A book about Cerebal Palsy

Petey

By: Ben Mikaelsen

Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction

Pages: 256

Published: 2000

Read:  July

4 out of 5

1920 – A boy, Petey, was born with Cerebal Palsy and raised in a mental institution because they thought he was an idiot. . He did learn to communicate by nodding his head and making certain sounds. The story is about how he befriended several staff members, a special fellow resident, and a little boy.

            My daughter recommended it to me when she read it in junior high school.  I thought it was good, but sadder than I expected. I liked that it followed the boy’s entire life and not just a portion. It is definitely a circle of life story.

A coincidence or more?!?

The Cheerleaders

By: Kara Thomas

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages: 384

Published: 2018

Read:  July

4 out of 5

CONNECT THE DOTS.  A car accident, a murder, and a suicide. 5 cheerleaders – all dead within a month. Told in the voice of one of the cheerleader’s sister, is the dark twisted story of this small town’s tragedy. Thomas keeps the reader guessing throughout the book, once you think you got it - wait - another twist is upon you. Never having read Thomas before, she is definitely on my radar now. I’m going to have to consider going back and reading Little Monsters (2017) and The Darkest Corners (2016).

Definitely in the minority here...

All the Light We Cannot See

By: Anthony Doerr

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 531

Published: 2014

Audiobook: 16 hours and 2 mins

Read:  July

1 out of 5

I know I am in the minority when I say I didn't like this book, but I just couldn't get into it.  I usually love historical fiction and multiple story lines, but I didn't find this novel intriguing at all. I started the book in print and gave up on it, but decided to try again on audio. The audio was phenomenal, but I found the story blah.

“There is a book for every person and a person for every book” – This one just isn’t mine

a Bit Disappointing

Ghost

By: Jason Reynolds

Genre: Juvenile Realistic Fiction

Pages: 192

Published: 2016

Read:  July

3 out of 5

This book definitely had some great qualities and taught some valuable lessons. However, I do feel the story was unrealistic and sugar coated. For instance, the coach never told Ghost’s mother about getting in trouble – some which were very big instances. As a mother, I would be beyond upset and this aspect was never addressed. In real life, I also don’t believe he would have gotten off so easily with stealing an expensive pair of shoes.  I feel the book, Holes by Louis Sacher, taught the life lessons much better. I am very surprised to see this novel as one of the 100 books on The Great American Read.