Flora & Ulysses

I love Kate DiCamillo.  I think she is a fabulous writer with unique storylines that captures both boys and girls of many ages.  Her writing style is one of my very favorite.  

I bought Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale.  

I hadn't read the book yet, but I knew I loved everything, some more than others, DiCamillo wrote, so I went ahead and got it.  It was a great choice, and a great addition to my library.  

Flora & Ulysses is an absolute fabulous book, and clearly the Newbery Committee thinks so as well since it won the Newbery Award this year.  That's kind of a big deal; hence the gold medal on the front of the cover now.  

I don't always love the Newbery Award books, but this year they chose wonderfully.  

I am going to give Flora & Ulysses 5 out of 5 stars.  The storyline is unique and interesting.  The characters are most definitely characters that are described fabulously and have their own quirks that seem so very real and loveable.  The story is completely clean with no language or anything awkward to deal with, and it has depth that can bring about good discussion between parent/child or class/teacher.  It's a great book that deserves all 5 stars.  

I think Flora is a very relate-able character.  I think Ulysses is just fun and not what I initially anticipated or expected.  I think Flora's mother and father have a relationship that many kids can relate to but yet they are so quirky it's fun in its own way.  I think the entire story is just great and everyone should read it!

Even though this book has a girl as a main character, I think boys could enjoy this one just as much.  Though, a teacher or parent may have to read this book to or with the boy to get them to accept it before they love it.

One aspect that boys especially, but girls as well, will enjoy is the comic pages that tell part of the story.  There are several illustrations throughout the book in comic form.  Since Flora loves comic books and Ulysses is a Superhero Squirrel the comics are absolutely perfect in the book.  Great call on the comic aspects DiCamillo. 

K.G. Campbell did the illustrations and I think he did a fabulous job.  The style of the illustrations fits in wonderfully with the writing style of DiCamillo.  

I truly believe that illustrations can make or break a book.  If they are done in a similar style/feel as the authors writing then they have huge bang for their buck.  The illustrations found throughout Flora & Ulysses perfectly enhances the story and makes it even better.  

For a bit more of the storyline, Amazon has the following book description: 

"It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell."  

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures is a fabulous story worth all 5 stars and even more so worth the Newbery Medal it received.  Go read this fast read by yourself one snowy day or with your kids.  

Teachers should most definitely add this to their "Read Aloud" choices.  It would be great read aloud for 2nd grade and up.  There are big words you could look up as a class, and the comics interspersed with the text of the story could make for an excellent writing lesson.  

I'm a big fan of Flora & Ulysses!

Midnight in Austenland

I own a lot of books, and I am pretty sure my husband thinks I own too many books.  My husband likes to read and owns a lot of books as well.  He thought he owned a lot of books until he met me.  He honestly didn't think he would meet someone, let alone marry someone, that owned more books than he does.  With our combined collections we own A LOT of books.  People do not like to help us move due to our book collection.  I still love to buy books, but I really do prefer to get my books from the library now.  I only buy the books that I know I'll love, and I can justify the purchase of yet "another" book to my husband.

I honestly love to give books as a gift; I actually got the idea from my friend Sarah.  I'm a little disappointed in myself for not thinking of giving books as a gift earlier.  I love to give picture books as baby shower gifts, and I love to give a non-fiction or fiction book I think someone will enjoy as a Christmas or birthday present.  Books as presents are fun.  My good friend Sarah actually started giving me books as a gift and she would always write in the front cover of the book.  I LOVE re-reading what she wrote in the book b/c it always reminds me about a part of my life.  One year for my birthday, Sarah gave me Austenland by Shannon Hale.  I had read the Goose Girl series, Princess Academy, Rapunzel's Revenge, and all of her other books.  I really like Shannon Hale.  Therefore, when Sarah gave me Austenland I was excited.  I love Jane Austen books and I love Shannon Hale books; I was sure this would be the best of both worlds.  However, Austenland did not live up to the quality of writing that Hale's other books had.  I was actually extremely disappointed with Austenland.

As a result of me being so disappointed with Austenland I wasn't super excited for Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale.  I actually wasn't even going to read it, but my sister convinced me otherwise.  I'm glad that she did convince me otherwise.  Even though Midnight in Austenland was a little slow to get going it eventually picked up steam and did not slow down.  It became one of those books that you just want to keep reading to find out what happens next.  I want to also say that you do not need to read Austenland to understand and enjoy Midnight in Austenland.  I would actually suggest you don't even bother with Austenland; all you need to know is there is a place in England where you can go on vacation and live like you were in a setting of one of Jane Austen's books.  The setting is truly is the only thing the two Austenland stories have in common.     


Midnight in Austenland was written to the quality of Hale's other books.  Even though the character development was a bit predictable I still felt that the main character Charlotte really showed a lot of depth and growth throughout the story.  I also appreciated the flash backs into Charlotte's life.  Hale would have a little snippet from Charlotte's childhood or life before Austenland, but then Hale would quickly move into present day Austenland where Charlotte was staying on vacation.  I thought the back and forth writing helped develop Charlotte as a character that you become attached to as a reader.  Charlotte is a genuinely nice, witty, fun, and someone I want to be more like.  She truly is a great heroine in the story... just like all of the heroines in Jane Austen books.  

I would give this novel a 4 out of 5 stars.  It's a fun and fast read.  There is a mystery aspect to the story.  There is action and suspense in the story.  There is a bit of a love story.  There are realistic and relatable characters.  There are many pluses to the story that outweigh the negatives.  Ididn't give Midnight in Austenland a perfect 5 stars because the character development was predictable, the story was predictable at times, and it is a bit slow to get going.  However, if you like Jane Austen books and if you like clean realistic fiction books then you will like this one.  You actually don't even need to like or have read any Austen books, but it does make it a bit more fun when you do.

Amazon had the following description about the book:

"When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.

Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlor games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?"


I would highly suggest this book for a fun and quick read this summer.              

What Happened to Goodbye

I was so excited to finally get the chance to read What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen.  I love waking up in the morning and getting the email from the library saying that my book is in and waiting for me on the reserve shelf.  Don't you agree?

I love reading a book that is in your favorite genre and from an author that you really like; this book filled both of those areas.  I picked this book up last Wednesday, when I was on my way to take a Glucose Test for my pregnancy.  It was perfect to be able to sit and read this book for an hour without any interruptions.  However, I didn't have to worry about finding time to read this book; I read during any and all free minutes throughout the week.  This book was a quick read, and I found myself a little bummed when the book finished.

There are many reasons why I enjoyed What Happened to Goodbye, which is Dessen's most recent book released a year ago.  Dessen technically wrote the book quite well, and she intricately brought the characters to life.  I found myself enjoying each and every one of their little quirks, and I found myself wanting friends just like them.

In every Dessen book I have read I love and yet hate the struggles the main character goes through and the choices she (b/c all of her main characters are girls) makes.  There are times in the story when you, as the reader, can see the characters choice is a bad one, and you find yourself so invested in their life that you are afraid of the consequences that choice will bring.  However, just b/c you can see a characters bad choice doesn't mean the story is predictable; it was predictable at times, but it had enough originality to it as well.  It really is a well written and enjoyable story, but this is coming from a girl that really enjoys realistic fiction books.  I also loved that this book is completely clean; you don't have to worry about any language, sex, or drugs.  What Happened to Goodbye is just a clean and enjoyable story.  You should check it out.

McLean, the narrator and main character, is a teenage girl who is finding herself after a messy divorce between her parents.  Everything she knew and loved about life and people before the divorce drastically changes after the divorce.  I know that there are many young adults, and adults even, that can relate to McLean.  Eventhough I haven't experienced family drama like McLean I still found plenty of things to relate to in this book.  Throughout the story, and even at times unknown to McLean, she has to find out who she really is, and not what others want her to be; she had to find out who she really wanted to be.  Along the way McLean tried out many names and personalities, and even though her path to finding herself wasn't always what she, or you as the reader, expected it still ended up with her finding the real McLean.  I think that is the path everyone in life has to make one way or another.

Amazon had the following book description for What Happened to Goodbye:  "Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out."

I also found value in including Amazon's editorial review: "After a scandal involving her mother and a famous college basketball coach rocked her family and her old hometown, McClean decided to live with her dad. His job as a restaurant consultant requires they pick up often, and at each new place she carefully selects who she’ll be—Eliza, Beth, or someone else with a new name and different interests. It’s easier this way for McClean, who is reluctant to form any true attachments. Then at their latest stop, McClean does something she’s not done in a long while—reveal her real name. But who is this McClean and is she ready to forgive her mother, fall for the boy next door, and finally stick around? Fans of author Sarah Dessen will recognize her compelling dialog and characters so intricately-drawn it’s as if they’re the reader’s friends, too. Yet the real meat of What Happened to Goodbye is in Dessen’s mastery of the emotional ups-and-downs of McClean’s supportive relationship with her father and struggles with her mother. Keenly-observed and terrifically-written, Dessen’s latest is a delightful read about self-discovery and maturity that by the end is hard to say goodbye to."

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars out of 5; I'm not sure why I wouldn't give the book a perfect 5, but I find it awfully difficult to give, and for a book to receive, a perfect rating.  However, despite a rating of not quite a perfect five, this was a fabulous book!  Plus, for those North Carolina friends it has strong similarities to the Duke/UNC basketball rivalry.  I enjoyed the basketball rivalry reference from Dessen, a UNC alumni.  Go Heels!

Next up on my reading list is the Newbery Winner, Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.  I just recently got that fabulous email from the library telling me it's my turn to read it.  I'm excited to see what this Newbery winner book is all about.  I'll keep you posted.  After Gantos winning book I'm going to check-out Entwined by Heather Dixon; Sarah, a new blog reader, told me she loved it.  Thanks for the recommendation, Sarah!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on this book as well as any questions or recommendations on other books.