REVIEW: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Title: Counting by 7s

Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan Website Facebook Twitter

Publisher: Dial

Release Date: August 29,2013

Pages: 384

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

First Thoughts: Beautiful story with a beautiful voice! All the Willows of the world - misunderstood kids experiencing nothing but heartbreak - deserve an ending like Willow Chance’s.

I completely understand the long list of awards for this book: An Amazon Best Book of the Year. A B.E.A. BUZZ BOOK 2013. A Junior Library Guild Selection. A Kids Indie Next List #4 of Top Ten Autumn 2013. A Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2014-2015 Master List. It’s a beautifully written middle grade book that crosses over into young adult and even adult (I sure enjoyed it).

Although this book is realistic fiction, I’m not sure how believable it is - there are a lot of inconsistencies and predictable moments - and yet,  I don’t really think that matters. What matters is Willow, and she is wonderful. Loved, loved, loved her voice throughout the novel. As I read her story, I could picture her in many of my misunderstood students (I also feel like Willow is on the spectrum even though it’s never explicitly stated). Students who socially struggle, students with unstable home lives, students who are too smart for their own good - Willow embodies all of them.

To me, the most beautiful piece of the novel is its unlikely relationships. Willow, Dell (her counselor), Pattie (foster-like mother), Mai (happen-chance friend), and Mai’s brother (who just might be my favorite character) come together to form the most unlikely of families. And, their message about family is why I loved this book so much: family isn’t about blood, family is about who you love, trust, and rely on. So, even though Willow’s story is a heartbreaker, the ending is one of beauty and joy (sorry for the spoiler).

I suppose I can’t say it much better than the list below. Here are seven reasons why you should read Counting by 7s (from the publisher). I wholeheartedly agree with all of them, especially number 7 (fitting, right?):

1. Friendship.  It doesn't always happen easily, especially for Willow.  But now she has met Mai, a girl with enough energy to tackle the impossible, and one who sees Willow for who she really is.
2. Oddballs. We all feel like outsiders sometimes.  Willow the genius -- who has mastered several foreign languages and medical-school textbooks all by the age of twelve -- certainly doesn't easily fit in with the crowd.  Neither do the other people in this story filled with terrific, memorable oddballs.
3. Hobbies.  It helps to have something interesting to focus on, such as Willow's passion for nature.  When tragedy strikes, it is the simple act of growing sunflowers that first brings her some pleasure again.
4. Laughing and crying. But despite the tragedy, this is a beautiful, satisfying book -- the kind that makes you see your own life in a new way.  And through the heartache, you will find yourself laughing -- at the wonderfully absurd moments that happen even on the hardest days.
5. Miracles.  Those unexpectedly silly moments are miraculous.  This is a story filled with everyday miracles.
6. Family.  And the most miraculous thing of all is a loving family.
7. Willow Chance herself, whose heart leads her on a path to belonging -- a path that is surprising, exhilarating, and without a doubt, one you will never forget.

Final Thoughts: One of those books with a character that simply touches your heart! You can’t help but fall in love with Willow and root for the happy ending she so deserves!

Who Should Read It? Although it’s technically a middle grade book, I think it has mass appeal for readers of all ages. It’s a heartfelt story that connects on so many levels. I know I’ll be adding it to my high school classroom library. Fans of Wonder should add this to their TBR list. It doesn’t have a lot of action and adventure, but it’s a beautiful look at life through some unlikely characters.

REVIEW: Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Title: Tell the Wolves I’m Home

Author: Carol Rifka Brunt Website Facebook Twitter

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Pages: 335

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn’s funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn’s apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she’s not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

First Thoughts: I’m not usually one for comparisons, but as I read this novel I couldn’t help but draw parallels to Harper Lee’s powerful classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. This story is a poignant, modern take on Lee’s coming-of-age story.

Let me start with why this is a 4 star, not 5 star book for me - it took me a little while to get into it. Once I was into the book? Wow! This is not an action-packed book. It’s not a conflict-driven plot. It’s simply a beautiful book about life told through incredibly real characters. It doesn’t have a happy heart-warming ending, necessarily; it’s just real life.

These complex characters are beyond real; this easily could be read as a memoir or piece of nonfiction. Because they are so real, they are extremely relatable. I found pieces of myself in June, and even in Greta, although I strongly disliked her for the majority of the novel. In June, I saw my strong sense of family and tradition. I don’t do well with change, and change sends June’s life into a tailspin. Although I hated (yes, hated) Greta for most of the story, I ended up completely understanding her. Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you’re the oldest. She wants to be older, she wants to be mature, and yet, she still wants to play invisible mermaids with her younger sister. I completely get that.

The characters, as individuals, are complex, but the relationships are really what make this story so poignant and powerful. As in life, there is a twisted web of relationships built on love, hate, secrets, and expectations. Although the sisters’ relationship drives the book, I found the most intrigue in the dynamics between Danni (the mother), Finn (the uncle), and Toby (the uncle’s boyfriend). The further the story went, the more layers that appeared. Even by the end of the book, I wasn’t sure how to feel about certain characters, but they definitely made me feel.

Obviously, this story is about the characters and their relationships, but it’s also a snapshot of our history - 1987 in NYC. I found it surreal to think about the panic AIDS caused. I was too young to experience the hysteria, anxiousness, and panic that the outbreak and publicizing of the disease caused, but it came through loud and clear in this novel. When you think about it 1987 isn’t that long ago, and yet, in reading this book, it seems like lifetimes ago. But has much changed? There’s still panic and misinformation. There’s still judgment and intolerance. There’s still sickness and death. As a country and as people, we’ve come a long way, but when you look at our current society, I strongly believe that we still have a long way to go.

Final Thoughts: This is a book you can’t help but feel. Whatever the feeling is - grief, love, loss, happiness - you  will feel something as you read this book.

Who Should Read It? Although the book is told from a fourteen year-old’s perspective, I think this book is written for a more mature, older audience (it’s in the adult fiction section at the library). I think some young adult readers are ready for the book, but I would recommend it more to upperclassmen and adults. I actually think we should teach this book in place of, or alongside, To Kill a Mockingbird.

REVIEW: Doll Bones by Holly Black

Title: Doll Bones

Author: Holly Black Website Twitter Facebook

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Pages: 256

Buy It! amazon

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

First Thoughts: A cute story about friendship and growing up, albeit not as scary as I imagined. Definitely a great middle grade read although it doesn’t have the universal appeal I hoped for.

As a reader, I’m ashamed to say that this is my first Holly Black book (gasp!), although The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is sneaking up to the top of TBR list. It’s also one of the few middle grade books I’ve read in the last few years. I figured creepy cover, acclaimed author, and lots of hype - why not read it? Ultimately, I think this is a cute book, which probably isn’t a good thing since it’s supposed to be kind of creepy.

This is definitely a middle-grade book; I wanted it to be a bit more scary and eerie. The story starts out quite creepy. I mean just the concept of porcelain dolls alone gives me the heebie-jeebies. I used to get these dolls for Christmas when I was younger (don’t think I asked for them), and I can vividly remember one with green eyes that sat on the top of my shelf. Those piercing, possessed green eyes followed me wherever I went. But, after the Queen’s introduction, the creepiness waned. I needed more of the ghost and paranormal side of the story, and that’s saying a lot since I am the biggest baby ever! I did, however, really enjoy the adventure story that the kids themselves imagined - pirates, the Queen, world domination - I almost wish Black wrote that story too.

Although the scary side of the story lacked (again, middle grade audience), I loved the friendship between the three main characters. The book is a great depiction of the awkwardness EVERYONE experiences during middle school, and it is clear that these characters are searching for their identities. They are stuck between being kids and on the edge of becoming teenagers. I also liked how Black addressed the role of gender stereotypes. I see kids like Zach everyday (in fact, he reminded me a lot of my nephew). He still wants to play with his action figures, he still wants to believe in imaginary worlds, and he still wants to just be a kid. He doesn’t want to grow up, play sports, and do what a boy is “supposed” to do. Because of that, he tugged on my heart strings. We shouldn’t force kids to grow up; heck I still want to play with toys and believe in the imagined.

Doll Bones reminded me why I don’t read a lot of middle grade books - I don’t have anyone to recommend them to. Although I told my students about it (they saw the super-creepy cover and were intrigued), I can’t see any of them picking it up. There are just too many good, scary young adult novels out there for my horror fans. Now, if any of you are middle grade teachers or parents of tweens, add this book to your recommendation list; I think younger readers will eat this story up!

Final Thoughts: Creepy cover, cute story, beautiful friendships - in the end, this is simply a good middle grade story.

Who Should Read It? Add this to the list for middle grade readers - it has friendship, identity-searching and just enough creepiness to keep tweens on the edges of their seats. There’s not enough scary to give anyone nightmares, unless of course they have porcelain dolls in their rooms. It’s just a cute, quick read based on the difficulties of growing up.