The Help

Kathryn Stockett has written a powerful first novel about the racial division between whites and blacks. My curiosity propelled me to read this 451 pg. book with fervor as I learned about a world so different from 2009. The setting is Jackson, Mississippi, around 1962. Ms. Skeeter is the cotton plantation owner's daughter with a college degree but no prospects for marriage. She moves back home to find her beloved maid, Constantine, gone with no one telling anything about her disappearance. Aibileen is a black maid, raising her 17th white child. She lost her own son to a foolish act of a white person and knows her heart is broken. Minny, Aibileen's best friend has the biggest mouth this side of the Mississippi and has lost plenty of jobs because of it.

These 3 women embark on an adventure destined to open the door to the many stories black maids have to tell about their white families. I was intrigued with the many details of a lifestyle such as this. It is different than a slave/master relationship because the help received a wage but segration was still there with separate bathrooms in white people houses.


The Help is addictively, compulsively readable. I couldn’t put it down. Stockett’s debut is well-written, and it is clear that she really understands Southern life and has made great efforts to understand what life was like for black women who served white families. She presents sad stories that leave a great glimmer of hope, and though she examines our differences and our mistakes, she highlights our humanity to wonderful effect. And while this is a serious book, it also has wonderfully lighthearted moments, humorous moments, and strikingly funny insights into women and their behavior.

I took this review from here.

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

You've probably heard the story...

Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, discovered he was dying of terminal cancer. He was asked to give a "Last Lecture" before most people knew of his condition. He used that opportunity to focus on achieving your childhood dreams, no matter the obstacles. He wanted to leave something of himself for his children who would never really know their father.

The story is short but poignant. It will make you cry and smile through the tears. It will make you hug your loved ones and thank God for another day.

Quotes I love from this book:
"Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think."

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

Sunrise Over Fallujah

A book that will make you rethink your thoughts of war.

House of Night #5 and Down The Rabbit Hole

I wrapped up the 5th House of Night novel last week. It was as good as the other 4 but the first book, Marked, is still my favorite. Rumor has it that there will be a 6th and, based on how Hunted ended, I can see why. Check out the House of Night series for racy vampires!

On to a new book called Down The Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams. This is a new author for me. I did some research on google (is that real research?!?!) and found lots of interesting details. For the young reader who enjoys mystery and suspense, this is a fun and safe book. It doesn't have the allure of horror but maintains a healthy sense of whodunit.

Welcome to Echo Falls. Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next.
Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. Getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation rivaling those solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes, and Ingrid has enough on her plate with club soccer, school, and the plum role of Alice in the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland. But much as in Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole, things in Ingrid's small town keep getting curiouser and curiouser. Her favorite director has a serious accident onstage (but is it an accident?), and the police chief is on Ingrid's tail, grilling her about everything from bike-helmet law to the color of her cleats. Echo Falls has turned into a nightmare, and Ingrid is determined to wake up. Edgar Award–nominated novelist Peter Abrahams builds suspense as a smart young girl finds that her small town isn't nearly as safe as it seems.

Chris Crutcher

I been reading all things Chris lately. He is a border-line young adult author, meaning the characters are teenagers but the content is very mature, making the books more like adult books.

I teach one of his novels, Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes. Remember, I do anythinng I can to push the envelope when it comes to reading literature. I believe if kids are exposed to it in print, they won't be as tempted to try it in "real life." That's just my theory and you certainly don't have to agree with me.

Anywho, back to Chris Crutcher. Recently, I read Sledding Hill and Whale Talk; both were totally different than his other books and from each other. I didn't care for Sledding Hill because of the take on religion. Whale Talk, on the other hand, was aout of this world! This was a book I was reading while cooking supper, giving baths, and other household chores. I would cry and be angry at the same time; I wanted the good guy to win. He does, but not in the way you'd expect.

Visit his website at www.chriscrutcher.com to find out more.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book was my latest obsession. I couldn't put it down. I love this author, especially her book, Speak. I am terrible about writing my own reviews, so check out the one I "stole" from Amazon.

Socially inept Tyler Miller thinks his senior year of high school is going to be a year like no other. After being sentenced to a summer of character building physical labor following a graffiti prank, his reputation at school receives a boost, as do his muscles. Enter super-popular Bethany Milbury, sister of his tormentor, Chip, and daughter of his father's boss. Tyler's newfound physique has attracted her interest and infuriated Chip, leading to ongoing conflicts at school. Likewise, Tyler's inability to meet his volatile father's demands to be an asset, not a liability adds increasing tension. All too quickly, Tyler's life spirals out of control. In the wake of an incident at a wild party that Bethany has invited him to attend, he is left feeling completely isolated at school and alienated at home, a victim of twisted perception. Tyler must tackle the complex issues of integrity, personal responsibility, and identity on his own as he struggles to understand what it means to be a man. His once humorous voice now only conveys naked vulnerability. With gripping scenes and a rousing ending, Anderson authentically portrays Tyler's emotional instability as he contemplates darker and darker solutions to his situation. Readers will rejoice in Tyler's proclamation, I'm not the problem here…I'm tired of feeling like I am. Teenage concerns with sex, alcohol, grades, and family are all tackled with honesty and candor. Once again, Anderson's taut, confident writing will cause this story to linger long after the book is set down.–Erin Schirota, Bronxville Public Library, NY

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

My sister-in-law, Sarah, introduced me to this delightful book. I hadn't heard of the title, but she fondly remembered it from childhood. She was thoughtful enough to send Lillian and Lucas a copy for Valentine's Day. Lillian and I read it twice the night we got it. Lillian loved the silly story and I enjoyed the illustrations. It is about a town called Chewsandswallow where the townspeople get their breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the sky. Life is simple until the fickle weather starts sending hurricanes of rolls, giant pancakes that flatten the school, and meatballs big enough to crush houses. The people must find away to stop the "weather" or leave their town forever. Fun, fun story!

While researching online, I discovered that a computer animated video version will be released in Sept. 2009. Also, there are lesson plans for teaching weather.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

original copyright: 1978

sequel: Pickles for/to Pittsburgh