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Sincerely, Jem by Kate Willis

Posted on by J.C.

Sincerely, Jem

by Kate Willis

Dear Reader,
My name is Jessie. I’m an expert at introversion and cheesecake eating. (#skillz) I’m trying to become a writer, but gathering inspiration = social interaction, so… no.

The world’s best mail carrier suggested I get a pen pal, so this is the story of that pen pal experiment and the beautiful way it opened my eyes.

Merry Christmas and much cheesecake to you!
Sincerely,
Jem (Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Review: 4/5 ★★★★☆

Sincerely, Jem by Kate Willis was a sweet and heartfelt snapshot into the life of one socially-awkward, imaginative, goofy character. Willis’ writing style captured me from the first page, and the story and characters came alive through the gentle painting of the scenery. I found each character to be lovable and well-rounded, full of personality even in their small roles.

I enjoyed following “Jem” through her pen-pal journey (and also loved Longfellow!) and thought the story was told concisely and thoughtfully. I laughed out loud in several places! I loved reading Jem’s letters and all the wonderful text-talk. Jessie is hilarious and that is all. 😉 As a whole, I found this story well executed. <Spoiler, highlight to read> I really liked the message on understanding there is more to someone than meets the eye and not judging others at face value. <Spoiler>

However, while this story was a happy, lighthearted tale, it was little more than that. The characters face little difficulty, struggle, or conflict; there is little to overcome. <Spoiler> Jessie becomes less shy and more outgoing; but it being I found her perfectly lovable to begin with—awkward and all—it was a hard change to resonate with. <Spoiler> I understand that this is supposed to be a lighthearted story, but I think it would have benefited from a little more depth. All considered, it was a sweet read that made me smile and one I’m glad I had the opportunity to read!

Favorite quote: “So many people with so many different stories filled the world God had made. It wasn’t right for her to write off any of them, because she could read only a few lines.”

Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu

Posted on by J.C.

Eventown

by Corey Ann Haydu

The world tilted for Elodee this year, and now it’s impossible for her to be the same as she was before. Not when her feelings have such a strong grip on her heart. Not when she and her twin sister, Naomi, seem to be drifting apart. So when Elodee’s mom gets a new job in Eventown, moving seems like it might just fix everything.
Indeed, life in Eventown is comforting and exciting all at once. Their kitchen comes with a box of recipes for Elodee to try. Everyone takes the scenic way to school or work—past rows of rosebushes and unexpected waterfalls. On blueberry-picking field trips, every berry is perfectly ripe.

Sure, there are a few odd rules, and the houses all look exactly alike, but it’s easy enough to explain—until Elodee realizes that there are only three ice cream flavors in Eventown. Ever. And they play only one song in music class.

Everything may be “even” in Eventown, but is there a price to pay for perfection—and pretending? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

Review… 5/5 ★★★★★

I absolutely loved this sweet middle grade novel. This book boasted incredible imagination and creativity in communicating a message about not forgetting the past but letting it guide you. I was in love with the message of being able to own your own stories and not ignoring them, even when they’re hard or ugly. I loved the redemptive message of finding what was lost. 

I thought how we slowly learned about Elodee’s past and what brought her to Eventown to begin with was so creatively written. It was dystopian without being dystopian; rather, the author used a creative setting to communicate her message.  I loved Elodee and Naomi and found them both relatable, and appreciated the discussion on their differences as they grew. I really liked how the author did not skirt away from the hard topic of depression, but instead addressed what it might feel like for the children. In today’s world, kids are faced with all sorts of troubles, and ignoring these troubles does them no good. Instead we ought to be offering a good example on how to handle these troubles, as well as hope, which I thought Eventown did a great job of. A creative, intriguing, and inspiring novel that I can’t wait to add to my collection!

Content issues: One side character has two moms and it is implied they came to Eventwon because they were not accepted where they had been.

Book Review: To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

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To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

Eight years ago, when the Philistines stole and then surrendered the ark of the covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora left her Philistine homeland to follow the ark to the community of Kiryat Yearim. There, the family she was adopted into has guarded the ark at the top of a mountain in seclusion.

Ronen is a Levite musician determined to secret away the ark to a more fitting resting place, watched over by priests who would restore the Holy of Holies. He never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he’s tasked to deceive.

As Ronen’s attempts to charm Eliora lead them in unexpected directions, betrayal leaves Eliora with strained family ties and Ronen questioning his own loyalties. Ultimately, Eliora and Ronen are caught up in the battle for the soul of Israel and its future under the leadership of Samuel, the last judge before the era of the kings begins. (Summary taken off Goodreads)

Review …. 5/5 ★★★★★ 

As always, Cossette never disappoints! I was in love with the characters from the first page. I love how she makes Biblical settings so tangible to the reader, and the artistic liberties she takes in creating her characters make it all the more compelling.

I love how so often she uses foreigners to lead her stories about Israel, and the consequent messages about God’s love and mercy. In To Dwell Among Cedars,  I was fascinated reading about Philistine culture and life, especially in contrast to the customs of Israel. I loved watching Eliora grow and transform, and the complex relationship she holds with her brother, Natan, was just so well done. I felt Eliora’s pain in his distance, and yet was still able to empathize with him (Natan) as well. 

On the downside, I felt this novel was very predictable, and the plot very similar to Cossette’s other books. A foreigner adopted into Israel; a loyal Israelite; their eventual romance. Not that there is anything wrong with this—and this is coming from someone who inhales her books the second they release, so she’s doing something right with this storyline. But there were very few surprises.

I love the emphasis on relationships, primarily between Eliora and Natan. Of course Eliora and Ronen’s relationship was sweet too, but that was expected. Not that I didn’t like reading about the complexities of their relationship; the betrayal and secrets and mysteries—I thought it was very well executed. However, Eliora and Natan drove this story.

Ultimately, another great read from Cossette, and I can’t wait for her next one!

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

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Title: Smoke Screen

Author: Terri Blackstock

Published By: Thomas Nelson (2019)

Synopsis: One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first. (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

Terri Blackstock delivers again! Smoke Screen was a carefully crafted novel with a very original feel. I adored the characters and the storyline had me hooked.

I cringed a lot reading this novel purely due to how awful Brenna’s life is, but that also meant I couldn’t put the book down. I was very skeptical of Nate when he entered her life, mostly with the timing, and I still feel like their relationship moved way too fast for someone who’d just gotten divorced, but, I was also simultaneously cheering them on. 🙂 The double POV was done very well, with Nate and Brenna having very distinct voices.

I thought Brenna’s addiction was portrayed excellently, as well as her struggle in overcoming it and her desire to make things right. It sometimes feels like everything that can go wrong does for poor Brenna, and while it made for a difficult read, it also made for an incredible payoff. Brenna and Nate both were easy to emphathize with.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (though, what Terri Blackstock book do I not enjoy?). It was an original, creative, pull-at-your-heartstrings story full of real struggle and an even more real God. 4.5 stars.

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews

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Title: A Thousand Perfect Notes

Author: C.G. Drews

Published By: Orchard Books (2018)

Synopsis:

An emotionally charged story of music, abuse and, ultimately, hope.

Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music – because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.

When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it? (Taken from Goodreads)

Review:

I’m not crying, you’re crying!

A beautifully sweet and short novel, I read this in nearly one sitting. I was enthralled from the beginning. The story is so straightforward and simple, and yet with so many complex elaborations and undertones along the way. Beck was a very easy character to understand and very authentic. His family life was complex and detailed, easy to picture, easy to empathize with. I’ve read some reviewers that found his mom too stereotypical, too much, too expected, but I didn’t think that whatsoever. It was intense and at times did feel a little dramatic/over-the-top, but it didn’t affect my overall appreciation.

I LOVED August. Her and Beck’s relationship was actually the sweetest thing ever, and also so beautifully innocent. I absolutely loved how this was done, I could not get enough of it! The balance of the story was perfect: while a dark story in its own way, with some serious themes and difficult struggles, August provided a lighthearted aspect that took the edge off the intensity and in turn made it easier to see the fuller picture.

This is definitely an “emotionally charged” story that will pull your heartstrings; ultimately, the themes in the end were incredible, filled with soooo much hope. This took me for a rollercoaster of a ride but AHHH did I love it in the end. 5.0 stars!

Recommended 14+ because of domestic violence, few swear words, and mature themes about abuse and depression.

 

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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Title: Shouting at the Rain

Author: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Published By: Nancy Paulsen Books (2019)

Synopsis:

Delsie loves tracking the weather–lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She’s always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she’s looking at their life with new eyes and wishing she could have a “regular family.” Delsie observes other changes in the air, too–the most painful being a friend who’s outgrown her. Luckily, she has neighbors with strong shoulders to support her, and Ronan, a new friend who is caring and courageous but also troubled by the losses he’s endured. As Ronan and Delsie traipse around Cape Cod on their adventures, they both learn what it means to be angry versus sad, broken versus whole, and abandoned versus loved. And that, together, they can weather any storm. (Taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

Another beautiful work from Lynda Mullaly Hunt! The story is unique, yet so simple and so carefully put together! There are so many aspects at play—so much tangible real life and real characters that come together to show the reader some unmistakably important themes about life. 

I loved Delsie, our main character; she was so easy to love, so easy to relate to. She has authentic struggles, but she plows on anyway, and comes out stronger, something very inspirational to read about. Even though there is a wide cast of characters, they each are unique in their own way. Spiteful Olive; hardworking, loving Henry; thoughtful Esme; spunky Ruby; I could go on and on.

I absolutely adored the theme/message of, “Some friends are glitter, some are glue” and I think the author communicated this very well. Sure, some of the aspects, such as the close friend who changes and chooses the other friend, and the broody boy who becomes the new best friend, are frequent in middle grade and thereof it was fairly predictable, but it was still fun to read about. I loved Delsie’s grandmother—she was so different but also so realistic. 

I love the anagrams, I love the “shouting at the rain” mindset and theme, and I also really enjoyed how the story’s plot just carefully progressed across real life, without a ton of action or drama. You can’t always get away with that, but this book executed it marvelously.

A few negatives: some scenes were too long in my opinion, and at the beginning, characters narrated events too much, saying exactly what was happening and talking in ways people never actually talk, which annoyed me a little. I also almost feel like the book could have ended four chapters before it did.

Overall, I wasn’t blown away, mostly due to the predictability, but it was still an important novel carefully crafted and I would recommend it, especially for readers middle-grade and younger. 4.5 stars.