Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen

Newbery Honor Book: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.


Being shuffled between divorced parents, Brian is on his way to the far northern Canadian woods in a small plane. The pilot suffers a fatal heart attack and it is up to Brian to save his own life, both in getting out of the sky and in surviving alone.  All he has are the items in his pocket, the clothes on his body, and the hatchet his mom had given him to take up North.  He hadn’t really wanted the dorky thing, but didn’t want to hurt his mom’s feelings.  A good story of survival, learning what is important, and making do.  I’d read that a librarian had recommended this to a junior high boy who had stated a total aversion to reading.  The kid buried himself in the book and wanted more.  It tweaked my interest, too, and I’d recommend it for the girls as well as the boys.  Totally appropriate for that age group and beyond.  Parents don’t have to worry about exposing their youngsters to swearing, prejudices, sexual content, etc.  One book in a series by Gary Paulsen.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Down to the Bone by Karen Harper

Down to the Bone by Karen Harper.  Mystery and romance.  Wonderful story of conflict concerning an Amish widow and the mysterious happenings at her farm a year after her husband dies.  There is a great deal of historical interest in the old barn on her farm.  Enter a love interest, but he isn’t Amish.  She wants to keep the farm going for her twin sons, but Amish tradition means the males in the community do the farm work and as she does it for herself it is not acceptable. So, folks think she should remarry.  Lots of community interest there.  Not much of it wanted.  But who is appearing in the dark shadows around the barn and fields?  Great story.  Until the ending.  When the mystery was solved I didn’t think it was possible. So I had to go back and look again at the story.  Weeks later, I still don’t think it adds up.  The guilty person had too many other irons in the fire to spend so many hours and occasions “haunting” her farm and not be missed.  Liked all the characters, setting and plot, until the very end!  8 out of 10.  Want to read another of Karen Harper’s books to see how she wraps up another plot.