Book Blog -- MAY B. and NEVER EIGHTEEN
Hi everyone! I'm Donna today, kicking off our book blog week with two titles that will be out in just a few weeks. There are so many books to look forward to in 2012, I thought I'd help out with a few words about a couple I've already read.
First, a middle grade novel by Caroline Starr Rose. MAY B. (January 10) is a beautiful book, from cover to cover. I am forever in awe of anyone who can write plot in poetry, and especially in someone who can express in just a few words the riveting fear or poignant emotion of a twelve-year-old girl.
From Goodreads:
May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.
I fell in love with May, and I hope you do, too.
NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic (January 17) is a completely different book, but equally compelling.
Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.
But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.
(from Goodreads)
This is a book about a person trying to make a difference in the only way any of us can - by small steps. Austin is hampered by his illness, and by his need to get it all done quickly, but his determination is inspiring. As is the idea of doing something even though you will never know the result. Doing just to do. Just to try. The world would be a better place with more Austin Parkers in it.
What books are you looking forward to in January? Besides UNDER THE NEVER SKY, of course...
First, a middle grade novel by Caroline Starr Rose. MAY B. (January 10) is a beautiful book, from cover to cover. I am forever in awe of anyone who can write plot in poetry, and especially in someone who can express in just a few words the riveting fear or poignant emotion of a twelve-year-old girl.
From Goodreads:
May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.
I fell in love with May, and I hope you do, too.
NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic (January 17) is a completely different book, but equally compelling.
Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.
But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.
(from Goodreads)
This is a book about a person trying to make a difference in the only way any of us can - by small steps. Austin is hampered by his illness, and by his need to get it all done quickly, but his determination is inspiring. As is the idea of doing something even though you will never know the result. Doing just to do. Just to try. The world would be a better place with more Austin Parkers in it.
What books are you looking forward to in January? Besides UNDER THE NEVER SKY, of course...
2 comments
Both stories sound very compelling.
I, too, am very impressed with being able to put plot and poetry into the mixer and produce a wonderful read.
I'm still musing on improving roses being red and violets being blue lol!!!
Well, now I'm looking forward to both of those books! MAY B, especially. I love novels in verse.
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