Harry Sue, on the other hand, is a girl in a foster home who has decided that the only way she can find her mom is to become a criminal as well and be sent to jail. Although her intentions are good, her heart is much too compassionate towards the other children in the home, and she is constantly diverted from her plans by having to rescue one of them. I would love to use both of these boks with a class and compare these 2 heroes.

Some other great titles I have read on this theme:

Losing Forever- Gayle Friesen

So B. it: a Novel- Sarah Weeks

Out of Focus- Margret Buffie

Smell of Paint- Sheryl McFarlane

Peacekeepers- Dianne Linden

Raspberry House Blues- Linda Holeman

Escape From Memory - Margaret Peterson Haddix

What Mr. Matteo Did- Priscilla C ummings

These are two very powerful novels that deserve a place in every library. Dear Jo is the story of a girl falling victim to an internet predator. Told through the journal entires of her best friend, who very nearly falls prey as well, this is a powerful look at the dangers of on-line chatting. This is a novel that I expect will be flying off the shelf. I believe this would also be important for parents to read.

The second novel centers around three 6th. grade girls who report their music teacher for being sexually inappropriate with them. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds to eventually reveal that two of the girls have been coerced into this lie by the other girl. Things literally spiral out of control and lives are changed forever. This is not something that is generally addressed with tweens; in particular, what can happen if you lie about something like this.

This is a page-turner adventure for those of you who like a little of the mystical thrown into modern day life.

You might also enjoy Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton.

This sequel to The Bonemender does not disappont and the next one is on my reading list. This one centers more around Derkh, whom Gabrielle has rescued and healed, but is really one of the enemy they’ve been fighting. He finds himself in a strange position- torn between these people who treat him with real friendship, and the knowledge of where he really thinks he belongs.

 I have been reading some newer novels for a holocaust unit. Here are some of them.

Milkweed- Jerry Spinelli

 What an amazing book and fascinating perspective. It is told from the viewpoint of a ragamuffin street urchin who believes his name is Stopthief because that’s all anyone has ever called him. He is adopted by a group of orphans who thieve as a way of existence. He befriends a little Jewish girl and wishes he could be Jewish as well without any understanding of what the ramifications might be. As he accompanies this family into the Warsaw ghetto, we are  given us a very unique perspective on what life there might have been like.

Behind the Bedroom Wall- Laura E. Williams

Another book with a unique perspective, this is told from the viewpoint of a German girl who is brainwashed by the Fuhrer and through participating in the Nazi Youth group. When she finds out that her parents are hiding Jews, she has to decide where her loyalties lie. This wa s page-turner.

The Righteous Smuggler- Debbie Spring

This is also from the viewpoint of a non-Jew; a boy named Hendrik who has Jewish friends and is appalled at their treatment as the Nazis move into Holland. Hendrik and his father want to help in some way and decide they can use their fishing boat to smuggle Jewish families.

Two great reads!! In the same month!! Anne Tyler has long been a favourite author of mine but I hadn’t picked anything of hers up in a long time. I spotted The Amateur Marriage and had begun reading it before this month’s challenge was even announced and it fis nicely into the”love” theme. Tyler’s works are always a little quirky and this is no exception. She explores the relationship of a couple who marry without really knowing each other very well and fail to mature in that relationship. Told at times from the perspective of Pauline and other times of Michael, you come to quickly realize that they are as unlike as can possibly be. Michael never seems to realize the things that irritate her, such as calling her, “Poll, Poll” when he thinks she is over-reacting. And she is an over-reactor but he, on the other hand is staid and disciplined, and well, let’s face it, just a little bit boring. Children only accentuate the problems and eventually, Pauline tells Michael to leave, and to her amazement, he does. Tyler’s gift is picking up on the little mundane aspects of life, writing about them in an entertaining way where many times you are caught by how real the characters and situations are- where you stop and nod your head knowingly because you have been there, done that. This was a most satisfying read where I did not really want it to end.

The second novel, the birth house by Ami McKay is a new Canadian author for me. I believe this is her debut novel. This is a wonderful story of life in early Nova Scotia, with real insights into midwifery, the superstitions that often surrounded it, and the plight of many women who had absolutely no say over their own bodies. Told in first person narrative from the perspective of Dora Rare, who is being trained to midwifery as a young woman. She is a woman of astounding strength and character as she battles the suspicions of the community and the arrival of a doctor who wishes the women to come to his maternity home where they will have the most modern of deliveries. And are they scary!!

This is an author to watch for.

I did also read Shopaholic Ties the Knot just for some light fare. Good summer beach reading.

I do think the premise of the story was interesting. But I believe there were some definite inconsistencies. The characters did not seem true to themselves. I’m not sure the author knew her characters well- their internal dialogue seemed at odds with their external behaviour as she developed them.  So hopefully I will be more excited about the next one. In reading other people’s reviews, I am happy to see that many of you read something worthwhile and I will make a list of hopeful reads.

I have added an e-mail widget if anyone would find it easier to read postings that way.

I also hope to review a number of Young Adult novels I’ve been reading in the next while, if anyone is interested in that category.