The Distance Between Lost and Found

The Distance Between
Lost and Found
by Kathryn Holmes

From the publisher:
"Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her … silent.

Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.

On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.

With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back? "

I literally could not stop reading this book once I started it. My heart and my interest were won at the very beginning. My heart broke for Hallelujah, and I totally understood her. The good girl who had always done what was right and then one incident and one disgusting, deceitful, popular boy ruined her reputation and pretty much her whole life. I could see myself reacting the same way Hallie did - withdrawing from everyone and becoming incredibly angry that everyone actually believed the disgusting, deceitful, popular boy. 

There is really something for everyone in this book. It is an exciting survival story, it is a coming-of-age story, it is a story of identity - what makes us who we are, it is a story of forgiveness, it is a story of redemption. There is also vile bullying and a sweet romance. Probably the thing I like the best was how REAL it was. There wasn't a quick oh-you're-forgiven-for-everything scene, the issue of forgiveness resurfaced many times. The kids were on a youth group trip and while they were lost and suffering, they discussed God and how they felt about the whole concept. There was no saccharine sweet sappiness about it, there were questions and concerns and true feelings about how God could be letting this happen to them. However, I wouldn't classify this as a Christian book, it was just about kids who happened to be on a youth group trip and got lost. I also loved one conversation where Hallie asked Jonah why he never cursed - especially given the situation they were in. He talked about his father, who "curses up a storm when he's not in church", or his friends, who curse all the time when there are no adults around. He said:

“I know too many people who are one thing when they think it matters and another thing the rest of the time. And I don’t want to be like that . So I don’t curse at all. It’s like —what you see is what you get.” 

Words to live by from a teenage boy.

Because of the real feelings that are evoked in this book, I think middle school kids will love it - I know I did. The title is so perfect for the book - "lost" and "found" have several different meanings in it. I will definitely be watching for more by this author - this was her debut novel. Well done!

Areas of concern:
*A few curse words.
*Mysterious "incident" with a boy that has ruined a girl's life. The "incident" is finally explained in detail, but it doesn't go too far.
*Intense, non-physical bullying.
*Scary survival situations.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+
School Library Journal - Grades 7+

House of Secrets

House of Secrets
by Chris Columbus &
Ned Vizzini

From the publisher:
"The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult.

Suddenly the siblings find themselves launched on an epic journey into a mash-up world born of Kristoff’s dangerous imagination, to retrieve a dark book of untold power, uncover the Walker family’s secret history and save their parents . . . and maybe even the world."

I did not like this one, but I kept soldiering on and finished. The concept seems amazing, and I think it could have been, but there were so many ridiculous situations it lost my interest. Actually, I don't think it ever had my interest. I thought a book written by the director of the first 2 Harry Potter movies and blurbed by J.K. Rowling must be good. However, now that I look back on what J.K. Rowling said, I realize that it is like when someone who hasn't been a very good employee asks for a letter of recommendation. You try to make them sound good without really committing yourself.
"A breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of an adventure about the secret power of books, House of Secrets comes complete with three resourceful sibling heroes, a seriously creepy villainess, and barrel loads of fantasy and fear." 
All of those things are technically true, but it left out anything about loving the book or thinking it was amazing. Well played, J.K.Rowling.

A few positives of the book are that the siblings learn to really love and look out for each other. The character of Will was intriguing because of where he came from. The idea of being inside books is always a fun theme. 

It is possible that middle school boys might get a little enjoyment out of this because it is horribly gory. However, they will never be able to keep all the plot points together. I have no desire to read the sequel, especially when the publisher says, " ...they'll be tested in ways that cut deeper than before..." . How do you "cut deeper" than vivisection (which was a main plot point in this first book)? I'm just glad I am done with it.

Areas of concern:
The violence and gore are way overdone for a middle grade book. Vivisection, eyeballs pulled out in front of children, friends killed while children watched, parents missing and presumed dead.... I could go on and on. 
There are a handful of cuss words.
Skeletons keep coming alive and when they do they are naked and standing in front of the children, who proceed to have conversations with them first and then get them clothes.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9+  

School Library Journal - Grades 4-8
*Mrs. Duke disagrees with these suggested ages because of the extreme violence.  Possibly 7th or 8th grade and higher.

The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom

The Hero's Guide to 
Saving the Kingdom
by Christopher Healy

From the publisher:
"Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change.

Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, the princes stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Christopher Healy’s Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a completely original take on the world of fairy tales, the truth about what happens after “happily ever after.” It’s a must-have for middle grade readers who enjoy their fantasy adventures mixed with the humor of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Witty black-and-white drawings by Todd Harris add to the fun."

Well, this is a case of finishing a book right before you leave on vacation and not getting it reviewed until way later. I'll just have to mention my thoughts and feelings on this one since I don't remember the specifics enough. 

This book was recommended to me by my favorite rising 6th grader. She said it is her new favorite series, so I read it and immediately ordered it for our library. It is really funny in kind of a ridiculous way, so I feel like it is the perfect fit for a middle school reader. It was fun to read about things from the heroes point of view instead of the princesses. And these are not your ordinary heroes! Each one is unique and very cleverly drawn. 
To remind myself about the book, I looked up some quotes on Goodreads. Here are some of my favorites:

“Frederic had imagined this moment - him running to Ella with open arms, calling her name - but being as winded as he was, doubled over with his hands on his knees, all he could do was nod in her general direction.” 

“Once you've been squashed by a giant, a troll doesn't even seem nearly as heavy.” 

“Get him now?" Duncan asked. He looked at the sword in his hand. Unsure of what he should do, he tossed the weapon at the giant. The sword flipped through the air a couple of times and landed softly on the grass only a few feet away.
"That was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen," said Gustav.
Duncan stepped forward to retrieve his sword, tripped over his belt, hit his head on a rock, and knocked himself out cold.
"I spoke too soon," said Gustav. "That was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen.” 

This book is extremely humorous, and is at times irreverent, wacky, ridiculous and quirky. A romp through fairy tales that pokes fun at some of our favorites and helps us see them in a different way. It would make a great movie, but for now use it as a family or class read-aloud, or for a grin and giggle for yourself.

Areas of concern:
Some fairy tale violence and an evil witch who is really very funny. So pretty much no areas of concern on this one.

Suggested ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12

School Library Journal - Grades 4-6

Rook

Rook
by Sharon Cameron

From the publisher:
"History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she. 

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse."

This book started out very slowly for me. In fact I kept asking my daughter (who read it before me) if it was worth it to finish it. She said yes, so I soldiered on. Then at about page 80, I was completely hooked and couldn't stop reading. I loved it!! I think one of the reasons it started out so slowly for me is that it was hard for me to understand the world-building. It is a post-apocalyptic book, but it feels like historical fiction. I had a hard time picturing a sunken Paris, especially with a big Eiffel Tower on the cover. However, once the story really got going, I didn't care what kind of world it was. 
Maybe I should mention that I love The Scarlet Pimpernel , so of course I made a lot of comparisons. I appreciated that the author didn't try to do corny things like using the same names as the original and just changing them up a bit. There was a nod to the names Marguerite and St. Just, but that was just enough to give The Scarlet Pimpernel fans a little thrill. 
I loved the characters from the beginning. Sophia is amazing, I LOVE that she is so courageous and loyal. I love the sparks that fly between Sophia and René from the very beginning. 
“I think you are very beautiful," René said, "especially when you are admiring mischief."

"You must think that every time I look at you, then.” 

René reminded me very much of Percy Blakeney from the original book. I liked that Sophia referred to his foppish character as the "magazine René", and I loved watching him change between his real side and magazine side. 
“So you carry needle and thread about in your pockets, do you?” Sophia asked.
“My tailor insists.” 

The action was breathtakingly intense, and there are several times in the book that you will wonder "how in the world are they going to get out of this?!"
The romance is lovely - these two have intense chemistry going on, and yet they are also very funny.
"Your maman was in my room last night."
"And I was not." His tone was glum.
"It is so frustrating not to be able to hit you when I want." 

This is one of those books that you just want to hug when it is over. And after looking up those quotes, I pretty much want to start re-reading it. It does start slowly, but hang in there, it is very much worth it.

Areas of concern:

I don't remember much bad language - maybe a handful of the *d* and *h* words.

Some pretty intense kissing, but nothing graphic.

A really evil enemy who tortures people and has them beheaded on a guillotine.

Intense action.

Suggested ages:

Booklist - Grades 8-12

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12+

TimeRiders

TimeRiders
by Alex Scarrow

From the publisher:
"Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.

Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, ‘Take my hand ...’

But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren’t rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose—to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That’s why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world... "

Several of my students love this series, so I thought I should read it and see why. It starts out with a bang on the Titanic and then goes back and forth between time and decades throughout. I've read several time travel books, and I think this one is my favorite as far as making sense and explaining the "science" behind it. I thought the plot and the changes in history were well thought out and really interesting. What would have happened if Hitler had won? (Well, it wasn't really Hitler winning, but you'll have to read that for yourself.) And the notion of saving teens from death to have them become TimeRiders that live the same 2 days over and over again watching for changes was kind of brilliant. The characters were likeable and appealing (especially non-human Bob), but I would have liked more background on most of them. I'm going to assume things will eventually come out as the series progresses, though. I think it would have slowed things down to have it all dumped in this first book. All in all I enjoyed it, and I'm hoping it will help students become a little more interested in historical fiction because of the adventures the TimeRiders have. One little problem is that this series is published in the UK with 9 books in the series, but only 4 have managed to make it across the pond so far. I don't know why they don't publish the rest of the series in the US, but I went ahead and ordered the rest of the series (actually I don't have the ninth one yet) online from bookdepository.com. The kids who have discovered this series absolutely love it. I liked it.

Areas of concern:
The use of Jesus Christ, Christ, Jayzus as expletives.
Some cussing, but not over the top.
Violence is rampant, but not gratuitous. The TimeRiders are placed in many scary situations that they have to get out of.
Some scary Gollum-esque nuclear-mutated humans that are cannibalistic (I may have just made up a few words there).

Suggested Ages:

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 8+

Rain Reign

Rain Reign
by Ann M. Martin

From the publisher:
"Rose Howard has Asperger’s syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog Rose’s father brought home. Rose and Rain are practically inseparable. And they are often home alone, as Rose’s father spends most evenings at a bar, and doesn’t have much patience for his special-needs daughter.

Just as a storm hits town, Rain goes missing. Rose’s father shouldn’t have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. Rose will find Rain, but so will Rain’s original owners."

Rain Reign is a book that spoke to my heart. I have a grandson who is on the autism spectrum, and so many of Rain's behaviors were reminiscent of my little man. My grandson starts school in the fall, and those of us who love him can't help but be worried about how he will be treated by his peers and his teachers. He is brilliant and sweet and loving, but he also fixates on things, can be incredibly annoying and has scary meltdowns. I can only hope that his school is as good and loving with their Special Ed kids as we are to ours here at Blevins. Add to that story the information that I had 2 dogs in my life that I loved and enjoyed for 29 combined years, and you can see why this book touched me. I even got very teary-eyed towards the end when Rose, the main character, shows great courage and growth. I really recommend this book, with the caveat that it would be best as a class read (reed) or family read (reed). The main character IS a little annoying, and all of the homonyms/homophones in parentheses get a little distracting, so I'm afraid many middle schoolers won't stick with the story. Use it as a read-aloud at bedtime when your child is snuggled up on their bed with their dog cuddled up next to them. Or use it as a classroom read-aloud to help your students understand and empathize a little more with those who have challenges or disabilities. 

Areas of concern:
An alcoholic and neglectful father who has no idea how to raise his child, but tries his best (which isn't very good).
A scary storm that devastates the area.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 9-12

School Library Journal - Grades 4-7

Our Students' Favorite Books, Part 2

Here are some more of our students' favorite books from this past school year:

Dystopian/Science Fiction (one of our most popular genres - be aware that most dystopians have a lot of violence)

1.  The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
2.  Divergent series by Veronica Roth (how have I not reviewed Divergent?!  I have certainly read it.  I'll have to post a review later.)
3.  The Maze Runner series by James Dashner
4.  The Matched series by Ally Condie
5.  The Angel Experiment series by James Patterson
6.  The Legend series by Marie Lu
7.  The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore
8.  The Selection series by Kiera Cass (very clean and less violent than others)
9.  The Testing series by Joelle Charboneau
10.  Escape from Furnace series by Alexander Gordon Smith

Please be aware that these are the most checked out by the students, and not my recommendations.  Dystopian/science fiction books tend to be incredibly violent and some have tons of bad language.  If your younger middle school students are interested in this genre, but you don't want them reading all the violence and language, here are some that I would call "starter" dystopian that have more implied and less graphic violence, and less bad language:

The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth
The Sky Jumpers series by Peggy Eddleman
The Elemental series by Anthony John (there is another Elemental series, so don't mix them up)
The Pivot Point duology by Kasie West
The Book of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau
The Tomorrow Girls series by Eva Gray


Fantasy

1.  The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan (and any other thing Rick Riordan writes)
2.  Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
3.  The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan (and the others Brotherband Chronicles)
4.  The Warriors series (and all the off-shoots) by Erin Hunter
5. The Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
6.  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott
7.  The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart
8.  The Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull
9.  The Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger
10.  The Familiars series by Adam Jay Epstein


Paranormal/Supernatural  (another of our most popular genres - be aware the there is usually quite a bit of violence in these, and that the romances can get pretty steamy)

1.  The Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand
2.  The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
3.  The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck
4.  The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
5.  The Wings series by Aprilynne Pike
6.  The Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White
7.  The Chronicles of Nick series by Sherilyn Kenyon
8.  The Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy
9.  The Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini
10.  The Holders duology by Julianna Scott

With the exception of The Chronicles of Nick series and The Skulduggery series, I have read at least the first book in all of these series, but most of them before I started this blog so I haven't reviewed them here.  I may have to go back and re-read and review because some of them got a little edgy with the violence and romance.  Be careful with this genre.  The ones I remember being pretty clean are The Unearthly series, The Tiger Saga, The Wings series and the Paranormalcy series.  Those are always the first ones I suggest to my students.