Review: The Midwife by Jennifer Worth

book 5 of 10 for the Orbis Terrarum 2009 Challenge
genre: non-fiction, memoir
rating: 4/5

Having given birth with the support of a midwife three times, when I heard about this one, I knew I had to make time to read it. The Midwife is the memoir of Jennifer Worth (“Jenny”) and her experiences in the East End Slums of post-war London. I think three things come together to make this a very interesting book.

First, the voice of Jenny. She is candid and real - her storytelling doesn't sugar-coat her experiences or her mistakes. She never pretends that the East End was anything other than what it was: a hard place to live where people still found things worth living for. She shares her prejudices with us and shows us how they crumbled as she became more intimate with the people she cared for, both as a midwife and as a nurse. Life in the convent, its routines and relationships - Jenny relates these things with an unaffected and honest candor. Every once and a while the narrative felt a bit jumpy (moving between time periods, etc.), but because I was interested wherever she took me, it didn't bother me.

The second thing is that the time and place is so narrow - we get such an intimate slice of a group of people, their trappings and failures and the things that make them tick. Some of their vices are described in uncomfortable detail and you can imagine how hopeless and degrading life could be. She teaches us to appreciate "Cockneys" and there is even an appendix so we can read Cockney and understand what they are saying :) As much as this book is about being a midwife, I also think it stands well as a cultural study of a group of people that no longer exist in the same sense.

The third thing is the art of midwifery itself and her journey as a midwife. I caught myself smiling while reading some chapters, there is so much joy - and other chapters brought me to tears and had me biting my lip with worry. She was in the thick of the struggle between life and death that all mothers experience as they bring a new one into the world. And I think there is a nice balance between medical information and the more extensive personal stories that make Jenny's neighborhood vibrant, full of characters and their histories. She never pretends that it was easy or glamorous work, and sometimes the conditions she worked in were downright disgusting. I kept having the thought: this was REAL. It was her LIFE. Women gave BIRTH this way, lived this way - medical science was so different and I think this memoir gives a fascinating perspective of a way of life that is no longer, as well as a flavor for the satisfaction that comes from working with pregnant women.

It's not lyrical or dreamy - it's a down-in-the-gutters look at an ages old profession. I loved it.

Review: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

book 5 of 5 for the Jewish Literature Challenge
book 1 of the Once Upon a Time III Challenge
genre: fantasy
rating: 5/5

I am ashamed that I haven't read this before. I was a great devotee of the movie when I was young and it wasn't until I was a teen that I even realized there WAS a book. But even then, I remember checking it out once and trying it, but just preferring the movie. Silly girl. The book is just as good and definitely more profound. Or, maybe, I have just lived enough now to see that it IS profound.

The last unicorn doesn't know she is the last until she hears a hunter speak the words. Her journey to find out the truth about unicorns in the world leads her on a journey into the depths of the human condition. She gathers with her those who can see her for what she truly is: the kind and bumbling Schmedrick, the Magician, and Molly Grue, the crabby scullery girl. With these two by her side she travels towards the realm of King Haggard and his terrifying Red Bull. What she learns along the way about herself and the ways of humans will change the land forever.

What makes this book such a classic? Is it the complex characters? The unicorn is at once both naive and wise, teaching us what is human by putting words to what we have and what we lack. Is it the magic itself, fleeting and powerful - at the ready for some but tantalizingly fickle with others? Or perhaps it's because it is a tale of finding what is beautiful, old, and good and restoring it to its rightful place - but first having to learn what is worth living and dying for.

The writing is witty, lyrical and powerful. If you have seen the movie, you'll hear voices in your head as you read text that was lifted word for word and put into the movie. But even if you haven't - if you love tales of magic and love, unicorns and heroes - you should open the pages of this one and take the journey. You won't forget it.

Review: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

book 4 of 5 for the Jewish Literature Challenge
book 4 of 10 for the Orbis Terrarum 2009 Challenge
book 7 of 10 for the Book Awards Challenge II
genre: fiction/historical fiction
rating: 4/5

A centuries old manuscript is at the crux of this book - illustrated and written in Hebrew, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Australian conservationist Hanna Heath. Her conservation efforts lead her to clues within the book that shed light on who might have handled the book, where it traveled from and who drew the amazing illuminations. The narrative does one of my favorite things: switches us from chapter to chapter between the present time period and different periods of the book's history: each clue Hanna finds is more background about the book and the hands that have held it.

For the most part, it is a gripping story. We travel through centuries of time and all over the world as we follow Hanna and her book. Some sections were more engaging than others (a few were a bit raunchy), but it always kept my attention and I was always pleased whether a chapter took me back to Hanna or to somewhere (and sometime) new. The clues themselves were interesting and parts of the book felt like an episode of CSI or some other forensics tv show, but since I like that, it added to the book for me.

Hanna is a challenging character, bordering on emotionally dysfunctional. Sometimes her personality grated on me - and other times I really could relate to her. I like how she made a point of explaining her "Aussi-ness" and differentiated, at times, between American/British/Australian ways of thinking and doing things. Her back-story and the things she learns about her past along the way flowed well enough with the book plot and I never wanted to put it down.

While the ending wasn't what I'd imagined it would be, it worked. I thought this was a good read.

Once Upon a Time Challenge III

Last year I had so much fun with this challenge. I am overbooked (ha!) as it were and dare to only sign up to join in the journey this time.





Here's what THAT entails:
This is really as simple as the name implies. It means you are participating, but not committing yourself to any specific number of books. All reading is a journey, perhaps none more so than reading fantastical fiction. By signing up for The Journey you are agreeing to at least read one book within one of the four categories during March 21st to June 20th period. Just one book.

Here is the one book I know I will read:
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

I hope I am able to get some other fantasty/fairytale stuff in there, but at least I'll be playing along :)

Review: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka

book 3 of 10 for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge
genre: young adult
rating 3.5/5

The tale of Third Sister, Ailin, begins in turn of the century China. Even at the age of five, Ailin knows that having her feet bound will not give her the kind of life she wants – she’d no longer be free to run and play. As a coming of age story, we get to experience China first-hand as Ailin grows older and begins to suffer the consequences of her decision. With her family against her, Ailin has to find the courage to stand up to traditional Chinese culture and find her own way to be a woman.

Ties that Bind, Ties that Break reads like a simple memoir, although it is fiction. The first person narrative is certainly readable and could probably be enjoyed by readers ages 10 and up. For me, it was a bit too simple. Characters didn’t have enough time or energy devoted to them for fleshing out, although you get a good sense of the main character and the way she thinks about things. For young adults that are interested in more modern China, especially in the foot binding practice, they would probably find this an interesting read. The time period is interesting and you do get a sense of the lives of upper class Chinese and the traditional way of life. It just didn’t have enough meat for me.

Review: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

book 3 of 5 for the Jewish Literature Challenge
genre: historical fiction
rating: 3.5/5

The Red Tent tells a fictionalized version of the story of Dinah, daughter of the Leah who is the sister of Rachel and the husband of Jacob from the Old Testament. Because it is based on the Biblical story, many of the characters and major events are familiar to those of us familiar with the Bible; what makes this story different is that it is told from Dinah's perspective, drawing readers into what the female half of the world may have been doing during Biblical times.

Dinah is a daughter between two worlds - the world of the Red Tent, where goddesses are worshiped and where the lives of women revolve around the cycles of the moon and the harvest. In this sanctuary, the female form and purpose is a sacred thing. Contrast this to the world outside the Red Tent, where women are bought and sold, beaten and worked into old age. As she grows and becomes aware of the nuances of family relationships, she begins to see divisions and unrest among her mothers, father and brothers. When tragedy forces Dinah to make a horrendous choice, her life and that of her family's will never be the same.

I liked it, as much this time as the first time I read it, years ago. I thought about it when I had to put it down and I wanted to know the end of Dinah's tale. I enjoy reading about familiar characters from fresh points of view and I think Diamant created a very realistic rendition of Canaanite society and of the world of Jacob, his wives and family. I loved that so much of the book had to do with birthing and midwifery and relationships between women and between mothers and children. Dinah's relationships were intricate and her friendships were a pleasure to read about.

I was sometimes frustrated that so many of her characters seemed hopelessly flawed, almost urnealistically so and the graphic nature of some scenes detracted from the story, for me. It's certainly an earthy story, set in a time when the old gods and goddesses are being replaced by the one God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, creating an interesting juxtaposition between "new" ways and the "old" ways. As much as the "earthy-ness" bothered me, I can't deny that Diamant has a way with words. One of my favorite paragraphs, written about the birth of a child:

There should be a song for women to sing at this moment, or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name that moment. Like every mother since the first mother, I was overcome and bereft, exalted and ravaged.

I recommend this with caution. There is much honeymooning and lovemaking and we don't have to imagine much. That being said, there much to appreciate in this story about the power and resilience of the female spirit.

Happy Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

Did you know that this wonderful story is turning 40 years old today? Google even redesigned its front page in its honor

If you want to see a video of Eric Carle talking about the book, go here, he even reads part of it! It's neat, you can watch him drawing. He also talks about his upbringing during the Nazi regime, and the lilt of his voice is so pleasant. What an amazing man - he's changed the picture book world, in my opinion. I remember when I met him at the National Book Festival and had him sign my own copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Such a kind man, he was the only author I wanted to wait in line for with my antsy two year old :)


This book is also special to me because it's the first flannel board story I ever made as an in-training preschool teacher. The three year olds in my class ADORED it, as has every child I've ever been able to snuggle up with and read it to. That final page of the beautiful butterfly is always a delight. So, if you're like me or the kids I lvoe, you should find someone you can read it to today. I know I already did :)

Review: Regina's Closet by Diana M. Raab

book 9 of 10 for the Book Awards Reading Challenge 09
genre: memoir
rating: 3.5/5

When her aging mother throws a stack of yellowed papers onto her kitchen table, Diana has no idea of the treasure she's just been given. These papers end up being a retrospective journal, written by Diana's late grandmother who lived in Europe previous to World War I. Within the book Regina's Closet, Diana uses the journal as a framework for understanding her Grandmother's past and as well as her decision to take her own life. We experience war-torn Poland and Vienna through the eyes of a child that must grow up far too soon.

The journal itself is fascinating. Regina's childhood was so agonizing - fraught with the misery that befell many as a result of the first Great War, and it also provides a very unique perspective for viewing that time period. She didn't mince details and was painfully honest about her emotions during the hardest times. I felt like I really got a sense of her as a child just from her own descriptions of herself and the experiences that shaped her. I always was engaged when reading her story, despite the fact that it was a very unhappy one.

More than a memoir, this book feels to me like a family history in which Diana helps us out by giving us some context of the time period beyond the journal, as well as what happened in her own life during the time her Grandmother was alive. I appreciated this research, since it fills in some of the holes that necessarily spot any kind of journal. Sometimes when more present day information was inserted to show a relationship to the past, it seemed to move me out of my groove as a reader, a little bit. I suppose it made it harder for me to keep the chronology straight. Don't let this dissuade you from picking this one up, however, if you are interested in the subject - and especially if you have people in your life with depression. I think Diana has a very straightforward and unique story to tell that should certainly be appreciated by many.

Review: Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly

Hatchett Book Group Early Birds Blog Tour
book 6 of 24 for the A to Z Reading Challenge
genre: historical fiction
rating: 5/5

I have never actually used the phrase "tour de force" when describing a book, but I can't think of anything else that defines a work that covers as much ground as Galway Bay. We meet Honora Kelley when she's a young woman, the world ahead of her, living in a costal village on Galway Bay on the western shores of Ireland. The story begins in the "before times," when Ireland is under the harsh hand of the British and the Irish have little to their name beyond the potato to eat and the joy of each other's company. When Honora finds true love and begins her own family, the situation in Ireland becomes frantically desperate.

I hate to give away much of the plot of a book, but I can't NOT tell you that Honora's journey eventually leads her far from the homeland she loves, because the author's depiction of a mid-19th century immigrant experience is one of the elements of this book that makes it so powerful. I can't imagine the amount of research that went in to creating such a believable depiction of Chicago during that time period. As someone very familiar with Chicago, it was thrilling to read a history of the city between the lines of a story that I could not put down.

Life was not easy for Honora. I didn't bother to count the number of times that the sheer magnitude of trials Honora went through brought me to tears. I rooted for her, I cried for her and the people she loves. As hard as her experiences were, though, I felt like she triumphed. Honora's love of her family, her imperfections, her willingness to scrabble forward, whatever the cost, these qualities made her an incredibly sympathetic and realistic protagonist. The Irish love of stories and tales, song and music are a constant thread throughout, woven through the generations and tying them together.

Galway Bay is a glorious yarn, stretching from the hills and beaches of Ireland to the streets of Chicago. For all of it's 500+ pages, I wouldn't leave out a one. An Irish-American history that must simply be read to be believed.

Review: To Dance, a Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel and Mark Siegel

genre: graphic novel, middle grade
rating: 4/5

I really liked this one. We follow young Siena from her first taste of dance, we watch her become passionate, and see her begin to succeed as a dancer. As a teen with her parents struggling, dance is an outlet and a safe haven. The illustrations are fluid and graceful - to be honest, sometimes I just wanted to climb in and enjoy the performance. She doesn't sugar coat the hard work of ballet, but it is inspiring to see how that hard work pays off. While I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, I can imagine this book would become a favorite for young people with a passion for dance.

Review: Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus

book 2 of 10 for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge
genre: non-fiction, memoir, economics
rating: 4/5

I am amazed by how the author of this book, Muhammad Yunus, has taken the world and attempted to turn it on its head. Banker to the Poor tells the story Yunus's entrance into the world of micro-credit, wherein the poorest of the poor are given small loans without any collateral and with the expectation that the loan will be repaid in full. From his first gut-reaction loan to a person clearly in need, to a multi-national, billion dollar enterprise, Yunus has created an organization whose goals are nearly completely opposite of any other financial institution.

What I loved most about the book are the personal stories, the experiences of those whose lives have been changed by the micro-credit model. It is amazing to realize what a differnce $40 can make to a person who earns pennies every day. The set-up of the bank itself was interesting to me also, although sometimes the economic discussions got thick for me and might turn some readers off. I like that I feel more informed about Bangladesh itself, since Yunus does take time to give us some of his personal background and experiences in his home country.

The book was inspiring and it certainly can leave the reader wanting to do DO more to alleviate poverty. For the most part, it read like a novel and certainly proves that Muhammad Yunus deserves that Nobel Peace Prize he received - it's inspiring to see one man impacting so many lives for good and with such good intentions.

It's the End of the World Challenge

Oh no! A challenge about one of my most favorite genres! I choose NOT to resist :)

Name: It's The End Of The World II
Host: Me, Becky (of Becky's Book Reviews)
Dates: March 10, 2009 - October 9, 2009
Books Required: at least four

Read at least four books about "the end of the world." This includes both apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. There is quite a bit of overlap with dystopic fiction as well. The point being something--be it coming from within or without, natural or unnatural--has changed civilization, society, humanity to such a degree that it radically differs from "life as we now know it." (Aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.)

my four:
1. Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
2. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
3. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
4. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Wahoo! I'm stoked!

Well Seasoned Reader Challenge Wrap-Up

SO. My book guru Melissa hosted this challenge - and what fun. She encouraged us to read books about travel, food, culture - anything to make us a better seasoned person :)

I read:

1. Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China
2. Ava by Marguerite Abouet & Clement Oubrerie
3. Hanna's Daughters

My favorite was truly a toss up between Serve the People and Hanna's Daughters - I liked them both for such different reasons. I loved the focus on food that was foreign to me that I got in Serve the People - and a modern look at a world culture. Hanna's Daughter gave me a sweeping look at Swedish history as well as an incredibly good mother/daughter/granddaughter story.

Ava wasn't far behind, though, it was just completely different also. A graphic novel about 70s culture in Africa - pretty unique.

This challenge certainly expanded MY horizons : ) Thanks Melissa!

Orbis Terrarum Challenge 09

My dear friend Bethany is hosting this challenge again, how can I not join in the fun?

Main Challenge Rules:
*The Orbis Terrarum Challenge begins March 1 2009(you are welcome to join later) Through the end of 2009.
*For the challenge each reader is to choose 10 books (for the 10 months).
*Each book must from a different country, I have decided to go by the country of origin of the author, or the country he/she lives in is fine as well.
*You don't have to have a list, that means you can change your mind at any time. As long as there are 10 from 10 different countries, written by 10 different authors: Anything goes.

My list isn't finished, but here's a start:

1. Silence by Shasaku Endo (Japan)
2. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Australia)
3. Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka (China)
4. Tales of Thailand by Pira Sudham (Thailand)
5. Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong (Vietnam)
6. Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh)
7. The Midwife by Jennifer Worth (England)
8. A Worthy Legacy by Tomi Akinyanmi (Nigeria)
9. The Wishmaker by Ali Sethi (Pakistan)
10. Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)

Review: Silence by Shasaku Endo

book 1 of 10 for Orbis Terrarum 09
genre: historical fiction
rating: 3/5

Silence takes us to the Japan of the 17th century. Christianity has been outlawed and extreme and horrible measures are taken to convince Christians to apostatize. It is into these conditions that Father Rodrigues leaves his Portuguese home, with his companion Father Garrpe, and travels to Japan to try and do some good as a missionary, as well as to hopefully confirm or deny rumors that his former mentor had apostatized under duress.

It's not a pretty story. The torture and treatment of Christians is bad enough, but Father Rodrigues's life in Japan (half told through his letters and half told through 3rd person narrative)
is a constant struggle against the force of Japan and its people. When he is able to be in his role as priest and has a flock of Japanese Christians that he can watch over, he sees a purpose for himself but as things get more difficult, his faith is put to the test more than he could ever have imagined.

The Father's internal struggle with his faith and the apparent silence of God was hard for me to read. I found myself often searching my own faith and how I would come to terms with having to watch the blatant suffering of true believers. Would I be strong enough? Would Father Rodrigues be strong enough to stand up when the time came that he had to choose faith and death or apostasy and a pseudo-life as a Japanese citizen?

The text itself often felt repetitive. I suppose in such a situation, our thoughts WOULD be repetitive, as we are trying to work out our salvation and God's plan for the world and his people, but it still bored me in some places. The author certainly gave us a taste of Japan in this time period, as well as the different faces of the Japanese people. In the end, I think it was worthwhile reading, but not easy reading.

Review: The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman

book 4 of 12 for the Young Adult Challenge 09
genre: young adult speculative/apocalyptic fiction
rating: 5/5

A new age is upon the earth. After the Flood, the planet was reborn as a series of Islands, looked after by the glorious Earth Mother. She has created a calm and safe world, where anything inaccurate or unpredictable is a thing of the past.

For Honor, though, her life isn't as simple. The weather is much more predictable than her parents, who aren't as conscientious about following the rules as they should be. As Honor grows up, she has to decide to either fit in with everyone else or doubt the reality she's been taught by a society that prizes conformity above nearly everything else.

This book was stellar. I never wanted to put it down - the culture itself was a fascinating slippery slope from our modern environmental and peace-loving desires. The writing kept my attention, wasn't predictable and the characters were fleshed out enough to surprise me sometimes. I dearly hope there is another to follow.

Guest Blogger Review: A Child's Journey Out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen

REVIEW WRITTEN BY GUEST REVIEWER

CAMILLE TURPIN


genre: memoir/nonfiction

Clay Whiffen begins life as a normal baby in a loving home with an older brother and two loving parents. However, soon after immunizations, several illnesses, and many cycles of antibiotics, his parents start to notice his behavior change radically from sleeping problems to loss of speech and extreme behavior. Although she is reluctant to face the fact that her child has Autism, Leann eventually realizes that her son needs help--and help is hard to come by in Utah. Funding is low and programs are inadequate to really make a difference. Leann and her husband decide to start an intensive therapy program in their home, along with a special diet, to try to make a difference, and it pays off in the best way. After years of study, hard work, financial hardship, and constant vigilance, Clay has his Autism diagnosis removed, and is now a healthy, happy, typical child.

This story of overcoming one of the most common problems facing children today reads part medical record, part behavior study, and part personal journal as a mother recounts her son's journey through Autism. The message is one of hope for those who have children on the Autism Spectrum--hope that with a lot of work and courage, a child with Autism may lead a completely normal life.

I cannot separate my own experience as I write this review, as a mother who raised two sons on the Autism Spectrum. Jefferson, now 7, was diagnosed with Autism at 3, but started treatment for his classic symptoms at 2. He is now fully recovered and is thriving in regular public school. Ethan, now 5, has been treated for his developmental delays and Autism symptoms since he was 15 months old, and has recently graduated from special education and is doing great in school and socially, although we continue to work on his relatively mild behavioral problems.

This book was engrossing--taking over my thoughts and keeping me up at nights as I relived my own experiences, which I realize I have mostly blocked out as I meet everyday challenges. Many times as I read, I felt like the words could have come from my own journal. Clay was very similar to my son Jefferson in many ways, and in other ways a lot like Ethan. It was a shock to me to see how few services were available to the Whiffen family. We were extremely blessed to live in a place that is well-known for its treatment for Autism when my sons were diagnosed. The programs, therapies, and training the Whiffen family had to discover, organize, and finance were free and easily accessible for our family. Although I did a large amount of the therapy at home, the amount of support I had from the local programs were invaluable, and I wonder where my children would be without them. I am amazed at the amount of work and study Leann went through to help her son recieve the treatment he needed.

For parents wondering if their child has Autism, it does not list a comprehensive description of symptoms, either for Clay himself, or in general. The book does at times make assmptions about possible causes and treatments for Autism that are not proven, as any parent's account would and despite its getting a little bogged down in technical lingo, should not be taken as medical fact or as a substitute for professional advice. That being said, what the book does is introduce parents to symptoms that may be red flags, and encourages them to have their child evaluated, and gives a wealth of options for treatment.

While I can not endorse each of the therapies described in this book, not having used some of them but receiving the same outcome, I do not discount them either. It reinforces my idea that each family needs to make the decisions that are right for their child--find what works for him or her. This book may seem to describe these methods as the only way to treat Autism--and it would, because that is what worked for this family. Were I to write a book after my first son, I would have done the same. But since my second son needed such radically different treatment, I have to conclude that each child needs something different. Let's all hope we have the amount of energy Leann and her family had in finding every possible solution to our children's problems.

It is easy for me to take for granted where my children are now, and forget to marvel at how far we've come. This book helped me remember that, and motivated me to keep on working on finding new ways to help my children overcome any residual effects of Autism (they both still have some sensory integration problems, and Ethan has mild ADHD). But it was sometimes hard to read, as I remember my own feelings and my own determination, and that time in our lives that was hard on our entire family. For those who do have experience with overcoming Autism, this book will be validating and familiar. For those working through it now, it will be a guiding light and hope to keep going. For those who have no experience with Autism, it is an opportunity to see what families who have these children are going through--perhaps inviting some understanding and patience.

Having a child who, like Clay, was one of the first to have the Autism diagnosis removed, I know the scepticism that comes along with having a recovered child. People want to believe that your child never had Autism, that he would have grown out of it without your help, or that people are throwing around the Autism diagnosis as readily as the common cold. But this detailed account of the entire process begs anyone to dispute its facts. In light of naysayers in the medical community and the media, books like this, which both describe the symptoms of Autism and record the path to recovery, are desperately needed. Hopefully this is one of many stories of hope that will emerge in the near future.

Review: The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

book 3 of 12 for the Young Adult Challenge 09
genre: young adult
rating: 4/5

D.J.'s junior year has begun and with it, the football season. Being the only girl on the high school football team isn't easy, but with D.J.'s guts and hard work, she makes a place for herself. Life doesn't always go the way we hope, though, and this season ends up being "off" - in more ways that one.

What I like most about D.J.'s character is that she's smart aleky, she loves her family and she's honest about high school life. She's hilarious, also, which helps. The book went in a completely different direction than I'd expected, and I liked it. I liked that D.J. had to keep growing and stretch beyond herself to really help her family when they needed it.

If you liked Dairy Queen (like me) than I don't doubt that you'll like this one too.