October 2008

Our book for October is Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff. This book was a Newberry runner up several years ago. I thought it should have won. It is an incredible book of how Hollis learns about families.

Hollis Woods is a troubled twelve year-old orphan who moves frequently from foster home to foster home. She moves in with an elderly woman who is a retired artist. In many ways this is a good placement for Hollis because she has an artistic gift herself. She learns a great deal about art from the elderly lady and remembers a time with another foster family in which she was truly happy.

The book to read for March 2008

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

This is a very serious stoy of the determination of the people of Denmark to get the Jews to safefty while the Nazis were equally determined to annihilate them

The Joansen family have coped with the occupation by the Nazis failrly well. There are shortages of course and the soldiers that are everywhere.

Then, thier friends, the Rosens, are endangered. Mr. and Mrs. Rosen leave their daughter, Ellen, with the Johansens hoping that she can pass as their daughter until safe voyage to Sweden can be arranged for all the Rosens.

The Book to Read for January

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvarth

Eleven-year-old Primrose is having a difficult time. Her parent have been lost at sea, but she knows - - - somewhere, deep inside herself - - - that they are still alive. While she waits for them to return, she must move in with her uncle Jack. He's not exactly the most friendly guy, so Primrose finds comfort at the local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing. The owner, kate, serves everything on a waffle, even fish and pasta. But despite her quirkiness, she becomes a wonderful friend to Primrose, teaching her how to cook, listening to her problems and giving her advice. As time passes, Primrose learns more about herself and what her future will be. Recipes are included in this humorous and tender novel.

October Book Choice

Surviving the Applewhites is the Mother/Daughter Book Club October Book.
Jake, a budding juvenile delinquent, is sent for home schooling to the arty and eccentric Applewhite family's Creative Academy, where he discovers talents and interests he never knew he had.

November's book is Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. This is a historical fiction story set in Germany during World War II.