Book Review: Never Jam Today

(Saturday) Spines Book Review Number 13:

Never Jam Today, by Carole Bolton

If you didn't understand the title to this book, you're not the only one. I read this book at least four years ago, and only just now did the quote make sense. Click here for an explanation.

Maddy Franklin is a seventeen-year-old middle-class girl in 1917. Like many of her peers, she's vaguely dissatisfied with the life her father lays out in front of her: Marry a man who she's completely uninterested in, and spend her days planning what to feed him when he comes home from work each night. Her mother, while not completely denouncing Maddy's views, shies away from discussions about suffrage and woman's rights, and her father--while viewing his daughter as "at least as intelligent as [she] needs to be"--is condescending toward his daughter whenever she mentions the subject. Maddy's aunt Augusta is an active suffragist who her father continually ridicules, but Maddy respects her spunky aunt, and her wish to emulate the strong woman will play out throughout the story in a fascinating way. 

While written in 1971, this book provides young readers--especially girls, although boys may appreciate the book as well--with a perspective that they can relate to. Mad Sexism is often viewed by younger generations as obsolete in today's world, and Never Jam Today uses this unique angle on the suffrage movement to bring consciousness to readers who wonder, "What does this have to do with me?"

The book is recommended for ages 10 and up, although older readers will enjoy it too. There's no mentionable language or inappropriate content, and although the writing is objective and clear, the story's power comes through in Maddy's strong voice. 

Other things I liked about this book:

• Maddy's mother also takes part in the story, changing from a meek housewife to a woman with a mind that dares to differ from her husband's.
• The author's portrayal of 1917 matches other stories about the same time period, while still fresh and interesting.
• Maddy is a perfect heroine: She finds her voice without being rude or disrespectful to those who disagree with her, and, while strong in her convictions, is willing to hear others' points of view.
• This quote from Maddy to her father, which comes near the end of the book. "'Do you intend to be a old maid?' 'The expression is career girl, Papa. Anyway, I expect to finish college; then maybe I'll become an editor. Who knows? I can still get married, and when I do, I'll marry a man who respects me as a separate human being, not as an extension of himself.'"

Other books you might enjoy:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine; Prisoners in the Palace, by Michaela MacColl; and Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

Note: All links except for the quote explanation (phrases.org.uk) lead to Goodreads. 

Happy reading--check back on Monday to see which book will be reviewed next Friday.

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines review

Hello, lovely readers! I hope you enjoyed Wendy Mass's Leap Day last week...such an excellent book. This week's review will come out on Saturday, December 31st--I'll be reviewing Never Jam Today, by Carole Bolton. It's fairly easy reading, so you should be able to finish it even with all the New Year's Eve parties to plan, Christmas leftovers to finish, and, of course, wonderful books to read. :)

See you Saturday...happy reading!
M. Gabrielle

Book Review: Leap Day

Friday Spines Book Review Number 12:

Leap Day, by Wendy Mass

This book starts and ends on Leap Day, February 29th. I read it in one sitting, and like many other of Wendy Mass's books, made me laugh out loud without thinking (Some advice: Don't read A Mango Shaped Space on an airplane).

The main character, Josie, was born on Leap Day. Every four years she gets a proper birthday, and--finally--it's her 16th. It's told in alternating perspectives: Chapter 1A is narrated by Josie, and Chapter 1B gives a bird's-eye view of family, friends, and random strangers that she interacts with. We follow Josie through many people's heads as she barely passes her driving test, collides with her long-time crush in the hallway at school, drives her friends all over Orlando for the school scavenger hunt, and gets an unanticipated birthday surprise from her best friends at her 16th-birthday initiation ceremony.

Josie is an ordinary, easy-to-relate-to character. Her thoughts--which we have complete access to--are things many readers will identify with, although Josie's interpretations can be slightly more hilarious than the average person's.

There is (un-parent-condoned, of course) smoking and drinking in this book. Before you freak out, the cigarettes are immediately discarded after being lit, as the girls choke on smoke and remember countless commercials about smoke ruining your skin and lungs. The drinking is treated in a similar way; after a few sips of blackberry brandy with chocolate in it, Josie and her friends toss the alcohol and move on to Truth or Dare.

I'd recommend this book for a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old. The content is appropriate for ages 10 and up, but slightly older readers will probably enjoy the book more, being closer to Josie's age and therefore a more similar mindset.

Other things I liked about this book:

• Not only is the book told from multiple perspectives, we also get glimpses into the future of many characters. When one of Josie's classmates gives her baby up for adoption, we learn that "In 18 years [the baby] will have the right to contact her birth parents. But she won't." 
•  The look into the world of Leapers (people born on Leap Day). From the "Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies" to Josie's new shirt that reads "The Few, The Proud, The Leapers", we are part of an atypical birthday celebration.
• Not everything turns out the way it's "supposed to", but Josie takes it (almost) all in stride, giving a fresh feeling to the plot.
• The funny parts in the book are written in a way that you can't see them coming. You'll be reading along in Wendy Mass's gentle-but-interesting prose and all of a sudden something so hilarious will happen that you'll have to put the book down so you don't lose your place.

You might also like: A Mango Shaped Space, also by Wendy Mass; The Princess and the Pauper, by Kate Brian; and Thirteen, by Lauren Myricle.

All links lead to Goodreads.

Happy holidays to all my readers, I hope your homes are full of books and happiness! See you on Monday....

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines book review

Hi, my lovely readers! It's Monday, and the next Friday Spines review will cover Leap Day, by Wendy Mass. This is a book you can read all in one sitting, or over a few weeks--and you have until Friday!

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: Betsy and the Great World and Betsy's Wedding

Friday Spines Book Review Number 11:

Betsy and the Great World and Betsy's Wedding, by Maud Hart Lovelace

Above is a link to my edition, which includes both books. All links to this book will be to my edition unless otherwise mentioned. 

For Betsy and the Great World, click here. For Betsy's Wedding, click here. 

It probably wasn't the smartest idea to pick the last book of this lovely series to review. I didn't actually think of that before just now, so oh well. Here's a link to the list of books in the series. Anyway, I'm going to focus on the writing and not give too many details on the plot, although if you haven't read these books, you should turn off your computer or addictive device with a shiny screen and do so. Seriously.

Betsy, who starts out as a charming, giggly five-year-old, is now a charming, giggly twenty-one-year-old, who is off on a Grand Adventure through the Great World. She leaves her long-time home in Deep Valley and takes a steamboat across the Atlantic, where she visits Munich, London, and Paris, among other worldly locations. In Venice she has a brief courtship with an Italian named Marco Regali, who takes her for moonlit gondola rides and brings her flowers in the evenings.

All too soon, Betsy is back home in the States, where she is met by her beloved blonde sweetheart. (If you've read the books you must know this is coming.) Joe Willard and his "don't-give-a-damn walk" are back, and within five minutes of setting foot on American soil, Betsy is engaged. After the marriage, though, it becomes apparent to both of them that being married won't change Betsy's inedible cooking or Joe's unemployed status. This is a nice touch for readers who appreciate reality in their fairy tales, especially those who also love endings that turn out well for all involved. Okay, end of summary, and even the most religiously anti-spoiler readers will still enjoy the plot.

The Betsy series can be appreciated by almost anyone. The last books in the series are recommended for ages 10 and up, although it's lovely to read the whole series over the years. The content is mild, seen from the perspective of a dreamy heroine. Sexism is very present throughout the books, and while this can mostly be seen as gallant and chivalrous, it is directly addressed after Betsy's marriage. It's a good idea to bring this up with younger readers, especially girls, because "romantic" and "unfair" can often blur together. 

Other things I like about this series:

• The fact that it's a, um, series. The writing matures and becomes more sophisticated along with Betsy (although she admittedly lacks sophistication, in an endearing and relatable way) so this is a perfect literary tradition to start with a younger child. (The first book, Betsy-Tacy, I'd recommend for ages 5 and up.)
• The illustrations! In my edition each chapter opens with a innocently romantic black-and-white drawing, which is the perfectly accompaniment to Betsy's adventures.
• Like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, this series is semi auto-biographical, which makes it all the more intriguing to read. 
• Although Betsy grows older and somewhat wiser as the books progress, she never loses her essential spirit: Her Betsy-ness stays intact through heartbreak and financial troubles, homesickness and seasickness. 

You might also like: All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor; Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery, and other books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

See you on Monday for the next book announcement!

Happy reading,

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines review

Hello lovely readers!

This Friday I'm reviewing Betsy and the Great World and Betsy's Wedding (in the same book) by Maud Hart Lovelace. This is the last book in the series--I'll do my best to leave out spoilers, but you really should read the rest of them! See more books by Maud Hart Lovelace here.

See you Friday--happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Friday's post

Hi everyone! I just realized that I didn't post on Friday. My excuse can be confirmed by multiple witnesses; I was the ribbon-curler in a present-wrapping assembly line. Fun stuff.
Anyway, I apologize for the delay! My review of The Truth About Forever will come out tomorrow evening.

Happy reading!
M. Gabrielle

Giveaway Announcement

Hey everyone! It's Sunday, my day to post things that aren't book reviews or review announcements. Yes, you did see the magic word: It's a Friday Spine Giveaway, which can only mean you could win a book!

Post a comment on any of my posts by Friday, December 9th, and you'll be entered to win a free copy of December 16th's book--shipping included! All you have to do is post a comment anywhere on my posts. I'll announce the winner on Monday, December 1012th.

The lucky book-reciever should then post a comment with their street address on that post. (Your address will not be published or shared by Friday Spines, or used for anything but this giveaway.)

Comment away--more than one comment will not increase your chances of winning, although your feedback and book suggestions are appreciated!

Check back on Friday for my review of The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen, again on Monday for the winner and the next book!






Don't forget to tell your friends about this giveaway, by word of mouth or one of the conveniently located widgets on my sidebar. (If you're using an iPhone you're on your own; you figured out how to turn it on, though, so you can do anything!)


Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: Persuasion

Friday Spines Book Review Number 9:

Persuasion, by Jane Austen

(This is a link to my edition, which also contains Northanger Abbey. All other links to Persuasion lead to editions only containing that book.)

Persuasion is one of Jane Austen's more overlooked works; Pride and Prejudice is everywhere, Sense and Sensibility familiar, and Emma fairly well-known. (Random note: Pride and Prejudice has over 500,000 ratings on Goodreads compared to Persuasion's 73,000.) I only read it because I studied it in a literature class a few years ago. My advice, especially to those new to the slightly intimidating Austen, is to watch the movie first. There are several versions: my favorite, second favorite, and least favorite-it's a miniseries. (Above three links are to the IMDB.) Once you know the story and images of the characters in your head, it's easier to follow Austen's narration--witty, charming, and biting by turn.

Persuasion is the story of Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth, who were nearly married seven years before the beginning of the book. Deeply in love with the then-poor and untitled sailor, 20-year-old Anne let her surrogate mother Lady Russell and her vain father and sisters persuade her against the match. 

Anne, who is still unmarried, still regrets it seven years later, when Mr. Wentworth comes back to town with money, prestige, and the title of captain. Among the usual drama and betrayal upper-class English society, the two fall in love all over again, in spite of Lady Russell (and Anne's) infatuation with a wealthy, handsome, and smooth-talking cousin. A happy ending is insured, along with quite a bit of delightfully shocking gossip and impropriety.

The story is appropriate for anyone who can understand Jane Austen's paragraph-long and parenthesis-filled sentences. I recommend it for ages 13 and up: Younger readers may become frustrated with the language, and swear off Austen for eternity. Even if you're an adult who's never had the courage to pick up one of her books, go watch the movie, and pick an edition of the book with no footnotes and big text. Illustrations are also a plus.

Other things I like about this book:

• Austen, famous for her language, lives up to any praise you can give her writing. It's hilarious in many places, and so eloquent and sharp that it's almost tangible. Her character descriptions are especially enjoyable.
• This is a love story that opens with a mistake. The climax is not the breaking-off of a marriage, and it doesn't end tragically, complete with a weeping heroine. Adults may especially appreciate Anne's predicament, and the chance she (along with the reader) gets to change her mind about her youthful decisions. 
• The subplots are as intriguing as Anne's own story, without taking away from it. Her self-centered sister Elizabeth and Elizabeth's companion add lightheartedness and scandal to the heart-searching novel, and Anne's sister-in-law enjoys a flirtation with Captain Wentworth that proves disastrous. 
• Jane Austen adeptly includes letters from Anne's friends and family, enriching the story instead of muddling or drawing it out as so many other authors do.

You might also like: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte; the Jane Austen Handbook, by Margaret C. Sullivan; and other books by Jane Austen.

All links lead to Goodreads unless otherwise noted. 

See you on Friday, when I'll be reviewing The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen.

Happy reading; see you then!

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines Book Reviews

Hello everyone!






This Friday I'll be reviewing Persuasion, by Jane Austen.


(This is my edition, it contains Persuasion as well as Northanger Abbey-also an excellent book!)








Next week, December 9th, you'll finally get to read about The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen.




See you Friday, and happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines book review

Hello, loyal readers! I hope you enjoyed last Friday's review of the Birchbark House....

This Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I'll be reviewing The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen.

Update: The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen will be reviewed next Friday, December 2nd. This week's review will feature Bella at Midnight, by Diane Stanley. The book is guaranteed vampire free!

Leave a comment on my blog and tell me what books and authors you're thankful for, and which ones you'd like to see reviewed here!

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Until Friday!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: The Birchbark House

Friday Spines Book Review Number 7:

The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich

I don't remember not having read this book. According to my parents I read it when I was seven or eight (or rather, they read it to me), but I can't recall reading it for the first time, or before I knew the story of The Birchbark House.

The book follows a young Ojibwa girl named Omakayas (Oh-MAH-kay-ahs), who lives with her family and tribe on the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker, which is is present-day Wisconsin. Omakayas is seven winters old at the beginning of the book, and we follow her and her tribe over the course of one year.

The author's wry humor and vivid imagery is not obvious, but slipped in with such subtlety that you won't notice anything but how engaging the book is. 

The Birchbark House is not for readers who prefer suspenseful books: The story is taken at a pace leisurely enough to enjoy and relax into, becoming friends with the characters and their home through the book. The plot is not page-turning because of a frantic "What will happen next?" but rather a genuinely interested one. It's a story that will quietly absorb you, making you forget that you're not watching berries dry with Omakayas's brother Little Pinch, or helping to build the family's summer home out of birchbark. 

While a major part of the story is centered around the smallpox epidemic that kills many of Omakayas's friends and family, The Birchbark House is a quiet book that I'd recommend for ages 7 and up. Readers may have trouble with the pronunciation of the Ojibwa words, so it's good to use as a read-aloud book. 

Things I like about this book:

• There are four parts to the book, dedicated to the four seasons: Neebin (summer), Dagwaging (fall), Biboon (winter), and Zeegwun (spring). The feeling of the story is circular, and the nature-oriented details add to this sensation.
• The black-and-white pencil illustrations in my edition match the author's descriptions of characters and places perfectly.
• There are several Ojibwa stories told in the characters' voices: While they're not essential to the plot and may not interest impatient readers, they give insight into the deeply spiritual culture of Omakayas and her family.
• The casual dialogue: The characters' speech reads naturally, and matches their individual personalities. There are many Ojibwa words unfamiliar to most readers, but they can be understood through context (or the included glossary, if you're willing to interrupt the superb story).

There are two sequels to date, The Game of Silence and The Porcupine Year. Both are as excellent as the first book, though slightly darker, as Omakayas's tribe is forced off their ancient lands by the chimookoman, or white people. Recommended for ages 10 and up.


You might also like: All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor; the Little House books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder; and The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

Thanks for reading...Check back on Monday for the next Friday Spines book, and this Friday for the review. Don't forget to share this link on Facebook, Twitter, or another website that takes over your book-reading time--there's several handy buttons to the right. 

Note: All links lead to Goodreads.

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines Book Review

Hi everyone!

This Friday I'll be reviewing The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich. There are two sequels, The Game of Silence and The Porcupine Year--the first sequel is excellent, and I'm reading the second right now! 

Happy reading... see you Friday!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: Revolution

Friday Spines Book Review Number 6:

Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelly

I started reading this book the day after Christmas and finished it the day after Christmas. 

First let me say that I loved it! Having established that, moving on to a few of the things I didn't like: The narrative is split between Andi, a teenage girl living in modern New York (although for most of the story she's in Paris), and Alexandrine, a young girl trying to survive during the French Revolution in Paris. I liked, but didn't love, the historical flashbacks--while they were well-designed and well blended into the modern part of the story, they just weren't as captivating as Andi's story. 

While I was reading it, the French Revolution parts seemed fairly realistic: The little bit of history I knew about that time period suggested no inconstancies, but after reading several online reviews which complain about various unfeasible aspects, I became slightly annoyed with the author. We read about Alexandrine's life through her diary, but someone pointed out that the amount of detail included in the diary is extremely unrealistic given the amount of paper available at the time--I agree with that, although I wouldn't have come up with it on my own. Other complaints included too quick of dénouement (I agree) and the absurdity of Andi's "unnecessary" flashback/journey to the 18th century (it was far-fetched, but it also made me feel more connected to the 18th century supporting characters).

The book opens with two lines that are profound, insouciant, and hint of a musical theme to come: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, deejay." Andi, the depressed, suicidal high-school protagonist, is our narrator. She tells us about her brother's death, her mother's deep depression, and her father's fumbling attempts to make the family whole again. After realizing Andi is failing all of her classes except music, her father forces her to accompany him to Paris, where's he's tracking the heart of Louis XVII of France, and Andi will complete her senior thesis before she's allowed to return home and see her mother (who's been checked into a mental hospital by her dad).

Once in Paris, Andi finds an ancient guitar case with a miniature portrait closely resembling her brother, and a small book: Alexandrine's diary. Andi reads the diary alongside us, as she sits in cafés and plays guitar under the Eiffel Tower. She feels it calling to her constantly, and some unlikely coincidences are "arranged" by Alex so Andi will have time to finish the diary. 

Andi, who's taking Quellify (an anti-depressent) throughout the book, is literally steps away from committing suicide several time through the story. Vijay, her best friend from school, is a method of comic relief for both Andi and the reader: He's willing, in a casual way, to do anything for his friend, and talks her out of suicide more than once.

Virgil, a friend of a street musician Andi meets near the Eiffel Tower one night, seems to be Andi's only reason to live for much of the later half of the book. Although she's only known him for a few days, they form an instant connection over music, and have long cell-phone conversations in the middle of the night. She is quickly in love with him, and much of the "opening" of her character is due to the dreamy French/Tunisian. 

The ending is rather abrupt, but being on the uncritical side, it didn't bother me too much. (No spoilers here, read with abandon!) It was realistic enough that I could accept it and go "Awww" but if you like your books real instead of unromantic, be prepared.

Also, unless you're a French culture buff, there are many references to French nuances that the average American reader, especially younger ones, won't understand. I found them mildly irritating but not plot-breaking.

One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Virgil and Andi go to Sacre-Coeur early in the morning and watch the sunrise-I recently went to France and joined the two characters to see the incredible view over early morning Paris.

There are adult themes (drinking, drugs, swearing, depression, and bad parenting) in this book, but it's not terribly inappropriate for readers under 12. However, the older you are, the more you'll identify with Andi's experiences. 

Other things I liked about this book:

• The cover. My edition (pictured above) was a perfect representation of the story, and I can't get enough of the picture.
• The musical theme: I'm a musician, and I love identifying with musical characters when I read. The lyrics--some from published songs and some written by the author for her characters--were a wonderful addition to the story.
• The size of the hardback edition was perfect-just tall enough so the number of pages wasn't overwhelming, but not gigantic. 
• The imagery, throughout the book, is very vivid and clings to the reader after finishing the book.

Other books you might enjoy: A Northern Light, also by Jennifer Donnelly; The Red Necklace, by Sally Gardner; and Prisoners in the Palace, by Michaela MacColl.

Note: all links lead to Goodreads.

Thanks for reading...Don't forget to check back on Monday for the announcement of the next Friday Spines review.

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines Book Review

Hi all!

The next Friday Spines book review will feature Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelly, an amazing historical fiction book and in my top 40 favorites.

Now get busy; there's just enough time to finish it before Friday.

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

More Books

Hi everyone! Yes, I know, it's Sunday, neither my Friday book review day nor my Monday next book announcement day (yes, I do have a pattern!). However, there's a reason I'm posting out of order: What books would you wonderful blog-reading book-lovers like to see? Many of my reviewed books are included in 500 Great Books for Teens (click here for Goodreads link), others are more recently published books or my personal favorites. But what would you like to read about? Comment on this post (or another one) or let me know in the Reviews box conveniently located on my left sidebar (unless you're on a phone. In that case, you'll simply have to comment. Ah, the downside of a smartphone).

Happy reading, and hope to hear from my lovely readers!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: The Heroine's Bookshelf

Friday Spines Book Review Number 5:

The Heroine's Bookshelf, by Erin Blakemore

This is a Book About Books-one of my favorite genres, after historical and YA fiction. The author picks twelve books with strong female main characters, giving a concise chapter title to each:

• Self: Lizzy Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
• Faith: Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
• Happiness: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• Dignity: Celie in The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
• Family Ties: Francie Nolan in  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
• Indulgence: Claudine in Colette's Claudine novels
• Fight: Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
• Compassion: Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
• Simplicity: Laura Ingalls in The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Steadfastness: Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
• Ambition: Jo March in Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
• Magic: Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

(I've read nine of the twelve to date; Their Eyes Were Watching God, the Claudine novels, and Gone With the Wind are still on my to-read list.)

For a good Book About Books, you need either good writing or a person with good taste in books (or both). The Heroine's Bookshelf has excellent writing and lots of it, while not going into extensive summaries or quoting the books too much. The author also picked steadfast books: All are classics, and while some might wish for a heroine in a modern setting, I enjoy classic books and think the twelve heroines are a perfect selection for a book of "life lessons", as the The Heroine's Bookshelf is subtitled. 

Other things I like about this book:

• The mix of plot summary and personal experience. The author combines the two perfectly, making it a Book About Books with the tiniest touch of universal memoir.
• The "Literary Sisters" feature: Instead of a "Similar Books" section, the author includes "Literary Sisters" at the end of each chapter. 
• The small size, perfect to carry in a purse or backpack. Reading about your favorite book is the next best thing to immersing yourself in the real thing.
• The small author biographies deftly incorporated into the review.
• "Read This Book:" Near "Literary Sisters", Erin Blakemore has included witty suggestions of when this book might be most needed. Anne of Green Gables should be read "When someone repeatedly misspells your name or implies that they'd rather interact with a man" or "When life gives you wrinkled yoga pants instead of puffed sleeves". 

You might also like: 500 Great Books for Teens.

Note: All links lead to Goodreads.com except for links for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and 500 Great Books for Teens, which lead to the books' reviews on this site. Click here for the Goodreads page for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. Click here for the Goodreads page for 500 Great Books for Teens.

Thanks for reading...Watch for the next book, announced on Mondays!

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Next Friday Spines book

Hi everyone! I've just decided on the next Friday Spines book review, which will cover The Heroine's Bookshelf, by Erin Blakemore. It's a nonfiction book about books, featuring twelve books and their heroines, including Laura Ingalls, Francie Nolan, and Elizabeth Bennet.

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Book Review: The Wind Boy

Friday Spines Book Review Number Four: 

The Wind Boy, by Ethel Cook Eliot

This was one of my childhood books. My mom read it to me, and we also had a cassette tape that I'd listen to over and over again, under blankets on the couch on rainy days. I wanted to curl up inside the book, imagining myself playing with Kay and Gentian, the nine- and eight-year old protagonists. I'd re-read the book when I was older, nine or ten, finishing the whole book in an afternoon and carrying the story in the front of my mind for days. Reading it again at a high-school-age, I love The Wind Boy as much as I did then. 

The story focuses on Gentian and Kay, two refugee children, and their family. Their mother Detra has a day job in a factory, but by night she becomes an artist as skilled as the "Great Artist" living next door. Detra is sculpting a young boy with wings, a Wind Boy, but his expression is always a little too sad. Her family is also suffering: Kay and Gentian's father is absent from most of the story, Detra is struggling to support herself and her children on factory wages, and Kay and Gentian are having difficulty settling into their new home. 


It all becomes less worrying when Nan, a young girl from the mountains, arrives to answer Detra's advertisement for "a girl for general housework". Nan is quite simple, but has an air of serene clarity about her that distinguishes her from others in the small village. She relieves Detra of household duties, but also brings the children into a magical place called the Clear Land, which partially mirrors the real world. The Clear Land is a place where one can be "deep-still", where everyone is kind, and where the air can literally be climbed--if one's mind is clear enough. Kay and Gentian buy sandals from a man in the Clear Land, who measures them by looking into their eyes and finds that their minds are quite clear. 


The children also discover a Wind Boy in the shoe store: He is a living boy identical to their mother's small statue, blonde-haired with purple wings and eyes "somehow...touched with sadness". The Wind Boy is quickly best of friends with the children, but he cannot play with them in the Clear Land. He tells them that, for fun, he made a mask out of leaves and grass. A small boy saw him in it and was frightened, and the Wind Boy threw the mask away in remorse. Someone has picked it up, though, and is wearing it to scare other village children. The Wind Boy cannot play in the Clear Land until the mask is destroyed, and so he and Gentian and Kay watch for the "Masker" every night, hoping to catch it.


The Wind Boy is a mild, lovely story appropriate for the average seven-year-old and more mature younger readers. It can offer older teens and adults a thoughtful window back into childhood, and though it was first published in 1923, is still relevant to questions of innocence and reality. Eliot's writing is simple but beautiful, containing effortlessly vivid imagery and completely natural dialogue. The plot, while not suspenseful or thrilling, is engaging, and will gently draw the reader back and back again. 


Other things I like about this book:

• The illustrations. In the 1996 paperback edition, there are beautiful pen-and-ink drawings that perfectly capture the author's depiction of the characters.
• How the Clear Land is similar to, but purer than, reality. There is a school, a Great Artist, and a Wind Boy, but they are all brighter and kinder than in "real" life.
• Nan's nightgown: A feather-light dress covered with stars that seems to be made out of night sky. In it, the wearer can travel the universe while sleeping.
• The audio cassette (click here for CD version), read by Lorrie Holt, is quaint and soft, matching the tone of the writing.

You might also like: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Heidi by Joanna Spryi, and the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

Note: All links lead to Goodreads.

Thanks for reading...See you next week!

Happy reading!

M. Gabrielle

Home again

Hey everyone! I got back from France late Friday night, completely jet-lagged and full of croissants. :) I'll be posting as usual this coming Friday, and this week the review will be... The Wind Boy, by Ethel Cook Eliot. Hope to see you then....

Happy reading!

Book Review: The Wee Free Men (and sequels)

Friday Spines Book Review Number Three:

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

This book is not a summer book (slightly trashy fast-paced fiction to read by the pool) or a winter book (perfect for a rainy day-long and slow with lots of details) but an all-year-round book. The 30th book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and first Tiffany Aching novel, The Wee Free Men features a nine-year-old farm girl named Tiffany who is good with cheese. Tiffany, however, is not demure or meek in any way-she spots a giant monster in the river near her house one day, and instead of running away, she goes back home to fetch a frying pan. She then lures the monster out of the water using her little brother as bait and "clangs" the monster on the head with the pan. A witch named Miss Tick, who has been watching Tiffany and her frying pan through the first few chapters, informs us that another world is colliding with Tiffany's, and Miss Tick leaves to fetch help. She leaves her talking toad behind to watch over Tiffany, who refuses to be watched over: The toad soon tells her all about the colliding of the worlds, and introduces her to the mysterious red-headed creatures who've been popping up all over Tiffany's path in the past few weeks. The Nac Mac Feegle, or Wee Free Men, are 6-inch-tall, blue-skinned, kilt-wearing warriors. They were kicked out of fairyland for being disruptive and drunk, and are now wreaking unrestrained (though curiously moral) havoc on the rest of the world. Or worlds, as we soon find out.

After the Queen of Fairies (who personally ejected the Wee Free Men from her kingdom) kidnaps Tiffany's brother, the small but determined girl marches into Fairyland frying pan first, accompanied by the toad, her mother's trusty book Diseases of the Sheep, and large group of Feegles.

Along with the Wee Free Men comes "drinking, fighting, and stealing". There's a bit of swearing, but as it's all in either Toad ("croap") or a vaguely Scottish dialect ("crivens!"), you needn't worry about younger readers. Although the Feegles do steal anything and everything in sight, they're good-hearted and never steal from anyone in need. It appears that all Feegles are alcoholic, yet this fact is treated with indifference by Tiffany and the third-person narration: Drinking is not encouraged, but neither is it portrayed in a negative light. However, most readers that would enjoy the book are old enough to make their own judgements concerning the alcohol level of the little blue men. Terry Pratchett's writing is highly entertaining for all readers, and the older you are the more you'll laugh.

Other things I liked about this book:

• The asterisks. At the end of the page you'll often find a * accompanied by a hilarious notation or fictional anecdote.
• The frequent sarcasm-I'm a very sarcastic person myself, and Terry Pratchett uses it frequently but not enough to wear it out. 
• The sequels! A Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith, telling of an eleven- and thirteen-year-old Tiffany's adventures, are every bit as witty and captivating as the last. I just discovered a third sequel, I Shall Wear Midnight (released in 2010), and am planning on reading it on Tuesday. (Yes, the whole thing.)
• Stephen Brigg's narration of the book is even more hilarious than the print version: although the Feegles' speech is a little hard to understand at first, you'll grow to love the Scottish-accented sound of frying pan hitting everything in sight.
• Although the book has a female protagonist, there are many strong characters of both sexes (and weaker ones as well). Humanity is humorously and accurately portrayed by the author.

Other books you might like: A Hat Full of Sky (and other sequels), Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce, Holes by Louis Sachar.

In other news, Friday Spines will be suspended until October 27th, due to a trip to Paris! In the meantime, check out my other favorite books on the sidebar over there, and stop by the Goodreads website-it's fantastic for all book-lovers, -likers, or once-in-a-while readers.

Book Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Friday Spines Book Review Number Two:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

I read this book when I was about 11. I was quite a prodigious reader for my age, but I doubt that I'd have stuck with it all the way through if I'd been reading. However, my mom purchased the audiobook, narrated by Anna Fields, and we listened to it in the car: This is perfect if you drive for more than 30 minutes at a time, and at least two or three times a week. It's best taken in large doses, to noticed the understated humor and pre-referencing, but the author includes just enough condensed summary to keep her inconsistent readers up-to-date.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn needs a patient and sensitive reader. It begins in 1902 and follows Francie, or Mary Frances Nolan, through the slums of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The book is narrated in third person, but we get frequent peeks into the minds of Katie and Johnny (Francie's parents) her brother Neeley, and the people they encounter. It could be described as a coming-of-age story, but that phrase is overused: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn doesn't just illustrate Francie's coming-of-age, but also her mother's childhood, her childhood, her brother's birth (and how Katie admits to the reader how much more she loves her son), her first kiss, and her father's death. Betty Smith tells of Francie's world with sincerity, clarity, and objectivity, without any wavering at her protagonists's tears or broken dreams.

In one of the most poignant and subtle metaphors I've seen, the author suggests a parallel between Francie and the irrepressible tree that sprouts up in all Brooklyn tenements: The Tree of Heaven. Without saying, "Francie was like a tree: small, delicate, but unbreakable," or even "Francie was a tree," Betty Smith opens the book with a description of the Tree of Heaven, slipping in images of the tree's growth over the years. Each time the Nolans move to a new home, the tree is included in its meticulous (but never tedious) description. In one tenement, the tree grows up and overshadows the Nolans' balcony, providing book-devouring Francie with a private, shady retreat where she can read, savor precious peppermint candy, and spin lives for the people passing below. She often watches from her balustrade as older neighbor girls preparing for their dates, taking incredible delight in watching their intimate ritual. The story closes as Francie prepares for her own date, looks out the window and sees her young neighbor seated on a balcony opposite the Nolans' own, with a book in her lap and a bag of candy by her side, watching Francie in the dim light.

Although A Tree Grows in Brooklyn contains some material unsuited for the squeamish younger reader (i.e., Francie encounters a sex predator who is then shot by Katie), the un-flinchingly honest narrative and Francie's reaction to the events subdues the more mature aspects of the book. I'd recommend it for ages 12 and up, although the audiobook will hook younger readers who are ready for the content but not the physical aspect of this book.


Other things I like about this book:

• The pace is slow enough to be relaxing, but quick enough to be mesmerizingly engaging. 
• The characters are realistic and easy to identify with, and the author gives us a thorough view of their thoughts-not just the "correct" ones.
• Even if you read the book ten times (I have), it's long and detailed enough that more insights can always be gained from it.
• It's a semi-autobiographical novel: The author lived her story, in a way, so the setting and characters seem all the more vivid.

Other books you might like: Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, and, for younger readers, All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor.

Coming up next: The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett. It's hilarious--start reading now!

Book Review: 500 Great Books For Teens

Friday Spines Book Review Number One (drumroll please): 

500 Great Books For Teens, by Anita Silvey

This is an excellent resource for teens as well as parents. It's concise, articulate, and has convinced me to read nearly every book included. Pros and cons of books for the young and adult reader are included, brief summaries give an idea of the plot, and the otherwise-overwhelming 500 is organized neatly and nearly always accurately into genres, then by time frame (classic or contemporary) and lastly by author's last name. Sequels and prequels to listed books are included, as well as the occasional "similar titles" for the avid reader. 

A few books are, in my opinion, misplaced in their genre (Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen, is placed in "Romance" instead of my choice of "Realistic Fiction", for example); however, the author created wonderful categories and, for the most part, sorted them accurately. Another downside to this book is the date: it was published several years ago, in 2006, and leaves out more recent additions to series such as "The City of Ember", by Jeanne DuPrau. The author has written inconsistent plot summaries: sometimes she reveals the ending, at other times she leaves the climax out of the summary. This is somewhat irritating: I don't know whether to read the whole summary, or tread lightly--I don't like to hear the ending of a book from someone else.

Other things I like about the book: 

• Perfectly sized text: Not too big, not too small. 
• The format. Author's name, title, age recommendation (either 12-14, 14-18, or 12-18), copyright date, publisher, select awards the book has gotten, and number of pages are included in a layout easy to read and refer back to. 
• The appendixes. "Beyond the 500: Additional Titles of Interest" includes many pages of wonderful books (titles and authors only), organized in the same genres as the rest of the book. There's "Books by Geographic Location" and "Books by Historical Time Line" (not including any of the "Beyond the 500" titles). Also included is a list of recommended audio versions of the books included. 
• Nice big margins for your enthusiastic scribbles and sticky-notes.
• You don't have to read it front-to-back: I often pick it up, read a few entries, and put it down again (rather reluctantly, it's true). 

I'd definitely recommend it to all readers teenage and older.



Other books Anita Silvey has written: 100 Best Books for Children; I'll Pass For Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War; Henry Knox. See more. 
Click here for the author's website.


You might also like: Book Crush, The Book Whisperer, The Big Book of Teen Reading Lists, and The Heroine's Bookshelf.




Coming up next: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith.

(Note: All links lead to Goodreads information.)

Thanks for reading!
M. Gabrielle