Searching for Yesterday- Valerie Sherrard
This is the third Shelby Belgarden mystery that I have read and I believe they are a refreshing addition to the mystery genre. So many of our teen books these days are dealing with harsh issues facing youth and are full of teenage angst. While I understand that there is a place for these stories as well, sometimes it’s just nice to sit down and read some lighter fare that does not demand as much of the reader emotionally. Shelby, the heroine of these stories, seems to fall into situations that require her detecting skills. In this novel, she very kindly befriends a girl in her class named Annie who lives in a foster home and has been ostensibly abandoned by her mother as a three year old. As Shelby and Annie begin to attempt to trace her mother’s whereabouts, it becomes increasingly evident that it was totally out of character for her mother to leave and not return as promised. This ramps up the intensity as they then begin to suspect that her mother has met with misfortune, or even foul play. Although the plot is somewhat predictable, I believe this type of novel, although with characters of high school age, will also meet the reading needs of some of some of our less demanding readers. As well, do not forget to check out Speechless, which has been nominated for the year’s Snow Willow awards, as well as Sam’s Light, which was nominated several years back. I realize that there are other titles that I have yet to read, but I do believe these will be suitable for both elementary and high school. They may also be a nice fit for the Grade 7 Language Arts mystery unit.
High School, Mystery, YA | Comments (2)Starting Anew- My Views
I have been remiss in posting comments about the books I’ve read and loved (or otherwise) and I am going to make a concerted effort to rectify that. I know how much other people’s insights have meant to me and to my task of choosing books for my readers. I am always thrilled when a new issue of Resource Links appears as well as a number of other bloggers whose reviews I have come to enjoy and trust. But to clarify my blogging style, I do not pretend for a moment to provide the in-depth reviews of Resource Links, CM reviews or many of the other superior publications. My intent is mainly to share my heart: my enthusiasms, my questions, and my feelings about the readers these books may attract and perhaps to pique your interest in these materials for yourself or readers you may know. I confess to reading a lot- it is one of my great joys since I can remember. As a child, I ran out of reading materials and remember that feeling of despair as I searched for new books. I joined a book club sponsored by the Regina Public Library where they would send me one book per month. One Book! It was barely enough to whet my appetite. When around the age of 10, they sent me a copy of Dickens” Tale of Two Cities’, which I dutifully read, I decided that perhaps they were not well qualified to choose my reading for me. So today as I look around my well-stocked library, I sometimes am still overwhelmed with the choices available for students today. For the first time in my life, I am close to saying.” Are there TOO many books being published?” I ask that for two reasons. One, many of the exemplary books are being read by too few. Second, there are books that really aren’t deserving of their place on the shelf. I never want to appear calloused as I do have a glimmer of understanding of what it takes to write and publish a book. But there are times where I read one of my latest acquisitions and question the author’s intent, the editor’s attention to detail, or the somewhat superficial exploration of a topic. That is not to say that all books need to be deep and weighty: but in my opinion need to speak in some way to the human condition. Forgive my ramblings, but know that if you choose to follow my blog, you may occasionally get some of the same. But in the midst of it all, I hope you find some gems, some thoughts to inspire you and the children you serve.
As an aside, I also would ask you to make a comment from time to time. Ask a question, agree or disagree- it doesn’t matter to me. Without comments, a blogger feels that they are writing into a vacuum and motivation dulls. So take a moment to let me know you’re out there.
