Book Review: How Not to Die Alone

I enjoyed this debut novel by Richard Roper, How Not to Die Alone. While Eleanor Brown billed it as "perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine," I wouldn't say it was quite to that level. Still, I enjoyed contemplating the main character's dilemma. Moreover, his job was intriguing.

I can't summarize better than the inside blurb:

"Andrew's been feeling stuck. For years he's worked a thankless public health job, searching for the next of kin of those who die alone. Luckily, he goes home to a loving family every night. At least, that's what his co-workers believe.

"Then he meets Peggy. A misunderstanding has left Andrew trapped in his own white lie ... when ... Peggy ... makes Andrew feel truly alive for the first time in decades.... Telling Peggy the truth could mean losing everything. For twenty years, Andrew has worked to keep his heart safe, forgetting one important thing: how to live."

What a horrible job, to go into homes where lonely individuals have passed without the world's notice. Andrew is a decent fellow, attending the funerals when nobody else is there to remember these solitary individuals. It made me wonder if non-profit organizations truly exist to meet the needs of lonely individuals who simply need someone to check on them from time to time or give them the benefit of a bit of conversation. Anyone who has ever grappled with loneliness will relate to this novel and cheer for Andrew to make the connections that make life worth living.

Book Review: On the Wings of Heroes

On the Wings of Heroes has two fabulous aspects to commend it: one, it is written by Richard Peck, author of two of my favorite middle grade books - A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago; and two, the audio version is read by Lincoln Hoppe. I love books narrated by Lincoln Hoppe (he narrated other favorites, like Okay for Now and Do Hard Things). Both Peck and Hoppe have a talent for making historical fiction come to life for young readers.

In this book, we meet Davy Bowman, a small-town boy dealing with the throes of World War II. He looks up to two heroes: his dad and his brother. War, from the eyes of a child, includes air raids, rations, and scrap drives. It also includes fear. Davy bides his time wondering if his brother, Bill, will return safely from the war.

This was another quick audio experience. While not quite as colorful and fun as the two aforementioned Peck books, it was still an entertaining read. If you have never encountered a Richard Peck book, start with the other two. These are middle grade books that will greatly appeal to adults, who will readily relate to the time he re-creates. If you live west of Indianapolis, you might enjoy Peck's Here Lies the Librarian, as it takes place in our environs.

Book Review: Emily's Fortune

I seem to be in a middle grade jag. My audio selections have all been the short ones selected to fill the time prior to my camp departure. I've sacrificed some of my usual reading time for binge-watching Downton Abbey (a Masterpiece Theatre series I have avoided until now, despite its popularity among many of my friends - indeed, one travel agent friend is even hosting a tour of British showcase homes with a Downton Abbey theme and if I was rolling in money, I might join). Thankfully, my library has all six seasons on DVD and I devote one or two hours each day to keeping up (I'm feeling shattered because I've just finished the episode with the death of one of the sweetest cast members).

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is always a good bet for a suitable middle grade story. Emily Wiggins is in a world of trouble after her mother's death. It seems as if everyone wants to get their hands on her. The Catchum Child-Catching Services will receive a monetary bonus if they place her in a home. Her despicable Uncle Victor hopes to find her first for his own nefarious purposes. She intends to make her way by stagecoach to her one reliable relative, her aunt Hilda. Paired with an orphan boy, Jackson, Emily takes on a disguise and outwits her opponents.

Emily's Fortune is full of suspense and intrigue, every chapter ending with a catchy phrase to keep the reader turning pages. Kids will rally behind Emily and root for her good. They will enjoy the colorful word usage with alliterative phrases like "tumblin' tarnation," "flippin' flapjacks," and "blinkin' bloomers." If you're on the lookout for a great audio experience for a brief car trip, this is a great choice for listeners between the ages of 7 and 11. It would also make an outstanding read-aloud for grades 3-5. Plus, Naylor has written a companion book called Emily and Jackson Hiding Out.

Book Review: Beyond the Bright Sea

Lauren Wolk's Wolf Hollow was one of my favorite middle-grade reads in 2017. I was eager to take another trip with this fine author. Wolf Hollow won a Newbery Award and this book, Beyond the Bright Sea, won a Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction, as well as NPR Best Book of the Year. Of the two, Wolf Hollow was my still my favorite, but I enjoyed meeting the unique characters and exploring the interesting atmosphere of the Elizabeth Islands.

When twelve-year-old Crow notices a fire on Penikese Island, her curiosity about her origins kick in fully. All she knows is that her guardian Osh found her, as an infant, in a small boat wrapped up with a sodden illegible letter and a small ring. Did she come from Penikese? Was she born to lepers there? Does she have any remaining family? Will she cast aside the family of Osh and Miss Maggie in her driven pursuit to find answers?

This was a sweet tale of searching for origins and family, full of treasure and danger. The characters were well drawn, and the plot moved at a pleasant pace. It would make a great read-aloud for 3rd to 5th grade classrooms.

Book Review: Out of the Dust

Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust won the Newbery Medal in 1998. I primarily selected the book because I thought I'd need a shorter selection for the few days prior to CBLI. Alas, I ended up with only two days available, so I listened to music those days instead. Still, this was a brief journey and worth the listen. What made it extra special was that the book references Lubbock, Texas, where my sister just moved. I know she has experienced one dust storm since moving and the book helped me to imagine what that must be like.

Fourteen-year-old Billie Jo lives on a struggling Oklahoma farm with her pregnant mother and her hard-working father. The dust storms come, bringing with them a host of problems for the family. After a tragic accident occurs, Billie Jo must face the devastation and re-frame her life. Despite an invitation from her aunt in Lubbock, to live with her, Billie Jo toughs it out to remain with her family and endure the new challenges.

Because I listened to the story, I wasn't entirely aware that it was written in free verse until I browsed the back cover of the case. It was a simple, sad story, but full of hope and healing. It would make a great read-aloud to pair with a study of the Great Depression or the Dust Bowl. My favorite line came toward the end, when Billie Jo observes: "And I know now that all the time I was trying to get out of the dust, the fact is, what I am, I am because of the dust and what I am is good enough, even for me." What a great lesson for kids: the struggle may be difficult but it shapes us into the individuals we need to be.

Book Review: Once More We Saw Stars

Sadly, Once More We Saw Stars was the only book that held my interest during my time at camp for CBLI. Jayson Greene's memoir kept me turning pages, while two Elisabeth Elliot books didn't draw me in sufficiently (The Path of Loneliness and On Asking God Why). I also plowed through 120 pages of Love and Salt. The premise was great (correspondence between two writers discussing their spiritual journeys) and I thought I'd encounter deep spiritual insights, but I tired of it and set it aside, as well.

A chance crumbling brick falls from a 9th story windowsill. Within seconds, Jayson Greene's life turns upside down. As Greene shares the anguish and sorrow throughout this random tragedy that took his daughter's tender life, he tries to make sense of the incomprehensible and to find hope when life is at its most hopeless. Several authors offer resounding praise for the book. Dani Shapiro calls it "soul-affirming," and Kate Bowler calls it "stunning." Lucy Kalanithi articulates her love of the book quite well: "Jayson Greene crystallizes the bravery required for parenting, the insanity within grief, the struggle and haven of marriage, the durability of love in all its forms. This is a book about how we make sense of suffering and what it means to be a family. It's funny, lucid, and deeply generous." Although I never finished Elisabeth Elliot's book, On Asking God Why, I would highly recommend it to this author (although since he is not a believer, I doubt he'd give it credence). I wish him all the best and thank him for sharing his heart and his story.

Gilmore Girls' Night Out

What a treat! My CBLI friend, Brenna Lee, posted an invitation to join her for a Gilmore Girls trivia night competition at the Stacked Pickle. Despite Bryce coming into town that night for the weekend, I jumped at the chance. There were four of us, two CBLI friends and one music camp friend. We gave ourselves a team name of "Oy, with the poodles already!" How fun to sit with other Gilmore Girls fans and attempt to answer the often obscure questions about the show (we truly puzzled over things like "name the item Luke purchased at the town garage sale" and "what fake names did Rory and Lorelei use while wandering Harvard?") I can't say I was a tremendous help to our team, but I did carry us through a few questions and confirmed several suggestions by the others.

We can't complain - out of roughly seven or eight teams, we took second place and won a gift certificate for $15 - inspiration enough to make us venture out together again (although, since I watch few shows, I doubt I'd be able to help any other categories or themes).

Still, if you're looking for a fun girls' night out activity, I highly recommend the trivia nights at the Stacked Pickle (their themes are things like Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, The Office, Parks and Recreation, etc.). It is pure fun - no pressure in front of others or anything. We sat at a table, with a stack of note cards and simply wrote out the answers to the questions as they were read, turning them in after every five questions for a point tally. Even if we hadn't placed, it still would have been a fun night.

Book Review: Love and Other Consolation Prizes

I'm always on the look-out for worthwhile audio books. This selection by Jamie Ford, author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was a lovely story. It kept me engrossed in the tale and, despite treatment of a seedier part of society, was inspiring. I really enjoyed the audio experience of Ford's Songs of Willow Frost (one of my top four reads in 2015). Thus, I jumped at the chance when I found this on the library shelf.

Ford takes a true story from the 1909 Seattle World's Fair and fleshes out a believable and engaging fictional account of a boy raffled off. Twelve-year-old ward Ernest Young marvels at the prospect of attending the fair, unaware that his life will soon alter. A woman of ill-repute, who runs an upscale brothel, holds the winning ticket. Haunted by the image of his young mother burying his infant sister alive back in China, Ernest knows that life can be perilously difficult, but he determines to make the best of his opportunities. During his time at the brothel, he falls in love with two girls: Fawn, who came to the States on the same boat with him, and Maisie, daughter of the brothel's madam.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes weaves back and forth between the 1909 World's Fair and the 1962 Century 21 Exposition. At the time of the Exposition, Ernest's wife battles dementia, but begins to bring forth images from a troubled past. Her journalist daughter, Juju, is eager to uncover her secrets. The author expertly teases out the tale in increments. The reader hangs on tenterhooks waiting to discover which of the two girls Ernest wed and what his wife's seedy past entailed. I couldn't wait to uncover the solution to the mystery. I also appreciated the author's words at the end, discussing his sources and the historical facts that propelled the story into being.