The Women by Kristin Hannah

 

    In this book you're transported into the world of the late 60s and early 70s when the Vietnam War is ever prevalent. Frances Grace McGrath is a nurse and a good one at that. As you follow her story through the depths of the war and her life after you learn both of the good, the bad, and the ugly she endured as a woman during that time. Reading this book opened my eyes even more to what women early on in military and during ward endured. It is important to remember all those who served including the women. This book even brought tears to my eyes as I thought of things my own Grandmother must have gone through during the World War II era. Yes, women did serve. They may not have been on the front lines of every single battle, but they were there mending people back together, and helping them stay alive (even if it meant just getting them home.) Below is a picture of my grandmother. I am certain her just like all the women who served in both the World Wars and Vietnam would want their memories to live on. 

Kathleen Ada Weckmueller (Mayhoffer) was my grandmother and she served as an army nurse during World War II. She was discharged in 1946. 

Storm Front by Richard Castle

 

    I know you're thinking it because I sure was... Is this the Castle from the TV show? Yes, it is! And yes, the books are real, and yes Nathan Fillion ( I mean Richard Castle) is credited as being the Author. This particular story follows Derrik Storm and his help with the CIA to find a mass killer on the loose that could interrupt the stock market. While the man is hard to find in the end good must prevail! Right? Well, find out! More Castle books to be read soon. 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Book 1: The Magician's Nephew (1955)

Book 2: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (1950)

Book 3: The Horse and His Boy (1954)

Book 4: Prince Caspian (1951)
Book 5: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

Book 6: The Silver Chair (1953)

Book 7: The Last Battle (1956)

    The Chronicles of Narnia Series is wonderful for all ages. While a child can it get wrapped into the world of Narnia and all the excitement it brings and adult can find deeper meaning throughout these books, and it will also help to find a purpose through life. I had read bits and pieces of each of these books and a couple here and there before, but I must admit that reading them from the beginning of the series to the end of the series helped me to find new meaning of life and closure on some things that I, myself needed to face. While I won't tell you exactly everything that is under the covers of these wonderful books I can say that C.S. Lewis knew more about the meaning of life than any of us could possibly imagine. I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis and these books originally meant for young readers can help to captivate anyone. I hope you'll read them, and get brought into the wonderful and beautiful world of Narnia just like everyone in the books did. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

 

    The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to The Hunger Games series. Review of Hunger Games Series

It is set about 64 years prior to the Hunger Games and gives an outline of how Corionilius Snow became the Presdident of Panem in the Hunger Games series. It follows his story and talks about him and you get to really know him and how he became that man. 

This series and this book is overwhelmingly captivating and takes you into the Hunger Games yet again, but in a different way than you had experience in the sequels. I loved every second of this book, and I loved that the movie also followed the book so closely (despite what some might say). I felt like this book was definitely a wonderful addition to the entire series, and I would 100% recommend reading it. I think if you are into the Hunger Games in either Jr. High or High School you could definitely add this book to your list of "to be read" as well. READ  IT TO FIND OUT ALL OF WHAT HAPPENED TO SNOW!

The I SURVIVED SERIES

Okay, I have a goal to read all of the I SURVIVED books by Lauren Tarshis are amazing! link to her site

It's so cool how she does realistic historic fiction. I mean, she takes famous events in history from everywhere and writes about one kid (different in each book), and how he or she survived that instant. It's chilling how real the circumstances can be. She does her research for each event to make sure she gets the major parts correct. I absolutely love these books. I have many of them, and want to make sure I get them all! She's just amazing! If you haven't read these books or if you see your child reading them READ IT!!!! They are an amazing way to teach history, and just wonderful!

starting back up soon

Okay, so... I know it's been a long time since I wrote on this blog. I've read books since then and will get back to putting more books on this blog soon! I'm do excited to start this up again, and hopefully it'll help you find the book to read for yourself or your child! 

Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior, The Journey of Socrates

It has been quite a long time since I wrote on this blog, and what a better book to start with than one that was suggested to me by a really good friend.

Way of the Peaceful Warrior

        By Dan Millman

What to say about this book? Well, it is absolutely remarkable. As I was reading it I was literally taking in every tiny bit. My friend suggested it to me cause he knew I was having a battle with myself about whether or not to go about a certain decision. When I finally go through reading it my decision was made. I don't want to give away too much, but it only took me a few days to read and I immediately went to him for the next book in the series.

The Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior

 This book took me on the sacred or spiritual Journey that was only partially touched in the first book. I absolutely love every second of it. It helped me grow even more spiritually than I had imagined before, and I found so many amazing quotes from it. 

Now, to the last one...

The Journey of Socrates

     This book gave me the biggest ride of all. You meet Socrates first in Way of the Peaceful Warrior, but as you read this book you learn all about him and why he is called Socrates. It made me reflect on so many different aspects, and I wish I could just let everyone know absolutely everything about it, but that would take the journey out of the book. In my opinion these three books took me on a magnificent journey, and I must say I am very content with my life! :)

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven; Fablehaven Rise of The Evening Star; Fablehaven Grip of the Shadow Plague; Fablehaven Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary; Fablehaven Keys to the Demon Prison

   It took me a little while to read these books, but I must attest that they are extraordinary and after reading them you will never look at any living creature in the same light again. It broadens your imagination even more than I thought possible. In the first book you are introduced to Kendra and her brother, Seth. They end up going to their grandparents for the summer and are encountered with a magical world that they didn't know to be there. Each book they encounter new challenges that require them to become braver, and that they never knew they would encounter. 

These books are good for any age, and like Harry Potter can take you to a new and magical world.

I was introduced to these books by a good friend of mine and I am so glad he kept me reading them because they were magnificent and did not disappoint! Now, enjoy some pictures I found on the net that may give some insight to some magical creatures.

Harry Potter series

Normally I would put all the information underneath the books, but these books are so popular that I feel like I don't have to. However, this post will be more about what I think of these books.

Besides reading the scriptures I really got hooked on these books and it got me reading more. I used to hate to read and would get often discouraged. These books helped me to learn new words and really jump into another world. These books (if you haven't read them) are about a boy named Harry Potter that finds out he is a wizard that survived a killing curse when he was a baby. Throughout the books it is basically a battle between Harry (the young boy) and Voldemort (the one who tried to kill him). Harry goes to school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy and each year faces new challenges while learning how to become a great wizard. 

These books really help kids to see the difference between good vs. evil and how to overcome such evil. 

Note: I am sorry I have not said more about these books, but I don't want to give any of the stories away. Because I feel they are all a must read!

The Help

The Help

Kathryn Stockett

  Taking place in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60s this book is about the many black women that helped the whites and barely got paid, sometimes got beaten, but also met some of the most wonderful people. It is told from the perspective of three different women. Two black, Aibleen and Minny. One white, Skeeter. It is simply a remarkable story about how hard times were between the two groups back then. 

For more information: http://www.kathrynstockett.com/

There is also a movie coming out for the trailer go here:http://www.facebook.com/thehelpmovie

SHEEP

Sheep

Valerie Hobbs

  Jack is a young Border Collie who gets taken away from his home and heads on a journey of his life trying to get back to his home and find a place where he can do what he was born to do. Herd the sheep. 

  This book is remarkable! I read it in just a couple of hours. It is told by the dog, and it just grabs you in and helps you think of how important man's best friend can be. All ages should read this book!

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games Series

Suzanne Collins

Scholastic

Book #1 -2008, Book #2- 2009, Book #3-2010

             For this series I'm going to do all three books at once. Why? Well, these books blend together so well that it's only fair to do them in one post. 

           In the words of Chad Rogers (who got me hooked), "Chad Rogers Far future when US no longer exists. US is now divided into 13 districts governed by a tyrannical capital. the hunger games are when a boy and a girl from each district are required to fight against each other to the death (but don't worry its not that graphic). without trying, the main character starts a rebellion... you'll have to read them to find out more!"  Here's what happens without giving away the story. The main character in the story is a girl named, Katniss Everdeen.  The "tyrannical capital" says that a boy and girl from each district must fight to the death. Why? Well, the capital wants to prove they are still in control! 

            How did I feel about these books? I loved them!  Why? Because I love books that are very tense and keeps you constantly reading. I read all three books in less than a week! Yes, they are that good. I also love to read about how someone overcomes a tyranny! 

         Why won't I tell all? Well, these books are that good that you just have to read them. They are full of sadness, happiness, anger, and love. I highly recommend these books!

Because of Winn Dixie

Because of Winn Dixie

Kate Dicamillo

Candlewick Press

2000

                    Kate Dicamillo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has written several books for children. These include: Great Joy, as series of Mercy Watson, The Miraculous Journey, of Edward Tulane, The Tale of Despereaux, and The Tiger Rising.

                This book is about a little girl named, India Opal, who finds a dog in a grocery store. She gives him the name Winn-Dixie, after the grocery store. Throughout the book Winn-Dixie does things so India Opal makes more friends. You find out in the story that Winn-Dixie is afraid of thunderstorms and near the end he disappears. While India Opal and her father, the preacher, go to look for him the others (who are at this party India Opal planned) find him hiding under the bed.

             I really enjoyed this book because for me it gave an even greater meaning to the word "friend." I think at times we forget how someone can help us meet new people. I believe this is a very good book to help children to understand how wonderful friends are. This book is perfect for ages 10-12. I think it brings meaning and life to a friendship and this age group need that in my opinion. With this you could teach children that having an animal as a friend is okay.

The Outsiders

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton

Penguin Group

1967

                     S.E. Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When she first started writing she wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for children, and thus decided to write The Outsiders which helped her to become a famous author. It is said that she is the voice for youth of the modern day.

                     The Outsiders is about two special class groups known as the "greasers" and the "socs." Ponyboy is the main character in this story-- he tells about his whole life as a "greaser." About the middle of the book Johnnycake and Ponyboy get into some trouble with the "socs"-- Johnnycake ends up killing one of them by accident. They go into hiding in an old church in a little town called WinnDrixville. The church catches on fire while there are young kids inside. Johnny and Ponyboy go to save them and get wounded in all the mess. Towards the end Ponyboy begins to fail classes because of all the events that happened (with Johnny & Dally's deaths). Ponyboy's English teacher asks him to write a themed paper and then you notice at the end of the book his paper is the whole book.

                 One of my favorite things in this book is the poem that Ponyboy recites by Robert Frost.

"Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

He early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

The leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down today.

Nothing gold can stay."

              I would highly recommend this book to anyone who may have trouble finding their "identity." This book is very good for 8th and 9th grades. It helps them to find out who they truly are.  This book really helps that it's not about who your friends are, but rather what your own heart makes of you. Again, thank to Mrs. Matthews for being the first to introduce me to this book.

Kick-off

Kick-Off

Donna King

Scholastic

2007

                  Donna King is the alter ego of Jenny Oldfield. She has written many children's fiction books that are popular world wide.

                 Kick-off is about a girl from Tampa Bay, Florida who moves to England with her family-- they moved because her dad is in the military and was transferred there. Tyra loved to play soccer, and when she went to this new school some didn't think she could play, but soon she became the star of her team and they played on the field for Manchester United. I really like Tyra because even though others irritated her she never truly lost her head, and kept on working to achieve her dream.

            I really enjoyed reading this book because I think it shows how we should truly treat others. I think this is a good book for ages 11--14 because it helps teach the idea of how we should truly be kind to one another.

Pieces of Paris

Pieces of Paris
G.G. Vandagriff

Shadow Mountain

2010

               G.G. Vandgriff has written several books, but this is the first on I have read... to see what she says about herself please go to http://www.ggvandagriff.com/GGVanNew/Biography.html.

                What can I possibly say about this book? What attracted me to it? Well, the cover for starters... I have a dream to one day travel to Paris, but I also really enjoy Music! So, the cover just brought me in. While reading the book I found myself not only drawn to learn more, but definitely attached to what would happen in the end! This story is mostly about a woman who suffers from PTSD, and how she overcomes her past with the help of her husband and renewing her relationship with God. For me this story helped me realize that no matter what is in your past you can always overcome it and start anew. PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is more than just a real thing... it can truly control one's life if they let it. See, the trials that a family is called upon to face in a world that seemed like it could be peaceful. Find out what happens as a young woman, Annalisse, learns from the past to improve her marriage. And Finally, see how her husband, Dennis, figures out not only how to help his family, but save his job. 

                 I absolutely enjoyed this book! It kept me to the end! And I definitely recommend for anyone either suffering from their past or trying to find a way to cope with a death. I know PTSD and many other disorders are real, but there is nothing that hits God's children that they cannot handle with His help! He will help us get through all things!

               

About me and why I decided to make this blog

                 My name is Frances Baron. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and absolutely love the church and the joy it brings to me. When I was young and in the first grade I was slowly learning to read... however, my entire class got crippled in many ways when we went to second grade. They moved us from phonics to a whole reading language without doing a proper transfer. Since then things have improved drastically! I am no longer inhibited by those old reading habits. What happened? Well, my parents took an interest and so did I. I read the Book of Mormon with my parents and my reading slowly began to improve. In school I read books because I had to, but I never really discovered the joy in reading until jr. high, but it still wasn't enough. When I finally got to college I discovered how much the books I read could take me to another world and away from many of the problems of this world. It would put me seeing life through another's eyes and I truly began to love it! I then discovered how much I wanted to help young children and many others find the joy in reading that I began to discover at an older age! I'm grateful to my sister's especially for helping me discover why books are so important! Also, to my mother's family... they are ones that never throw a book away! It's amazing to me how many copies of a book there were in their house. So, after all the thinking... I decided to make a blog about my view on books! I've read so many and have many more to read in my life! I hope the reviews I post will interest others in these books too! In conclusion, books are amazing to me and I hope all will find the joy that I have come to find in them too!

Phonological (phonemic) Awareness

            Yesterday I mentioned a couple words in one of my reviews. That word was Phonemic Awareness. Today I would like to talk about what Phonemic Awareness is and post a few activities one can do to help a child who is having difficulty with it.
            Phonemic Awareness is how we understand certain sounds, words, or what a child hears. Wikipedia states, "Phonemic awareness is a subset of phonological awareness in which listeners are able to hear, identify and manipulate phonemes, the smallest units of sound that can differentiate meaning. Separating the spoken word "cat" into three distinct phonemes, /k/, /æ/, and /t/, requires phonemic awareness." In my literacy 1 class in college we had to separate words into their individual phonemes. Breaking down a word can help a child to improve their phonemic awareness. Phonics, in my opinion, is a great way to help children with phonemic awareness. this allows children to see that a C can make the sound /k/ or /s/. Or what are the differences between a long and short vowel. Or what a schwa is, "An unstressed and toneless neutral vowel sound in some languages, often but not necessarily a mid-central vowel. Such vowels are often transcribed with the symbol <ə>, regardless of their actual phonetic value."


The following are just a few sites for Phonemic Awareness activities and information:
http://www.tampareads.com/phonics/phonicsindex.htm
http://www.reading.org/downloads/positions/ps1025_phonemic.pdf
http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/classrooms/patti/k-1/activities/phonemic.html

If you have any questions about Phonemic Awareness please don't be afraid to ask and I will try to answer to the best of my ability. Thank you.

HOLES

HOLES

Louis Sachar

Yearling an imprint of Random House Children's

1998

                      Louis Sachar has written over 21 fictional and educational books for children including: Small Steps, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, and many others. He was born in New York in March of 1954. When he was 9 he moved to California and has lived there ever since. Many of his books have been inspired from experiences he has had.

                    This book is about a young boy named Stanley Yelnats IV, and his unfortunate luck. Stanley is accused of stealing Clyde Sweetfeet shoes, and is sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment. While at Camp Green Lake he digs holes to build character, but truthfully they are digging holes to find treasure. Towards the end of the book Stanley's luck turns around because he does what his great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats, did not.

                     I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially like the song, "If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs, the bark on the trees was as soft as the skies, while the wolf waits below hungry and lonely he cries to the moon, if only, if only." I this book could be used in the 8th grade... one could use it to talk about self-worth, or why we act in certain ways, and why some things weren't acceptable at certain dates in history. I give great thanks to my 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Tara Matthews for being the first to introduce me to this book and having us read it in her class. When I was a sophomore in high school a movie came out about the book. Surprisingly the book and movie go along with each other very well, but please... read the book before watching the movie! 

Curious George Takes a Train, Curious George and the Dump Truck, Curious George and the Birthday Surprise, & Curious George Visits a Toy Store

Curious George Takes a Train

Margret & H.A. Ray

Houghton Mifflin Company

2002

               Margret & H.A. Ray are married and love to write together. They have done loads of research for children's poetry. They have written all of the Curious George books and several other literature stories.

               Curious George is a very curious monkey who nearly always gets into mischief. In this book he is going on a trip with his master, but gets easily distracted and goes to mess with the number for the trains on the board. He gets in trouble with his master, but ends up also saving a young boys toy.

                 I like this book because it teaches how children are mischievous even though it's a monkey. My favorite part of this story is despite all he does his master still loves him. It's good for ages 10 and under. It shows how parents will always love their children no matter what they do. 

Curious George and the Dump Truck

Margret & H.A. Ray

Houghton Mifflin Company

1999

                     For an update on the Authors see above.

                    In this story George is very curious about the truck next door, and ends up pulling a lever that gets him in trouble. However, he figures out to make fun out of it. 

                     I think this is good for all ages. It helps us to see the bigger picture of things. I would use it to show that we can always correct our mistakes.

Curious George and the Birthday Surprise

Margret & H.A. Ray

Houghton Mifflin Company

2003

                            Please see information about Author's above.
                            This book is about George's birthday. He had no clue it was his birthday, but is excited  to see all of his friends. The when his master brings out the cake he is ecstatic to find out that it is his birthday.
                             I like this story because it proves how curious little kids are about when their birthday is. I would use it to teach about love for our friends and family. Good for ages 10 & under.

Curious George Visits a Toy Store

Margret & H.A. Ray

Houghton Mifflin Company

2002

                        Information about Authors above.

                        In this story George befins to cause trouble by playing with things in the toy store. He thinks it is okay to give each child a toy. However, as always he is given love by his master.

                       I like this story because it too shows that we are all loved. I would recommend it for ages 10 & under. It helps to teach how we need to be kind to others.