"Out of the Easy" by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Published: February 12, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Anyone who asks me for great YA or Historical Fiction reads, I will drop the name Ruta Sepetys immediately! I reviewed her novel Between Shades of Gray last summer! It's still one of my favorites (The movie adaptation called Ashes in the Snow is currently being filmed)!  Ok. Fangirl moment over. Her second novel, Out of the Easy, didn't disappoint.

For Josie Moraine, life in The Big Easy during the 1950s isn't exactly...easy. Known by the locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, she wants more out of life than what the French Quarter can offer. She works tirelessly in her best friend's bookshop and cleans for Willie, the infamous brothel madame, all while thwarting her neglectful, thieving mother and her mother's new beau who brings trouble with him wherever he goes.

As she get older, Josie dreams of attending a prestigious university on the East Coast. However, she can't seem to shake the whispers and the stares that follow her everywhere. When a mysterious murder occurs in the Quarter, Josie finds herself wrapped up in an investigation that will challenge her to rise above her station or succumb to the expectations that the Quarter residents have already laid out for her.

Josie Moraine is a great female protagonist. She's strong, sassy, and resilient. She knows how to make the best out of a bad situation, and I think young ladies will love rooting for her. The rest of the characters are as seedy as they are sympathetic. It seems like everyone in the French Quarter is up to something, but Sepetys will make readers love them anyway.

I'm not an expert on 1950s New Orleans, but the notes of racial tension, classism, and the presence of mobsters fits the time period. I also know that the author conducts extensive research before she writes, so I'm going to leave the rest to Ruta and trust that it's all accurate.

I really enjoyed this book, however, it's not one that I would consider using in my classroom library. The details surrounding the brothel and the prostitutes are something that I consider inappropriate to read within a school building. But older kids and adults, if you're looking for your next historical fiction read, then this is one that you should get your hands on!

Kaylee says:

"A Thousand Shall Fall: A Civil War Novel" by Andrea Boeshaar

Title: A Thousand Shall Fall
Author: Andrea Boeshaar
Published: November 27, 2015
Genre: Christian Fiction, Romance

This week's review comes courtesy of Kregel Publications. I'll be reviewing A Thousand Shall Fall, the first novel in the upcoming Shenandoah Valley Saga by Wisconsin author Andrea Boeshaar.

The story follows strong-willed and ambitious Carrie Ann Bell, an aspiring journalist in the midst of the American Civil War. Carrie Ann receives a letter from her younger sister, who has run away with a traveling sales man. Knowing that she can't return home without her sister, Carrie Ann makes plans to go after her. Dressed as a Union officer, she leaves  town and attempts to sneak past the barricade. Just when she thinks she's made it, she falls (literally) into the arms of the handsome Colonel Peyton Collier, who quickly arrests her for impersonating an officer.

Under Colonel Collier's watchful eye, Carrie Ann adjusts to life in the Union Army camp, helping the doctor and nurses in the hospital tent. Soon she discovers that she has feelings for the colonel despite the rumors of his checkered past. However, Peyton isn't the only one with a secret. Carrie is keeping a dark secret of her own - one that might even threaten the life of the man she loves.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I love historical fiction, but I'm iffy about romances. They're usually too mushy for me. This novel, in my opinion, blended the history and the romance quite well. Carrie Ann had all of the qualities that I love in a female character. She's ambitious, a little bit stubborn, and unfazed at the prospect at becoming a journalist at a time in history when it was a job done only by men. I ended up enjoying playing witness to the blossoming love between Carrie Ann and Peyton. There was just the right amount of mush!

If you're looking for a historically accurate Civil War tale with a dash of romance, a pinch of intrigue, and a big helping of action,  A Thousand Shall Fall is the book for you! I'm giving this read 3/5 coffee beans!

Kaylee says:

"A Cup of Dust" by Susie Finkbeiner

Title: A Cup of Dust
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Published: October 27, 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now know that I absolutely adore Historical Fiction! So I was excited to have the opportunity to review A Cup of Dust by Susie Finkbeiner. I was unfamiliar with both the title and the author, but the summary on the back cover piqued my curiosity right away.

Here's a quick breakdown. It's 1934 in Red River, Oklahoma, and 10-year-old Pearl Spence and her family can barely brush themselves off before another "duster" comes around and buries them. Pearl's father, Tom Spence, is the beloved sheriff of Red River, who is known for bringing down the notorious criminal Jimmy DuPre. Her mother, Mary, spends her time taking care of the sick and preparing food for the less fortunate. She is assisted by Pearl's grandmother, who is affectionately known as "Meemaw." Rounding out the family is Pearl's older sister Violet Jean "Beanie" Spence. Beanie's brain doesn't work the way that other people's do, and as a result, she doesn't always understand what is happening around her. As just about the only ray of light left in a county blackened by dust clouds, the Spence family does their best to care for their neighbors and provide a little hope to a town that could desperately use some. 

Life carries on as usual until a mysterious visitor named Eddie gets off the train and immediately knows everything about Pearl. As he forces his way into her life, playing the hero to win the trust of those around him, Pearl is the only person who seems to see the cold hatred behind his cornflower blue eyes. And the secret he claims to know about Pearl's family is enough to send her spinning like the very storm that threatens her hometown.

I certainly don't claim to be a expert on all things Dust Bowl, so what I love about this novel is that it has the endorsement of actual survivors who sign off on its historical accuracy. One such man, Virgil Dwain McNeil, has this to say: "The author does a great job of giving the reader a feel for those dark days in our nation's history." I couldn't agree more. Through Pearl's eyes, I really felt like I was experiencing what went on during that troubling time in our nation's history, and it was a tragic yet beautiful journey to take.

The characters in this novel were so believable. In the moments where the family is together, it was easy to picture their dynamic: the warmth during the good times and the tension during the bad. One character that I really want to focus on here is Eddie. He's the strange hobo who jumps off the train and steamrolls his way into Pearl's life, almost crushing it completely. It's been a long time since I've read a novel in which the villain actually made me feel fear. Eddie did that for me. He creeps in and out of Pearl's day-to-day existence in a crazy-stalkerish way, showing up at all the worst times. Maybe I can blame the feeling on my unhealthy obsession with Law and Order: SVU, but either way, Eddie made my skin crawl, and it was wonderful.

Going back to the Spence family for just a minute, I couldn't help but draw up some conclusions between them and Job from the Bible. Job was a man who had everything, and even when it was all taken away from him, he still trusted in the Lord. The same can be said about the Spence family. They're living in the most desolate county of Oklahoma in the midst of the Dust Bowl, yet they never completely lose the hope that God will protect and provide for them. If you ask me, that's an attitude that we can all work a little harder to adopt.

Kaylee says:

"The Hardest Thing to Do" (The Hawk & The Dove #4) by Penelope Wilcock

Title: The Hardest Thing to Do (The Hawk and The Dove Series #4)

Author: Penelope Wilcock

Published: September 27, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

One year after book 3 ends, the monks at St. Alcuin's are waiting for their new Abbott, Father John, to arrive. While they wait, they busily work to prepare for the upcoming Easter season, which will bring hundreds of guests to the monastery.

John's arrival starts a period of adjustment for everyone within the walls of St. Alcuin's, especially for John himself. Formerly the infirmary man of the monastery, he finds himself struggling with the transition from healer to his new position of authority.

Just as things are beginning to settle down, an old enemy from the priory's past, Prior William of St. Dunstan's, knocks at the door in need of help. The wounds from his feud with their former leader, Father Peregrine, still sting. Can the monks inside set aside their feelings of hatred and help a fellow brother in need?

I was not at all familiar with The Hawk and The Dove Series before I opened this novel, so I didn't have much to form an initial opinion on. Based on the description on the back cover, I assumed that this was going to be another medieval story featuring monks, knights, and pretty women in distress. I was surprised to find that was not the case in The Hardest Thing to Do. The novel chronicles the daily lives of the monks who live within the wall of St. Alcuin's Monastery. While this aspect was charming, it was also one of the novel's downfalls for me. First, there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Thankfully, Ms. Wilcock includes a guide with the names of all the characters throughout the series. I did, however, find myself checking in the front of the book to remember which character does what. Second, the daily actions of the various brothers sometimes distracted from the main plot. The central plot itself was great, but I found myself getting bored in places, because the story kept sidetracking. I will concede, that these subplots were probably necessary, because in each case the monks share what they find to be the hardest thing to do in life, adding to the overall theme.

My favorite part of the novel was the message of forgiveness and love. Unfortunately,our sinful natures make this very hard for us to do. However, the Bible is very clear on the matter. Jesus says in Matthew 18:21-22, "Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" This means that there should be no limit to the amount of times that we forgive someone for wronging us. The Bible is also clear on the matter of showing love to those around us. Matthew 22:39 says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I think this passage is pretty clear. Show love to others. Be kind and compassionate. It was nice to be reminded of these important points alongside the monks of St. Alcuin's. Forgiveness and showing love aren't always on the forefront of my thinking, but reading this novel brought them back into focus for me, and I hope it will for you who choose to read it too.

Kaylee says:

Rachel Reviews: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Hey everyone, I'm going to introduce to you all to the second of our wonderful guest writers!

This is my good friend Rachel! She and I met at college, while sitting in one of the many English classes that we've shared throughout the years. Rachel is also a double major in Elementary Ed. and Secondary Communicative Arts and Literature. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys hiking, running, music, and spending quality time with her friends and family. In the past few months, she's been hopping from mountain to mountain in Colorado, teaching VBS with her sister. Lucky for us, she was able to find the time (and internet service) to write a review! Thanks, Rachel! I'll let you take it from here!

Hi everyone! Although it took me 2 months to actually write this review, Kaylee has still accepted me as a guest writer which is very generous of her. Thanks for having me, Kayles!

We made a pact where we would both read the same book and then review it side-by-side. We chose The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society since it was one we’d both had on our lists for a while. You can find Kaylee's review here!

My initial impressions of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society were based mostly on word of mouth. It came with high recommendations from my aunt and older cousin, both big readers with wonderful taste. But when I asked for an overview, all I got was, “It’s hard to explain. But you’ll love it!” They were right on both counts. Even the title is hard to say, much less explain!

The book is written in the form of letters, each one between different characters. I might as well say now that I feel weird even calling them “characters” so instead I’ll just use the word “people” because that’s what they felt like. The voice of each person is masterfully done, and makes the novel constantly fresh. Each one is so unique and exaggerated just enough that they’re endlessly entertaining.

A quick plot summary so we’re all on the same page:

Juliet is an author in England shortly after World War II. Her magazine column and her humor in the face of tragedy have gotten the city of London through the war, and now that the war is over, she’s in high demand. But one day, a book she formerly owned ends up in the hands of a reserved pig farmer, Dawsey Adams, on the island of Guernsey in the Atlantic. The new owner writes to her – and so begins an unlikely relationship between Juliet and an entire group of people on the island. Discovering these people and their incredible war stories captures Juliet’s heart, as do the mysteries behind their “Literary Society.”

What really made this book stand out for me was the deep love of reading and writing the authors so clearly displayed through the people in the book. As an English major I spend a lot of time reading books for class, and very little of that time actually enjoying them. It’s a shame, really. But this book reminded me of all the magic that can be found in literature, and all the reasons I love it. It leads us to discover other wonderful people, and to discover more about ourselves. Many of the letters in the book were written by uneducated people from Guernsey sharing their favorite quotes or authors with Juliet, and I found myself touched by many of them.  Literature is not just appreciated by the educated because, really, it’s about sharing experiences. This book explained that through the plot and also by bringing in famous authors and quotes and moments in history. Reading it was like getting to watch people find the joy in reading who never had any before – which brings great joy to the heart of any future teacher.

I can’t say the book met my expectations, because I really didn’t know what to expect. It was entirely different than I thought it would be, and it was delightful. Have you ever had that experience where the perfect book comes to you at the perfect time? That was Guernsey Literary Society for me. Right when reading was starting to become a chore, the people of Guernsey let me borrow their eyes to see the magic of discovering it for the first time. So I’ll gladly give it 5 beans!

Rachel says:

Kaylee Reviews: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Authors: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Published:
Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII

Hey all,

This is my review for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. My pal Rachel and I each read the book over the summer and though it would be fun to write our own reviews for you all! Thanks for coming aboard, Rach! You can read Rachel's review here! 

Like Rachel, my initial impressions of the novel came by word of mouth. My mother picked up this novel on one of her book hunting adventures and read it right away! She talked about it for weeks and weeks before I finally decided to open it up, and I am very glad that I did!

TGLPPS  follows author Juliet Ashton right at the end of WWII in London. Juliet's articles kept the public laughing throughout all the devastation. When we meet her in the beginning of the book, she is working on deciding what her next book is going to be about. One day,  Juliet receives a letter from a man she has never met. His name is Dawsey Adams, a quiet handyman from the island of Guernsey. Dawsey reaches out to Juliet, because he had come into possession of a novel by Charles Lamb that Juliet had owned before the war. Over the next few months, Dawsey introduces Juliet to the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, a book club that was formed by the denizens of Guernsey Island as a way to pass the time during the Nazi occupation. Soon the other members begin to write to Juliet as well. As she gets to know the members of the society more personally, Juliet's fascination grows, and she finally makes plans to travel to the island to meet them face to face. Little does she know that what she discovers there will change her career and her personal life forever.

The most striking feature of this book is that it is an epistolary novel. In layman's terms, that means the entire book is written in the form of letters. In my opinion, this accomplished the feat of giving each of the characters and strong, unique voice. It was done so successfully, that I could clearly picture each person in my mind! And since we're talking about characters, never in my life as a reader have I ever wanted to visit a place as much as I want to go to Guernsey! I just want to spend time with all of the characters! Yes, I understand that they're fictional beings, but they seemed so lifelike! I'm going to make a bold statement and say that this book had the strongest characterization of any novel that I have ever read!

I'm giving this book 5 coffee beans! If not for the touching but funny plot line of the amazingly lifelike characters, then certainly for it's theme The characters in this book love to read. They will show you that you don't have to have an education to appreciate literature or to enjoy a good book. Anyone who understands what it means to find the magic in reading will love this novel!

Kaylee says:

"Icy Sparks" by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Title: Icy Sparks
Author: Gwyn Hyman Rubio
Published: 1998
Genre: Fiction

"Rural Kentucky in the 1950s is not an easy place to grow up, and it's especially hard for ten-year-old Icy Sparks, an orphan who lives with her grandparents. Life becomes even more difficult for Icy when violent tics and uncontrollable cursing begin -- symptoms brought on by a troubling affliction that goes undiagnosed until her adulthood. Icy's adolescence is marred by the humiliation of her illness, and its all-too-visible signs are the source of endless mystery and hilarity as everyone around her offers an opinion about what's troubling the girl. Eventually, Icy finds solace in the company of Miss Emily, an obese woman who knows what it's like to be an outcast in this tightly knit community. Narrated by a now-grown Icy, this novel shimmers with warmth and humor as it recounts a young girl's painful and poignant journey to womanhood -- and the many lives she touches and enriches along the way."

Anyone who has ever felt that they don't fit in will instantly relate to Icy Sparks, the protagonist in Gwyn Hyman Rubio's novel of the same name. As a young child, Icy has always had the unique ability of being able to "pop" her eyes out when she gets excited or frustrated, earning her the nickname "Frog Girl". But when the tics and outbursts increase and become more violent, she and those around her realize that something is wrong. Since no one knows what exactly is wrong with the girl, she becomes an outcast with only her grandparents and friend Miss Emily, a fellow outcast, for company, and even they struggle to understand Icy. Only later in adulthood does Icy learn the name for the disorder that she suffers from -- Tourette's Syndrome.

Another big conflict besides girl vs. Tourette's is good vs. evil. Icy creates a divide within herself; one half is good, and the other is bad. Her bad self puts her at odds with God, and her God-fearing grandmother. She  can't give herself over to Him, because a bad girl and God can't be in the same company. It's a constant inward struggle for her to figure out what side will define her.

While, in general, I enjoyed the story being told, I ran into road blocks along the way. One was that I sometimes lost track of what was going on, particularly when Icy was experiencing one of her fits. Things would get weird whenever she was having an attack, and it was hard to tell whether what she was seeing was real life or a result of her syndrome. The other moment that left me baffled contains a spoiler, so cease reading this minute if you don't want to know what happens.

*******

At the end of the novel, Icy experiences a spiritual awakening. It's a long, drawn-out moment featuring lots of hymns and various choir robes. I'm sure it's a metaphor for something, but I was so confused about what was going on that it was lost on me. Basically, Icy lets herself go and finally learns to accept herself and her mysterious syndrome, as well as coming to realize that she is loved by many people, including God. 

Here's why you should read this book:

1. Rubio's writing style features witty Southernisms that will make any reader smile.

2. The story comments on the human condition and the inward struggle between good and evil.

3. The coming-of-age themes present in the story will resonate with many readers.

Kaylee says: