Review: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

5 stars for Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.

I know I have said it before in my review on Bridge to Terabithia but I like to say it again. Right after I read Where the Red Fern Grows, I find myself falling in love with children's literature all over again. Since then, I have been reading nothing but children's books and adding more to my Reading List every other day. My hope is to cover as many of these books as I can while the going is strong. That said, this is my eighth successive review on children's fiction.

Number the Stars is an excellent work of historical fiction. It has a honest, down-to-earth feel that slowly reaches out its hands and pulls me in. Never mind that there are no unexpected twists and turns, the heart-stopping moments scattered about the story are enough to give me pause and make me appreciate even more the country I am living in today and the peace that I have been enjoying to date.

Set in 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, the story tells of how 10-year old Annemarie Johansen learns to be brave, courageous and strong when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.

I am captivated by the way the author pens this story that feels more like reading a biography than fiction. With true events - World War II, German occupation of Denmark, German soldiers on every street corner in Copenhagen, "relocation" of the Jews by the Nazis, the Danish Resistance movements - weaved among a cast of fictional characters, the author explores what it means to live in a time of war and uncertainties, to be Danish people or Danish Jews, to have less knowledge but more bravery, and to be a part of something to work and fight for. What impresses me the most is that this historical fiction is so well integrated with true events that it is almost impossible to tell where fact ends and fiction begins. It is only from reading the afterword written by the author herself that I know for sure how much of Annemarie's story is true. And I will say it comes as quite a shocker.

The novel makes me think about cruelty and courage, and how people should be treated. Children such as Annemarie should not have been caught in frightening situations and forced to make decisions, on the spot. But things are different during wartime. So the young ones learn and they adapt, fast. They may even know more than they let on, especially the ones who pay quiet attention to the goings-on. Annemarie is one such girl. She sees and she listens and she understands. With her back straight, she faces the danger ahead on and stands up to the enemy.

The story in Number the Stars is but a part of the history of Denmark and its people that has much to teach us all; that for a short period of time, in a small place, a group of prejudice-free people honored the humanity of others. This book is a reminder to all of us that a world of human decency, possible once in the smallest of the Scandinavian countries, is possible indeed.

Review: Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

5 stars for Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.

Wolf Hollow is a story that has me on the edge of my seat right from the beginning. Hauntingly grabbing, once I start reading, I cannot stop thinking about it.

The story is set in a farm in Western Pennsylvania during the autumn of 1943. First person narrator Annabelle McBride, a 12-year old girl, describes the year she learns to lie in relation to two outlanders in her life - Betty Glengarry the bully and Toby the mysterious wanderer.

There are many things to like about this novel. I will share three that I like most here. First and foremost is the brilliangly crafted atmosphere of suspense that keeps me rooted to the story. To begin with, the protagonist's predicament is foreshadowed in the opening of the prologue and it helps inject dramatic tension to the story right from the start. To quote "The year I turned twelve, I learned how to lie" This short, simple sentence set the mood for the entire story ahead. Before I even proceed to chapter one, I already feel anxious and jittery. And I fear for the main character. Why did she lie? What did she lie about? With a harbinger of things to come, it is with some trepidation that I read on.

Before long, another sense of foreboding gives me pause. To quote "We would have been spared some trouble if we had not crossed paths that day. But it's important to look at how everything ended and not just what happened along the way." Now, now, trouble is brewing. That is for sure. The narratives, shrouded in suspense, makes unravelling the mystery even more pressing. By now, I am absolutely hooked to the story. And it is only chapter three. As I keep the pages turning, I find out that this is not the only indication of things to come. Through the rest of the story, I feel as if I have gone on a rollercoaster ride; tension builds up, eases off and then starts all over again. It makes the reading exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. But I definitely enjoy it.

What I like next is the complex moral theme of human kindness in the novel. It shows us that the world the protagonist lives in is a place where doing the right thing - showing compassion to someone who is different in the eyes of people in general - is often hard, sometimes dangerous, and many a time even unpopular. This kindness, delicately expressed in the story, is what makes it so beautiful and tender, yet sad beyond words. Other themes in the story include country life, family, friendship, courage, honesty, respect, trust and belief.

Last but not least, I like the people in the book. It is difficult not to fall in love with the characters as they come alive and leap out of the pages. I am not saying that I like all the characters in the story. In fact, I can hardly remember the last time - I think it is After You which I read like five years ago - I dislike a character that much in a book. And to think of it, it is not just one but two characters that get on my nerves this time round; a teenage girl and another much older woman. But other than these two, the rest of the characters are charming and versatile.

I like Annabelle's parents. They are not only righteous at heart but in action too. And actions speak louder than words. I like Annabelle's two younger brothers. Though they are side characters, their part in the story is by no means negligible. These two little boys help add much mischief to an otherwise quiet family. I like Toby the drifter or the wanderer or whatever you call it. Even though the story is narrated by Annabelle, in my heart, Toby is one lead character too. Then there is Annabelle. What's not to like about her? She is the main character who keeps the story going after all. She is sensible, sensitive and smart, and not to mention, a great help at home to her mother. And because of the stark contrast between Annabelle and the aforementioned incorrigible teenage girl, Annabelle comes off as an angel even when she tells a fib. I like how she becomes friends with someone who is four times her age in the most unusual of circumstances. Then, there are the other supporting characters who play their roles well, and without which, the story cannot flow smoothly. All in all, I will say the characters are all excellently portrayed, and yes, even the nasty ones, especially the nasty ones.

Wolf Hollow is a beautifully written novel, one that is sure to touch the heart and soul of whoever reads the book. Though a children's literature, it is suitable for readers of all ages as the moral principles behind the story know no bounds. This is one more story that stays with me long after I have closed the book.

Review: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

4 stars for Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

This easy read book is a welcome change from my previous book, Walk Two Moons. But wait... what's with all the mamas leaving their daughters behind? This is the third book running where I see a daughter living with the papa because the mama has left the family. It seems that authors of children's literature enjoy spinning a yarn where the mama goes away. Is it because the empty space left behind by a mother can better awaken poignant memories of happier days? Or because a mother plays a more nostalgic role (than say a father) when she is in the story but her physical presence is not? I believe it never is an easy choice for any mama to make. But still, a story is a story. And a mama who is in the story but not in the story makes a moving tale.

This is a story about friendship. It opens on a lonely 10-year old girl named Opal who chances upon a stray dog and takes him home. Through her friendship with the dog, Opal gets to meet more people and make more friends. The dog also gives her the courage to ask her father about her mother and let her feel like she knows her mum some. Because of Winn-Dixie the dog, good things happened to Opal that summer. She finds herself surrounded by friends and is lonely no more.

Besides friendship, the novel also centers around the themes of loneliness and sadness. Most of the characters in the book experience some kind of loneliness and sadness. We see a parallel drawn between a child (Opal) and two elderly women (Miss Franny and Gloria) to show that there can be much in common between people who are very different in age. One is young, the other two elderly and silver-haired, yet all of them are lonely and sad at times, for different reasons.

It is also interesting to see how the author brings the feeling of loneliness and sadness out of her characters through a mere candy - the Littmus Lozenge. This one of a kind hard candy becomes an important symbol in the story. It tastes sweet and sad at the same time and only peope who have their share of sadness can taste it fully. It does make me want to try this Littmus Lozenge, only that it is not real. Ha, I did my research, it is purely fictional, there is no such candy. Unfortunately. Oh well.

Overall, this short inspiring story projects a nice warm feeling. Though short on words, it is not short on lessons. What Opal learns from her friend-making adventures can help to serve young readers well. These include learning from our mistakes and trying to do better, seeing beyond what we can see on the surface of things and not judging other people from their past as people can and do change.

Review: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

5 stars for Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.

I found this gem of a book some time last year, on the shelf outside the library where people are encouraged to leave books they no longer want to keep. I did not know author Sharon Creech at that point in time having never crossed path with any of her books before and thus, have no idea what kind of books she writes. I also did not know it then that the story bound within the pages of that yellowed paperback is going to have such a profound effect on my being. What I did know is that the book calls out to me, telling me to bring it home. And that is exactly what I did that day. Back home, I placed the book on my bookshelf and proceed to forget all about it. It is only in recent weeks when I sought recommendations on children's fiction from this FB group "What Should I Read Next" that I am once again reminded of this book. A handful of the members highly recommended Walk Two Moons and I get a vague impression of seeing the title somewhere before. Then it clicked. I have this book with me all along! And lucky me didn't know how lucky I am.

Walk Two Moons is about 13-year old Salamanca Tree Hiddle aka Sal who goes on a road trip with her eccentric grandparents to retrace her mother's route after her mother leaves home suddenly. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend, Phoebe, a girl of powerful imaginations with tales of lunatics and axe murderers, whose mother has also left. Though Sal's story is interesting and even amusing at times, beneath her narrative is the deeper story of her own mother.

I am not sure why this book is labelled as children's fiction. Perhaps it is because the protagonist is thirteen years old and that it is very much a family story. But other than that, the themes involved are deep and I doubt most children will appreciate spending their time to read a heavy story even if they are capable of understanding the subject matter. The themes in the story include dealing with grief and loss, guilt and self-blame, cultural identity, development of new relationships, courage in the face of adversity, women's roles as mothers and wives, love, the search for meaning, the purpose of life and the importance of self-worth. Though a story of many themes, the focus of the novel's plot is actually that of putting yourself in other people's position to better understand that person. To quote "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

I have read quite a number of children's literature lately and most are well written. But this novel stands out among the rest. What makes it shine is the author's use of a story within a story and the use of foreshadowing. When combined, it makes for a richly layered story that toggles between the past and the present that flows seamlessly. A story within a story helps convey a deeper meaning in the life of the characters. Even though it is the story of a single life (Sal's), it also manages to tell the story of many (Phoebe's, the Finney's, Margaret's, Sal's grandparents'). There are many layers of understanding spread throughout the novel and the use of a story within a story helps to reveal them. For example, Phoebe's story helps reveal Sal's life and the pain she is trying to overcome. The Finney family's easy charm constrasts sharply with the rigidness of Phoebe's to reveal the flaws of their so-called perfect life. On foreshadowing, the author uses it to help build tension and excitement to good effect. To quote Sal ""We had absolutely no idea all the trouble they were going to cause" and "Later I would realize that I had prayed for the wrong things." Due to such forewarning, I cannot help but feel a sense of unease as I read on. I want to know what is going to happen next yet I am afraid to find out.

What I like about this novel is that it so accurately expresses the emotions of loss. The characters in the book all experience loss to some degree and we see how they deal with it in their own ways. Some choose denial, some bravely face up to what has happened while some choose to protect. No matter the methods, it is heartbreakingly sad and it reminds us, at the same time, to appreciate our family and not to take things for granted, to open our eyes and not be blind to things we choose not to see. To quote Sal "I wondered why it was so easy for me to see that Phoebe's mother was worried and miserable, but Phoebe couldn't see it - or if she could, she was ignoring it. Maybe she didn't want to notice." To quote Phoebe "Don't you think it's odd that Mrs Partridge, who is blind, could see something about me - but I, who can see, was blind about her?"

Another thing that makes this story one of a kind is the use of quotes and poem to send its message across. These quotes, meaningful and thought-provoking, appear mysteriously but fit in perfectly well with the story at various stages. They guide us to look inward about our own motives. Often, people are too quick to pass judgement and too slow to self reflect. Each of us have our own agenda and cannot see past our own emotions and tend to overlook the feelings of people close to us. We know not the worth of something until we have lost it. In the course of a lifetime, what are the events that will matter? The same thing, say a poem, can garner different reactions from different people depending on the circumstances of their lives at that moment. Talking about poem, "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which the author chooses to make reference to cannot be more apt for her story. This dark poem reveals the sad reality of life on Earth, that human life is temporary and the cycles of the natural world will continue to the end of time.

A girl who hopes for things to be back the same it used to be, with her mother and father in their family house in the countryside, with their barn and the river and the swimming hole, with the hills and the trees and the fields, near the cows and the chickens and the pigs. A girl can surely hope but what she gains in the end is far greater - a trip down memory lane, the chance to witness a love that endures and the chance to walk in someone's moccasins. This is a story that lingers on and continues to occupy my thoughts long after I have finished reading.

In the grand scheme of things, what really matters to us?

Review: Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

5 stars for Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin.

In my quest for more children's fiction, I realise that I have overlooked this lone book which has been sitting quietly in a corner on my bookshelf. I bought this book some years back for my girl who chose it out of many others in the bookstore. For some reason or other, she did not finish reading the book. For now, I shall do the honors of reading it to the end.

Rain Reign is a story on 11-year old Rose Howard who is diagnosed with high functioning autism (some called it Asperger Syndrome) and is unusually preoccupied with homonyms. Embarrassed to say, I have no idea what a homonym, or to be accurate, a homophone, is before I read this book. In case you are like me, let me explain. Homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but spelled differently. A good example is Rose's homophone name is Rows. Another example is Rose's dog; she calls it Rain. Rain has two homonyms - rein and reign. Does the book title make sense now?

Rain Reign is a uncomplicated story with not many characters, mainly Rose and her dog, Rain, her father, her uncle Weldon (father's younger brother) and some school people. Yet as straightforward as it is, the story tugs at my heartstrings. Because the writer let me experience the world through the eyes of young Rose who has a lifelong disability; a condition that affects how she processes information, relates to other people and makes sense of everything. And because this disability is mostly a 'hidden disability', in the sense people cannot tell from Rose's outward appearance that she has this condition - difficulties in social communication, interaction and imagination - she is often misunderstood by others.

While it is one thing to see how Rose is misunderstood by others, it is another to see how she is treated by her own father. Here, the author does an excellent job with Rose's father, what with the way he conduct himself, the manner in which he responds to his daughter's questions and his acceptance of her behavior. We, as readers, may not quite agree with the father's way, but his attitude to Rose is not without cause. It is challenging living with and taking care of a special needs child, day in day out. What I like is that the author makes him try. We do not know the father's full story but the thing is, he tries to do right by his daughter, even if somehow, he is not there.

I enjoy listening to Rose's voice and I appreciate seeing the world the way she sees it. I may have no idea how it is like in reality, but in this story, Rose is one brave - and stubborn - girl who believes in rules, and that rules are rules and must be followed, even when following said rules will lead to heartache, even when doing the right thing means breaking her heart. It certainly breaks my heart reading the last part of the story.

Now that I have finished reading the book, I hope this copy of Rain Reign will be put to good use again by someone in the family some day.

Review: Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

4 stars for Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan.

To tell the truth, at first glance I am somewhat intimidated by the size and thickness of this hardback. I am not confident if I will like Short - which is not so short a story after all given the 296 pages - enough to persevere to the end once I start reading. The reader in me urges me on, chiding me silently that this is not the first time, nor will it be my last, to come across such obstacle and I can surely do better than shun a book because of its sheer volume. And oh, I should mention this. My girl borrowed the book, for me. She read it some time back and now she says is my turn. This is how I come about contemplating a book with the title that is not tall, not long, not fat, but short.

One chapter later, I start to have doubts again on whether if I have made the right choice. I do not know what to make of the story. It does not help that I am kind of confused over the status of a dog called Ramon. Is it alive? Or is it history? I am not sure if I like what I am reading. With the exception of a young girl who is short for her age, and thus the book title, the story seems to be everywhere but nowhere. In short, I cannot tell what the novel is trying to say. I dread to think how many more pages I have to cover, but knowing it is still too early in the novel to decide its reading fate, I read on, albeit half-heartedly. Thankfully, it does get better. Slowly but surely.

As I read on, I come to realise there is actually a theme. It is the theme of grief but one with a light touch. Thank you. The narrator, Julia, is trying to find happiness after the death of her pet dog. She wants to be happy again but has no idea how to fill up the empty space left by her dog. As it is, life has its way of moving one on. First she is cast as a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz musical for Summer Theatre. Then she learns to sing and dance. One thing leads to another, and soon, Julia finds herself involved in projects which she looks foward to being part of. By the end of the Summer, short Julia finds that she has grown, not taller but wiser. To quote "I grew this summer. Not on the outside, but on the inside. And that’s the only place where growing really matters."

I am glad I did not give up on this book despite my not-so-good start. Though titled Short, it is anything but short; it is long on humor, on insight and on role models. It is a positive story, one highly recommended for children aged 8 to 13 years. Though there is grief and sadness, it is kept to a minimum. What shines through instead is the heartwarming and joyous character of Julia, the narrator, who goes about on her journey to self-discovery. She learns to take criticism, setbacks and mistakes in her stride. Through it all, she gains confidence and finds self-acceptance. Well, it is not just Julia who discovers something. In the middle of her story, I discover something else too. It is the author, she sure can write as if she is a middle school kid; the thought processes are uninhibited and she writes with a childlike directness that comes away feeling natural. If I am still in middle school, I sure will have enjoyed the story a whole lot more.

With my reading done, it now makes two of us in the family to have conquered this monstrosity of a book. High five!

Review: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

2 stars for Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

I have long heard of this book and how well-liked it is, so I thought to give it a go after reading Where the Red Fern Grows which makes me keen on children's fiction all over again. In the end, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I will.

This book was written by the author for her son after his best friend was struck and killed by lightning. As with real life, the story of Bridge to Terabithia deals with realistic themes such as friendship, loneliness, insecurity, courage and death. It tells of two lonely children who become the best of friends in the most unusual of circumstances and how they create their own land of make believe - Terabithia, the secret magical forest kingdom - to escape into.

This novel reminds me of how good it is to be young again, to have a trusted confidant with whom to share the fantasy and excitement of a magical land of make believe. The story in itself is fine. The themes it covers are very much real-life and are situations where children have to learn to grapple with. The only issue is I do not like the way some characters in the book are brought to life. I understand that the author needs to bring out the lonely feeling of the protagonist, Jesse Aarons, by painting a grim family life, but I think she overplays it by portraying his family members as uncaring and disagreeable. The mother strikes me as a difficult and profoundly unhappy person, the father while not as demanding is often not around when the son needs him, the two older sisters are exceptionally unpleasant and come across as ungrateful wretches and the two younger sisters are, well, too young - what kind of excuse is that? - to be sensible enough. Very often, how the parents and other family members are depicted in a story reflect the value system of that family unit. For a children's book, the lack of family cohesiveness is already a negative, yet I see more hostility with use of bad language, one example is "shut your mouth". For a children's fiction, one "shut your mouth" is one too many, and here I see it more than once, definitely too many for my liking.

At the end of the day, I find myself torn between giving this book a thumbs-up (3 stars) or down (2 stars). I do like the book given the theme but when I take into consideration this being a children's literature which in reality is more suited for adults, and not one I will like young children to read, I know where my answer lies.

Review: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

5 stars for Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.

This is a story about one boy and his two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs.

Though a children's fiction, once I start reading, I find myself totally absorbed in the plot of this boy and his desire to have dogs he can call his own. My initial misgivings about this being a children's literature dissipate. All I see in front of me is a heartwarming story with good sense, good humor, good plot and good writing. The entire setup appeals to the inner child in me.

It is impressive how the author converts the story idea of a boy and two dogs into a full-fledged novel. As simple as it sounds, the book is in fact a riveting account of their ringtail coon hunting adventures, full of ups and downs, and twists and turns. I can never predict what is going to happen in the next story scene. There is grit, courage, determination, perseverance, passion, will power and the spirt of "do not ever start anything you cannot finish". If I didn't know better, I will have pegged the author as the owner of two coon hounds himself and that this story is based on his own experiences as a coon hunter.

I never expect myself to like this story so much to think that I actually have doubts about reading it in the first place. In the end, I laugh and cry alongside the boy and his two little hounds as they train and go about their adventures in search of the elusive raccoons. Besides laughter and tears, there is also no lack of tension and excitement. The author uses foreshadowing to create unease and help build a sense of foreboding. To quote "Because of my grandfather's bragging, and his firm belief in my dogs and me, a terrible thing happened." Due to such forewarning, I am so full of worries as I read on. I want to know what is going to happen next yet I am afraid to find out.

As I reach the end of the story and close the book, I feel as if a part of my heart is left inside the story with the boy's wonderful memories and the old Indian legend about the red fern. Such is the power of an author who knows the ways to capture the hearts of readers, children and adults alike, and in the case for author Rawls, with his exciting tale of this lovely threesome that make a fine hunting team.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a splendid novel suitable for readers of all ages. I cannot stress enough that age is no barrier to enjoying this story which is sure to warm the heart of whoever reads the book.

Review: My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

4 stars for My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout.

I see a pattern lately, I mean my reading pattern. First I revisit books that have been chucked under my list of Did Not Finish, now I am reading books that are grouped under my list of sunk cost, yes, books that I spent good money on. I know I have a problem, a happy one though, which is that I own dozens of books I have not read. These books of mine - most I bought from bookstores, some I received from friends and a few I took home from the bookshelf outside the library where people leave books they no longer want to keep - are my precious, my treasure trove of information. Well, I intend to read my books. Read them I shall. Some day. One day. All of them. It is just that I keep adding more books to my Reading List, and the books I want to read get reprioritised all the time.

I bought this book from a chain bookstore back in 2016. I bought it because it is written in first person and the blurb on the back of the book looks too good to be ignored. The book cover is simple and pleasing to the eye with one picture of a window frame within which are some buildings with small windows tinged with metallic blue. On flipping the cover, instead of a blank leaf, I am greeted with more pictures of similar looking high-rise buildings and more windows with tinges of metallic blue. It is then that I realise the rectangular window on the cover is actually a cutout through which I can see the specially printed leaf at the beginning of the book. What a simple yet lovely design!

My Name is Lucy Barton is a soulful tale of a story on family, loneliness, life's choices, regrets and yearnings. Though a family story, the novel's central theme is actually the complicated love between a mother and her daughter. It is gripping, intense and emotionally complex; one that reminds me of my own mother-daughter relationship.

It is remarkable that the author can grasp so well, the often unspoken intricacies of human relationships and put them down in words. I feel for Lucy Barton and I understand the way she identifies with her mother in the book. It is not unusual that Lucy has not the slightest inkling of the life lived by her mother that leads eventually to the way her mother treats her. How many of us actually make the effort to learn about the lives lived by our parents? This lack of understanding oftentimes leads to regrets when one looks back in life. The story ending is kind of sad to me too, but then again, I think that is only the author putting life the way it just is.

As I see it, this book will appeal most to female readers; not just any female readers but those who have been through some seasons in life. They will read and they will understand and they will appreciate My Name is Lucy Barton.