The Red Kimono

The Red Kimono

by Jan Morrill

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: (from the publisher)
In 1941, racial tensions are rising in the California community where nine-year-old Sachiko Kimura and her seventeen-year-old brother, Nobu, live. Japan has attacked Pearl Harbor, people are angry, and one night, Sachiko and Nobu witness three teenage boys taunting and beating their father in the park. Sachiko especially remembers Terrence Harris, the boy with dark skin and hazel eyes, and Nobu cannot believe the boys capable of such violence toward his father are actually his friends.
What Sachiko and Nobu do not know is that Terrence's family had received a telegram that morning with news that Terrence's father was killed at Pearl Harbor. Desperate to escape his pain, Terrence rushes from his home and runs into two high-school friends who convince him to find a Japanese man and get revenge. They do not know the man they attacked is Sachiko and Nobu's father.
 
In the months that follow, Terrence is convicted of his crime and Sachiko and Nobu are sent to an internment camp in Arkansas, a fictionalized version of the two camps that actually existed in Arkansas during the war. While behind bars and barbed wire, each of the three young people will go through dramatic changes. One will learn acceptance. One will remain imprisoned by resentment, and one will seek a path to forgiveness

Review: Jan Morrill's debut novel is a beautifully written account of the Japanese internment during WWII, as told through the eyes of children.  While the historical details of life in the internment camp were informative and interesting (and frequently horrifying), I found myself reflecting most on the themes of racism and prejudice as they appeared in many different variations throughout the book.  In addition to the obvious Japanese/American tensions, Sachiko's mother demonstrates contempt for both African Americans and other classes of Japanese, and Terrence's time in prison highlights the difficulties between Caucasians and African Americans.  Although I appreciated the character development shown as each person worked through these issues, at times it felt like I was being beat over the head with the moral.  My only other complaint was that Nobu and Terrence often displayed understanding and articulation beyond their years, but I found the simplicity of nine-year-old Sachiko's observations to be refreshing.  The ending was surprisingly hopeful for most of the characters, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Rating: 4 stars

The Promise of Stardust

The Promise of Stardust

by Priscille Sibley

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything—except the baby they’ve always wanted.

When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing—a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support.

But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle’s pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt’s mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court—armed with Elle’s living will.

Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family . . . and one single life.

From the author's website

Becky's Review: I found this book on the recommended book club books on the Target shelves and I knew from the description that I wanted to read it.  It seemed like it was going to be an incredibly tragic book and a tear jerker but I was surprised that I didn't cry until the end (that is not giving away anything).  I was in the mood for another very emotional book (after finishing The Fault in Our Stars).  I wanted to have more of an emotional connection to the book from the get go but Elle's accident happens at the start of the book.  There is a trial about whether Matt should be allowed to keep Elle on life support or not.  During the trial there are flash backs when you learn more about Elle's life and Elle and Matt together and that's when you form more of a bond with the characters.  You want everything to work out for the characters and you keep hoping as the book goes on that Matt is allowed to keep Elle on life support.  I found many similarities with this book and those written by Jodi Picoult, so if you like Picoult's books, you most likely will like this book.  I definitely recommend it!

Marcie's Review:  I also thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found that I could not put it down while I was reading it - I needed to know what happened to the characters.  Becky commented that she wanted to get to know the characters prior to Elle's accident, and so she found the beginning a little abrupt, but that didn't bother me.  What did bother me was that right after Elle's accident, the story focused primarily on the legal battle, and it wasn't until later that we started to see Matt's reaction to his wife being in a coma.  I enjoyed getting to know both Matt and Elle through letters and flashbacks, and while I was sad about Elle's future and cried a few times while reading, at least you know what's coming since her accident happens on the first page.

Becky's Rating: 4 stars
 Marcie's Rating: 5 stars

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

by Mark Haddon

Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. 

Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.  Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher’s mind.  And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.

From the publisher

Review:  This book has such a unique point of view-told from the perspective of a 15 year old boy with autism.  The author is able to describe how Christopher thinks about things, his mental processes when in a new situation, his coping strategies and what he does when he is overwhelmed.  Since the book is narrated by Christopher, the boy with autism, we can see first hand how having autism affects his day to day life.  There were parts of the book that really intrigued me-mainly seeing his coping strategies in various situations and seeing what set him off.  But there were other parts of the book that were completely uninteresting-all of his math, physics and astronomy knowledge.  I was incredibly bored during those parts.  I just skimmed those parts trying to get back to the plot, although there was very little plot.  I do think that you need to know that Christopher fixated on various topics as part of his autism but I didn't need to read pages on solving a math problem.  I think this book was a good look into the life of someone with autism.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Synopsis: Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. 

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

From GoodReads

Review: This is going to be a hard book for me to review without giving details away.  This book was recommended to me by two different people and I have to say even though this is an incredibly sad book, I'm glad that I read it.  Hazel and Augustus are two very likable characters and you really feel for them in their struggles, chuckle at their cancer jokes, and cry with them when cancer gets in the way of life.  This is definitely a tear jerker!  You should know going into this book that there can't be a happy ending.  When you have a book about kids with terminal cancer, it's hard to end the book with a happily ever after. The ending was not what I expected though.  There was quite a turn of events that I didn't not suspect.  This book is beautifully written and is also quite quirky probably because Hazel and Augustus are quite quirky themselves.  My only complaint with this book was the Hazel and Augustus didn't talk like teenagers.  Their vocabulary was quite impressive (much more impressive than the vocabulary I understand) and their thoughts where quite deep and symbolic.  Perhaps they talked this way because of their illnesses but at times it was hard to think that they were teenagers.  Overall this was a fantastic book albeit quite tragic.  So grab your tissues and start reading!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Keeping Faith

Keeping Faith

by Jodi Picoult

Genre: Women's Fiction

Synopsis: Somewhere between belief and doubt lies faith. For the second time in her marriage, Mariah White catches her husband with another woman and Faith, their seven year old daughter, witnesses every painful minute. In the aftermath of a sudden divorce, Mariah struggles with depression and Faith seeks solace in a new friend… a friend who may or may not be imaginary.

Faith talks to her "Guard"constantly; begins to recite passages from the Bible— a book she's never read. Fearful for her daughter's sanity, Mariah sends her to several psychiatrists. Yet when Faith develops stigmata and begins to perform miraculous healings, Mariah wonders if her daughter-- a girl with no religious background-- might indeed be seeing God. As word spreads and controversy heightens, Mariah and Faith are besieged by believers and disbelievers alike, caught in a media circus that threatens what little stability they have left.

What are you willing to believe? Is Faith a prophet or a troubled little girl? Is Mariah a good mother facing an impossible crisis— or a charlatan using her daughter to reclaim the attention her unfaithful husband withheld? As the story builds to a climactic battle for custody, Mariah must discover that spirit is not necessarily something that comes from religion, but from inside oneself.

Fascinating, thoughtful, and suspenseful, Keeping Faith explores a family plagued by the media, the medical profession, and organized religion in a world where everyone has an opinion but no one knows the truth. At her controversial and compelling best, Jodi Picoult masterfully explores the moment when boundaries break down, when illusions become reality, and when the only step left to take is a leap of faith.

Review: Wow!  I just finished this book (I read it in about a day).  It was not a book that I could put down.  It has been a while since I've read a Jodi Picoult book and I think that helped me keep reading.  After reading several books of hers in a row, you may become bored and things will become predictable.  This book raises such interesting questions.  Do you believe in miracles?  Can someone who has no religion have God come to them?  Can people heal others?  I was really intrigued by this concept of a little girl who has God visit her and perform healings through her.  It reminded me a lot of The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn.  I haven't read that book for a while but the topic is the same.  Of course, there was a legal trial like every Jodi Picoult book but I was quite happy with the ending which is not the case with many of her books. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a Jodi Picoult book.

Rating: 4 stars

Blankets

Blankets

by Craig Thompson

Genre: Graphic Novel

Synopsis: At 592 pages, Blankets may well be the single largest graphic novel ever published without being serialized first.

Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith. A profound and utterly beautiful work from Craig Thompson.

Review: I read this book as one of my book club friends recommended it to me and lent it to me.  I struggled with this book but I don't think it's due to the quality of the book, it's due to the book being a graphic novel.  This is my first graphic novel and I'm not sure I will read another.  I felt that I had to infer the author's meaning many times in order to understand the story.  The author/illustrator is quite clearly a talented illustrator as the drawings were amazing.  At times there weren't enough words-just drawings.  It's quite a different way to read a story.  I also felt that there wasn't too much of a plot.  At times the book seemed to be going in one direction and then at other times in a different direction.  Perhaps it touched on too many issues to make a complete story.  It is a fast read even though it is a long book because most of the book is graphics.

Rating: 2 1/2 stars

True Sisters

True Sisters

by Sandra Dallas

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: In 1856, the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) conceived the idea of bringing impoverished converts from Europe to Iowa, where they would be fitted with handcarts instead of ox-drawn wagons. The emigrants would pull and push the carts the 1,300 miles to Salt Lake City. The carts, which were essentially square boxes on two wheels, cost a fraction of the price of wagons, and emigrants would not have the care of oxen or mules.

The idea might have been a good one, but the execution was poor. The carts were not waiting for the converts when they arrived in Iowa. The people had to build the vehicles themselves, and out of green lumber. That not only delayed their departure but meant the carts fell apart as the wood dried. Moreover, supplies were not waiting along the trail for the travelers, as they had been promised. Worst of all, the last two of the five handcart companies left late in the year and were trapped in the snow. More than a quarter of the 575 members of the last company, the Martin Company, froze or starved to death.

True Sisters is about four women, three of them converts, who are members of the Martin Company. They are Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law, after being abandoned on her wedding day. Louisa is married to a church leader, a man she believes speaks for God, although others find him overbearing. Jessie and her brothers hope to find land in Zion where they can farm. And Anne, who fails to convert to Mormonism, has no choice but to follow her husband, since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah. The characters are fictional, but they are based on journals, stories, and accounts of real women who braved the horror and hardship of the handcart trek, finding faith, friendship, and even joy in the journey.

From the author's website

Review: This book was so incredibly tragic but it parallels what happened in real life.  This story is based on true events but the stories of the women are entirely fiction.  The women are portrayed as such strong women who continued on their journey to reach Salt Lake City (what they called Zion) no matter the weather, the lack of food, the death of family members.  They rarely lost faith or questioned God.  I really liked the women in the story for the most part but I couldn't understand their desire to get to Salt Lake City with all that happened to them.  The leaders kept saying that those strong in faith would reach Salt Lake City. I struggled with trying to be respectful of their religion but I just kept finding myself calling their decisions dumb and the decisions were made by the spiritual elders of the community.  I liked the book in spite of how tragic it was.  The epilogue provided closure but I felt it was a little contrived.

Rating: 4 stars