The Rainy Season by James P. Blaylock, a book review

The Rainy Season by James P. Blaylock is an interesting story with a really interesting premise. Could stones, glass, or other small items hold memories? What about a soul? Blaylock presents almost this sort of situation as not only a possibility, but a reality in a really interesting story that spans generations and includes time travel!

Phil Ainsworth is the main character and his home is almost a character in the story, right along with the weather and the surrounding land. It's interesting that water is the transportation medium. It's also interesting that the reader isn't sure who has traveled into the future until we again meet the travelers.

The pieces of stuff that hold either a memory or a soul are sort of like a horcrux from Harry Potter, in some ways. The items comes into being by way of the memory or soul. I find this idea fascinating.

I liked the way the author included family history, in a way, because I've become a bit of a geneology lover. It's amazing to find out about our ancestors!

My daughters will read this book when they are significantly older. It is adult reading with some adult scenes. I'm relatively certain they will enjoy it very much. I simply choose to shelter them when it's within my power to do so.

I do recommend this book to any older youth and any adult.

Have you read The Rainy Season by James P. Blaylock? What did you think of it?

On The Run, Chasing The Falconers by Gordon Korman, a book review

On the Run, Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman is a good quick read. It's written for youth and mostly appropriate for young mature readers. My ten and twelve year olds read it and enjoyed it very much.

The children who are the main characters are stuck in a home for juvenile delinquents. They have been put their for protection because of the high profile nature of their parents' trial. The brother and sister believe their parents are innocent, but how to prove it? They come to realize they cannot do it from where they are.

Circumstances arise that make it possible for the duo to escape their confinement and the majority of this book is about that process. My daughters and I look forward to reading the continuation of their story because we want to find out if (or how) the brother and sister prove their parents' innocence.

Korman does a good job of hooking the reader, keeping attention through action scenes, while also endearing the characters (and not just the main ones) to the reader.

Have you read On the Run, Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman? What did you think of it?

Singing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell, a book review

Singing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell, who is also the author of Island of the Blue Dolphins, is a Newberry Honor Book. Because it was initially published before I was born and probably won that honor shortly thereafter, I think the Newberry Honor is more a sign of good books for youth than, perhaps, it is now.

This is book relates an historical fiction about a Navaho Indian girl. She watched her mother's sheep, was taken as a slave, returned home against many odds, endured The Long Walk, and escaped imprisonment to live free on the land with her family. She endures loss and pain along the way, but seems to have an indomitable spirit. I feel like she is a good example of coming into adulthood – not just in an Indian culture.

While I was reading, my eldest daughters asked if I would let them read it. I had only read to the point of first capture and was concerned that there might be inappropriate goings on, so I told them I probably would NOT allow them to read it. Imagine their pleasure and surprise when they learned the next day that I'd altered my decision.

Once given permission, my eldest daughter read the book in a few hours and then the next oldest read it, though taking a little longer. They both enjoyed it a great deal.

We all enjoyed Singing Down the Moon, though none of us could quite figure out what the title has to do with anything. We've discussed it and have no ideas. If you could fill us in, that would be super! I do recommend this story for children from 9 or 10 years old and older. It is a good way to learn a bit about the way Indians were treated in our country's past. Specifically, it is a good illustration of some of the treatment of the Navaho at the time of The Long Walk.

Have you read Singing Down the Moon by Scott O' Dell? What did you think of it?