The Uncanny Express – The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sister by Kara LaReau

  

Genre:  Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure

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

 

This is the first book I have read by this author. There is so much to love. First we have the Bland sisters named Jaundice and Kale. From the minute I saw their names I knew this would be a very unusual book. This is a humorous mystery book with allusions to Murder on the Orient Express.  The girls go to meet their aunt at the train station. They are snatched as assistants to the magician Magique, Queen of Magic. While on the train Magique disappears and they are assisted by the famous detective Hugo Fromage, in finding her. I loved that the characters are very bland yet their adventures are completely the opposite. I felt like I was reading a book very similar to the Lemony Snickett series, which I loved. I have read so many serious books lately that this was a refreshing break. This is a fun and quirky book that I highly recommend.

Hey, Kiddo by Jarret J. Krosoczka

Genre: Young Adult, Graphic, Biography

Source: I purchased a copy

 

This was a tough book to read as I  lost my niece to heroin a year ago. She left behind four kids. This is a book I want my nephews to read and later their sisters. My sister did her best to raise the kids  but had her own issues.  They were eventually put in foster care until other arrangements could be made. I think they will be able to identify quite a bit with the author and I believe it may actually show them that no matter what happens in your past, you can always move ahead in life. This is a book I will definitely recommend to my students.  As a teacher I hear stories from my students like this all the time. I am so happy the author decided to share his story and how his past shaped his present. This is such an important message.

Talent by B. Lynn Goodwin

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic fiction

Source: I purchased a copy

 

This book is by far one of the best  I have read this summer. I can't wait to talk this up to my students and recommend it to our media specialist and the other teachers in my department. Let me tell you about this beautiful book.

Sandee Mason is a young girl whose brother is missing in Afghanistan. Diego, her neighbor and former seventh-grade boyfriend, is the only one who hasn't treated her differently since they received the news.  Encouraged by her brother's voice, she auditions for the school play, "Oklahoma." Is she running away from or to something?

As I read, I journeyed with Sandee as she tried to find her place in her new world.  I won't tell any more of the plot than that because I don't want to spoil anything.

This is an emotional read because of the situation Sandee and her family are in. It is emotional because of the behind-the-scenes drama Sandee finds herself in with the play's cast members.

This is so much more than a coming-of-age story. This story rings so true. You have a variety of relatable characters. All of them have their own hopes, dreams, quirks, and issues. Sometimes we focus so much on our own issues that we don't see others around us hurting the way we are. This story deals with teen drinking and alcoholism, grief, friendship, and family relationships. 

This author has written a book that will draw you in and hold you until the last sentence. Like I said before, this is one of the best books I have read all summer. I want to shout that from top of the world.