book review – Page 26 – The Dusty Jacket

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)

Fever 1793

Fever 1793

Laurie Halse Anderson (Young Adult Fiction)

It started with the sudden death of a young and healthy girl. Within a week, 64 more would die from yellow fever and the capital city of Philadelphia would be filled with the endless ringing of bells—one toll for every year the victim had lived.

In the summer of 1793, 14-year old Matilda Cook helps run her family’s coffeehouse, where folks idly gossip or talk politics. Lately, the conversations have turned to the fever: Is it a sign from God? A punishment for sinners? Did the refugees bring it with them? As death draws closer, she and her grandfather are forced to flee the city for the safety of the country. But Matlida soon discovers that death is not easily escaped.

Anderson gives us a compelling, gripping, and suspenseful account of one of the worst epidemics in the history of the United States. Wiping out 10% of Philadelphia’s population in under three months, the effects of the fever were devastating. Many fled the city to escape the carnage, but it was those who stayed and tended to the sick, as well as the dead, that were the true heroes.

You don’t have to be a fan of history to thoroughly enjoy this book. From the first page, the plot never slows and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat. It reminds us how even the direst of circumstances can often bring out the best in people and that both disease and heroism are not bound by either social status or race.

Rating: 5/5

Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith

Joy in the Morning

Joy in the Morning

Betty Smith (Adult Fiction)

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

—Psalm 30:5

Carl Brown and Annie McGairy are young and deeply in love. Just past her 18^th birthday, Annie travels from her home in New York to the Midwest to join her beloved in marriage. Much to their mutual surprise, Carl and Annie’s first year proves to be unexpectedly difficult. Carl is attending the university studying law and holding down several jobs while Annie tries to adapt to her new surroundings without the security and familiarity of friends and family. Together, through lean times and unforeseen events, they must rely on their faith and love to pull them through.

What I admire most about Smith is that she gives us a strong, witty, and self-assured female character without diminishing her male counterpart. All too often we see one character being lowered for the sake of elevating the other. Despite their differences in education and social standing, Carl and Annie view each other as equals and share a mutual respect and passionate devotion for one another. This alone is refreshing to see in a novel.

Set in 1927, Smith presents us with a small university town populated with principled (albeit flawed) people who all share a strong work ethic, solid moral compass, and innate desire to be decent, kind, and fair to their fellow man. Her stories are charming and heartwarming without being overly sentimental or trite. A truly uplifting book that focuses on the goodness of humanity rather than its faults and follies.

Rating: 4/5

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson (J)

It’s Tween and Teen Tuesday where we review either a juvenile (J) or young adult (YA) book.

Ben and Me

Ben and Me

Robert Lawson (Juvenile Fiction)

Do you recall seeing portraits of Benjamin Franklin where he wore an old fur hat? Little did you know that inside that hat lived one very intelligent, outspoken, and opinionated mouse by the name of Amos. Amos was Franklin’s closest friend, adviser, and the one largely responsible for Franklin’s greatest innovations and achievements…regardless of what historians may have recorded.

Lawson writes with wit and charm and provides readers with whimsical drawings that give life to both Ben and Amos. From lightning rods to “Liberty Forever!”, young readers will get a glimpse into the greatness and brilliance of one of history’s most accomplished individuals. Of course, we need to temporarily overlook the flamboyant embellishments of one overly enthusiastic rodent, but when you do, you get a delightful story that is just the right length to hold a young reader’s attention while capturing the imagination. Throw in a revolution…or two…and you have a tale that is sure to delight and amuse.

Rating: 4/5

Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander (J)

Time Cat

Lloyd Alexander (Juvenile Fiction)

Did you ever wonder where cats go when you can’t find them? No matter how hard you look for them, they’ve simply disappeared only to reappear just as quickly. According to Lloyd Alexander, they travel back in time.

Meet Jason and his cat, Gareth. Like all cats, Gareth doesn’t have nine lives, but he can travel to nine different places in history. Alexander gives us a fun and fanciful story through time as we follow Jason and Gareth to places such as ancient Egypt, Rome, Japan, and Peru and meet many notable historical figures along the way. The book may be fantasy, but Alexander spent over a year in research to ensure historical accuracy. Each adventure is a standalone story that is short enough to hold a younger reader’s attention, while long enough to offer a nice glimpse into the history of that time.

Time Cat wonderfully reflects the bond that humans have with their animals and how—throughout the ages—people have relied on their pets for protection, comfort, and companionship. This book reinforces the value of friendship and loyalty, while it introduces young readers to the exciting world of history.

Rating: 4/5

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Icy Sparks

Gwyn Hyman Rubio (Adult Fiction)

Icy Sparks is a 10-year old girl growing up in rural Kentucky. Poplar Holler is a small town where everyone has secrets. Icy’s secret is that she has two sides: the one side everyone sees, and the other side she keeps tucked away and hidden—the side that uncontrollably pops, jerks, and croaks. Icy’s disorder leaves her afraid, confused, and isolated. Orphaned at an early age, she relies on the support of her maternal grandparents, as well as another “misfit” in a neighboring town, Miss Emily Tanner—the obese proprietor of a feed supply store. More than anything, Icy wants to be accepted, but can the frog girl from Icy Creek ever find true friendship and approval?

Rubio paints a cruel and unrelenting picture of small town life in the 1950s as a tight-knit community grapples with an affliction far beyond comprehension and social acceptability. Icy’s inability to regulate or understand what her young body is doing is heartbreaking, and the reader experiences firsthand her fear and frustration while she searches for normalcy in a world that avoids the strange and unorthodox.

The author gives us a protagonist that has an indomitable spirit and resilience and offers us important lessons in love, faith, and determination. The only snag appeared near the end of the book when the storyline made an unexpected shift toward religion. It seemed out of place and a little awkward, although I understand the bigger lesson the author was trying to convey. Still, Icy Sparks was an enjoyable read and teaches us all that our faults are oftentimes our greatest strengths.

Rating: 4/5

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (J)

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin (Juvenile Mystery)

After missing for 13 years, millionaire industrialist Sam Westing is discovered dead in his bed. Sixteen letters are hand delivered to each heir of his $200 million estate, thus setting in motion a most frantic and fantastic game. The rules of Sam Westing’s game are simple: heirs compete in teams of two and, by using a unique set of clues, attempt to be the first to discover the identity of Westing’s killer. The catch? The murderer is one of them!

So begins Raskin’s classic mystery thriller that bombards readers with burglars, bombers, and bizarre characters. The book’s initial pace allows readers to comfortably become acquainted with each character (16 is a lot to keep track of!) before zipping along at a whirlwind pace as situations become more perilous and characters grow more desperate to claim the coveted Westing Game prize. Raskin gives us a whodunit that is a delightful, witty, and suspenseful read for any age. Are you ready to play?

Rating: 4/5

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The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel

The Solace of Leaving Early

Havel Kimmel (Adult Fiction)

Langston Braverman is a graduate school dropout who’s returned to her hometown of Haddington, Indiana to live with her parents. In her childhood attic bedroom, she imagines a very different life for herself—one filled with academia, garden tea parties, and tenure. Amos Townsend is a third-generation preacher whose inspiration to follow God came from a TV show he once watched while at college. Although Amos wants to give his life to help others, it is his own salvation he seeks. When two little girls are left orphaned by unimaginable circumstances, Langston and Amos must put aside their animosity toward each other to help these children find peace, normality, and love.

Kimmel is at her best when writing dialogue. By incorporating subtle gestures, mid-sentence thought changes, and off-topic asides, she captures each character’s unique essence and true personality. The conversations appear so spontaneous and genuine, the reader almost feels guilty of eavesdropping.

One downside is the author made Langston a very unsympathetic woman who is extremely hard to connect with and, often times, even tolerate. She comes across as elitist, self-absorbed, immature, and whiny. But her character is offset nicely by Amos’ uncertain, demure, and steadfast demeanor. Once you get past Langston’s overbearing personality, as well as her mother’s (AnnaLee Braverman) relentless role as enabler and apologist, you will find yourself totally immersed in a story full of heart, hope, and second chances.

Rating: 4/5

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde (Adult Fiction)

“How sad it is,” murmured Dorian Gray, with his eyes still fixed upon his own portrait. “How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. It will never be older than this particular day of June. . . . If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that – for that – I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole word I would not give! I would give my soul for that!”

On the surface, Wilde tells the story of an ill-fated young man who, driven by vanity, trades his soul for everlasting beauty; however, there is a bigger picture to be seen here. This is also a story of power, influence, and corruption.

Lord Henry Wotton is charismatic, popular, and respected, but holds an absolute disdain for his fellow man and is soured on the ideals of love. He wields his influence like a sword—slicing away at his victims’ humanity, emotions, and very integrity. When he meets a naïve and terribly vain Dorian Gray, Lord Henry preys upon the young man’s vulnerabilities with threats of age, obsolescence, and obscurity.

This book’s only drawback is Chapter XI, which documents Dorian’s mounting obsession with material gain and beauty as he accumulates various items from around the world. Although incredible detail is given to each item’s appearance and history, the information provided is outweighed by the fact that it slows the pace of the story considerably. With this aside, Wilde delivers a beautifully-written tale and provides us with an unforgettable social commentary on how some people in power choose to use their influence for their own pleasure, purpose, and profit.

Rating: 5/5

Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet (JB)

Tween & Teen Tuesday

Every Tuesday, we review either a juvenile (J) or young adult (YA) book

Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White

Melissa Sweet (Juvenile Biography)

Elwyn Brooks White, known to his friends as Andy and his fans as E. B. White, was a writer for The New Yorker and Harper’s magazine, a poet, essayist, and children’s book author.

Readers who have delighted in the works of White throughout the years will appreciate this accounting of his life. Sweet includes White’s personal photographs, copies of rough manuscripts, journal entries, and correspondence to give us a unique insight into the life of a man who loved animals almost as much as his own privacy. Young readers may grow a little bored when Sweet talks about White’s editing and grammatical style contributions, but the short chapters, as well as Sweet’s mixed media artwork and beautiful illustrations, will keep readers engaged and provide a pleasurable reading experience.

I enjoyed learning more about the author who provided the world with, what I believe to be, one of the most compelling and dramatic opening sentences in children’s literature: “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” After reading this wonderful biography, you too will agree that E. B. White was indeed some writer.

Rating: 5/5

The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum

The Stormchasers

Jenna Blum (Adult Fiction)

Karena Jorge is a writer for the Minneapolis Ledger. Charles Hallingdahl is a gifted stormchaser with bipolar disorder. Twins separated for 20 years who share a horrifying secret from their past. As Karena discover, “Time will fold over the past if you let it”. But does it, really?

This book is divided into three parts: the first and third are set in present day with the second set in the past. I found the middle section far more interesting and better written. It provides a more intimate look at Karena and Charles, their relationship and unique bond as twins, his debilitating disorder, and the incredible toll it takes on the family.

Blum is a proficient storyteller who deftly exposes the raw emotions of dealing with mental illness. The book is an easy read with some dramatic moments. I would have enjoyed this book a bit more if Blum had focused less on the physical tornadoes wracking the Midwest and more on the mental whirlwinds that perpetually plagues and ravages Charles.

Rating: 3/5