Tag: The Dusty Jacket

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl (J Fantasy)

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl (J Fantasy)

There was once an eight-year-old girl who lived next to Mr. and Mrs. Gregg and their two boys. The little girl enjoyed playing with the little boys and the little boys enjoyed playing with her. Everything was fine and dandy UNTIL the little girl discovered that Mr. Gregg and his boys liked to hunt. No, not just liked to hunt, but LOVED to hunt. They loved hunting more than anything else in the world, and THIS the little girl didn’t like. In fact, she disliked it so much that it made her turn red and hot all over. One Saturday, she saw them carrying a young deer out of the woods. Red, red, red. The next Saturday they carried out sixteen birds. Red, red, red, hot, hot, hot. The little girl got so cross, that she started to tingle and then… Well, that’s when the story really gets interesting because when the little girl gets red and hot and tingly all over, who knows what her magic finger is capable of.

Narrated by a nameless girl, The Magic Finger tells the story of a principled protagonist who directs her indignation at her offenders resulting in certain body parts turning into animal features: whiskers, tails, wings, the sky’s the limit when you choose to insult or anger this little lady! Although their punishment might seem severe, it’s hard to argue that they didn’t have it coming.

This is a delightful, cautionary tale told as only Roald Dahl can. The Magic Finger is a quick read that introduces us to a girl doing a rather wrong thing for the right (at least in her mind) reason. While some people have been known to wear their heart on their sleeve, she holds her angst in her finger and when you become the object of her displeasure, you better run, duck, and cover! But fear not for a happy ending is just a sincere apology and a promise kept away to ensure that everyone has learned their lesson, and our little girl is happy once again. But, for how long?

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh (J Fiction)

There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears at all. There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears, no bears, no bears, no bears at all.

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

Alice Dalgliesh (J Fiction)

Everybody knows that there are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears at all. There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears, no bears, no bears, no bears at all. Under this well-known belief, Jonathan’s mother sends him across the mountain alone to bring back an iron pot from his Aunt Emma. As Jonathan crunch, crunch, crunches his way across the snowy ground, he hopes upon all hope that there really ARE no bears on Hemlock Mountain because if there are, what would one, lonely eight-year-old boy possibly do?

Recipient of the Newbery Honor Book award in 1953, The Bears on Hemlock Mountain is a quick read full of fun, repetitive phrases such as crunch, crunch, crunch and tick-tock, tick-tock, which makes this an ideal read-aloud book. Helen Sewell’s pen and ink illustrations give the story a genuine folklore feel and wonderfully complements this story based on a Pennsylvanian tall tale. This book is recommended for readers ages 5 to 9 and grade levels 1 to 4.

The story of Jonathan’s journey to his aunt’s home and back teaches the importance having courage, facing your fears, and following through on your commitments. At the end of the book, there is an inference about a bear (or bears) being shot and killed, which is fairly unexpected as Dalgliesh takes great care in establishing Jonathan’s love of animals and the respect he has for them. This last-minute act of violence may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

While I was researching quotes about courage and perseverance to use in this review, I came upon one by Japanese author Haruki Murakami that perfectly encapsulates what happens to our young hero: “When you come out of a storm you won’t be the same person that walked in. That’s what the storm is all about.” Jonathan’s mother would have never let her young son make the trek across Hemlock Mountain if she was certain there were bears (or we would hope so). Jonathan himself was worried about bears, although he’s not fully convinced that there are any either. But when the time comes for Jonathan to face his fears, he’s rational and clever and, as a result, finds that the boy who went up the mountain is very, very different from the young man who returned home.

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Study Guide: The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh

If you enjoy my book reviews then you’ll LOVE my study guides! I want reading to be fun AND fulfilling! If you are an educator or homeschooler, save time with this all-in-one solution. Best yet, it’s FREE on my TeachersPayTeachers store so get yours now! And, stay tuned for future content. Keep reading!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Guide-The-Bears-on-Hemlock-Mountain-by-Alice-Dalgliesh-11120519

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (YA Fiction)

I was beginning to see, though, that the unknown wasn’t always the greatest thing to fear. The people who know you best can be riskier, because the words they say and the things they think have the potential to be not only scary but true, as well.

Just Listen

Sarah Dessen (YA Fiction)

I was beginning to see, though, that the unknown wasn’t always the greatest thing to fear. The people who know you best can be riskier, because the words they say and the things they think have the potential to be not only scary but true, as well.

Annabel Greene is sixteen years old and, from the outside, seems to have it all. With her good looks and successful modeling career, no one would ever suspect that she carries a dark and shocking secret…one that robs her of her friends, her reputation, and her self-worth. What’s worse is that she can’t even tell her family who are battling their own demons. Like the glass house that Annabel lives in, all seems perfect when looking from the outside, but on the inside is a world of chaos. Things get more unsettled when she befriends Owen Armstrong, an imposing, quiet loner with a penchant for music. As Annabel’s fragile façade slowly breaks apart, can she break free from her glass prison and finally find freedom and forgiveness?

Unless it’s historical fiction, I don’t often steer towards young adult books when choosing my next read. Books filled with teenage angst and melodrama tend to lose my interest quickly. Dessen’s Just Listen is happily the exception to the rule. The relationship between Annabel and her sisters Kirsten (the loquacious Drama Queen) and Whitney (the isolationist with an eating disorder) provides a provocative dynamic and their individual character evolution is compelling and realistic. Change is gradual versus epiphanal so we witness each sister’s slow and methodical journey of becoming a better version of herself.

The relationship between Owen and Annabel is also refreshing as it is grown organically. They’re just two lonely people (one by choice and the other by circumstance) seeking companionship and commonality. Owen’s morality pushes Annabel to come to terms with all aspects of her life: past, present, and future. His accept-me-as-I-am attitude is in direct contrast to Annabel’s constant molding into something that appeals to the broad masses. This dichotomy is compelling and makes for a pleasant change with our heroine wanting to be better for herself rather than to be popular or to get the guy.  

Throughout the book, music is an integral part of the story. Owen’s way of expressing himself is through sharing music, and he once advised Annabel to “just listen” rather than immediately think or pass judgement. Healing begins for all characters through listening—whether it is to others around us, to our own body, or to our own heart. Sometimes when things around us are the loudest, the most unnatural yet healthy thing to do is to become quiet and just listen.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Shadow by Michael Morpurgo (J Historical Fiction)

“She may be a dog, but I think she is more like a friend than a dog, like a friendly shadow that does not want to leave us. You never lose your shadow.”

Shadow

Michael Morpurgo (J Historical Fiction)

Aman and his family lived in the beautiful and peaceful valley of Bamiyan. When Russian fighters came followed by the Taliban, Afghanistan was no longer the safe home that Aman and his people once knew. Forced to flee his homeland, Aman and his mother make the perilous journey to England through Kabul, Kandahar, Iran, Turkey, and across the English Channel. Through it all, he was given comfort, joy, and hope through a Springer Spaniel that he named Shadow. Now, six years later, Aman and his mother face deportation and it’s up to his classmate Matt and his grandfather to find a way to keep Aman in England. With time running out, will Aman lose his new home just like he lost Shadow?

Michael Morpurgo is the reason why historical fiction is my favorite genre. His strong characters take center stage while historical facts and pivotal details provide a colorful backdrop to a compelling and heart-pounding story. Morpurgo sheds light on a region where the police are just as dangerous as the area warlords and local militias; and he shows readers that money can’t guarantee safety and trusted allies are easily corrupted by force or bribery. It is a dangerous world and Aman discovers this all too soon at the young age of eight.  

Morpurgo also introduces readers to Yarl’s Wood—a place where Aman and his mother are kept prior to their scheduled deportation. Opened in 2001, the facility is in Bedfordshire, UK and is the main removal center for up to 405 individuals. A second wing added in 2002 increased capacity to 900. Shadow details the horrific conditions of the facility including poor living conditions, children being separated from their parents, and a lack of access to legal representation. According to a recent online article by the BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66121098), the facility now houses only men and although conditions seem to be improving, officials admit that there is still more work to be done.

Shadow is told from three points of view: Aman, Matt, and Matt’s grandfather. For the most part, Aman is our main narrator and through his lens we experience courage and hope of the strongest measure. This book is recommended for readers ages 10 to 14 and contains passages dealing with physical abuse, death, and animal cruelty. Opting for the higher end of the age range might be a safe choice for sensitive readers although all will benefit from the accurate account of a region and people in turmoil while navigating the emotions that this raw, immersive, and captivating story provides.

Shadow reminds us to never underestimate the human spirit or the impact that a loyal and brave companion has on our own capacity to trust and endure the seemingly unbearable. During one of their more difficult times, Aman’s mother said to him, “She may be a dog, but I think she is more like a friend than a dog, like a friendly shadow that does not want to leave us. You never lose your shadow.”

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Esio Trot by Roald Dahl (J Fiction)

Esio Trot

Roald Dahl (J Fiction)

Mr. Hoppy has two loves in his life: his flowers and the widowed Mrs. Silver. If only Mr. Hoppy was the object of Mrs. Silver’s affection, but that honor goes to Alfie, her pet tortoise. But, as luck would have it, something happens on a certain bright morning in May that would be the answer to Mr. Hoppy’s prayers. He would not only find a way to make Mrs. Silver’s wish come true, but his own wish as well. But to what lengths is Mr. Hoppy willing to go to make dreams come true?

As I’ve said countless times before, the hardest part about reviewing a children’s book as an adult is suppressing my own experiences and expectations and instead looking at the story through the untarnished and innocent eyes of a child—for whom it was written. Normally, I’m able to balance this fairly effectively…until now. No matter how I try to rationalize this story and understand whatever lesson it’s attempting to convey, Esio Trot is a disappointment on a moral, human, psychological, and ethical level. No matter how many ways you analyze this story and the behavior of the main character, dishonesty and betrayal are the underlying drivers in what is meant to be a funny and slapstick children’s story.   

A stark contrast to most beloved Dahl protagonists, Mr. Hoppy has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He’s a lying, scheming, manipulative, and totally self-serving individual. At every turn, he puts his own wants and needs above everyone else under the delusion that he’s helping his beloved acquire her one true desire. His intentions are truly devious and there’s nothing charming or humorous about it. In the hands of a child, it might be viewed as Ha, ha! Boy, did he really trick Mrs. Silver! Wasn’t he smart? Hurray, Mr. Hoppy! But to the average reader who possesses the smallest understanding of right and wrong, the moment eventually comes when the hero’s motive is justifiably questioned and it’s decided that a line has not only been crossed, but absolutely eviscerated. I even held out hope that perhaps Mr. Hoppy would have an Ebenezer-Scrooge moment when he realizes the error of his ways and immediately seeks redemption. Sadly, this was not to be and all I took away from this book is that if you lie to the one you love, then all of your dreams will come true AND, if you’re super slick, you’ll manage to convince them that your dream is actually what they wanted for themselves all along, too.

Ironically, Roald Dahl once said, “Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it.” Too bad that he didn’t have his own Mr. Hoppy choose better for if he had, he would have realized that the greatest gift he could have given Mrs. Silver was simply his company, his friendship, and perhaps a lovely flower or two.

Rating: 1/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories by Daniel Pinkwater (Adult Autobiography)

Uncle Boris in the Yukon and Other Shaggy Dog Stories

Daniel Pinkwater (Adult Autobiography)

This is a book about three men who love dogs and the dogs that loved them back. From the author’s Uncle Boris, the most colorful and cultured of his father’s five gangster brothers from Warsaw; to his father who emigrated from Poland to New York in the 1920s and became an expert in parrots; to the author himself who has always been drawn to sled dogs, had a penchant for magic in his youth, and opened up an obedience school while authoring several children’s books, their shaggy tales (pun intended) will delight and warm the heart of any puppy parent, canine cuddler, or doggy doter.

Admittedly, I was disappointed for the first third of the book where I found the title to be misleading—the story related very little of Uncle Boris in the Yukon and the other shaggy dog stories were either mere mentions, brief encounters, or just a few short paragraphs. However, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “To lose patience is to lose the battle” so I was determined to press on because who was I to doubt Gandhi? Luckily, my patience was rewarded as I was given stories that plucked at my very heartstrings: using dogs to heal troubled boys lost in an academic system; adopting an aggressive Malamute whose imperfections made him the perfect companion; and opening up Superpuppy, a dog obedience business that resulted in several comedic situations and even more valuable life lessons. Pinkwater’s stories of love, loss, healing, and heartbreak will resonate with anyone who has ever had the privilege and experienced the joy of having been loved by a dog.

I sometimes end my reviews with a famous quote that succinctly and eloquently wraps up the overall theme of the story. I couldn’t find anything that expresses this better than Pinkwater’s own words about his many canine companions: They’ve been my teachers, this little succession of barkers—they’ve shown me a lot about how it’s possible to live this life, and also how to leave it, loving it right up to the last second. Whether purebred, crossbred, mongrel, rescue, foster, or stray, these shaggy creatures somehow find a way into a few lucky homes and hearts…and ultimately we are all the better for it.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements (J Fiction)

The Last Holiday Concert

Andrew Clements (J Fiction)

Hart Evans was officially a Palmer kid—that wonderful immersion of sixth graders from Collins Elementary School and Newman Elementary School. Out of almost 400 kids, Hart was well on his way to becoming the most popular student at Palmer Intermediate School. But all that was about to change when he decided to make his uncool chorus class a little more fun. When you combine a sweeping arts budget cut with two misfired rubber bands and a disillusioned chorus director, you get one Hart Evans who is suddenly in charge of this year’s holiday concert. What started out as a joke turns into a battle of wills between the chorus director, Mr. Meinert, and Hart. With so much infighting and time quickly running out will Hart and his class deliver the best holiday concert…or the last?

I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not only does it accurately portray middle-school life, but I was delighted that it lacked the stereotypical “bad guys” that you often expect to see in school-related books targeted for this age range: the adult, authoritative figure being the oppressor or the stuck-up popular kid who belittles the weak. Clements avoids those overused pitfalls and instead delivers a heartfelt, sweet, and human story about a teacher feeling betrayed by the institution he loves and a popular kid who suddenly realizes that he can’t make everything right simply by pleasing everyone. Both Hart and Mr. Meinert may seem very different at first, but as the story progresses, we see how much alike they are in wanting to be appreciated and valued. They even learn how to work together and in a nice twist, the teacher realizes just how much he can learn from his students and the students understand just how much their teacher has to offer.

At a time when teachers are abandoning their profession at an alarming rate, Andrew Clements reminds us that everyone wants to feel valued and needed and teachers are no exception. He shows us that leading begins with listening and reminds us of the astounding impact that a teacher can have on learning.

One of my favorite authors, Michael Morpurgo, once wrote, “It’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.” Facing dismissal and an overwhelming feeling of obsolescence, Mr. Meinert could have easily turned his back on his class and school, but he eventually realizes the reason that he became a teacher in the first place and that was to make a difference. And what a difference he made. Thank you teachers…everywhere.

Rating: 5/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn (J Horror)

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

Mary Downing Hahn (J Horror)

“YOU’VE BOUGHT a church?” That was Molly’s reaction when she found out that her mother and stepfather were planning to move their blended family to a renovated church with a cemetery in the backyard. Making matters worse is her new seven-year-old stepsister, Heather who is mean, lies, tattles, and is an overall troublemaker. Soon after they arrive, Heather discovers the grave of a girl named Helen who shares her initials AND was her age when she died. Over time, Heather begins to turn even more hateful and diabolical towards her new siblings and as Molly and her brother Michael uncover the tragic events surrounding them, things begin to get worse and more dangerous…especially when Helen comes.

Hahn delivers an eerie and suspenseful ghost story that’s spooky yet spares readers the gore that authors sometime rely on to raise the hairs on our neck. Hahn psychologically preys upon her readers’ fear of death and delves into feelings of isolation, loneliness, guilt, and jealousy through Heather’s possessive and protective relationship with her father. Heather harbors some deep-seeded trauma that is never fully resolved and this spills over into her relationship with her new siblings. Young readers won’t think twice about the obvious parental negligence of not providing Heather with the therapy she clearly requires, but they will most certainly see how unfairly Molly and Michael are castigated (especially by their own mother) for things that are clearly not their fault. In this respect, the siblings’ dislike for their parental figures is clearly warranted and make them even more sympathetic.

This is the second book that I’ve read by Hahn (the first being The Old Willis Place) and I understand why young readers are drawn to her books when desiring a good old-fashioned ghost story. The characters are well established, the story has a nice momentum and never lags, and Hahn effectively increases the tension and heightens the fear as Heather’s dependency on Helen grows stronger and more resolute. I really like how the author reverses predictable roles to create a sense of chaos and unpredictability as family members become untrustworthy or unreliable allies and antagonists turn out to be more than meets the eye. This flip really jostles the reader and keeps things uncomfortably off balance as Molly fights to separate fact from fantasy while struggling to nurture a relationship with a stepsister that clearly despises her and even threatens her with death. And you thought Cinderella had it tough!

As an adult reading this book, I thought the parents were selfish, neglectful, and terrible role models; however, young readers will overlook these self-centered people and instead delight in a heart-pounding, thrilling read that will have them anxiously flipping pages toward a rollercoaster ending. So, buckle up, hold on tight, and just wait till Helen comes.

Rating: 4/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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The Girl in the Garden by Melanie Wallace (Adult Fiction)

The Girl in the Garden

Melanie Wallace (Adult Fiction)

A widowed landlord. A young, abandoned mother. An elderly woman with a tragic past and her estranged daughter. A Vietnam veteran who bears the scars of war. A town patriarch and sage longing for a family. The lives of these damaged and vulnerable individuals converge in a small eastern town in the 1970s. Bleak, repentant, and tragic, their stories tell of unrequited love, repressed shame, and regret, but as their paths become intertwined, each begins to experience acceptance, forgiveness, and a second chance at happiness.

The Girl in the Garden is a first for me in that this novel—brimming with characters and dialogue—contains no quotation marks. Not a single one. Although Wallace’s writing technique is unique and immersive, this continuous stream-of-consciousness style of writing was both intensive and exhausting:

So, Claire said, the question of the day is: are you a good driver? And that caught Sam off-guard, for it meant she’d learned if not from Leonard then maybe from George—who rarely spoke in sentences that could be understood, his speech being as garbled as his mind, but then Claire had a way of making people intelligible, who knew how?—that Sam wasn’t blind in the eye over which he always wore a patch that also covered his eyebrow and some of his scarred, dented cheekbone.

This book feels more like a mind dump rather than a cohesive story and the constant ramblings often pushed my attention span to its breaking point; however, there are some endearing characters and relationships that keep the story interesting and smooths the rough patches a bit. And although this garden seems to be mercilessly overrun with tangles of ivy and carpetweed, the occasional rose manages to emerge for those readers patient and diligent enough to push through.

Rating: 3/5

* Book cover image attributed to: www.abebooks.com

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