Search Results for: jeff high

A Lesson in Hope

October 7, 2015 by Jennifer

Hope, Indiana is no Mitford, North Carolina, but it’s close. Phillip Gulley writes about small town church life in a similar fashion to Jan Karon. There are folksy characters, some backbiting and position jostling within the Society of Friends Meeting, career doubts, marriage temptations, problems with adult parents, and more in his latest novel A Lesson in Hope.

People are at their worst when it comes to money, and when the small Hope Friends Meeting inherits a large sum from a member, they are odds for what to do with it. Pastor Sam Gardner is hoping for a raise, some want to build, others want to give it away to missionaries. Regina Charles, the deceased’s niece, shows up demanding her share and threatening to sue.

This was a sweet novel, funny in places, and heartwarming (though not at all sickly sweet). Empty nesters concerned with children away from home and dealing with needy parents will relate easily to this story line, and if you’ve ever had to figure out what to do with hundreds of thousands of dollars — wait, you haven’t? — probably just better to just watch this kerfuffle from afar.

If you like “gentle fiction” and have enjoyed Jan Karon or Jeff High, and haven’t read anything by Phillip Gulley yet, I recommend that you give him a try. I read a couple of his Harmony novels, and apparently there was one more set in Hope before this one, but I didn’t feel behind at all jumping in with this one.

Gentle Fiction: What It Is and Why I Write It

February 8, 2015 by Guest Contributor

We are pleased to welcome guest contributor Jeff High, author of the Watervalley series of books (linked to Jennifer’s reviews).

Some of my favorite Southern authors, William Faulkner, Flannery O’Conner, Thomas Wolfe, and James Dickey, just to name a few, all have one thing in common: they didn’t write gentle fiction. They wrote Southern gothic.

Southern gothic focuses on the depravity of our beloved South and typically has characters that are deeply flawed, eccentric, and…usually violent. Every southerner has read about some of these people in the newspaper. Several of us may even know a few. (Heck, I’m probably related to a couple.)

Nevertheless, we learn from these novels. They hold up a mirror to parts of our culture and ourselves that we would rather not discuss or think about. But we read them because they represent some great literature. Albeit, after we’re done we typically contemplate sticking our head in the oven.

But the problem with Southern gothic is this: the gothic viewpoint is not a complete and true picture of the South. Growing up in rural Tennesee, I saw plenty of prejudice, exclusion, and ignorance perpetuated by a host of bugger-eating morons hanging off every rung of the social ladder. But I also knew a richer, kinder South; one that was permeated by an abiding sense of community, a love of the soil, and a devotion to family, friends, and faith. There was also an unquenchable desire to find laughter in the ordinary day. Admittedly, much of the South has changed, but the values of that agrarian culture are still firmly rooted.

So, here’s the difference. I write about the same South that Faulkner, Wolfe, and Dickey wrote about…the same quiet, ordinary people with the same sins, joys, sorrows, and hopes we all share. But I’m inclined to write about the more redemptive aspects of Southern life, of how flawed people -sometimes willingly and sometimes reluctantly- make courageous choices based on the enduring values that are embedded within them and in their culture.

And I do this under the prose style of gentle fiction.

In truth, gentle fiction is actually an approach to writing that crosses multiple genres. The characters tend to be likeable and redemptive, relationships are a central focus, and the stories generally have an upbeat or positive ending despite the pitfalls of real life and real conflicts.

What you won’t be getting in gentle fiction is a lot of icky blood and guts or graphic sexual descriptions detailing plumbing and positions. Don’t misunderstand; these things can occur in the story because, well, people are people. But effective and elegant writing can invoke the reader’s imagination much more explicitly than tawdry narration or sleazy dialogue.

And, ironically, even though gentle fiction stories are typically infused with quite a bit of wit and laughter, (shucks, I know mine are) they also have the powerful capacity to invoke deep emotions and genuine tears.

The gentle fiction approach to writing is nothing new. Let me offer a few examples: Jane Austin, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, James Herriot, James Fennimore Cooper, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott…and the list goes on and on. As well, many present day writers broadly fit within the boundaries of gentle fiction, including: Maeve Binchy, Francis Macomber, Patrick Taylor, Lisa Wingate, Ann Bates Ross, and, of course, Jan Karon.

But there is one huge problem with writing gentle fiction. The ranks of the critical literati don’t much care for it, particularly in Southern literature.

Wiley Cash’s wonderfully crafted and highly lauded 2012 novel, A Land More Kind Than Home, is an excellent example of modern Southern gothic and has received dozens of accolades from the literary press including The New York Times Editor’s Choice Award.

Conversely, you won’t find a single Los Angeles Times or New York Times Book Review on any work of Jan Karon, who has historically been a number one best seller and has sold millions upon millions of books. Gentle fiction is not seen as having literary significance and the aforementioned critics seem to like southern literature best when we handle a snake or two, smoke Marlboro’s on the porch in our mumu and curlers, and drop the occasional shout-out to Sun-drop. For them to take notice… not only do you have to leave the laundry dirty, you have to hang it in the front yard.

But ultimately, I am convinced that novels such as the Watervalley Series more accurately reflect the contemporary culture that truly exists in the South, stories that celebrate the everyday challenges, the comic frustrations, and the eccentricities of ordinary people.

In the end, I’d like to believe that the stories of Watervalley are a needed breath of fresh air. These glass half-full tales are my love letters to small town life. With each of them, (More Things in Heaven and Earth, Each Shining Hour, and The Splendor of Ordinary Days –to be released 10/15) the reader experiences the delightful possibility of not just being entertained, but of being transported; of being reminded… if only for a few sublime hours, of a life that is rich and wise and wonderful.

Now, go drink a Sun-drop and fry something! (Hey, the critics might be reading this…so, I’m covering my bases.)

I’m Jeff High…and for now in Watervalley, that’s pretty much the high point.

Each Shining Hour, a Watervalley Novel

November 5, 2014 by Jennifer

A year ago I reviewed Jeff High’s first Watervalley novel More Things in Heaven and Earth on 5 Minutes for Mom. In that review I compared it to Jan Karon’s Mitford series, James Herriot’s country vet novels, and Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country Doctor series.

The first book introduced recent Med school grad Luke Bradford who had agreed to work as the small town doctor in Watervalley, Tennessee for three years in exchange for the payment of his school debt. He slowly began to adjust in the first few months. The second book in the series Each Shining Hour is out now, and I enjoyed it just as much — if not more — than the first one.

Luke grows as a character and the supporting cast, including his lovable genius-in-disguise housekeeper Connie and the town curmudgeon John are back and they continue to be developed as well. Because Luke is pursuing a possible love interest, this novel had a romance angle as well. There was also the addition of a mystery, dealing with a long-vacant bakery building, an unsolved murder years old, and some mythical diamonds. Additional lovable and quirky characters were introduced as well.

Each Shining Hour: A Novel of Watervalley is a clean and uplifting novel, and I can’t wait for more in the series. Highly recommended.

More Things in Heaven and Earth #giveaway

October 21, 2013 by Jennifer

Are you a fan of James Herriot? Jan Karon’s Mitford? Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country Doctor? If you answered yes to any of these, then have I got a new series for you. More Things In Heaven and Earth is a new book by Jeff High focusing on the small town of Watervalley, Tennessee.

See why I was charmed by this new series by reading my full review of More Things in Heaven and Earth at 5 Minutes for Mom. You can also enter to win your own copy.

I’ve also reviewed the second book of the series. Check out my review of Each Shining Hour.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

The Brothers’ Keepers

December 31, 2014 by Elizabeth

Archeologist Grace Madison is in Belgium, her husband Mark (former CIA) is on their American ranch, and her son Jeff is on his honeymoon in Switzerland when Grace is awakened by a phone call bringing news that her daughter, Maggie, has been kidnapped in Paris. The family converges, looking for clues, and soon embarks on a world-tour of hunting first for Maggie, then for the two parts of an ancient scroll that may reveal the whereabouts of Solomon’s treasure–hidden water in a parched region where water rights cause war. In the meantime, a close family friend, an octogenarian seminary professor, is kidnapped by his twin brother, and the Madison family has to figure out whose side each of them is actually on.

Action ranges wildly, from London to Jordan to a snow-covered chalet on the borders of Switzerland and Italy; from Rome to Venice. Martin Luther played a part in this scroll’s hiding, and so his history has to followed as well. The family works loosely with Mossad, M16, and other international spy agencies (this part wasn’t filled out too well), while never quite being sure who to trust. They make powerful friends, and powerful enemies as well. At one point it becomes apparent that they are being chased by not one, but two groups of people who wish them the most harm possible, and the book’s point of view allows the reader to know who they are and what they’re doing.

The Brothers’ Keepers is not a perfect novel. The writer’s style was a bit bumpy and felt evasive to me, like we’d come to a suspenseful part and then suddenly it was resolved and we were on to something else. There were spelling and grammatical errors. Worst of all, the fact that this is PART TWO of a trilogy was not made clear to me until I reached an ending that wasn’t a real ending. Why wouldn’t you say that on the front cover? Oddly enough, this made me forgive the book some of its issues, like how confused I sometimes was, and how the author seemed to expect me to know and understand characters that weren’t fleshed out.

In spite of its flaws, however, this book is great fun to read. I love the character of Grace, with her “womanly thighs” and “American size 12 bottom,” an educated and articulate wife and mother who is trying to keep her brood alive and seeing the humour of everyday life throughout. I enjoyed the chase for historical clues and the real danger involved, and I loved that it was an entire family doing the chasing. This is also a well-informed book and I appreciated the articulate references to history and geography throughout, and the author’s sly sense of humour. Enough information is given that you can read this on its own, although I warn that you will occasionally feel confused, and I would recommend reading the first one beforehand. (It’s called When Camels Fly. I found this out on Amazon. Again, this information should be on the cover, or on the pages, perhaps in a prologue. Also, I’m going to read this first one, because as I said I like the characters and it’s a very enjoyable read. And I hope to read the third.)

The Brothers’ Keepers is a suspenseful novel with a realistic family dynamic and some great characters as well. Like I said, it’s a fun read, and I recommend it as a delightful way to spend your valuable reading time.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy series

August 16, 2014 by Nancy

I don’t know how I’ve missed Jeffrey Brown’s previous Star Wars books, Darth Vader and Son and Vader’s Little Princess, but when I saw Jedi Academy in the Scholastic catalog, I knew it was something my 6th grade Star Wars fanatic would like.

Roan can’t wait to attend Pilot Academy Middle School and become a pilot like his older brother, father, and grandfather, and is crushed when he doesn’t get in. Having accepted his fate at Tatooine Agriculture Academy, he’s surprised to receive acceptance to Jedi Academy, especially since he’s a little old to begin Jedi training. But it’s better than Plant School, so off he goes.

Roan doesn’t know what to expect but makes friends quickly. He also deals with bullies, his inability to use the force, and his feelings for a girl, and before long realizes he really does want to be a Jedi after all.

In Return of the Padawan, Roan can’t wait to go back to Jedi Academy for his second year. He’s mastered the use of the force and finally can understand Master Yoda, and he’s ready for Starfighter Flight Training. There’s a new chef at the school, and a class pet that the students need to care for. Plus this year the students have access to Holobook, a social media site where the mean kids take advantage of the written word.

Flight training is harder than Roan thought it would be, and when his best friend and the girl he likes stop speaking to him, he starts hanging with the bullies. But he’s determined to get his friends back and win over a teacher who has it in for him.

The Jedi Academy books are a mix of graphic novel and journal entries, plus copies of the school paper including a comic written by Roan about an Ewok pilot, homework assignments, letters from home, school posters, Roan’s notes on things the teachers said, and other scrapbook-like pages.

Kids from grades 4 and up will relate to Roan and his classmates — maybe not their classes but definitely their struggles to fit in and get good grades without being the teacher’s pet. Roan tries to talk to his friends about why they’re made at him but they often won’t talk to him, which is a realistic situation I recall not very fondly from my own middle school years.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of and the small images made it hard to distinguish them at times, but that’s probably just my old age talking and I don’t think kids will have any problems. I highly recommend these books to kids ages 9 and up, especially those who love Star Wars.

Big Whoop!

July 15, 2014 by Dawn

Young children may not be familiar with the word curmudgeon, but when they meet Mr. Fox in Maxine Lee’s new picture book Big Whoop! (POW!/powerHouse Books, July 2014), they’ll certainly understand the concept. Mr. Fox doesn’t smile, and he doesn’t laugh. He goes about his business with the same unemotional expression on his face all day long. Two of his friends, Roman and Harrison, want to do something about that.

These fun-loving pals have a plan to get Mr. Fox to laugh, starting out by donning simple costumes and acting like they’ve turned into zoo animals, but Mr. Fox responds in the same way he always does, by simply stating, “Big whoop,” and continuing on with his reading. Roman and Harrison up their game with each page turn, going from silly mustaches to elaborate stories involving outer space trips and even time travel! Will Mr. Fox crack even the smallest of smiles?

Adults reading this one to their little ones need to be prepared to play into the silly factor that is very high with this book, and the more spirited the reader, the more fun the experience. Though my kids were unfamiliar with the phrase “Big whoop!” before reading this picture book, it is now one that they find hilarious to use with each other in a joking way. Maxine Lee’s illustrations were described in the promotional material as “in the vein of Oliver Jeffers,” who I absolutely adore, and I think that comparison is well-placed. The colors are bright and bold, and the sketching style is similar, but even more so, the overall playfulness of the illustrations reminds me of some of Jeffers’ work.

Check this book out for a raucously fun read with your children this summer!

Are You Looking Forward to The Giver? {Books on Screen}

May 30, 2014 by Dawn

Published in 1993, Lois Lowry’s The Giver has been hailed as the quintessential piece of dystopian children’s literature, winning the Newbery Medal in 1994. (Lowry is one of only a few people to have ever won this prestigious award twice!) I’m guessing that because it was published during the craziness of my own senior year in high school, I somehow missed reading it as a young adult. A friend of mine who is just a few years younger than me had been saying for a long, long time that it was among her favorite books, and on her recommendation, I finally got around to reading it earlier this year. My thirteen-year-old son and I started reading it aloud together, but he got impatient with our limited time to read together and ended up finishing it himself. In his words, “I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened!”

Immediately after he finished the book, he began pushing me to get going on my reading, because he was desperate to have someone to talk to about the story. I have to admit that at the end of the book, I needed a little bit of time to collect my thoughts before discussing it with him, because I was left feeling so empty and sad. The ambiguity of the novel’s ending brought out my pessimistic side, but my son had a quite different take on what would have followed the ending. We had an interesting discussion about the community elders’ view of a perfect society, and how the line between the concepts of utopia and dystopia could be so fuzzy. The depth of this novel makes it perfect for adolescents, as their development at that time includes a greater ability for abstract thought and moral reasoning.

It wasn’t until after we got started reading it that I found out it was being made into a movie. What timing! The Giver, the film, will be released on August 15. Anticipation is building for this film adaptation, and as a beloved piece of children’s literature, the novel has set the bar high for reception of the film.

Want a sneak peek? Check out the trailer:

I can already see some differences in the movie from the novel in the trailer alone, so I’m trying to prep myself with this idea so I’m not left too frustrated upon viewing the film. My hope is that the essence of the story remains the same, even if the protagonist’s age and experiences are altered, slightly or significantly.

Character posters and some stills of the film have been released, too, and I can feel the depth of these characters just looking at the pictures!

Brenton Thwaites as Jonas

Jeff Bridges as The Giver

Meryl Streep as the Chief Elder

The Giver and Jonas in deep discussion.

Do you plan to see The Giver in the theaters in August? My son and I will be there, with high hopes!

Check out the film’s sites:

Friday’s Five: #Cybils Nominees for the Littlest Book Lovers

November 22, 2013 by Dawn

One beautiful thing about picture books as a genre is that it groups together books that can span target audiences from the very youngest toddlers who are learning to not chew the pages of a book to upper elementary school students who can still be pulled into illustrated stories, albeit the ones with more complex texts. One extremely tricky thing about being a judge in the Fiction Picture Book category for the Cybils Awards is that our collection of books can span target audiences from those wee ones to the pre-teens. Yeah, double-edged sword, I tell you.

In today’s handful of nominated picture books, I want to share five books that I think are worth checking out for the toddlers and preschoolers in your life. They are lighter on text, pull in younger children with fun illustrative styles, and hold up to the multiple readings that parents are very often subjected to carrying out.

1. Night Light by Nicholas Blechman — What is it about toddlers and vehicles? These days, I’m spending lots of time with a couple one-and-a-half-year-olds, and every time they hear the chug of a truck going by or the wail of a siren, they immediately turn to see what amazing-to-them vehicle is going to drive by. (Right now dump trucks and street sweepers are VERY high on that list.) This adorable, colorful book utilizes pinholes of various sizes on the pages to give a preview of the light that is to come with the next page turn. The illustrations are filled with basic shapes and bright colors, and the text incorporates only a few words on each page as the number of lights increase from one to ten. The illustrations on the inside of the back cover reveal a fun little twist to the story that will make kids smile as they point out the variety of vehicles spread across the pages.

2. Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein — Stomping, chomping, and kissing all come naturally to little kids, and Dinah, the newly hatched dinosaur that graces this cover, is as toddler-like as a prehistoric creature can be. Like a toddler, too, a dinosaur can come on strong, and Dinah has to figure out just how to approach the critters she’d love to plant a kiss on without scaring them away. By the end of the book, Dinah just might have a new pal perfectly suited for toddler, I mean, dinosaur fun and games. I’m a big fan of David Ezra Stein’s work, and I’m happy to see another book by him geared to the littlest readers.

3. Storm Song by Nancy Viau and illustrated by Gynux — When a storm rolls in, young children’s fears often come with it. The crack of thunder and the bright flash of lightning can leave a toddler scared and unable to explain what he is feeling. One way to address children’s fears is through books, and when a familiar scary situation is presented with the characters effectively dealing with it, children can be reassured. This book does just that by showing a trio of little ones who are taken by surprise by a sudden storm, but thankfully their mom helps them find fun in the darkness with a little imagination, a couple flashlights, and some popcorn (cooked on the gas stove that I’m sure she’s thrilled to have!). As we grown-ups know, every storm passes, but sometimes kids need that reminder.

4. Red Hat by Lita Judge — This mostly wordless book puts a knit red hat at the center of an adventure with some curious forest creatures. When a baby bear sees the hat drying on a clothesline beside the little cottage, his “Hrmmm?” is an expression of curiosity that even a toddler can immediately grasp. Grabbed from the line, the hat soon becomes the plaything for a slew of the bear’s wild pals, and through all the excitement, the stitches soon come loose. After a “Yoo-ha!” and a “Hiii-ya!” (and a few other fun-to-mimic sounds), the porcupine’s “Wut-whoa,” will be perfectly understood when young readers see only a pile of red yarn left. Thankfully, the hat’s owner seems to have as good an attitude as a supply of red yarn, and soon enough the hat is remade, along with enough extras for everyone.

5. Ah ha! by Jeff Mack — Just as a frog begins to relax in the sun atop a rock in the pond, along comes a curious boy with a jar and an excited dog. There goes the frog’s fun in the sun, but this frog is determined to get out. As he gets out of one scrap, he seems to get right into another. What he thinks is a rock turns out to be a turtle shell, and the bumpy log ends up having teeth! Several combinations of the words in the title make up the only text in this book, and young children will love copying the exclamations as they wait to see what will become of the frog. Hint, the final word of the book is simply, “Aahh!”

I continue to have nominated picture books trickling in, and I’m happy to share my thoughts on them each week until we wrap up our duties as round one judges by the end of the year. Check out the nominations for more library check out inspirations.

All opinions offered here are mine alone, and do not represent the Cybils Awards.

Engaging in Author Adoration at the National Book Festival {On Reading}

September 29, 2013 by Dawn

It’s been a week since my family and I attended the first day of the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, and my pre-festival enthusiasm held up through the day. We listened to a number of authors and illustrators in the Children’s Tent, and as always, it was refreshing and lovely to hear the creators of books we love speak about their craft. I’ve always believed it’s important to teach children that the books they enjoy are made by actual people, and there’s no better way to drive this point home than to have them see (or meet!) these authors and illustrators in person.

We visited the book sales area early in the day, and while I’d love for the children to be able to leave with all the books that have caught their eye, our bank account doesn’t care for that idea. So, as usual, we instituted the one book rule, which is a terribly difficult rule for a bibliophile like me to enforce. But, paying full cover price for hardcover books can add up, and we’re regular patrons of our public library, so we made mental lists of books to check out while we each settled on one book to buy.

My oldest, newly 13 and an eighth grader who is making the transition to YA fare, opted for a book recently reviewed by Jennifer, the YA novel Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. I’ve read varying age recommendations for this one, some suggesting older high schoolers and others giving a green light to eighth graders and up. I warned my son that the book covered a very heavy topic, and he said that he was looking for a more serious piece of fiction that would challenge him. Though we didn’t get to see Matthew Quick’s talk at the festival, my son was still intrigued by the book description and the very eye-catching cover. He began reading that afternoon at the festival, and he finished the book on the train ride home!

At seven, my daughter is a voracious reader whose interests are quite varied. She’ll still pull picture books off the shelf for a quick read, and she usually has five or so middle grade novels with bookmarks in them at one time. She had the toughest time of all trying to find just one book to buy that day, and she went back and forth among several titles until she saw the cover of Kevin Henkes’ new book The Year of Billy Miller. We had been talking about Henkes earlier in the morning, trying to figure out if we were going to be able to stay long enough to see his late afternoon talk, and the children were amazed at remembering how many picture books of his they had read and loved. We were surprised to see his name on a novel, but all it took was reading the inside cover description of the book for my daughter to declare that she had her winner. She’s almost finished with this one now, and I think I’m going to steal it off her shelf next for my own enjoyment. Unfortunately, an afternoon downpour influenced our decision to leave the festival before seeing Henkes’ talk, but my daughter was okay with that. “Maybe next time, Mom. At least I get to read his book,” were her words of consolation to us both as we ran for the train in the rain.

Our five year old son was the quickest decision maker of the children, for as soon as he saw the cover of Brian Floca’s new nonfiction picture book Locomotive, he was in awe. Though he’s never been a serious train enthusiast, he was immediately drawn to this book. As we looked through the pages, we were both in awe of Floca’s detailed and lifelike illustrations, and my son was excited to buy a book that “has so, so many words,” a picture book that can certainly entertain for a long time. Right after making our purchases, we were able to grab some seats in the Children’s Tent for Floca’s presentation, and I was impressed by the level of time and research he invested in the making of this book. He was engaging and funny as he showed the audience pictures of his travels and first-hand experiences that contributed to the writing and illustrating of the book, and I gained an even stronger respect for the work that goes into the production of quality nonfiction work for children.

And finally, I want to share my own book purchase, because it also includes a little story about my geekiness when it comes to my obsession with children’s literature. I knew going in that I wanted to purchase an Oliver Jeffers book, because he was one of two picture book author/illustrators who I was most thrilled to see. I had a hard time choosing myself, but I eventually settled on This Moose Belongs to Me, a book that we’ve borrowed from the library and have loved. Though I opted not to conduct any one-on-one interviews this year, Jeffers would have been at the top of my list. I think I was intimidated by his sheer awesomeness that I was concerned I wouldn’t have anything even remotely intelligible to say. Well, I was tested on that fear, because near the end of one talk in the children’s tent, I realized that Jeffers was standing at the side of the tent watching. And no one was around him. I debated for a few minutes, until I decided to seize the moment as it were, and I approached him for a quick conversation. He was as personable and friendly as could be, and I’m now able to add him to the list of children’s author/illustrators who I’ve had the grand pleasure of meeting in real life.

So there you have it, a peek into our National Book Festival shopping bag and a glimpse of what our day held. If you ever have the opportunity to attend this incredible yearly festival held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, every September, I highly urge you to go. Or, check your area for local book festivals. Trust me when I say that they are experiences to remember.

Happy Any Day Now

September 10, 2013 by Jennifer

Judith Raphael has a casual boyfriend, good friends, a devoted mother, and an amazing job as the second-chair cellist for the Maryland Philharmonic. The novel centers around her plans for her 50th birthday party, a big number that she doesn’t fear as much as celebrate. She’s ready to be Happy Any Day Now.

A lot of “chick lit” or light women’s fiction focuses on women in the 20’s or 30’s. I realized that I’m closer to Judith’s 49 than many of those heroines (and certainly closer to her than the teens I read about in YA fiction), and a novel featuring this demographic felt fresh to me.

Judith and her co-worker Jeff have a type of friends-with-benefits relationship. They are definitely friends, but will the playboy ever want to settle down with just one woman? When Judith runs into her college sweetheart who dumped her after his mother didn’t approve, she decides that second chances don’t come along that often, and they decide to give the relationship that neither of them ever quite forgot another spin.

When her dear friend, and principal cellist gets too sick to keep his position, Judith knows that she should audition, but the stakes are high. If she doesn’t pass the blind audition, she’ll probably have to resign, because it would be awkward to sit under someone who beat her out for the top spot.

Her father left her and her mother when Judith was just a little girl, and now all of sudden, he’s back too. Her mother seems to accept him, but Judith can’t forgive the fact that he just walked away and left them to struggle financially and emotionally.

The orchestral work setting added interest, as did the diverse cast of characters (and some of them are characters in the true sense of the word!), making Happy Any Day Now by Toby Devens satisfying on many levels — humor, life-transition, romance, work passions and more.

AUDIOBOOK NOTES:
The reader Donna Postel did a great job with Judith’s voice. It was a good match. She also did an amazing job with the various accents of the cast of characters: Australian Jeff, Korean mama, Brooklyn Jewish dad.

I’ve found that I really enjoy audio versions of light women’s fiction, and this one was a treat. You can hear an audio sample at the Tantor Audio page for Happy Any Day Now.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever

December 3, 2011 by Nancy

My son started asking to read the Wimpy kid books in second grade, but I had him wait until third grade for various reasons. The books are in pretty high demand at his school but he managed to read all of them in the first few months of school. Scholastic sent me a copy of the latest book, Cabin Fever, just in time for our vacation over Thanksgiving, and he devoured the book on the flight to Florida.

Jeff Kinney got the idea for Cabin Fever this past winter; as anyone who lives in New England knows it was a particularly brutal one with snow piling up for three months straight. The snowstorm that traps Greg Heffley and his family in their house doesn’t blow through until near the end of the book, but as always it’s a fun ride getting there.

Greg’s latest journal entries cover the stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas, which make him a nervous wreck due to the high pressure of good behavior. Shoveling the driveway, a bumper sticker on his dad’s new car and putting up posters get Greg into some pretty funny mishaps, including a run-in with the law. While he has a good heart, he doesn’t always use his head, and I think most kids will laugh at his thought processes, even if they’re a bit far-fetched.

Greg also has to contend with his little brother Manny, who has perfected maternal manipulation and bugs Greg to no end. Manny’s save-yourself reaction to the snow storm that traps them in their house had me laughing out loud.

Cabin Fever also covers some of the recent school-related trends – bully prevention, fundraising, healthy food in schools and many other familiar topics are presented in a way kids and parents alike will find amusing.

While this is the sixth book in the series, Cabin Fever can be enjoyed without having read the previous books. Fans of the series will love the latest look into the mind of Greg Heffley.

~~Win it! Scholastic is offering a copy of Cabin Fever to 1 lucky winner, U.S. addresses only. Leave a comment below and the winner will be announced December 14.~~ This giveaway is closed.

Don’t miss a thing: Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed or video reviews on YouTube. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

Nancy does not look back on middle school with fond memories. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.

On Reading: Revisiting My Take on Celebrity Authors

October 2, 2011 by Dawn

I’m a book snob, and I’ll be the first one to admit it. For my own personal reading, my preferences aren’t too narrow, but I have certain genres that I seem to stick with. When it comes to what I read with my young children, though… that’s a different story. Picture books may have only 32 pages, but I there are strong differences between high-quality selections and the vast amounts of not-so-good-quality books that are published each year. For me, it’s all about the right mix of text that is entertaining and makes children think, along side illustrations that are attractive and appealing to young kids. And, it can’t be cheesy. Too much cheesiness, and I feel like the author is just taking a cheap route in an attempt to get his book sold.

Then there’s the celebrity author factor. To me, authors are celebrities, but I’m not referring to the fact that anyone who knows children knows the names Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, and Mo Willems. They are true celebrities in my eyes, but I’m talking about the phenomenon that sees folks like Madonna, Spike Lee, and Jeff Foxworthy officially sharing the title of Children’s Author with the aforementioned geniuses. (And yes, I purposefully did not link to their “works,” so you’ll have to take my word for it or Google it yourself.)

In my admittedly snobby opinion, not just anyone can write a good book for young children. But, it’s easy to see that a well-known celebrity name can get a book picked up by big name publishing houses. Sigh. I’m not alone in my opinion, as some book bloggers have even gone so far as to create a group decrying the presence of celebrity authors.

My opinion is pretty firmly intact on this topic, but then I went to last week’s National Book Festival and happened over to the tent where Julianne Moore was talking about the picture books she has authored over the last few years about a character named Freckleface Strawberry. I learned that she has written three books featuring this character based upon some of her own childhood experiences, growing up with that very nickname. Covered in freckles and with bright red hair, the character itself interested me as the mom of a five year old daughter who cannot go out in public without multiple comments about her VERY red hair. But… the celebrity name in the author line gave me pause.

Don’t get me wrong, I personally love Julianne Moore as an actress, but just because she’s good at that artistic expression, who says that she has any credentials to write a picture book?

Then I listened to her talk at the National Book Festival. (Hopefully, the video will go up on the site soon, and I’ll link to it!) I found myself nodding my head along as she talked about her lifelong love for reading, how big a role literature has played in her children’s lives, and the benefits that come from a literacy-rich childhood experience. She responded to some questions from children in the audience with recommendations for books, both classic and contemporary, that I value and appreciate. She spoke confidently and passionately about reading, and the only mention she ever made to the business in which most folks know her from had to do with the explanation she gave for why her hair wasn’t actually red that day. (She’s currently filming a movie and had a rinse in her hair to darken it for the role.) Celebrity name aside, she fit the role of children’s picture book author quite well, and when we saw her later in the day reading her first book, she even impressed me with her ability to make her story come alive.

I can’t say that I’m completely dropping my general opinion about celebrity authors, but I’m counting Julianne Moore as an exception to the rule. Now that I’ve read the three picture books she’s written, I’m happy to report that had they a different author’s name on the cover, I’d still be saying that I enjoy reading them with my children. The illustrator who chose to provide the artwork (without knowing the name of the author, mind you, an important detail I learned during her talk), is LeUyen Pham, an accomplished illustrator whose style is lighthearted and immediately recognizable. And, for my daughter, last weekend marked the day that she met the author who created one of her new favorite book characters, not a Hollywood star.

When she’s not hanging out with famous stars or authors, Dawn is usually teaching preschool, folding laundry or blogging at my thoughts exactly.

After Ever After

February 8, 2010 by Dawn

I admit to being a semi-newbie to YA literature. Sure, I was obviously a ‘young adult’ back in the day, and I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, so this must have been my choice genre at some point. As an adult, though, my tastes have mostly run toward contemporary fiction primarily, and I’ve sometimes wondered why some adults opt to read so much literature written toward a YA audience. As a reviewer here for the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to read a handful of YA novels, and I’m starting to figure out the appeal.

That understanding comes a heck of a lot easier after finishing a book like Jordan Sonnenblick’s new After Ever After. The story of what it’s like to be an eighth-grade cancer survivor is told from the perspective of Jeffrey Alper, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was four years old. Now that he’s past the all important five year remission mark, he’s free to live the life of a normal kid. Right? Unfortunately, it seems as if a new normal is established once you live the post-cancer life, (the after “ever after” part) and for Jeffrey this includes a number of attention and learning challenges as a result of the treatments he received. With a best friend who is also a childhood cancer survivor, and a new girl in his school (who just happens to be beautiful and completely distracting in science class), eighth grade is certainly going to be interesting.

I must admit that once I closed this book after reading the final pages, I needed a few moments alone to just ‘cry it out.’ While I’m still finding my way through YA literature, my gut tells me that this book has the perfect combination of an authentic adolescent narrator and a story line that simultaneously tackles serious, real-world issues while also nailing the little things that are so huge to teenagers. What I didn’t realize before I read it, was that this is a sequel to Sonnenblick’s 2006 YA novel Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, which tells the story of Jeffrey’s older brother, whose own eighth grade year will always be remembered as the year his little brother got cancer. I can definitely say that this second book stands on its own, but I didn’t hesitate to grab the previous book from the library shelf, and I’m finding it just as tender, funny, and touching as this one.

If you are already a fan of YA fiction, then the most concise thing I can say to you is this: go get this book. If YA isn’t your genre of choice, but you enjoy a well-told story that evokes emotion and looks at the difficulties that life can bring through the eyes of a teenager, After Ever After is most worthy of your time. The press release that I got with this book also mentioned that the author’s work has been praised by his former high school teacher… Frank McCourt. Wow.

After that kind of recognition, I realize that my application of a Five Star Reads label is less impressive, but I give it wholeheartedly.

Dawn loves that as her children are growing, her reading habits get to expand as well. Life, as she sees it, is chronicled on her blog, my thoughts exactly.

Children’s Book of Art

November 6, 2009 by Carrie

The Children’s Book of Art is a bright, colorful, well laid out and thought out book offering from DK Publishers. Taking young readers from early art’s “rocky beginning” through modern art, each section has a great deal of information about various art forms and trends but also exposes children to a variety of different creative masterpieces from art frescoes to Andy Warhol.

I love that this book talks about different time periods, likes and dislikes and also includes information on various individual artists as well, including Friedenstrich Hundertwasser (say that 10x fast!) to Grant Wood (a little easier to say). The book highlights individual art pieces, from the Head of Nefertiti to totem poles! This book is thorough for an introductory book and absolutely awesome! I’ve glanced through “intro to art” books in the past but nothing quite holds a candle to Children’s Book of Art. Even the cover of the book is cool, with the cutout of a golden picture frame from which you get to take a look inside the book. This book is very well designed to provide a great deal of information but not so much detail that it is overwhelming to a younger reader.

This book covers architecture, the history of sculpting, the ~~wacky~~ interesting art in today’s society and has full-color, high-quality photographs to go alongside explanations and descriptions. Really, if you have a young artist or are teaching a group of youngsters art, you’ll want to add this book to your collection. It is fascinating to me to just browse through it and glean bits and pieces of information. Uh, for example, I hadn’t ever seen Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog but this book includes it (and I found a picture for your education). Take a look:

Because who would NOT want something like this gracing their lawn or office building?

I don’t get this piece of art, alongside a few others. However, it is really fascinating to take a look at what other people consider to be fine art, to understand societies and cultures and to examine world views. Fascinating, fun stuff and I can’t recommend this book more highly. This is my new “5 Star Read.” I think it’s top notch and an excellent educational resource book.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.

Liking the Child You Love

September 11, 2009 by Dawn

Here’s my dilemma as I sit down to review this book: how to write openly and honestly about my opinion of a wisdom-filled and incredibly useful parenting guide, without turning the post into a private therapy session. Forgive me if I stray off the objective path a bit during this review, because I am still reeling from the effects of Liking the Child You Love: Build a Better Relationship with Your Kids– Even When They’re Driving You Crazy, by Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD.

Immediately drawn in by “Dr. Jeff’s” descriptions of ‘Parent Frustration Syndrome,’ I found myself reaching for the highlighter that would thereafter reside next to this book at all times. While his coined term is pretty self-explanatory, I found this simple checklist for determining if one has become entrenched in PFS to be frighteningly familiar in so much of my own parenting struggles:

moderately to highly frustrated

resentful of their children’s misbehaviors, their lack of expressed gratitude, and possibly even their struggles

moderately to significantly sad or even depressed

pessimistic in their outlook of their children’s lives

desiring to escape family pressures

questioning their own value

a sense of inadequacy in thinking their children’s struggles compare worse to those of extended family and friends

confused about why their children act in ways that don’t make sense

less joy

disheartened and guilty that family life is less gratifying than hoped for

While it’s not necessarily a comfortable topic to discuss, I found myself nodding in agreement (and marking the book with exclamation points) as Dr. Jeff discusses ‘toxic thinking’ patterns that parents may fall into, as well. When a parent finds him or herself always at some level of frustration with the parenting experience, it becomes much too easy to fall prey to thinking that his child always behaves in a certain way or deserves a label such as lazy, out of control or melodramatic. Feelings of being overwhelmed and lacking control can readily transform into emotionally overheated moments and quick-to-blame reactions on the part of frustrated parents.

After several eye-opening chapters of presenting the many ways parental thinking and approaches can negatively influence children when they are done under the influence of this ‘Parent Frustration Syndrome,’ Dr. Jeff then offers a solid course of advice. With logical lessons on eradicating those ‘toxic thoughts’ and easing the ‘parenting-stress habit,’ I found the second half of the book to be more reassuring that in fact, all was not lost! While I may not find these techniques immediately natural or simple to turn to, especially in the heat of the moment, I’ve been attempting to implement much of what is presented as a more positive approach in response to the parenting challenges I experience with my own three children.

As a resource to parents who are familiar with the “I can’t take this anymore” refrain playing in their own heads, Liking the Child You Love is a straightforward, honest and sometimes challenging read in that it inspires extreme introspection and calls on parents to make changes in their own thinking and behavior to bring about the desired changes in their family lives.

Dawn strives to be a good parent, and finds introspection to be addictive. Just like blogging about her own introspective habits at my thoughts exactly.

Certain Jeopardy

April 21, 2009 by Lisa

Certain Jeopardy is written by Captain Jeff Struecker with Alton Gansky. Gansky is an accomplished novelist while Struecker is a decorated member of the US Army’s most elite fighting corps. Struecker’s personal experiences and firsthand knowledge no doubt provide the framework for this tale of Special Ops, stealth engagement and survival.

At first, the novel moved somewhat slowly as I tried to remember who was who, whose wife and family story was whose, and what nickname belonged to what team member. However, I wasn’t far into the book before the pace quickened and I found myself unable to put it down. The story reads like a segment from last night’s news: Al Qaeda, Venezuela, nuclear arms and a dangerous mission…

Six American men live behind a protective façade, their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one: at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world.They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran.Informed by the true combat experience of Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement: the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home.

I don’t know about you, but I am fascinated by the stories of real life men and women both highly trained and wholly committed to defending our country, often at great personal sacrifice. As I was in the midst of ~~devouring~~ reading this novel, the story of Navy SEALS rescuing a kidnapped merchant ship captain dominated the news. Heroism, bravery, and sacrifice inspire us, rightly so, and all are present in Certain Jeopardy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a fast paced adrenaline ride that will keep you reading until the last page is turned.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….

Hachette Book Giveaway for the Election

October 1, 2008 by Jennifer

Are you ready for Election Day? Hachette Book Group is offering these 11 titles in the spirit of the season:

1. Mike’s Election Guide By Michael Moore

It’s a great year to be an American and a voter. Don’t miss out on MIKE’S ELECTION GUIDE – the indispensable book that belongs in every American’s back pocket this season.

2. The Preacher and the Presidents By Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy

Reveals how the world’s most powerful men and world’s most famous evangelist, Billy Graham, knit faith and politics together.

3. Hard Call By John McCain

In Hard Call, acclaimed authors John McCain and Mark Salter describe the anatomy of great decisions in history by telling the remarkable stories of men and women who have exemplified composure, wisdom, and intellect in the face of life’s toughest decisions.

4. The American Journey of Barack Obama By The Editors of Life Magazine

Covers the candidate Barack Obama from his childhood and adolescence to his time as editor of The Harvard Law Review and his Chicago activist years, culminating with the excitement and fervor of the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention.

5. Goodnight Bush By Erich Origen and Gan Golen

A hilarious and poignant visual requiem for the Bush administration.

6. Takeover By Charlie Savage

Takeover tells the story of how a group of true believers, led by VP Cheney, set out to establish near-monarchical executive powers that, in the words of one conservative critic, “will lie around like a loaded weapon” for any future president.

7. Her Way By Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr.

The first truly balanced investigation into the life and career of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr.’s masterful biography.

8. Dream in Color By Congresswoman Linda Sánchez and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

Often considered Congress’s Odd Couple, these warm witty sisters are not only perfect role models for young Latinas in the US, but for all young women looking to break out and create a brighter future for themselves.

9. From Hope to Higher Ground By Mike Huckabee

In his insightful and plainspoken manner, Mike Huckabee carries hope to Americans and provides practical solutions to current problems in our nation.

10. The Revolution By Ron Paul

In this book, Texas congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul provides answers to questions that few even dare to ask.

11. What You Should Know About Politics . . . But Don’t by Jessamyn Conrad

The first and only issue-based nonpartisan guide to contemporary American politics.

Next week we will draw three winners who will receive all 11 books. They might not all suit your political bent, but perhaps reading them might change your mind or broaden your perspective.

At the very least, you’ll have something to throw at the TV as this endless campaign draws to a close!

If you’d like to win (U.S. addresses only), please leave a comment here saying which of these books you’d dig into first.

The winners of last week’s contests:

Hannah’s Dream: #32 Karen B., #133 Erma Hurtt, #82 Kimberly V.

Wow, Wow, Wubbzy prize pack: #98 Jill, #18 DJ, #21 Courtney