The Letter for the King
Tonke Dragt and Laura Watkinson
Book
A young messenger. A secret mission. A kingdom in peril. It is the dead of night. Sixteen-year-old...
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Housekeeping: Faber Modern Classics in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Ruth, who is our main narrator, is speaking about her childhood in which her sister Lucille and her were continually abandoned by one family or another. Eventually they end up with their deeply eccentric aunt Sylvie, and she seems completely incapable in many ways of being a responsible parent, but rather a sister instead. She leads a transcient life, having deserted her husband, jumping on trains to get from place to place. She's a spirited wanderer, and sees Ruth as an ally and her own sister, Helen, who killed herself at the start of the book.
Their solitary life of never mixing, but staying in the great outdoors both seems idyllic and claustrophobic. There are images of the lake where the children's mother committed suicide, that seem to draw the women to this area. The metaphors are cold and quiet hence it feels unnerving.
It's a classic American tale about real women, which makes this different to the old books talking only about marriage and fidelity.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street in Books
Jun 14, 2018
The five Vanderbeeker children range from age 4-and-three-quarters to twelve; four girls and one boy. They also have a dog, a cat and a rabbit which all adds up to one bustling household. When they find out their lease will not be renewed for the new year, the kids all come up with their own ways to convince their landlord to let them stay.
Each of the kids are endearing in their own way, as are the the various neighbors who are such a big part of life as they know it. The Vanderbeekers face troubles, misunderstandings and heartaches, but in their lives there is also beauty, music, ingenuity, teamwork, and love.
I received this ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Juliane's Story - A Journey from Zimbabwe: A Real-Life Account of Her Journey from Zimbabwe
Book
This picture book tells the story of 12-year-old refugee Juliane. At the age of three Juliane was...
A Child of Books
Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
Book
A beautiful, poignant and timely manifesto for the myriad rewards of reading and sharing the...
People on Earth: Who We are and How We Live in Maps and Infographics
Book
This is not just another atlas! From the origins of the human species to how much time people around...
Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren and Lauren Child
Book
This beautiful edition of the children's classic Pippi Longstocking is illustrated throughout with...
Steve Backshall Annual 2018
Book
In this full colour, photographic, gift book fearless TV presenter, Steve Backshall, explores the...
Teaching Globally: Reading the World Through Literature
Kathy G. Short, Deanna Day and Jean Schroeder
Book
In today's globally connected world, it is essential for students to have an understanding of...
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Think Big (The Live Big Series #3) in Books
Jul 31, 2020
Children will love it. The big words around the page will have little one say them. I loved that it a fun way for some children to repeat them. The animals are relatable. I enjoyed the story. Each animal and living thing has to find their way to see how are the best that they can be.
Kat Kronenberg can does this though the animals need to learn to work together and help to survive. Will they do it. Will their hearts and minds connect and they Think Big to get what they need to grow and be the best they can be?
Parents and Grandparents will love reading this to their children and grandchildren. It makes me want to read and reread the book myself if I had children. It is adorable and cute. I hope to pick up the first to books of this series.