Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

 As the mother of two daughters, I found this novel to be absolutely terrifying. Seriously scary.

Young parents Suzette and Alex have a small daughter, Hanna, age seven, who is either unwilling or unable to speak. After trying all the doctors than can possibly consult, it is determined that her issue with being mute is not physical, and they are referred to a therapist to explore a more psychological explanation and diagnosis.

Suzette worries that it is her own bad parenting that has caused these issues. While she doesn't speak, Hanna is a loving sweet daughter to her father Alex, while being dismissive and often cruel to her mother.

As things progress (or perhaps regress is more apt), Hanna's behaviors become more frightening and inexplicable. Unable to remain in any schools that they attempt due to her behaviors, Suzette is forced to home school Hanna which only makes things worse.

Alternating between the thoughts of a terrified mother and the thoughts of a disturbed and possibly psychotic little girl, things move from unpleasant and creepy to possibly physically dangerous, all while Hanna only shows her "real" self to her mother, making her father question and doubt Suzette's versions of experiences.

This novel gives new meaning to the term "dysfunctional family" and aside from it's rather abrupt ending (I hope there is a follow up novel), I enjoyed this psychologically creepy and disturbing story. An absolutely wonderful debut novel for this author.

Books. Books. Books.

 

Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss

Yertle the Turtle is a wonderful story for children about greed. 

Yertle is the self-important king of the pond, who thinks he needs a taller throne to make himself bigger. He orders all of the other turtles in the pond stand on each other's backs and he climbs on top of them all, higher and higher, even though the turtles complain about being hungry and tired, he stands on their backs claiming to be the ruler of all that he sees.

Although... a ruler who's only strategy to become great is to stand on the backs of others can't possible last long, can he? 

Read and see!

Extraordinary people read.

       Is it a coincidence that some of the most extraordinary people in the world read? 

The Moment of Everything by Shelly King

I rarely use the word "charming", but this novel was charming! I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the many unusual characters and the unique story of this book.

This the story of Maggie, who was recently "involuntarily separated from payroll" at her  lucrative Silicon Valley startup. 

Stunned and unsure what to do next, she spends her days reading romance novels in a comfy old chair in the local used book store "The Dragonfly".  The old, cluttered and unorganized bookstore is the gathering place for many of the neighborhood folks, and they, along with the mean old cat that lives there and the small staff of the bookstore become Maggie's new friends.

Learning of a possibility to climb back into her startup "ArGoNet Software", she joins a book club in order to meet and schmooze the top brass of the company.  

In hopes of attending the next meeting, which is just the next day, she must read "Lady Chatterley's Lover" (which she hasn't read since high school)  in a single evening. In the dragonfly, she finds an ancient copy of the book, and when she settles down to dive in and read it, she discovers hand written notes in the margins between two lovers of long ago.

Maggie is fascinated and her curiosity leads her to research the lovers, their story and their fate, and in doing so, discovers much about herself and her life and her future is altered forever.

A warm, funny and comforting novel, I highly recommend this one.

Books. Books. Books.

 

Flip by Wesley Dennis

This story was one of my favorites as a child.

Flip is a very young pony, just born on a large farm. He lives with his mother, some pigs, chickens, goats and a cats,

The large farm has a big barn and a lovely brook. Flips mom likes to jump the brook to get away from Flip when she needed a break from his teasing and nipping at her. Flip tries and tries, but isn't able to jump the brook.

Finally, tired, he falls asleep next to the brook and dreams that he grew wings and could not only jump anything, including the brook - but he could fly!

A sweet story with illustrations lovely enough to frame as beautiful art.

Books. Books. Books.

 

The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley

This is a fun book.

The Harmony Resort is run by  Dr Miles and Dr. Grace Markell, the famous, powerful and rich therapist couple who help renew and repair struggling marriages in a luxurious setting on the gorgeous Caribbean coastline of Mexico.

While the resort offers the best of food and accommodations, the intensive therapy at The Harmony requires one to accept some uncomfortable rules like no cell phones, laptops or any contact with the outside, relinquishing certain property when your baggage is searched without your knowledge when you arrive, and following the rules that Dr. Miles sets for the resort and your therapy without question.

Shell and Colin are attending therapy when, after a devastating accident changes their lives forever, Colin becomes a workaholic and Shell seems to have simply lost herself in a quiet depression.

Ben and Johanna seem like they should have a good relationship, but are struggling to connect. She has headaches and he feels rejected. While they appear to be good together, she is hiding a secret that could devastate her marriage. 

Eventually it becomes clear that behind the caring and charismatic appearance of Miles, there is something dark underneath his pleasing surface and while Grace appears quite professional, a dutiful wife, occasionally you catch of glimpse of something like fear in her eyes.

When a massive hurricane threatens the resort and everyone in it, truths come to light, relationships are tested, and by the end, everyone will have their lives changed forever.

A juicy, fun, thriller of a novel.

Free books for kids ages 0 - 5!

 

         

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This holiday weekend, remember...

 

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

This is one of my all time favorite historical novels. The second in the six book series, all very good,  each about one of the six wives of King Henry VIII.

The Other Boleyn Girl is based on the story of the Boleyn sisters, Mary Boleyn and the second queen, Anne Boleyn.  Set in 1521  England, Queen Catherine of Aragon (the first wife) has failed to provide the king with the male heir that he so desperately desires.   

Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, recognizes this as an opportunity to manipulate his family's way into the monarchy by putting his daughters, Mary and Anne, into the daily life with the king. While Mary was originally supposed to win the affections of the king and provide a male heir, it is Anne who ultimately catches the eye and absolute desire of the king.

Using manipulation, deceit and her womanly skills, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants... to be the new queen.

A sexy, scheming story of sibling rivalry and a story of what lengths people will go to to get what they want.

I highly recommend this entire series, however, this one novel is also an excellent stand alone story.

                                                              The whole series in order.

Nothing goes better with a good book than a cat!

 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

 No book blog about great stories could ever be complete without this classic children's novel.

This magical story begins with a young girl rescuing a tiny newborn piglet who was about to be killed because he was a runt. The girl talks her father into letting her keep him and she loves the piglet, that she names Wilbur. She raises him until he is too large to live in their home any longer.

Wilbur is moved to her uncles farm. Wilbur is scared and lonely when a spider named Charlotte befriends him and helps him to meet the other animals in the barn and on the farm and to feel safe and comfortable in his new home.

There are many animals in the barnyard. A barn rat named Tempelton who loves food and while he is a bit standoffish, he has a good heart deep down. A bossy goose who is busy sitting on her eggs (and later her goslings). Several sheep (some a bit rude), and numerous horses, dogs, cows, and others.

When Wilbur learns of his fate to be fattened up for dinner, Charlotte stitches a beautiful word in her sparkling web to amaze and impress the farmers family and their friends so that they will keep him safe. This works beautifully, and Wilbur is spared, but Charlotte is required to do this again and again (writing “Some Pig”, “Terrific”, “Radiant” and “Humble.” in her webs) as several times he is faced with a desperate need of his friends help, and Charlotte is always willing to do what is required to help him. 

This is a special story of friendship and the circle of live that all children should read at some point in their lives.