisters, Gretchen and Rose.  They live with their father and their mother is deceased.  As the oldest Gretchen must try to raise her sisters the way her mother would have wanted.  This is a difficult task with a ten year old sister like Tatiana.  She is not ready to be a refined, young lady.  She wants to have fun.  One Sunday morning she sees a family enter the church with a young man whom she believes to be an Indian.  She wastes no time in trying to find out.  Jonny Creek is a half-breed. He and Tatiana become the best of friends. When everyone else is quick to criticize either of them they are there for each other.  This story takes us through several years of their lives.  We see young Tatiana give her life to God and strive to really change, to make a difference.  But what happens when she catches the eye of not just Jonny, but the preacher’s son?  Will she grow impatient as she is so apt to do or will she wait for God’s choice to be made clear to her?

I have to say from the minute I began to read this book until I finished it I loved Tatiana.  She really wanted to be good.  It didn’t come easy for her.  She worked hard to be good. Jonny actually brought out the good in her. Her friendship with him was genuine and strong.  Her relationship with Robert came out of her deciding to go fishing with him one day when Jonny was unable to meet up with her.  He was polite and let her tag along. She wasn’t invited.  However, this gave him the opportunity to see her true loving side.  I could see myself in her so much. As a child I was more like Gretchen.  I almost always did what was right.  However, whenever I got that stubborn streak then I was more like Tatiana.  It is funny because I grew up on a farm and our punishment was to be locked in the pantry under the stairs until we were ready to admit we were wrong and decide to change our ways. 

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.  It is a light romance, yet you can feel so much family love throughout the entire story.  I definitely enjoyed this book and am so happy that I was asked to review this book.