The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

ISBN:   9780312659264

Grade:   C+

The Miles Between has been on my to read list for quite some time ever since my librarian friend Lissa recommended Mary Pearson's first novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox.  This book is a quick read and though it is a YA book, the language isn't too juvenile.  The story is about a girl named Destiny who has bounced from boarding school to boarding school one after another after being estranged from her family.  One day at school Destiny finds a car with keys in the ignition and recruits three of her friends to go on a little road trip with her.  Destiny just wants one day to be fair, one day where the good guys win since she has not had the best of luck in the past.  The four friends take off for a town called Langdon, Destiny's hometown with its fair share of magic and mystery.  On the way there the foursome play a game of revealing secrets which leads up to a mighty big one from Destiny at the end of their day. 

The reason I didn't give this book a higher grade is that the beginning was a little to slow and didn't really draw me into the plot.  I stuck with the book because it was a YA title and because of the glowing recommendation from my Lissa.  Thankfully about two-thirds into the book things started getting really good and the ending was fantastic, so that upped the rating.  What I really liked was that Pearson hinted at what was to come and had I been paying closer attention would have picked up on the subtle clues.  If you're a fan of good YA novels, I would recommend The Miles Between.  

  

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

ISBN:  9780778328797

Grade:   A

Recommended for:  mainly women, although some guys would enjoy this book, anyone dealing with infertility and adoption, and most definitely book clubs.    

Well 2011 is off to a bang in terms of some really fantastic books.  These Things Hidden is a fine sophomore effort from Heather Gudenkauf.  I've been itching to read this since seeing an ad banner for it some time ago and thanks to NetGalley, I got my hands on an e-version.  Anyone thinking that their family has secrets has nothing on the Glenn family of this book.  

The story here starts with a girl named Allison who at age 16 commits a horrifying crime and finds herself imprisoned and sent to a halfway house for women.  The story is set in small town Iowa, yet it's a story that could happen anywhere.  It might be easier to break these women down to help explain the storyline and not give away any spoilers.  The story is told from four alternating viewpoints, the women listed below and their connection to each other via a little boy named Joshua.

Allison Glenn was the perfect teenager, smart and athletic, never got into trouble, a good soldier if you will.  Allison meets an older guy and quickly falls in love with him.  She finds herself in a situation that happens in every high school, except her actions lead her to serving 5 years in prison and then a halfway house. 

Brynn is Allison's younger sister who went from a near twin-like relationship to living in the shadows of Allison.  Brynn and her sister could not be more opposite with Brynn being the meek one to Allison's outgoing All American Girl type.  After Allison is sent to prison, Brynn becomes a pariah, being whispered about and stared at by classmates.  Brynn tries to lead as normal of a life as possible, quickly realizes its impossibility and leaves town to live with a relative.  As a result of all the trauma Brynn finds solace in animals and devotes herself to her newly adopted pets and schoolwork.

Next up is Claire Kelby, a bookstore owner and adoptive mother to Joshua.  We learn about her struggles to have children of her own and the experience she and her husband had as foster parents.

Charm Tullia is a girl Brynn's age who is taking care of her cancer stricken stepfather while distancing herself from her lousy mother and estranged brother.  We meet Charm as a nursing student when she frequents Claire's bookstore and hides in the self help section.

These Things Hidden takes a little while for the connection between the four women, and Allison's crime to be revealed, but well worth the wait.  Told in alternating viewpoints, each woman has her own chapter so we get the building blocks of who they are and where they fit into the story.  When the crime is finally revealed it hits you like a stab in the gut.  It is a crime so horrifying and disgusting it's almost too much.  Then the connection between these four women and Joshua is revealed and I found myself shocked again.  Without realizing it I was holding my breath in certain sections bracing myself for what was to come because there are quite a few sections that almost knock the wind out of the reader.

The ending was neatly wrapped up in a way that could not have been more fitting and without pulling any fast ones or usurping reader's emotions.  Heather Gudenkauf tackles a subject matter so dark and harrowing and writes with grace.  She has written quite the gripping page turner, one that could easily be finished in a sitting or two.  For those who read The Weight of Silence I'm sure you will like this book too, and possibly even more than her debut.  This book comes highly recommended, so read it and pass along your thoughts and opinions.

Ragdolls Are The Best! by Elaine Landau

ISBN:   9780761364283

Grade:   C+ / B-

Cover image will be posted when it has been finalied.  Publishing date set for February 1st.

Ragdolls Are The Best! is a cute kids book about Ragdoll cats, quite possibly the cutest cat breed out there.  Granted my opinion is biased as my first cat was a Ragdoll and the best cat ever as well as the most handsome guy ever.  Basic info about the breed including the history is included but could have included more.  Life span and known genetic health issues were not covered.  Maybe my Ragdoll came from a bad litter, but I only got 8 years with my cat due to genetic heart issues and his brother only made it to 7 years due to kidney problems.  Rescue information was included, much to my surprise as many books like this are obviously pro breeder.  The best part was all the pictures of the adorable balls of fur.  Ragdoll owners past and present can attest to this breed's personality as loving lap cats with beautiful blue eyes and some quirky antics.  What could have been added to the list of must have supplies for bringing your Ragdoll home were toys.  How could cat toys have been omitted?!

My experience with Ragdolls started when I visited my aunt who was the proud mommy of 2 Ragdoll boys who were the most friendly cats I had ever met.  I fell in love and shortly after got my very own 6 month old Ragdoll kitten.  He was quite wacky as a little guy, he'd hide behind things like the tv and couch and pounce on our ankles as we walked past him.  He also loved to fetch balls of paper and aluminum foil.  After his kitten stage he grew into a very affectionate lap cat who loved getting under your blanket and keeping you warm.  I remember my guy coming to bed with me and kneading my neck until he fell asleep.  The best quirk about my Ragdoll was that he loved to sit under lampshades and "recharge" himself under the hot lightbulb.  I'll have to dig up a picture of him doing that and post it, it's too cute for words.

Overall, as a kids book this is a decent one for teaching little ones about Ragdoll cats.  There could have been more info included without going over kids' heads.  The pictures make up for that though and if you haven't heard of Ragdolls, look them up to see the cuteness for yourself.

You can buy the book here.  There are also other books starring different breeds of cats if Ragdolls are not your fancy.

A Dog Named Slugger by Leigh Brill

ISBN:   9780984325658


Grade:   A+


A Dog Named Slugger should be read with a few boxes of tissues and a warm furry companion.  Slugger's story and Leigh's story will warm even the coldest most callous hearts and will stay with you long after the book has been read.  This is a tribute fit for a king who devoted his life selflessly to a woman in need.  

A Dog Named Slugger is the story of a woman named Leigh who has Cerebral Palsy and her first service dog Slugger.  Leigh's CP makes daily activities challenging, she drops things a lot and falls down lots.  Walking is challenging as well.  Everyday things that most of us don't even think about.  As a child Leigh was taught to keep her disability a secret and try to blend in with the rest of the kids at school.  She is singled out by her fellow classmates as a cripple that no one wants anything to do with.  She endures doctor appointment after doctor appointment and numerous surgeries with those doctors and nurses talking at her, about her and down to her instead of talking to Leigh as a regular person.  After a particularly callous college professor chastises Leigh for being 15 minutes late to class after she took a tumble and struggled to pick herself and her things up, she realizes that she needs help.  Thus begins her search for a service dog who will forever change her life.   

This is a story that everyone should be able to relate to because at some point in all our lives we were a little different from the norm and treated differently because of that difference.  Leigh compares herself to barn kittens being terrified of being discovered, and that can resonate true for many others.  She also begs God for the right answer.  She felt like a circus freak when people would stare at her because she was different.  These are feeling that most of us have had at some  point in our lives.  Maybe not due to a disability, but whatever the difference was we've all tried to hide it and blend in as normal. 

Upon meeting Slugger, one of the questions Leigh had was would Slugger like her.  Being a proud mom to a larger than life yellow Lab mix, I can attest to the fact that a Labrador heart is filled with nothing but love and goodness as Slugger comes to teach us readers.  We also learn about just how much time and hard work goes into training service dogs...2 years to train a puppy!  When Leigh describes Slugger as the color of sunshine, we know that she is in the presence of something great and was destined to be partnered with Slugger.  Leigh needed Slugger just as much as Slugger needed Leigh to tell his story as his story is one of greatness and selflessness that needed to be told.  We learn about Slugger's love for cheese and rolling in manure and that just adds to his charm and personality even though most of us readers have never met Slugger.  Leigh does such a wonderful job of describing Slugger that we can picture a big goofball with poop stains on his fur, drool on his jowls and a sparkle in his eyes.  

"The purest devotion can pass from one heart to another without a sound."  That line there touched my heart in its truth.  All a furry companion needs to do is look into its owner's eyes and say what cannot be verbalized.  The eyes are pathways into the souls. 

A touching part was Leigh calling what others refer to as dust bunnies, dust puppies.  That was a sweet way of looking at the ever present balls of fur that become a constant part of our lives as dog owners.  Some of us have dust puppies and dust kitties, often comingled together.  We get to learn about Slugger's abundance of personality, after all he does get to be a regular dog too.  He discoveres a turtle who he proceeds to bring home to lick spotlessly clean.  Even though the turtle escapes, Slugger claimed that turtle as his and kept bringing him back to clean.  I'm sure if that turtle is still around, he still smells like a dog tongue.  

Parts of this story will make you angry, like the doctor telling Leigh that she's so pretty  but no guy wants a cripple.  The ultimate 'up yours' to that doctor is Pranav, Leigh's husband who proves that all that matters is love.

"You are more than pain, more than worry, more than cancer.  You are you.  And you are good."  To me that is a mantra that should be placed in oncology wings everywhere.

Finally, Leigh's goodbye to Slugger tore my heart out.  Slugger did so much for Leigh in his time with her like teach her how to stand up for herself and teach her that it's okay to be different.  Her parting words to Slugger were thank yous and were perfect.  With Slugger's passing the way was paved for Kenda, Leigh's current service dog. 

A few of you are getting your own copies of A Dog Named Slugger because his is a story that deserves to be read.  For the rest of you, please read this book and consider donating to a great cause that helps change lives. 

Beside us all is a dog named Slugger. 

Leigh Brill's website

Saint Francis Service Dogs

5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth by The Oatmeal

ISBN:   9781449401160

Grade:   A

Sorry my pretties, you'll have to wait until closer to the release date for the full review, per publisher's request.

Spray by Harry Edge

ISBN:   9780312613440

Grade:   D+

While I am so not the target audience for the YA genre, that doesn't stop me from enjoying a well written YA read.  Spray is not one of those books.  While it's not a bad read per se, it just didn't tickle me.  Had I read this as an 11 or 12 year old, I probably would have eaten this up.  As an adult who played Assasins in high school, this just read like a game manual.  Spray is a book about a group of kids who play the Assasins game with squirt guns.  And that's the extent of the plot.  My previous experience with the game was not nearly as structured and anal retentive as the game portrayed here is, largely do to the fact it was organized by lazy angst ridden high school freshmen.  This book gives the ins and outs of playing the game with minimal character development.  The character development is replaced with action and would be perfect for 11+ kids, especially boys.