This month’s selection is an older one.  I had seen it years ago and was intrigued, but forgot about it.  The author is well known and well liked, but this book is much better than the one other book I have read by her. It is a mystery with three young people (one adult age) caught up in the struggles of life. It takes a whole story of communication and investigation to sort things out and heal the families involved.

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I love this book! It isn’t the first time I’ve read it, but it still had the same impact as the first time. The book was inspired by an event which impacted millions of people and was far reaching. The Wikipedia article did not include my home state, but yes, we were affected, too. I cannot believe it was that long ago. Watch the trailer also, to see details inspired by the neighborhood.

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This month’s selection is a fantasy set slightly after the American Civil War. The land has not healed. Opportunists are drawn to the possibilities in New York City. An unexpected attack could rip the country apart again.

That is the setting, but the tone is far less dark. The focus is on two young people who have the desire to protect the city.

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I’m not doing a regular review of this book, but I wanted to mention it, because I found the content interesting and informative. There is much information regarding math history and uses. There is discussion of how the brain works in deciphering math. Activities are included, such as puzzles, tips and experiments. The title isn’t really appropriate, since it has little about training your brain (Your Brilliant Brain and How To Train It is the secondary title).

A big negative is the format. The colored text and backgrounds look appealing, but those plus tiny print make it more difficult to read than it should be.

All in all, I like the book, despite finding it difficult to read.

This month’s selection is as much for the content as the illustrations, though they were delightful also and initially drew me to the book. It’s worthy of notice when an author focuses on choosing to be different or living differently. It is not the most obvious subject, but it is there nonetheless.

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This is the 2nd book I’ve read by this author. She picks unusual topics, and they are intense experiences. Each book was a treat. Her focus on the language is tremendous. She writes for both YA and adult.

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The text for this month’s selection is from a 1949 book. It is a great example of how important illustrations can be. The meaning has been changed by the interpretation of the illustrators, adding depth to the story.

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I’m a little late this month. I was busy up until last week and somehow forgot. Was also in the middle of reading this book and wanted to finish it.

This month’s selection is a departure from the author’s most popular works, though it is not her first historical novel.

I borrowed it from the library, primarily because I wanted to read the sequel. Now, I want to read it even more.

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This month’s selection is 2 books with the same character. There is no dialogue, and yet he has great personality through the pictures. I picked them both, primarily because I found them at the same time.

The text is simple enough to use for learning reading or sharing with toddlers.

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I am excited about this month’s selection. It’s nonfiction and political. It’s historical, clarifying an issue that largely our students do not learn or read about. We get dosed with propaganda in a big way regarding the topic. This book shows a much different picture, by a man who has lived closely with the issue.

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