Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida

★★★★★

Even though Journey to Topaz was about a young girl and her family's experiences in a Japanese internment camp during WWII, this book - about the same family's re-integration into the "real world" after being released from the camp - seemed to be the heavier read. You'd think that having your father taken away by the FBI, and being sent to live in make-shift barracks in the middle of a dessert (as told in Journey to Topaz), would have as much gravitas as you could bear in a children's book. Yet, this one really had more.

Yuki's family returns to their hometown of Berkeley. Some friends from camp join them, and they also make new friends. But everything's different. This book is very explicit about the racism the Japanese encountered even after the war ended, and Yuki's brother Ken returns from war with what sounds like PTSD, even though those words aren't used in the book. Perhaps Ken's emotional problems were handled a little too easily, but it's probably age-appropriate for the intended audience of the book.

A really poignant read that exposes children to the harsh realities of race in America. Still, it holds an important message of forgiveness and hope.

Journey to Topaz: A Story Of The Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida

★★★★

I'm a big fan of George Takei and his musical, Allegiance. Noticing this, a friend of mine recommended this book to me.

I had no idea there existed a children's book about the Japanese internment! In my own public education, I do not remember learning about World War II until high school (if we learned about it in middle school, I've forgotten), and we absolutely did not learn about Japanese internment. Even though this book is probably geared towards upper elementary and middle school-aged readers, I think it's a worthy read for any first-time student of World War II.

In many ways, this book reads like a non-fiction account of the internment. It's told from the perspective of an 11-year-old girl, but basically she relates heartbreaking detail after heartbreaking detail of what many Japanese-Americans experienced during this time. The topic is presently simply, but it isn't simplified; the book gets across the complexities of the situation. It's clear that what the government was doing was wrong, but what choice did the Japanese-Americans have?

One detail lacking in this account is the controversial "loyalty questionnaire", which was part of how the government decided who would be allowed to enlist in the all-Japanese regiment. I can understand, though, how that part of the history could be especially difficult for a young reader to comprehend, and the book did still manage to convey the different attitudes held by internees, i.e., that some people were willing to fight for the U.S. to prove their loyalty, while others refused to fight for a nation that was treating them like criminals.

I think this book is an excellent window into the Japanese interment, but I gave it 4 stars for two reasons. The first is because, as I mentioned, the book reads kind of like a non-fiction account - the narrative makes it easy to read, but mostly the book is rich in factual detail. It felt more like I was reading about the Japanese internment itself, not so much "one girl's experience" of the Japanese internment. Perhaps, though, I should consider that this book is probably many people's first introduction to the Japanese internment, so in that regard, this book does a wonderful job of making the topic approachable.

I also found the ending too abrupt. The story follows one family as they are evacuated from their homes and sent to live in an internment camp in the desert, but it stops short when that one family is able to obtain a kind of release to go to Salt Lake City. So they were lucky. But how come other families weren't so lucky? What happened to them? How did the camps finally come to close, and how did all those Japanese-Americans re-integrate into society? Were they able to get back all the things they put into storage? Were they able to gain back their livelihoods? Did Ken ever finish college and become a doctor?! So many questions left unanswered. I don't know if the author always intended to write a sequel, but I found out from reading other people's reviews of this book that a sequel, Journey Home, was published seven years after Journey to Topaz, and I do intend to read it as soon as I can.

Socks by Beverly Cleary

★★★★★

Being as big a fan of Beverly Cleary as I am, I can't believe I hadn't read this one before. As it turns out, I think this book would be a good read not only for elementary school-aged kids, but also for first-time expectant parents, especially those with pets, and also parents who are expecting their second child (to gently remind them not to inadvertently neglect the first-born).

Socks is a cat who was adopted by a lovely couple. He had a happy life until the day the couple had their own baby. As the first-time parents fussed over their precious Charles William - with a certain amount of comical cluelessness that I recall from my own first days as a new parent! - poor Socks was ignored, overlooked, and actually relegated to the laundry room.

The good news is, there is a happy ending. But along the way, I really felt for Socks! Poor thing. He deserved better.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

★★★★★

This book is both a source of fascinating information and an engagingly easy-to-read text. The author deftly ties together research results, personal experience, and anecdotes gathered from interview subjects.

In the introduction, on page 15, the author writes that, at the very least, she hopes the book will offer a "newfound sense of entitlement to be yourself." Indeed, that is exactly what I got.

At the core of the book is the presentation of the "extrovert ideal" - the idea that in American society, extroversion is praised and valued. This book serves to inform us that introverts, too, have a legitimate and important place in society.

Reading this book on the heels of Elaine Aron's The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, I was especially pleased whenever the author made mention of Elaine Aron and her work studying the "highly sensitive" personality trait. I honestly feel that these two books together have actually helped me to better understand myself. I really think this book has empowered me to more boldly adopt a more extroverted persona when necessary, but also to cut myself some more slack when indulging my introverted nature.

I was even quite surprised to learn that, despite answering "true" to literally every single statement in the introversion self-test, I actually deal with conflict in close personal relationships in a very extroverted way!

I was particularly interested in the chapter on Asian-Americans. As an Asian-American myself, and a follower of Asian-American media outlets, I have read countless articles about Asian-Americans being the model minority, excelling in school but not in the workplace, being stereotyped as bookish, quiet, and unassuming. I was excited to read the chapter, but also wary... A Caucasian woman writing about Asian-Americans in the mainstream media? What if she got it wrong? Well, I do know that some people have bristled at this chapter because of the broad sweeping generalizations made to Asian cultures that ultimately served to reinforce the model minority myth. In the end, I guess I gave the chapter a pass because, I confess, the anecdotes described in this chapter did indeed echo my own personal experiences.

I also appreciated the chapter on how to raise an introverted child. Mostly it said to just be aware of your child's temperament, allow them to be themselves, and support them in their endeavors, even if they don't fit in with the extroverted ideal that is so highly regarded in school-aged children. Maybe some more specific information would have been nice, but this isn't a parenting book, so really, this book gave just enough information to get started, if you think your child is an introvert.

The author comfortingly closes the book with a conclusion that urges the reader, on page 264, to "put yourself in the right lighting. For some it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk."

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

★★★★★

Really eye-opening!

I LOVE Mary Poppins the movie, but I haven't read the books (yet). I had heard before that the movie was quite different, but I had no idea that the original characters were based on P.L. Travers's own family. No wonder she was so upset to see her family members re-cast in completely different ways. I truly felt for P.L. Travers, both when she was young and when she was grown.

A must-see for any fan of the movie or books. And now I really need to make time to read the books!

Tuck Everlasting (2002)

★★★★

I watched this movie only because I recently read the book, and straight from the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised.

I liked that Winnie Foster is older in the movie than in the book, and I liked that the Tucks were not caught completely off-guard by the strange man. I especially liked that Winnie spent an indeterminate amount of time with the Tucks, and so had the time to really get to know them. And I really loved how the sunlight streaming through the woods was beautifully captured on film.

I thought the sensual dancing in the woods was a bit much, though. And I didn't understand why the prison escape was changed. Why was it okay to reveal their secret to the prison guard?!

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

★★★★

An enchanting story about immortality, but it left me feeling sad, maybe even philosophical (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but unexpected from a children's book). There was no real resolution. What will happen to the Tucks? How does one really go on living forever? Even vampires and the Highlander can die in one horrific way each - via a stake through the heart, or a beheading, respectively. Are the Tucks truly immortal, unless maybe they are struck by lightning (as suggested at the very end)?

While beautifully written, the story started too quickly for my taste. In one broad sweep, I both met the Tucks and saw their impending doom. All at once, we were introduced to the Tucks, Winnie, and the creepy stranger. I think I could have felt even more invested in the Tucks' plight if we had seen a bit more of their carefree yet lonely days before meeting Winnie. And I could have better understood Winnie's love for the Tucks if she had spent more than just one night with them, if she had even had a few encounters over a few days, before the creepy stranger showed up.

I actually thought the book was kind of intellectually and emotionally heavy for a kids' book. First and foremost, the idea that the Tucks live forever isn't treated lightly, like a fairy tale enchantment. Angus Tuck earnestly tries to impart to the 10-year-old Winnie the lesson that life is a circle of birth and death, and that life without death isn't really living, but just being. That even if you don't want to die, to live forever - especially in secret - is not something you would want, either, if you really understood what it meant. Is immortality a blessing? Or a curse? Maybe it depends on the person, but by the time you find out how you really feel, it may be too late. Beyond that, there's also a murder and talk about gallows. Of course, none of that fazed Isabelle. She liked the book just fine.

Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes

★★★★★

This book is wonderful.

I never would have picked it up on my own. I had never heard of it or the author. Isabelle found it at the library, and I decided to read it because the African-American girl on the cover piqued my interest. I am a big fan of multiculturalism in literature, though I admit, as an Asian-American, I tend to seek out books by and about Asian-Americans. I can't speak to the authenticity of the African-American experience in this book, but as a reader, I was drawn into the world of the Louisiana bayou along with Maddy, the main character, and I didn't want to leave.

Firstly, this book is beautifully written. The writing is very descriptive, even poetic. Metaphors abound.

Maddy, the main character, is a city girl from New Orleans who is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother in the Louisiana bayou. She meets a boy named Bear who is self-reliant, independent, and at one with nature. He is a compelling character, and once I met him, I wanted to read more about him.

As Maddy is introduced to the bayou, there is a bit of a lesson about environmentalism. As the book progresses, the lesson becomes explicit, a central theme.

Faith in things unseen is also an important message. There's a bit of magic realism as Maddy discovers, and struggles to understand, some "gifts" she inherited through her maternal ancestors.

About two-thirds of the way through the book, the story takes a very serious turn. Though the events were predictable, having suspected that they would happen did not detract from the book because I was already invested in the characters, and I wanted to see how the story would end.

For the parents out there who like to know what to expect, I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that this book doesn't hide the fact that life is complicated. There is a death, and a violent drunk. But both are handled in as gentle a manner as you might expect when narrated from the perspective of a thoughtful 10-year-old girl.

Dork Diaries Roundup

A very popular series in Isabelle's 2nd and 3rd grade classes, but I'm not a fan. The narrator, Nikki, is obsessed with appearances, she wastes time and energy griping about her "enemy", and she is constantly blaming her problems on other people.

Isabelle has read books from the series in an on-and-off fashion for a while, which is why I feel like I ought to read at least some of them. And when I do read a book from this series, it's a good opportunity to follow up with Isabelle and say things like, "Gee, Nikki cares too much about how people look, don't you think?" or "Boy, that Mackenzie sure is a mean girl, but I don't see why Nikki spends so much time thinking about her. She should just ignore her."

• Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (#1) ★★
• Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (#8) ★★

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (#8) by Rachel Renée Russell

★★

Isabelle has been reading books from this series on and off for a while now. She's not super into them, so I haven't felt compelled to keep reading them with her. I had a little bit of time this week, so I thought I'd read this one while she had it checked out from the library.

In many ways, my reaction to this book is the same as it was to the first book. I really, really dislike the way Nikki refuses to take responsibility for her own actions. She is constantly blaming other people for her own problems. She carelessly threw her jacket onto a messy kitchen table, and then she blamed her sister when the mess from the kitchen ended up on her outfit by way of the jacket. There is too much emphasis put on appearances, I don't like the insults that Nikki throws at both her sister and Mackenzie, and I just don't like the way Nikki obsesses over Mackenzie. Mackenzie's a jerk, I get it, but then why waste so much time and energy on her? I just don't think young girls need that kind of example for behavior. If you don't get along with someone, just ignore them, don't waste your energy hating them.

What I did like about this particular book was that it presented a case of "bad days happen to everybody". I think the intended audience is likely to include girls who might feel embarrassed from time to time for one reason or another. By showcasing a really bad day that included a really embarrassing situation, the opening scenes of this book normalize - in a small way - the idea that bad things happen, and it's really not the end of the world, even if it feels like it is.

Unfortunately, this book is probably not the best one on which to judge the series as a whole. Just as the story was getting good, Nikki got knocked out in gym class. The bulk of the book is about the crazy, mixed-up fairy tale adventure Nikki had in her mind while lying unconscious on the gym floor. I actually think the story made for a good example of creative writing, but it went on just a bit too long. It was fun for a while, but I wonder if true fans of the series resented it as a distraction, since the book doesn't in any way move forward the story of the actual characters of Nikki and her friends and classmates.

The Feelings Book: The Care & Keeping of Your Emotions by Dr. Lynda Madison

★★★

After reading The Care & Keeping of You 1: The Body Book for Younger Girls, I had really high hopes for this book. It was good, but I'm afraid it wasn't everything that I had hoped for.

It's worth noting that this book briefly mentions PMS, so it's probably best read after a book like The Care & Keeping of You 1: The Body Book for Younger Girls, which introduces the concept of menstruation.

On the plus side, the book helps to normalize the many emotions a growing girl might be feeling. I like that it is explicit about how your emotions will affect your behavior, and your behavior will affect how other people react to you. You need to make sure you are exhibiting the actual emotions you feel; if you just act angry, other people - and yourself - won't understand or address the actual emotions you may be feeling, which may be embarrassment, disappointment, or shame.

The book has several chapters talking about emotions in general. Specific emotions are addressed in the following sections:

I'm Scared

I Feel Anxious

I'm So Jealous

I've Been Disrespected

I'm Angry

I'm Lonely

I'm Really Sad

I'm Grieving

I Don't Feel Safe

Much of the book is formatted like an advice column, with questions outlining particular scenarios and answers providing specific tips and strategies. In many ways, the Q & A format was a good thing, because it made a lot of the emotions seem relatable. There were common scenarios like, "I'm scared to sleep alone at night," "I'm jealous that my sister is in my cousin's wedding, but I'm not," and "My parents are divorced, and every time I stay with one of them, I miss the other one." On the other hand, however, I'm a bit concerned that some of the scenarios might actually introduce fears that my daughter never considered before. For example, in the "I Don't Feel Safe" chapter, there were scenarios like, "I worry about school shootings," and "My house burned down last month, and I'm afraid our new house will burn down, too."

Along the same lines, I'm afraid the book might introduce some additional concepts that maybe my child isn't ready for. In the "I'm Really Sad" chapter, there is a section listing "Signs of Depression", and one of them is "think[ing] a lot about death or suicide". It does not define suicide, and I'm not even sure if my daughter knows what "suicide" is, but if she doesn't, I'm not sure if this is the best way to introduce it. Maybe it is, because it's safely confined in a book about emotions? I don't know. I need to think about it a some more while I decide whether or not to have my daughter read this book.

It might also be helpful for a parent previewing this book for a child to know that this book does mention the idea of "seeking professional help," going on to explain what therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists do.

Mostly, I'm disappointed that, despite touching upon embarrassment early in the book, there is no chapter titled, "I Feel Embarrassed." After anger, I feel like my daughter is most affected by unnecessary feelings of embarrassment.

Also, in the "I've Been Disrespected" chapter - which is basically about being bullied - I don't think the answers are entirely realistic. Of course it advocates using words to solve the problem, but it suggests saying things like, "I'd like to find a way for us to get along." I'm sorry, I just think that in the real world, if kids used language like that with a bully, it would be met with laughter and eye-rolling. I am all for having children work out their own problems, however, when it comes to bullying, I don't think this section emphasized enough the importance of letting the teacher know that bullying is occurring among classmates.

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron

★★★½

A good friend of mine recently introduced me to the idea of "Highly Sensitive People" (or HSP), and I wish I had heard of this term before! This book was published in 1996, so the idea has been around for a while. I just think I could have saved myself from a lot of self-doubt and frustration over the years if I had known that being "this way" is a "thing".

The author writes in the first person, even including some anecdotes about herself. Reading this book feels like I'm sitting through a seminar - informative but also informal.

On the plus side, it was something of a relief to read about this trait. A lot of what is written resonated with me and made me feel better about myself. So I'm not a total weirdo! There are other people out there like me, and they do know just how I feel about certain situations! My dislike for shopping and my anxiety over things potentially going wrong (because I fear the logistical headache of sorting out things like car accidents and mis-communications) can all be explained by my being an HSP.

For me, the book helped shed light on the fact that American society tends to favor non-HSP traits (e.g., "warrior king" leadership qualities like ambition and boldness), but that HSP-related traits (e.g., "royal advisor" qualities like thoughtfulness and cautiousness) are also valuable. It was reassuring to see my emotions - and my personality type - validated, and helpful to get specific suggestions on how to cope with difficult situations and how to re-frame situations to better understand myself and my reactions. Besides the bit about warrior kings and royal advisors, probably the most relevant information for me was chapter 6 on vocations - figuring how what kind of job or career is best suited for you, and why. I recognized a lot of what was written in my own personal work experience - both in terms of being a stay-at-home mom now and also when I used to work in the software consulting industry.

Still, not everything in the book spoke to me. The book's early chapters talk about HSP-ness being both innate and learned, but I thought it focused too much on trying to place "blame" somewhere. For example, on page 47, it says, "Perhaps you had an overprotective, needy caretaker who really wanted a child very dependent and never able to leave." Then on page 51, "You'll want to think long and hard about who gave you this feeling in childhood, and why." The impression I got is that the author thinks a good portion of HSP-ness is caused by bad parenting, and every HSP would benefit from psychotherapy to understand the root of their HSP-ness. This is especially difficult to swallow if you are a thoughtful parent trying to understand your highly sensitive child. Certainly there is a spectrum of HSP-ness, and maybe some people's HSP-ness was caused by childhood trauma. However, for myself, I don't think it's anyone's "fault" that I am the way I am; I consider it more of an inborn trait that has been reinforced over time (partly by my own behavior and partly by the expectations of American society).

Overall, a worthwhile read. This HSP trait overlaps enough with introversion that I have finally decided to add Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking - which was recommended to me years ago - to my to-read list. Also, it makes me want to bump up in my queue Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, which was mentioned in this book.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

★★★★

The opening scenes had a very Tim Burton feel, and I admit, I was wary. In the book, Willy Wonka's factory was mysterious, yes, but in the movie, there was also a kind of darkness about it, almost as if it was sinister in some way. Also, I expected Willy Wonka to be exuberant and jovial, but in the movie, he was mostly eccentric and wacky.

Still, Johnny Depp's portrayal grew on me. The visuals were impressive, and in many ways, the movie was delightful. I particularly appreciated Willy Wonka's various one-liners.

Interestingly, even while the movie adhered closely to the book, it also added to it in ways that I thought were meaningful. I liked the way the movie expanded on the faults of two of the children. Violet Beauregard didn't just chew gum, she was arrogant and cared only for winning. Mike Teavee didn't just watch a lot of TV, he was was disrespectful and violent.

Also, Willy Wonka was given a sad childhood with a strict and candy-forbidding father. I wasn't sure about it at first, but I loved the way it all came together in the end.

Treasure Hunters in Trouble (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #4) by Winter Morgan

★★★

More of the same. Typos persist. (On page 9, it uses the word "griefer" when I'm pretty sure it means "creeper".) Steve makes more new friends, and someone learns a lesson about doing the right thing and not being a griefer.

In this book, a gang of "rainbow griefers" have captured Henry, Lucy, and Max. Kyra and Steve and a couple new friends set out to save them. The premise is good, but then the story gets totally sidetracked as the group goes treasure hunting along the way. It just seemed like, if your friends are in trouble, shouldn't you help them first, and do your treasure hunting later?! Steve did try to keep everyone on track, but he kept getting voted down.

Minecraft Roundup

A good beginner's chapter book series for boys, or for any elementary school kids who like Minecraft. It would be even better if it had illustrations, but I wonder if the fact that it is "unauthorized" has anything to do with the lack of illustrations.

• The Quest for the Diamond Sword (#1) ★★★
• The Mystery of the Griefer's Mark (#2) ★★★½
• The Endermen Invasion (#3) ★★★
• Treasure Hunters in Trouble (#4) ★★★

The Endermen Invasion (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #3) by Winter Morgan

★★★

Three books into the series, and there are still minor, distracting editing errors, e.g., page 43 refers to "Ender Peals" instead of "Ender Pearls".

This book takes Steve into new biomes, and I liked the premise of Steve competing in an invitation-only building contest. I even found the series of battles rather exciting! Unfortunately, any fresh new ideas that would have led me to a higher star rating were cancelled out by the blatant recycling of the main conflict in the second book. Specifically, a griefer is causing a lot of trouble, and everyone is blaming Steve. His friends defend him, but he needs to figure out who the real griefer is in order to clear his name.

Overall, a fitting continuation of the series. The take-away lesson in this installment seems to be, "It's too bad if things don't work out for you, especially if they do work out for your friend, but try not to begrudge your friends their successes, and instead, try to be happy for them."

The Care & Keeping of You 1: The Body Book for Younger Girls by Valorie Lee Schaefer

★★★★★

This book is fantastic. It's not just about the breasts and bras and period part of puberty. There are sections on braces, acne, and underarms, as well as nutrition, sleep, fitness, and hair care. There are even sections on dental hygiene and using sun screen. By presenting the "things that will change about you" topics alongside the "things that you probably already know about your body" topics, the former topics come across as perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed or scared about.

I think it helps, too, that this is an "American Girl" book. Whether or not you're an American Girl fan, the branding helps to give the book a familiar, non-threatening feel.

Both Isabelle and I read this book - separately - in basically one sitting. It's a quick and easy read, consisting of short paragraphs and plenty of colorful text and illustrations. Maybe some potential readers would find it important to know that the illustrations do include drawings of what breasts might look like at various stages of development, as well drawings that depict "How to Use a Pad". Is that TMI? Some people might balk or be shocked at those illustrations, however, I found them to be in good taste, and their matter-of-fact existence helps take away any sense of mystery around those topics.

I liked that the book presented options without judgement. For example, on page 42, it says this about underarm hair: "Some girls don't like it. Others aren't bothered by it one little bit. Whether you want to remove it or leave it there is a very personal decision."

Also, the book is good about promoting healthy attitudes towards all body shapes and sizes. On page 54, it says, "No one body type is better or worse than another. All can be fit, healthy, and beautiful."

Finally, both Isabelle and I liked that each chapter ended with a Q & A formatted like an advice column. There are questions addressing specific concerns, and most answers involve some amount of, "What you're feeling is perfectly normal. Be sure to talk about your concerns with a parent or other trusted adult."

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who is not sure how to start talking about puberty with their young daughter!

The Familiars Roundup

A fun and entertaining series set in a magical world full of interesting places and imaginative creatures. Kind of like Harry Potter meets Warriors, except the world in which this series takes place is entirely made up.

This series is well-written and tells a good story. But like both Harry Potter and Warriors, the intended audience of the series may not be best judged by the first book, as subsequent books introduce more potentially disturbing ideas like death, murder, and betrayal.

• The Familiars (#1) ★★★★
• Secrets of the Crown (#2) ★★★★★
• Circle of Heroes (#3) ★★★★
• Palace of Dreams (#4) ★★★★

The Mystery of the Griefer's Mark (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #2) by Winter Morgan

★★★½

Very similar to the first book, and basically everything I said about that book applies to this one as well; the writing lacks style, some events in the book don't actually conform to the rules of the Minecraft world, and though the editing wasn't as poor in this book, I did make note of one error on page 11: "And why did show up here..."

Still, again, I have to give the book credit for keeping Sebastien interested in reading. He LOVED this book. I do wish he'd read these books himself, but I guess me reading them aloud to him is the next best thing. I did appreciate that this book had fewer explanatory sentences that simply described elements of the game, and the plot was relatively strong. Someone - a "griefer" - is destroying everyone's property, and Steve and his friends are trying to figure out who it is! I'll admit, it was kind of exciting, and somewhat suspenseful. I'm not sure the ending was entirely satisfying, but questions did get answered, and there's a take-away lesson about friendships and acceptable behavior.

Palace of Dreams (The Familiars #4) by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson

★★★★½

I gave this book just shy of 5 stars because of a few things that didn't sit right with me for a book that is supposed to be geared towards readers in upper elementary grades. Early on, there was a grim depiction of suicide, though the word "suicide" was not used. Also, it appears this volume has a different illustrator than the other volumes, and though I wasn't crazy about the illustrations in the first three books, I'm not crazy about these, either. I think they are better in quality, but more often than not, the pictures are scary. I don't know how it's decided which scenes get illustrated, but I would have preferred a few less frightening scenes!

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. Once again, the Prophesized Three are on a quest, and this time, there is more urgency than ever. I liked that in this installment, there seemed to be more cases in which Aldwyn, Gilbert, and Skylar had to use their wits to solve problems, rather than just relying on their magic.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, so clearly a fifth book should be in the works. Can't wait!

The Quest for the Diamond Sword (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #1) by Winter Morgan

★★★

Sebastien is a huge fan of Minecraft, and he gives this book 5 stars. I would normally give it 2 stars based on my actual opinion of the book, but I'm giving it 3 stars for its motivating-kids-to-read factor. (The author is a GENIUS for being the first to corner this niche market!) Sebastien, however, technically didn't read this book himself; I read it aloud to him.

The writing is dry and matter-of-fact and lacks any kind of style. A lot of sentences are explanatory rather than narrative. On the one hand, I wonder if the author purposely wanted to make the book sound like something its target audience (kids in grades 1 to 7) would write. On the other hand, shouldn't published books serve as examples of good writing, rather than be reflections of what the book's intended audience can write themselves?

Mostly, though, I was bothered by how the events in the book do not adhere to the "rules" of Minecraft. For example, at one point, a zombie snatches a sword out of Steve's hands. I don't think that's possible in the game. Also, the characters find 40 diamonds in one place. Again, I'm no expert in the game, but that doesn't sound right. There are all sorts of examples like these, but admittedly, Sebastien - who arguably is a Minecraft expert! - didn't mind the inconsistencies at all.

Finally, I found the mistakes in editing to be distracting. Page 2 refers to "iron ignots". On page 14, one line reads, "...there was one only way to escape," and on page 39, a character shouts, "Looks a cave!"

On the plus side, there is actually some nice character development. The main character Steve is a homebody, but when his villager friends get attacked by zombies, he is motivated to go exploring in order to acquire a diamond sword, which will help him to defeat the zombies and save his friends. Steve meets new people, makes new friends, and learns to be brave and adventurous.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

★★★★★

I don't know how it is that I managed to not read this book - or any Roald Dahl book! - until now. I know it's a classic and I know Roald Dahl is one of the greats, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading this one.

Right away, this book struck me as one that is meant to be read aloud, with events unfolding as if they were being described by a storyteller, not just a narrator. Willy Wonka's exclamation-point-filled dialogue is great fun to read! I suppose the Oompa-Loompa songs might be hard to pull off, but they could just as well be chanted, I suppose.

The book is a light-hearted read, which at first seemed a bit odd when paired with the fact that Charlie Bucket and his family were starving! But then the breezy tone became an asset as the other children got into quite shocking and somewhat disturbing predicaments. It's a humor-filled morality tale, and the other children got justly punished for their naughty behavior. I don't know that gum-chewing and TV-watching are quite as bad as gluttony and greed, but the lessons are clear.

A Highly Sensitive Person's Life: Stories & Advice for Those Who Experience the World Intensely by Kelly O'Laughlin

★★★

A "light read" that is very informally written. The author makes clear that the book is basically drawn from her blog and podcasts, and indeed, reading the book feels like reading a series of blog posts.

At the beginning of the book, you can follow a link to Dr. Elaine Aron's online test to see if you are a "Highly Sensitive Person", or HSP. According to the test, I am. I don't fit every description in the checklist, but certainly a good number of them describe me.

I could identify with many of the author's anecdotes, such as those about obsessing over conversations; trying to manage your life to minimize or eliminate stress and anxiety; preferring to do activities alone partly because it means not having to inconvenient others, or not having to worry about messing up in front of others or letting down a team; the weight of commitments and schedules; the difficulty of decision-making.

Other aspects did not ring true for me personally, like being over-affected by caffeine, instantly regretting restaurant orders, or having super-sensitive smell or hearing.

This was the first book I picked up after hearing about the idea of a "Highly Sensitive Person", and I think it was a good place to start. It hooked my interest enough for me to find out more. Certainly there was a sense of comfort reading some of the anecdotes and thinking, "Yes! That's just how I feel! You mean, that kind of behavior is really a 'thing', and I am not just being a crazy person?!"

Circle of Heroes (The Familiars #3) by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson

★★★★

I am really enjoying this series! I love how all the different magical animal species have unique talents, and how they live in areas specifically suited for them. This installment had a number of twists and unexpected revelations, making it an even more compelling read than the previous two books.

I think I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the explicitly gruesome descriptions of zombie animals! The target audience is grades 3-7, so I guess the content is mostly appropriate for that age range... Isabelle seemed less bothered by the Dead Army than I was, so maybe it's my own prudish sensibilities that make me a little wary of the violence and gore in this book. Also, I didn't understand the point of the short-lived re-introduction of Grimslade.

Secrets of the Crown (The Familiars #2) by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson

★★★★★

Okay, I'm not crazy about the illustrations in this series - they just don't seem to do the story justice, in my opinion. But what a story this one is! Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert set off on another quest that takes them to unfamiliar lands and through all kinds of adventures.

Both Skylar's and Aldwyn's family histories are fleshed out, and there were quite a few unexpected twists and turns. A really entertaining read that ends with a cliffhanger!

One note about the recommended audience. Even though we're dealing with anthropomorphized animals, I think the upper elementary grades would be best, as there are references to death, murder, betrayal, and of course, the Dead Army that the evil Paksahara intends to raise.

Humphrey Roundup

Sebastien has absolutely LOVED having this series read to him!

It's a cute series about a loyal hamster who takes friendship very seriously. Lessons abound in each book.

There is a diverse cast of characters spanning a wide range of ethnic groups, socio-economic classes, and even physical health.

Happily - since I was reading the series to a first grader - there is really nothing objectionable in the series; it's a "safe" series that makes clear what is considered appropriate behavior. Except maybe the second book... It's a good installment because it's the one where we meet Og the frog, but some of the content might be just a wee bit more appropriate for older elementary grades.

• The World According to Humphrey (#1) ★★★★½
• Friendship According to Humphrey (#2) ★★★½
• Trouble According to Humphrey (#3) ★★★½
• Surprises According to Humphrey (#4) ★★★½
• Adventure According to Humphrey (#5) ★★★½
• Summer According to Humphrey (#6) ★★★★★
• School Days According to Humphrey (#7) ★★★★½
• Mysteries According to Humphrey (#8) ★★★★★
• Winter According to Humphrey (#9) ★★★★
• Secrets According to Humphrey (#10) ★★★★★
• Imagination According to Humphrey (#11) ★★★

Imagination According to Humphrey (Humphrey #11) by Betty G. Birney

★★★

Sebastien had been looking forward to reading this book ever since we saw a "Coming Soon!" advertisement at the end of one of the other Humphrey books. We were super excited to finally read it!

In many ways, this book delivers just what you would expect from a Humphrey book. Humphrey pays attention in class, he sometimes leaves his cage during the week when the school is empty, and he goes home with his classroom friends on the weekends and finds ways to help them. But, in my opinion, the overarching storyline is lacking. Mrs. Brisbane is teaching the kids about writing and storytelling, and they each have to write a piece of fiction imagining what they would do if they could fly. Writing came easily for some kids while other kids struggled. I'm sorry to say, it just wasn't very exciting or interesting to me.

Sebastien enjoyed the book as expected, but even he gave it 4 stars - instead of his usual 5 stars for Humphrey books - because the book defined a word inaccurately! On page 45, at the start of chapter 5, Mrs. Brisbane introduces the class to homonyms. According to the book, examples of homonyms are "groan" and "grown", and "ate" and "eight". To be honest, I am pretty sure that's what I remember learning in elementary school myself, about 30 years ago. However, Sebastien's first grade class has been talking about homophones all year, and his teacher made it very clear that "homophones" are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings - like "groan" and "grown" - while "homonyms" are words that sound the same and are spelled the same, but have different meanings - like "weigh on a scale" and "scale the wall". One quick Google search confirms that, in the strictest sense, Sebastien's teacher is correct, but also that some people and some dictionaries do allow for broader definitions of "homonym", which frequently leads to confusion.

The Familiars (The Familiars #1) by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson

★★★★

Even before I read the blurb on the back that echoed my own sentiments, I thought, "This book is like Harry Potter meets Warriors!" It's got the magic of Harry Potter - complete with a Hermione / Ron / Harry trio consisting of book-smart Skylar (a female bird), comic relief Gilbert (a male frog), and "muggle"-raised Aldwyn (a male cat) who has yet to discover his untapped potential - and, of course, the anthropomorphized animals reminiscent of Warriors, mostly because Aldwyn the cat is the main character. But also, their journey to fulfill a quest reminded me of Firestar's Quest, a Warriors Super Edition.

So, a "familiar" is a wizard's magical animal companion with whom the wizard has a special bond. They struck me as kind of like a cross between the pet animals of Harry Potter - like Hedwig, Scabbers, and Crookshanks - and the daemons of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

I enjoyed the book, but I didn't completely love it. I wonder if maybe it just seemed like the book was too derivative, and there wasn't much that was especially new to experience? I'm not sure, but I did like it enough to continue the series!

His Dark Materials Roundup

I just realized that I had never written a roundup post for His Dark Materials.

The books are far enough in my memory now that I'm not sure how I would summarize the series as a whole, though of course my thoughts on the individual books are linked below. I think I can say that the series started out strong, with fantastic imaginary worlds and creatures, but that the series became unnecessarily complex as it progressed.

• The Golden Compass (#1) ★★★★
• The Subtle Knife (#2) ★★★½
• The Amber Spyglass (#3) ★★★

Bobby Roundup

A great read for lower elementary kids, especially boys! Bobby happens to be half Chinese, but that is not at all a focus of the books.

• Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) (#1) ★★★★½
• Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) (#2) ★★★

Bobby the Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee

★★★★★

A great follow-up to Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally). This book picks up right where the last one left off. The conflict in this book focuses on Bobby's relationship with his father. Along the way, he has to work things out with his gym teacher, Mr. Rainerhaus. A really enjoyable read with a happy ending for everyone. I hope more books will be added to this series!

Isabelle wasn't super excited to read this sequel, but she picked it up at bedtime when she ran out of other books to read. An hour and a half later - way past her bedtime! - I had to remind her to go to bed. She loved that Bobby had asthma - "just like her" - and that he had to settle for a goldfish because he's allergic to dogs. (Isabelle really wants a cat, but she's allergic, and Ken promised her a goldfish for her next birthday.)

Big Hero 6 (2014)

★★★★

I really loved Baymax, and I would happily give him 5 stars!

But the movie on the whole I give 4 stars because of the sudden death scene and the truly evil-looking bad guy. Sebastien was very upset by both incidents, and we actually had to stop the movie so I could comfort him and help calm him down. He really cried full-blown tears! It's lucky we didn't see this movie in the theaters. I guess it WAS rated PG, so maybe I shouldn't fault the movie too much... But even for me, those two dark points were somewhat out of place for an otherwise charming movie about a boy and his huggable robot.

Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee

★★★★½

I came across this book while volunteering in my kids' elementary school library. In the cover illustration, Bobby looked like maybe he could be Asian, and with the author's name being Lisa Yee, I decided to check it out for myself. I'm always interested in multicultural books for kids!

It took a while for Bobby's character to be fleshed out. His age (9) was not revealed until page 16, and even though we learn right away that his last name is Ellis-Chan, we don't find out for sure until page 49 that he is half Chinese. Even from the illustrations, it wasn't clear to me which parent was Chinese (I suppose it doesn't really matter!), but I finally decided it was the mom, based on the illustration on page 164.

It's worth noting that there is zero reference to Chinese language or culture in this book, and I think that's fine. While books like those by Grace Lin, Lenore Look, and Andrea Cheng really embrace Chinese-American-ness, I think there's also a valid and important place for books in which characters just happen to be Chinese-American, and their Chinese-American-ness doesn't need to be front and center.

Besides Bobby's ethnicity, this book also embraces diversity in other ways. Mr. Ellis-Chan is a stay-at-home dad (whose former career as an NFL player is a bit over the top), and one of Bobby's friends is Indian. Also, Bobby has environmental allergies and asthma.

I really liked Bobby. He has heart and compassion. He's thoughtful and well-intentioned. He's just a real good kid.

Mostly, I like this book because it is a growing-up book about a boy suitable for lower to middle elementary grades. Children's literature is awash with growing-up stories featuring girls (e.g., Ramona Quimby, Betsy-Tacy, Little House, etc.), but there are fewer similarly themed chapter books with pictures that feature boys. So far, I've really only found Henry Huggins and Alvin Ho to be comparable. There is a sequel to this book, and I'm hoping I will like it just as much as this one.

Still, I'm giving this book 4 1/2 stars, just shy of 5, for a couple reasons. First, the book is clearly set in modern times, yet, even while trying to buck old-fashioned narrow-mindedness, it seems to reinforce it. For example, it's great that Bobby's classroom features photos of famous Americans, both male and female, but why does Sally Ride - the only female listed - require a descriptor? Even if she really is lesser known than Barack Obama and Albert Einstein, by explaining who she is and not the others, it gives the impression that she, the only female, should be less familiar to readers. Also, it's great that Bobby's dad is an active member of the PTA, but would modern-day PTA members really even use the term "PTA Lady"?

Also, I love the way Bobby and Holly worked out their friendship, but I wish the book had further addressed Holly's friendship with Jillian Zarr. It's understandable that Holly would want some female friends with shared interests, but Jillian Zarr was downright mean and snooty. I sort of hoped she would get some sort of comeuppance.

Incidentally, I read this book aloud to Isabelle and Sebastien, and they both liked it, too!

Bewildered by Carla Panciera

★★★★

I picked up this book because it was written by my high school English teacher! Even though it's been 25 years since I sat in her classroom (I can't believe it's been 25 years!?!) there's still a little bit of that funny sense of intrigue when thinking about a teacher outside the context of school.

Anyway, I enjoyed this collection. Sometimes, the passage of time seemed palpable. There's a sense of loneliness as characters take stock of their lives and realize they are not at all where they thought they would end up. There's a woman whose husband has early-onset Alzheimer's, a man single again after feeling compelled to leave his wife after an affair. Some characters are at a crossroads, while others have already passed one and wonder if they really took the best path after all. In many ways, these stories are more about the characters themselves than what happens to them.

Most of the stories feature relationships and families, and a reflective reader might find themselves wondering, "Why, or how, do people get into the relationships that they get into?" and thinking about how relationships evolve.

The material was not particularly heavy, but I oftentimes felt like the writing had a weight to it, a kind of deliberateness.

For me, "Singing Donkeys, Happy Families" and "It Can't Be This Way Everywhere" felt the most familiar, as I saw some of my own personal experiences reflected in those stories. Yet, the stories I liked best - that I would rate 5 stars individually - were "Fine Creatures of the Deep" and "On Being Lonely and Other Theories." They both had that "so this is how everything comes together" type quality that I like in storytelling.

Anna Wang Roundup

I can see this series being a meaningful read for Chinese-American elementary school students. As a child, I never once got to read a book that had any Chinese characters in it, let alone a Chinese-American girl as a main character.

The first book of the series has wider appeal, I think, as it's more about a girl who happens to be Chinese-American. The second and third books put Chinese-American self-identity front and center.

• The Year of the Book (#1) ★★★★
• The Year of the Baby (#2) ★★★
• The Year of the Fortune Cookie (#3) ★★★

The Year of the Fortune Cookie (Anna Wang #3) by Andrea Cheng

★★★

Even more than the last book, this installment of the Anna Wang series has Anna struggling with her identity. As a Chinese-American kid, I would have LOVED to read a book like this that specifically and explicitly explores what it means to be Chinese-American. Plus, this book would be a great way to expose elementary school readers to the idea of diversity, and it may help some non-Asian readers to better understand their Asian-American classmates.

On the other hand, as with The Year of the Baby, I can't help but feel that the diversity lesson is a bit heavy-handed. This is not a book that happens to have a Chinese-American main character who along the way makes self-discoveries; this book IS about a Chinese-American's search for identity, through friendships, activities, language, and travel. I am not opposed to that in theory, but I feel the first book dealt with much broader experiences than just Anna's Chinese-ness, and because the first book of a series usually sets the tone, it's been surprising to find the second and third books of this series focusing on a much narrower experience. They just have a totally different feel than the first book. Maybe I should just disregard the first book and re-align my expectations before picking up the fourth book.

Anyway, I'm also getting tired of the poor editing in this series that results in inaccuracies. Once again, on page 21, Anna's maternal grandmother is referred to as "Nai Nai", even though the Pronunciation Guide at the beginning of the book correctly defines "Nai Nai" as paternal grandmother, and "Wai Po" as maternal grandmother. Then, on page 30, Anna says she will miss 11 days of school from December 12 to 22. Yes, there are 11 days from the 12th to the 22nd, but no matter when the days fall, there is going to be at least one weekend in there, so at most she would miss 9 days of school. I know these are minor details, but it seems like every book in this series so far has at least a couple small errors, and all together, they become distracting.

I also found it hard to believe that Ms. Sylvester would allow Anna to go to Fan's home without any adult supervision at all. Seems like it would have been more believable if Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester went, too, and then it could have been a great experience for them, too, to see what the average family's life is like in China.

Finally, I wasn't entirely able to suspend disbelief in order to accept the premise in the first place - that a teacher would pay for a student's ticket to China when that student's ability to help would be minimal at best. Given Anna's limited knowledge of Chinese, combined with the English-speaking guide hosting a whole group of Americans adopting Chinese babies, it didn't seem to me that she offered any real advantage to the Sylvesters. I think it would have made a fine and more believable story if Anna's mom had gone, too, as originally planned. Like maybe her mom could have spoken to the guide in Chinese in order to convince her to allow the visit to the orphanage, or her mom could have gone with her to Fan's house and the two of them could have shared a bonding moment.

The Year of the Baby (Anna Wang #2) by Andrea Cheng

★★★

In this sequel to The Year of the Book, Anna's family adopts a baby girl from China, and Chinese culture is much more front and center.

With more mentions of Chinese culture, language, and food, there also came more opportunities for mistakes. On page 10, Anna's maternal grandmother is correctly referred to was "Wai Po", but then on the very next page, she is incorrectly referred to as "Nai Nai", the term used for paternal grandmothers. On page 29, Anna's family eats Chinese food for dinner, but she talks about eating "everything on my plate", which doesn't sound right because her family would most likely be eating Chinese style - each person having their own bowl of rice, and everyone sharing meat and vegetable dishes that are placed in the center of the table. She could have said she "finished all her rice" or she "ate a little bit of everything". Neither of these are major errors, but they do take away from the book's feel of authenticity.

With so much explicit talk about Chinese-ness, I just felt like the book was kind of heavy-handed in its diversity lesson. Instead of being a book in which the main character just happened to be Chinese, it felt more like a book that was written specifically for young Chinese-American readers, people who want to learn more about Chinese culture, and families that have adopted a baby from China. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just the impression that I got.

I liked that Camille is a struggling student, which breaks the model minority stereotype of Asians being good in school. I did not think Laura's character was as well-developed, which was a shame because I thought she had so much potential in the first book. Here, we just see that she now has to divide her time between her mom and dad.

Besides the introduction of Kaylee into the family, the other major plot line in this book is Anna, Camille, and Laura having to do a science project. They end up with a pretty cute project, but it was a bit much to think that Kaylee's pediatrician was so impressed that she would ask for a summary of the project to share with her other patients.

One final random thought. I was thrown off a bit in the first few chapters because clearly Anna attends Chinese school on a weekend morning, but then how is it that she and her mom take baby Kaylee to a well-baby visit that same afternoon? It wasn't a sick visit. Are there really pediatrician's offices that are open for regular check-ups on weekends? Anyway, the doctor's schedule is neither here nor there, but it was confusing.

The Year of the Book (Anna Wang #1) by Andrea Cheng

★★★★

I picked up this book from the library because I noticed the author's Chinese last name and also the Asian-American girl in the cover illustration. I'm always on the lookout for more diverse children's books, especially books by and about Asian-Americans, since I am Asian-American myself. As it turns out, the author is not Chinese! But presumably her husband is.

Despite not being Chinese herself, I think the author did a fine job portraying the realities of growing up Chinese in America. She makes casual mention of Chinese dishes and snacks, and even includes Chinese school - a typical part of the Chinese-American experience - as part of main character Anna Wang's struggles.

Though Anna Wang does need to come to terms with her Chinese-ness, I think the real focus of the story is Anna's struggle to make friends while 1) being an introvert (she would rather read or stay home and make airplanes with her brother and father than put effort into becoming better friends with Laura) and 2) negotiating the mean girl dynamics at school. Young readers who prefer the solitude of books, or who have felt the sting of being left out, will be able to relate to Anna Wang.

I'm not entirely sure, though, that Anna Wang is a likable character. The book kind of starts off with a bit of a melancholy tone, with Anna feeling down about not really fitting in anywhere. Her narrative voice is very matter-of-fact, not especially emotional, and she comes across as stand-offish. Interestingly, Anna seems more comfortable befriending adults like Mr. Shepherd and Ray than kids her own age. (It's lucky she has such kind and thoughtful adults in her life!) She's not even afraid to address a note to the school principal. Her ability to interact so confidently with adults makes her seem more mature, and "above the fray" that Laura gets caught up in - and I do like that about her. I also like that she spends her non-reading time doing arts and crafts and sewing for fun. She is both creative and productive!

I think this book also can reach a certain audience through Laura, Anna's friend who has troubles at home. I've read a lot of children's books, and it seems pretty rare for one to feature a character whose parents don't actually get along. Seems to me that some young readers might appreciate being able to relate to Laura, and it's only too bad that her character, and her family, are not fleshed out more.

Also, Laura's problems were clearly a catalyst in strengthening Anna and Laura's friendship. It almost seemed like it was too easy for Anna. She doesn't put much effort into making friends with Laura, but she doesn't have to, really, because Laura is thrown into her life, and Anna is forced to spend time with her.

Two final thoughts, one good, one bad.

The good: I always like it when a children's book can motivate readers to pick up other books, and this book mentions by name a whole bunch of books that Anna spends her time reading.

The bad: There is an egregious editing error towards the end of the book. On page 136 in my edition, twice 1998 is referred to as the Year of the Dog, but it's not. It's the Year of the Tiger. On the same page, and in an illustration on the next page, the book actually correctly refers to 1998 as the Year of the Tiger, which only adds confusion.

Lincoln (2012)

★★★★

On an educational and artistic level, I would give this movie 5 stars. All I knew about the Civil War I learned in high school, and I had no idea such politics were at play regarding the timing of the passage of the 13th Amendment and the ending of the Civil War. I also didn't know anything about Abraham Lincoln the person, and the movie's depiction of his wife and his interactions with his children and other people in general just really humanized him.

However, ultimately I'm giving this movie 4 stars because I just sometimes got so confused. Maybe that's more a statement about me than the movie - or how tired I was when I watched it - but I think I'm a fairly intelligent person, yet I still had trouble understanding what exactly convinced some Democrats to change their vote.

Also, for a movie titled "Lincoln", it seemed to have a relatively narrow focus. I think I expected a biopic, but this movie was more a snapshot of how Lincoln pushed through the 13th Amendment. We do get a glimpse of his personal life while he was in office, but we don't see or learn anything about Lincoln's childhood, or how he became the man that he was.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

★★★★½

This is my third time reading this book, and I had forgotten how approachable it is. The storytelling is casual and reads more like young adult fiction. I love the adventures and the world of Middle Earth. I only wish I could have read this book in a more continuous fashion; I only had time to read it in short spurts, usually maybe half an hour straight at most. I felt like my momentum kept getting interrupted, and that detracted from my reading experience. In fact, as soon as I finished the book, I felt like I wanted to go back and read it again! But I don't know, I guess I'll move on to The Lord of the Rings, as originally planned...

So the reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is that it did leave me with a couple questions. I never quite felt like I understood why Gandalf chose Bilbo to go with the dwarves on this adventure. How did Gandalf know that Bilbo would be up for it? Partly, perhaps, because he had some Took blood in him, but then, why Bilbo and not another hobbit in the Took family? I was also a little surprised by how silly the elves were portrayed, always singing and laughing. They didn't have the kind of dignity that I associate with them from having read LOTR.

UPDATE 2/2/15: After watching the final installment of the Hobbit movies, I was inspired to re-read the book again. The first thing that struck me was just how many liberties Peter Jackson took with the movies. But that's beside the point. As always, a good read! This time I read it with an eye towards children, as I wondered if the book would be suitable as a read-aloud with the kids. In fact, I found the book to be pretty kid-friendly! The narrator assumes the air of a friendly storyteller, and all the potentially scary encounters are told so matter-of-factly that they aren't nearly as scary as the movie makes them out to be. Isabelle and Sebastien haven't shown much interest in this world of hobbits and dwarves, but if I can convince them to sit and listen, I think they would enjoy it!

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

★★★★★

As a kid, I loved the animated movie, but I had never read the book. Thanks to my cousin Shan, who sent us a copy, I finally got around to reading it, and I loved it.

To be honest, I was wary about reading it aloud to Sebastien. He has been known to have nightmares, or just cry at bedtime, saying he doesn't want to die, or he doesn't want someone he loves to die. Knowing that death is a big theme in this book, I wasn't sure how he would handle it. Well, I finally decided to read it to him, having heard before that story books are generally a safe and comfortable way to address big issues with kids without actually making them feel insecure in real life.

Right off the bat, I felt this book was meant to be read aloud. It seems to lend itself to just the right cadence to be heard in an entertaining and meaningful way. Of course the goose's speech is fun in and of itself, with dialogue like, "Probably-obably-obably!" But there were also descriptive passages that were a joy to read even while they left a lump in my throat, like the following on page 131 of my edition: "The children grabbed each other by the hand and danced off in the direction of the merry-go-round, toward the wonderful music and the wonderful adventure and the wonderful excitement, into the wonderful midway where there would be no parents to guard them and guide them, and where they could be happy and free and do as they pleased."

Sigh. Which brings me to the next reason I loved this book. It's just the perfect depiction of life and death and birth and growth and change and acceptance. Charlotte is a beautiful and intelligent friend to Wilbur, but she's still a spider, which means she drinks the blood of bugs. No use trying to ignore that fact, that's just the way it is. She lives her life fully, even as she ages and grows tired. Still, seasons change, and life continues. Fern grows up, as all children must.

About 2/3 of the way through the book, Sebastien wanted to take a break from it - I'm not sure why. But when he was ready to pick it up again, he was committed to finishing it. I teared up lots as the book came to a close, but Sebastien wasn't bothered. I think it all seemed matter-of-fact for him. I know he liked it, because he kept asking for one more chapter, one more chapter!

This book is going on our family room bookshelf, and I hope he picks it up again one day to read for himself.

The Local - Wayland, MA

★★★★

I'm afraid my experience with this restaurant has been a bit inconsistent...

First I went for drinks with some other moms in my neighborhood. All I had was a glass of white wine, but I did look longingly at some of the appetizers the other women ordered. I took a bite of the Brussels sprouts, and thought they were very good, but I politely refrained from eating off anyone else's plates, as this was the first time I was meeting some of them.

The next time I went, it was for coffee and dessert. The coffee was quite good, but the desserts, I'm afraid, were surprisingly lackluster. One of them was bread pudding, of which I'm not really a fan, so maybe it's not fair for me to judge that one. But the other dessert was a kind of chocolate cake, and I LOVE chocolate in all forms! But... I don't know. I was unimpressed. At the time, I remember thinking it wasn't sweet or chocolatey enough.

Soon after the dessert visit, I went for lunch with my good friend Sarah. I ordered a fruity cocktail - I believe it was the Raspberry Fizz - but was disappointed. It was fine, but it wasn't delicious. Sarah said her drink had much too much ice in it. We both enjoyed the homemade potato chips, and I had shrimp & grits for an appetizer, which was by far the best part of my meal. I loved it, even if the chorizo pieces were cut a bit large for my taste. My entree was fish tacos, which was remarkably bland, and the soft tortilla shell was mostly malleable, but unpleasantly hardened to a crisp in places.

Then, Ken and I went for dinner, and we actually had an impressive meal. The mussels we had for an appetizer were flavorful and plenty, and my short ribs with Brussels sprouts and grits was delicious - though a bit more sauce would have been nice. The only down side was that my ginger margarita was not very gingery. This meal alone would have been 4 1/2 stars.

Altogether, considering the multiple experiences, I guess I give them 4 stars.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (#3) (2014)

★★★★★

Wow! A continuous adrenalin rush. Aptly named "The Battle of the Five Armies", as the entire movie pretty much consisted of one battle scene after another. I don't care what the critics say, I enjoyed the movie, and I'll take Legolas any time he wants to show up.

I liked the movie so much, I'm going to re-read the book again!

(I suppose I should include a small disclaimer acknowledging that this was the first movie Ken and I have seen in the theaters together in who knows how long. We had a great dinner out beforehand, and probably I was so giddy about being out of the house on a date night that I was primed to enjoy whatever movie we saw!)

Gone Girl (2014)

★★★

I saw this in the theaters, but forgot to review it at the time.

Certainly entertaining, with quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Makes you realize how important it is to really get to know someone before marrying them! Of course, we all put our best foot forward when meeting people, so how long would it take, and how much delving would you have to do, to find out who someone really is? And what would it take to keep you in a marriage you actually despise? Is there any real, viable solution to Ben Affleck's character's situation at the end of the movie?!

Anyway, it fell a bit short with some undeveloped characters and unanswered questions, but my friend with whom I saw the movie said the book did address most of my concerns. Not sure if I'll read the book, as psychological thrillers aren't usually my thing.