Learn Me Good, by John Pearson

Learn Me Good, by John Pearson. True story of a laid off engineer who becomes a third grade math and science teacher in an inner city school. His emails to former coworkers, about his first year of teaching, are the body of the book. He tells his friends about the exploits of his students, humorous, sad, touching, and revolting. We former teachers can relate totally! Testing is a major part of his year just as it has become for all teachers these days. Short read. If you only have a few minutes at a time, each email can be read as your short chapter. You can also go to "Read Me Good" on Facebook and click 'like' to see posts from him. 8 out of 10. Recommended to my teacher friends and to parents who wonder, "What is it with these schools?"

Wild, by Cherly Strayed

Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  Biography of single, mixed-up gal who walks the Pacific Crest Trail alone, from California through Oregon, to Washington.  Sort of a diary of her experience interspersed with the story of her life that led to her a decision to tackle this trek.  Loneliness, weather extremes, strangers, wild animals, lack of money, physical pain and a back pack so heavy it makes other trekkers shake their head in disbelief, makes the walk tough enough to break the most determined walker.  Her past drives her determinedly onward.  Interaction with other hikers makes a tough time more bearable, but also poses a threat to the single woman alone.  I rarely read non-fiction so this was a diversion, but I am glad I found it.  Solid 8 out of 10.  As a midwesterner, I enjoyed reading a book about the western states’ geographical attributes and not just the surfs up, big city, Hollywood kind of life.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. The main character, Victoria Jones, was abandoned as a baby, then raised in many foster homes.  She has nothing going in her favor and causes lots of problems.  Finally a foster home seems to be working out, but a fire, misunderstandings, and her own behavior ends that.  Then she shifts from group home to group home to be put out in the streets with nothing when she turns 18 years old.  She is a street person, finally finds a job, sort of.  Gets a place to stay, off the streets, sort of.  Has a relationship, sort of.  Has a child, sort of.  The only thing in her life that isn’t sort of is her knowledge of flowers and their symbolic meanings.  Through that rarely known language of flowers she and others communicate when they can’t come right out and tell people what they think and feel.  8 out of 10.  Recommended. You will learn something. Then go hug your own children.