The King of Average by Gary Schwartz

From Goodreads:

James isn’t the world’s greatest kid, but he’s not the worst, either: he’s average! When he decides to become the most average kid who ever lived, James is transported to another world where he meets Mayor Culpa, a well-dressed talking Scapegoat who recruits him to become the new King of Average.

He’s joined on his quest by a professional Optimist and his grouchy companion, an equally professional Pessimist. Together, they set out on a journey of self-discovery that leads them all the way from the Sea of Doubt to Mount Impossible, the highest peak in the Unattainable Mountains. When James stumbles into a Shangri-la called Epiphany, he uncovers the secret of who he really is.

Follow James on his hilarious, adventure-packed journey to find self-worth in this heartfelt middle grade novel The King of Average by debut author Gary Schwartz.

My Thoughts: 

From the moment I began reading this book I had several thoughts go through my head. The first was how

sorry I felt for James.  As a teacher I've actually heard parents tell their kids they hated them and wished they'd never been born. I've heard them blame the father's. This book immediately resonated with me as I am sure it will with so many of my students. The author has commented that his ideas came from several places, especially his favorite book, "The Phantom Tollbooth".  I can see how the worlds resemble each other.  I loved this world. It is a world I was very familiar with.  My students have a difficult time believing there was a time I didn't believe in myself. I considered myself no one special. I would try on occasion to better myself, only to have someone say something that made me feel like I was only average. James is whisked away to the land of Average where he is to be tested to see if he is to be their next king.  I thought it funny that he wanted to excel at being average because he thought that was the best he could hope for. His journey to find out what happened to the last king will change his life in ways he never saw coming.  I think this should be required reading in every class, in every school.  There are so many people out there like James who need the message in this book.  The funny thing is, at age 57, there were lessons I could still learn. Learning to step above seeing yourself as just average or not worth anything for some of us in some situations is an on-going process.  I will definitely recommend this book to my fellow teachers and readers, and parents.

A Curious Beginning – Deanna Raybourn

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review

Let me start off by saying that I am picky about literature set in the Victorian period. Often it comes across as very stuffy. This is not the case with this book. Veronica Speedwell is the main character. After the death of her “aunt”,  her life is suddenly turned upside down. She is almost abducted. Baron Maximilian von Stauffenbach convinces her that she is in danger. He also tells her he knows who her mother was and promises to tell her all. He places her with a friend named Stoker. Unfortunately before he has the chance to give her any information he is murdered. Veronica and Stoker flee in an effort to find the truth. They are to stay ahead of those trying to find them by joining a traveling circus, friends of Stoker’s.

Veronica and Stoker have a very strange relationship. They seem to take pleasure in making digs at each other. Veronica is definitely able to stand up for herself. She is very confident. This isn’t something you often see in females in the Victorian era. I loved her sarcasm. I loved how flustered Stoker would get because Veronica was not like other women of the time period. She would actually speak her mind and expect Stoker to accept it. This is the beginning of a romance. I liked the fact the author deviated from the normal Victorian romance. There are secrets from Stoker’s past that aren’t resolved in this book. This leaves the reader anxiously waiting for the next book in this series.  This is a great start to this series.

Cold Feet - Amy Fitzhenry

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

Most people who know me will tell you I don't read chick lit. Out of all genres it is my least favorite. However, there are always exceptions and this book was one of them.

Planning for your "big day" is very stressful.  Emma Moon, a lawyer,  has doubled the stress by deciding to go on a trip of  discovery the week before the wedding. Some of the things Emma learns is very difficult for her.  You feel her pain. Trying to find answers to why her family turned out the way it did was something she felt she had to do. She began to have self doubts about her wedding. She didn't want her marriage to resemble her parent's marriage. I'm sure there are many people like myself who will find areas in this story they can relate to. I liked the way the author wrote Emma's character because she felt so real and flawed. That is what made this book so different from most chick lit stories. I know this is why I loved the book so much and definitely recommend it to those friends who love the chick lit genre.