TRUELUCK SUMMER by Susan Gabriel

TRUELOCK SUMMER   by Susan Gabriel

A white girl, a black boy and a grandmother combine to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse in 1964.  Well described characters, a haunting sense of time and place, and a writer able to convey a sense of humor make this coming of age novel a joy to read for both adults and middle to upper graders. The nuances of a bi-racial friendship are fully described as are the overt and concealed racist actions of the Southern adults.  The statehouse escapade is told in rich and believable detail. 

4 of 5 stars

THE GERMAN GIRL by Armando Lucas Correa

THE GERMAN GIRL  by Armando Lucas Correa

The  liner ST. LOUIS left Germany with 900 German Jews bound for Cuba in 1939. Most had left behind their fortune, their property and the heritage of many years. They carried with them signed documents allowing them to stay in Cuba until their visa numbers allowed them to move on to the US, Canada or Mexico.  The ship was not allowed to dock in Havana.

THE GERMAN GIRL follows Hannah, a young girl aboard the St. Louis, from her sheltered life in Germany until her death many years later.  Finely crafted characters people this tale of love and loss through the war, the Revolution in Cuba and the fall of the Twin Towers.  Hannah and her great niece, Anna, carry the plot to its not-quite-satisfying conclusion. Conclusion aside, this is a lovely book that sheds light on a mostly forgotten piece of World War II history and the perfidy of Cuba, the US president and the other leaders of “enlightened” nations.

Book groups will find much to discuss, especially with the anti-immigration mood of current politics.

4 of 5 stars

A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman

To say Ove was set in his ways would be a gross understatement. But Ove’s wife loved him and he loved her. Life was good until tragedy struck – twice. Now Ove is alone and wishes to kill himself, but life intervenes in the guise of neighbors, friends, enemies and Ove himself.

Strong characters, a sure sense of time and place and a plot that meanders to a well thought out conclusion combine to make a tale well worth reading.  Book groups will find plenty to talk about – lonely people, compromise of principle, suicide, anger, family, friendship, neighborliness, and Ove’s signature statement – “What is right is right” always – maybe.

5 of 5 stars

THE BEST GRAIN FREE FAMILY MEALS ON THE PLANET by Laura Fuentes

Good family recipes. Beautiful pictures on nearly every page that accurately reflect the recipe (at least as I made them). The ingredients are easy to find in a well-stocked supermarket. There is a good variety of simple and more complicated recipes. The recipes have good “kid appeal.”  Several good recipes for lunch bags for both kids and adults.

4 of 5 stars

Madam President by William Hazelgrove

MADAM PRESIDENT  by William Hazelgrove

I was disappointed.  I was looking forward to this book having recently read another book that referred to Mrs. Wilson’s acting in the President’s stead. 

The facts are all here but the writing is very pedestrian. It reads like a college student’s research paper. There is no attempt to construct a cohesive storyline.  The chapters jump from Ellen (first wife) to Edith (second wife), from before World War I to during the war and other chronological leaps with no linkage or connection to the preceding chapter. There are notations of the year under the chapter headings, but nonetheless, the jumps are disconcerting and unnecessary. 

The book does describe the machinations of Doctor Grayson to keep Edith as the President’s voice; the disconnect of Vice President Marshall who made it very clear he didn’t want the job of presiding over the country; and the frustration of the politicians who were quite deliberately keep from any contact with the ailing and incapacitated President.  As a result Wilson’s dream of a functioning League of Nations was lost.

Such a shame. This could have been a riveting and frighteningly true tale of politics, illness, laws, privacy, the League of Nations, ambition, wifely concern, the public’s right to know,  medical practice and chicanery. It wasn’t.

2 of 5 stars

THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND by Katrina Bivald

This book about books is also a romance, but not THAT kind of romance. A whole town conspires and the result is delightful. Many twists and turns, surprises and sorrows make this an entrancing read.

Well-developed characters (one unfortunately dead), a plot that can carry the many characters, a sense of place and time, a tempo just fast enough to keep the reader reading and a clear author’s voice (surprisingly true for a first time author) all combine for a pleasing book. Kudos also must be given to the translator.

Book groups will love this book.  Discussions can concern books, personalities, laws on immigration, marriage, relationships between friends, lovers and family members, translated books and many others.

5 of 5 stars

A CHAMELEON, A BOY AND A QUEST by J A Myhre

A CHAMELEON, A BOY AND A QUEST   by J A Myhre

This middle grade reader is also a great “read to me” for ages 6 and up.  A somewhat scary quest has our intrepid Boy (Mu) and his not-quite-a-pet Chameleon (Tita), searching for answers to why his relatives treat him so badly.  Along the way they meet many Middle African animals (some friendly, some not), delight in the flowers and plants, are captured by enemy soldiers and rescued by a mountain snow storm. Oh yes, and there is a dog met along the way that is vital to the quest.

Mu learns about friendship, sacrifice, loyalty, forgiveness and family as he completes his quest.

There are some (possibly boring and/or difficult to read for kids) sections where the author includes information about her experience as a medical missionary. These are easily skipped over without affecting the continuity or plot of this charming novel.   

Inquisitive kids will want to know more about the animals and plants Mu encounters. A trip to a zoo or natural history museum may be a good follow up.

4 ½ stars out of 5