Rachel Fletcher's world turns upside down the night she comes home and learns her Dad was killed in an accident. Since he was on his way to pick her up, she is sure it's her fault. The problems only escalate when her brother starts openly drinking and her mother refuses to get out of bed. How long can Rachel hold the family together?
I have enjoyed all of Kay Lynn Mangum's books. They are realistic and interesting. This one is no exception. I find the characters compelling and easy to relate to. I spent the book cheering for Rachel and wishing I could help her with her problems. It is so easy to remember the issues that plague teenagers - the embarrassment over a perceived social faux pas or the mortification about saying the wrong thing around a cute guy. While the end was a bit predictable, I could not have predicted how it ended up there. I do hope there will be a follow up book with these characters because I would love to learn what their future holds.
The title says "52 Weeks of Recipes" but maybe it should be called "Beginning Cooking 101." There are basically 52 dinner menus. The recipes have a main dish, and either a side dish or a dessert, or on some occasions - both. I think this book would have been great for me when I just went off to college for the first time. The recipes are short, simple and not intimidating at all. With the suggestions of side dishes and dessert, you could learn to make dinner for others with very little fuss. The back Appendix A tells helpful information like, "how to buy and store avocados", and "how to cook bacon". Appendix B tells cooking terms while Appendix C talks about basic cooking equipment. This book truly is for the beginning cook. While the recipes are easy and good, those that have more cooking experience will prefer a different cookbook.
Nate, Trevor, Pigeon and Summer are four friends that stop in the candy shop on their way home from school, owned by Mrs. White. Soon, this group of friends is doing odd jobs for Mrs. White in return for her magical candy. But, all is not quite what it seems, and the four of them are pulled deeper into a world of magic, mystery and suspense.
I am a huge, HUGE fan of the Fablehaven books and author Brandon Mull. I think his books are completely different and original in comparison to many things that I have read lately. This is another book about magic and kids - but from a different angle than I have ever read before. I think this is a great book for older kids, teens and family reading. It is compelling and I think that kids will identify with the love of candy and the need for adventure. It makes you think about several different things that we all think that we want, for example, what if parents had no idea what we were doing with our friends or in the house? What if they didn't care? Is that really what we want? It truly makes you think about courage, standing up for what's right and going with your instincts.
CJ has spent years trying to acheive her dream of competing in the Olympics as a swimmer. But life hasn't been easy as she has tried to accomplish all of this while being in the 'Witness Protection Program'. Her new husband, Matt, can rarely admit that he knows her, let alone admit he is married to her. As the evil that seeks to find her still searches - CJ and Matt try to have faith in their dreams.
This is really the third book in a continuing story after "Undercurrents" and "Ripple Effect". It's great that you don't need to read the first two in order to jump into this novel. It gives you all the background information you need. I thought this book came from a very unique perspective. It's not too often that you read a book that has information about the 'Witness Protection Program' and competitive swimming. The author has experience that makes for a interesting combination. It has everything, mystery, suspense, romance and drama. I would have liked the ending to be just a little more developed, but it does tie up loose ends nicely.
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