Dancing Shoes (The Shoe Books #9) by Noel Streatfeild

★★★½

After reading this book, I can't believe how much I want to say about it!

Isabelle didn't even finish this one. I was surprised because she gave 5 stars to both Ballet Shoes and Theatre Shoes, and how different could this book be? Once I started reading Dancing Shoes, however, I could see right away why she didn't like it.

On the surface, there is much about this book that is similar to the others. The main character, Rachel, is an orphan, and she and her adopted sister, Hilary, are forced to train for the stage. Hilary is naturally talented on the stage (like Pauline and Mark), but Rachel - we think - is not (like Petrova). In time, we find that even though Rachel can't dance, she can act (like Sorrel). Along the way, Rachel's cousin Dulcie learns that "pride will come before a fall" (the same lesson learned by Pauline and Miranda).

Unlike the other two books, however, this story begins with Rachel not yet orphaned. Her father died in an accident, but her mother is there to take care of her and Hilary, who was adopted by Rachel's father when her own parents died in a natural disaster. When Rachel's mother dies, we realize that poor young Hilary has lost two sets of parents! But, though Hilary is an important character in the book, it's really Rachel who is the main character. While we witness the ways in which Rachel deals with her mother's death, Hilary doesn't appear to deal with any emotions at all and just goes along with whatever is expected of her.

So, right off the bat, this book is different because the main character is trying to deal with the loss of her mother, and she feels a lot of anger. As you can imagine, it's kind of a downer. On top of that, the girls get taken in by Rachel's Aunt Cora, who is cold and not at all a sympathetic character. Because Hilary is not a "real" relation, Aunt Cora brushes her off as a second-class family member. Due to a huge misunderstanding that Rachel is unable to clear up, Aunt Cora has a completely inaccurate picture of who Rachel is and what her relationship with Hilary is like. So, for the first part of the book, the girls really had no one on their side (unlike the Fossils, who had a house full of supporters, and the Forbes children, who had Hannah and Alice).

If you can push through the disheartening beginning, you'll be rewarded with some happy developments. Pursey and Mrs. Storm eventually get to know the real Rachel, and they become her staunchest supporters. It takes practically the entire book for me to feel in any way attached to Hilary, but in the end, I liked her quite a bit, and I wished her honesty, straightforwardness, and certainty of conviction could have come through earlier.

Besides the "don't be prideful" lesson, we also learn, through Hilary, that talent alone is not enough to succeed. One also needs hard work and ambition. Yet, as with Mark, we also see that just because one is talented, that does not mean that one must devote one's whole life to honing that particular talent (as Posy did). The important thing is to do what makes you happy.

I thought the ending was more well-done than those of the other books, as I rather liked the final conversation between Hilary and Rachel.

Theater Shoes (The Shoe Books #4) by Noel Streatfeild

★★★★½

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!!! ***

I liked how nicely this book tied in with Ballet Shoes. It's not exactly a sequel, as Pauline, Petrova, and Posy are not central characters. It's more like a spin-off, with the Fossil girls - now grown up - having cameos. None of them live in London anymore, so they don't make literal appearances, but they are mentioned quite a bit.

This time, instead of being outright orphans, the three siblings - Sorrel, Mark, and Holly - are only temporarily under the guardianship of their maternal grandmother. Their mother died years ago. Their father, being in the Navy, was away at war.

The story takes place during World War II, and I frequently wondered if young readers would really understand the war references. Isabelle read the book before me, and I am sure many of the wartime details went right over her head. There is talk about rationing and black-outs, and though I tried to explain some of it to Isabelle after the fact, by the time we discussed it, it was all out of context, so I don't know if she learned much in the end.

Anyway, I really enjoyed reading about Madame again, and was pleased to see Winifred in a good place. It was fun hearing from Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, too. One should definitely read Ballet Shoes before Theater Shoes, and having read Ballet Shoes, a few of the story lines will sound familiar. In both books, the first time one of the girls gets a leading part in a production, she lets the role go to her head, acts up, and as punishment, an understudy gets to take over. There's also a big to-do about needing a new frock.

I also liked that, just as in Ballet Shoes, all the enthusiasm for show business was not shared by everyone. It's just nice to see a counterpoint so young children don't get to thinking that being star is everything. In Ballet Shoes, Petrova didn't like to perform, but then again, she didn't have much talent. This time, Mark does have quite a bit of talent, but we see that just because you are good at something doesn't mean you must do that thing as a career, even if you don't mind doing it. I'd like to think that Mark's talent doesn't just waste away, but maybe he uses it as a hobby while pursuing his real ambitions.

As with Ballet Shoes, the only real disappointment in this book was the ending. Noel Streatfeild seems to have had a way with abrupt endings. It's like she opened a scene on the very last page, but we don't get to see how that scene plays out. How does Daddy feel about his children performing? How do Daddy and Grandmother get along when they first see each other again? How does Daddy feel about Mark following in his footsteps when it means not pursuing his talent? It would have been nice if the father's return was taken just a little further, if only just through Christmas dinner, and long enough to lay out the family's plans for the immediate future.

Incidentally, Isabelle gave this book 5 stars.

Ballet Shoes (2007)

★★★★

Die-hard fans of the book may be disappointed with all the liberties taken by the movie. Quite a few changes were made, presumably with the intention of adding more drama and tension. While the book focused pretty much entirely on the girls, the movie made Sylvia a more central character. Madame in the book seemed rather warm, but Madame in the movie was quite stern. Still, I liked her. I'm usually a stickler for movies adhering to books, but in this case, I thought the movie version was really well-done.

The only thing I really disliked was the ending. It was too abrupt, just like the ending of the book. At the end of the movie, I felt primed to watch a new series or a sequel.

Isabelle said she liked the movie, but she liked the book better.

Ballet Shoes (The Shoe Books #1) by Noel Streatfeild

★★★★½

I first heard of "the shoe books" when Meg Ryan's character mentioned them in You've Got Mail. I sort of had them in the back of my mind as an option for Isabelle, so I was pleased when she picked out this book all on her own at the library.

The whole set-up seems a bit contrived, but somehow, the author pulled it off.

I think the draw of the book is summed up in the very last line, when Petrova says, "I wonder... if other girls had to be one of us, which of us they'd choose to be?"

Would a little girl reading the book want to be Pauline, a beautiful actress with talent enough for stage and screen, but who, when it comes down to it, is not irreplaceable in her work? Someone who knows what she wants, but sacrifices it for the sake of her sister? (Granted, her sacrifice comes with the kind of opportunity dreams are made of, and you get the feeling she's going to be just fine.)

Or, would a reader choose to be Posy, a ballet prodigy whose talent was so remarkable that self-aggrandizing statements did not even come across as conceitedness because they were actually true? (I was intrigued by Petrova's ability to make that observation without quite being able to explain it, on page 140 of my paperback edition.)

Or, would a reader more often identify with Petrova, perhaps not with her fascination of motorcars and aeroplanes, but with her struggle to do what was expected of her, even though it did not interest her, while putting off her own dreams?

For me, I liked Petrova best. She did what she had to do to help her family, and even though she disliked it, she diligently did her work so that she became "technically one of the most proficient pupils in her class" (page 143). Still, she never lost sight of her true passions, and she optimistically held onto the possibility that one day she could do what she wanted for herself. Also, I liked that Petrova was smart and thoughtful and showed concern for others.

Throughout the book, I did wonder if - despite all the passages about hard work and long hours of practice - it might be glorifying show business? Petrova certainly provided a counterpoint to Pauline and Posy's talents and successes, but was it enough to let readers know that being a star isn't everything? I found it interesting, then, when Pauline said, towards the end of the book, "Film stars and dancers are nice things to be, but they aren't important." (page 231)

I liked that the girls were not perfect angels, and when they seriously misbehaved, they got dressed down for it. I also thought Pauline and Petrova were good role models in that they shared what little money they earned, and after putting some into savings, they were adamant about using what was left to help out with household expenses.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to give this book 4 or 5 stars, which is why I settled on 4 1/2 stars. It didn't jump out at me as a 5-star book, and yet, I really couldn't think of a good reason why it shouldn't be. Maybe I hoped the ending would be a bit less abrupt - everything was wrapped up nicely, but it was done awfully quick.

As it happened, Isabelle read this book and the first few Betsy-Tacy books around the same time. She gave the Betsy-Tacy books 4 stars, and Ballet Shoes 5 stars. But why? Is it because the girls in Ballet Shoes have special talents? Does she find the show business aspect fascinating? Is it because Ballet Shoes is more contemporary? More exciting? Or simply because the Fossil sisters are older than Betsy and Tacy so far in the books we've read? I don't know! It's interesting to see Isabelle's preferences and wonder what drives them.

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (Betsy-Tacy #3) by Maud Hart Lovelace

★★★★½

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***

Isabelle continues to give each Betsy-Tacy book 4 stars. She can't really articulate, and I can't really figure out, why 4 and not 5.

I am REALLY glad I read the first few chapters of this book with Isabelle. Early on, the three girls are talking about a boy who is "horrid" because he called a Syrian a "dago". To be honest, I had to look up the word. Apparently, it is an ethnic slur for a person from Italy, Spain, or Portugal. (So, actually, the boy isn't even using the word correctly!) I'm sure the word probably wasn't as taboo when the book was written, but we ended up with an unexpected learning moment. I brought to Isabelle's attention a previous unexpected learning moment we had had, when Ken and Isabelle read Little Town on the Prairie together and we had a bit of a discussion about the use of the word "darkie". In this case, it is clear that the word "dago" is meant to be derogatory, and the girls seem to know it's a bad word, so it's not exactly the same as the Little Town example. But, it was similar in that the book introduced an offensive word that I would not have chosen to teach my child, and I wanted to make clear that these days, it is not at all acceptable to use such a word.

So, overlooking the bad word (which is basically why I didn't give this book 5 stars), most of the rest of book was as delightful as the previous two books. I found it particularly amusing that even before there were boy bands and movie stars, little girls always had it in them to create fan clubs and crush on celebrities!

There is an incident of truly malicious bullying, and I actually thought it was very well-written. Though I'm not sure it's wise to put yourself physically in harm's way, the girls certainly did the right thing by trying to help, and I like the anti-bullying message that young readers can take away.

I was also impressed with the way the book handled Little Syria. The author did a great job showing how the Syrian immigrants were different, but that "different" does not at all mean "bad", and in fact, the girls found it fascinating and fun to meet new people and learn new things. Especially considering that the book was written in 1942, I liked the positive representation of immigrants and a foreign culture.

It was interesting to come across the term "Mohammedans". It was another learning opportunity, and I talked with Isabelle a bit about Islam and how we now call followers of Islam "Muslims".

I thought the big "quarrel" was a true-to-life depiction of the feelings and behaviors commonly involved in a quarrel among girls, especially sisters. I even felt a bit of apprehension, really wanting the girls to work everything out! Happily, the resolution was beautifully executed.

The book ends with a heavy dose of patriotism, and young readers might realize that being American shouldn't be taken for granted. Others - particularly immigrants - consider it an honor just to be an American! In that respect, I was reminded of In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, another great read.

The Ragnarök Conspiracy by Erec Stebbins

★★★½

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***

I picked this book off our home bookshelf. I don't usually read thrillers - so I am certainly not the target audience for this book - but since it was written by a childhood friend of Ken's, I figured I'd give it a shot.

Mostly, reading this book felt just like watching an action movie. Everything that transpired was easily envisioned on a big screen, and the book even included what I consider the superfluous yet obligatory romance between the male lead and a supporting female character.

Just like a Hollywood movie, we are treated to a number of clichés. The investigative team included such stereotypical characters as an imposing ex-Marine, a computer science nerd, and a flaky yet intuitively intelligent woman. The evil mastermind is wealthy, powerful, and polished. The romance is revealed in a dramatic rain-soaked scene, and important people who want things done want them done "yesterday!".

I was occasionally put off by what seemed like excessive explanation. For example, when Jordan tries to barricade himself into a room, he "grabbed several crowbars and wedged them inside the metal handle and across the divider beside the door. It worked like a barricade in an old castle - as the door was pushed forward (or pulled from the outside), the bars caught on the metal handle and the wall, preventing further movement." (Pg. 324) Seems like the author could have simply written, "He barred the door with several crowbars."

At other times, I found myself confused about the lack of explanation. When Jordan is working a mission, he finds himself betrayed, the other person screaming, "You think I have no way to send message?" (Pg. 160) But, how did the guy send a message? Maybe I missed it, but when every other development in the book was so well-explained, it was all that much harder to blindly accept a gap in the chain without knowing how it got there. Also, I never did understand why all the higher-ups were so slow to accept the evidence that seemed to point pretty obviously to Savas's conclusions. With all the evidence, the push-back Savas received seemed like manufactured drama.

Most disappointing, though, was the de-evolution of Rebecca Cohen. She started out as the sharpest, most intelligent member of the team. But, once she was in a relationship with Savas, she became a helpless victim, internally calling out, "John, please, help me..." (Pg. 289) rather than trying to help herself in some way. In the dramatic climax full of action, every man had an active role to play, except Rebecca, who is only there to be saved.

So, all that aside, I'm still giving this book an "I like it" rating because, well, I did enjoy reading it. It's a good read. It was well-paced with developments that continuously drove the plot forward. There is a whole slew of interesting, named characters who play only supporting or minor roles at best; that kind of over-complication usually annoys me, but in this case, I feel the author did a really good job introducing characters, setting up their contexts, and integrating them into the story. Most chapters were relatively short, which made for good reading for me because, with two small children, I can usually only read for 5-20 minutes at a time. And, given the complexities of religion and Savas's personal history with it, I liked that his struggle with religion was not blithely reconciled in the end.

Betsy-Tacy and Tib (Betsy-Tacy #2) by Maud Hart Lovelace

★★★★

A nice follow-up to Betsy-Tacy, though a bit less believable.

In the beginning, the author acknowledges that many grown-ups think, "Two little girls often do play nicely, but just let a third one come around... then the trouble begins!" Yet, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib never quarrel, and it's not exactly clear why not, except that they must be the three most good-natured girls ever to live in the same neighborhood!

Two years have passed since the girls first met, and they are now 8 years old. Isabelle will be 8 next month, so it was fun to read this book together about girls who are just her age. But while we did enjoy the stories and found them amusing, they just didn't sound like adventures Isabelle and her friends would have. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib's antics seemed more like activities that today's 5- or 6-year-olds might engage in. I don't know if kids today are exposed to more knowledge earlier, and so they are truly less innocent at younger ages? Whatever the case, whenever I asked Isabelle if she might have fun doing something similar to what we were reading about, she always answered, "No! It's just a story, it's all made up." She definitely "knows better" than to try to fly or to cut anyone's hair.

Anyway. As with the first book, I really liked the way this book takes you back in time. Diphtheria is not uncommon, and Aunt Dolly has "morning dresses" and "afternoon dresses".

Definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Betsy-Tacy (Betsy-Tacy #1) by Maud Hart Lovelace

★★★★★

A very sweet story of two little girls growing up in a simpler time. In this day and age of social media and online games, it was refreshingly quaint to read about a time when ladies went calling, milk was delivered in horse-drawn wagons, and children's play was limited only by the scope of their own imaginations. Betsy and Tacy, both five years old, play games and explore their neighborhood with their mothers' permission but without adult supervision.

The author takes Betsy and Tacy through several big life events, including the first day of school, the birth of a baby sister, and even the death of a baby sister. The situations are not treated lightly, but they convey the innocence of a child's perspective. I love that the girls show compassion and take care of each other in difficult times.

I also like that young children reading this book will probably encounter new vocabulary, even if the reading level is appropriate. First published in 1940 and presumably set it in the late 1800's or early 1900's, many frequently used words from that time are now less common. When the Kelly family moves in, Betsy sees a moving "dray", not a moving truck, and their houses have "parlors", not living rooms or family rooms.

The edition I read included some fun facts about the author and where she got her inspiration for writing the book, plus a delightful little map of the girls' neighborhood.

I think this will be a fun series to follow, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Isabelle read this book on her own and gave it 4 stars. I couldn't get her to elaborate on why 4 and not 5. She never seems to want to talk about books that she reads on her own, and she gets annoyed when I ask her questions. Maybe I'll see if she wants to read the next one together.

Framingham Beer Works - Framingham, MA

★★★★★

My kids love this place!

You might not expect it from a microbrewery, but this restaurant is super kid-friendly. We have eaten here twice so far, the first time arriving on the late side for lunch, and the second time arriving on the early side. Both times we were seated in a booth, which was great for the kids. The kids menu has all the staples for my kids - hot dog, hamburger, mac 'n cheese, pizza - and both kids really like the different root beers as well.

This restaurant is close enough - and well-liked enough by the kids - that we might be eating here relatively often. I think I'll try to order something different every time. So far I've had the Charlestown Burger and the Fish 'n Chips, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The real reason I'm giving this restaurant 5 stars, though, is because of how allergy-aware they are. When Sebastien mentioned his allergies, the waiter was careful to make note of each allergen. One time, both Isabelle and Sebastien ordered the mac 'n cheese, and when the food came out, the server specifically asked who had the allergies so she could give that person a particular plate. Even though both plates looked exactly the same, presumably one had been served up to minimize cross-contamination. And, when the bill came, it included an all-caps warning about allergies, presumably because the same ticket was used in the kitchen.

Jordan's Restaurant - Bar Harbor, ME

★★★

We arrived on a Saturday morning around 9 or 9:30 AM, and only had a brief wait before being seated, though we did have to break into two groups to be seated in two booths. The booths were close to each other, in the same area of the restaurant, but not adjacent.

Fast, friendly, very casual service.

Isabelle's French toast was delicious, and Sebastien's yogurt with fresh fruit was large and generously portioned. But the wild blueberry muffins were not as great as I had expected them to be, and my omelette - though well made - was kind of bland. I think maybe they used mild cheddar cheese, which hardly tasted like anything at all to me, since I am used to eating extra sharp cheddar at home.

Beal's Lobster Pier - Southwest Harbor, ME

★★★½

A lobster pound - where you pick a lobster from a tank and pay by the pound. This was the only lobster pound I ate at, so I can't compare it to others...

The menu is both limited and extensive: limited because the only non-fried foods available were lobsters, clams, and corn, but extensive because they offered a wide variety of fried foods (including chicken tenders and fries), plus hot dogs and hamburgers.

Super kid-friendly because of the menu, plus you eat outdoors at picnic tables, which means the kids don't have to be well-contained in their seats and can run around.

No lobster crackers or wet naps, but they do have a hand washing station. Great view of southwest harbor.

The Jordan Pond House Restaurant - Acadia National Park, ME

★★★★

After battling the overflowing parking lot on a super hot day, we were dismayed to find out that our 3 PM reservation for 10 people was lost! Completely non-existent! Thankfully, the hostess - who remained calm and composed while juggling the high demands of the crowd that day - handled the situation wonderfully. She put us into the pager line just as if we did have reservations, and we ended up getting a perfect outdoor table with a gorgeous view of the pond at pretty much our original reservation time.

We all had desserts, most of us opting for the popovers a la mode. Yum! Even Sebastien had ice cream because it's made by the restaurant, and while they do have one flavor with Heath Bar (which contains almonds), the super friendly waitress said that because they serve 2,000 people a day, they are well-versed in allergies, and she assured us they could serve Sebastien safe, un-cross-contaminated vanilla ice cream.

The unsweetened lemonade came with sugar water. I put just enough in for my drink to be satisfyingly refreshing, but there just wasn't enough sugar water to satisfy the kids. I'm sure the waitress would have brought more if we asked, but we didn't bother asking.

Portside Grill - Bar Harbor, ME

★★★★

Our party of 10 arrived around 6 PM on a Thursday evening, and they were able to seat us immediately.

Friendly service. When I mentioned Sebastien's allergies and asked about the bread, the waitress seemed knowledgeable and advised against Sebastien eating it.

My steamers appetizer was big and plentiful, and I loved my fish and chips entree - lightly battered, well-cooked. The watermelon cocktail, however, was not as interesting as it sounded on paper. The kids meals must have been good because both my kids polished off their plates - Sebastien ate all his mac 'n cheese, and Isabelle ate a whole hamburger.

Geddy's - Bar Harbor, ME

★★★


Fun atmosphere with lots of interesting things on the walls, like old license plates from around the country. Wide menu selection, including a kid's menu. We arrived around 6 PM on a Wednesday night, and our party of 10 got seated immediately at a large corner booth where we didn't have to worry about the kids bothering other diners.

I mentioned Sebastien's food allergies, and the waitress did not seem very interested or concerned.

As for the food... My lobster bisque was too buttery, and it didn't have as much lobster as I had hoped it would. My fried clams had too much batter. On the plus side, the kids' drinks came with small plastic fish toys, and their entrees came on souvenir frisbees - a great idea, not withstanding the disappointment my daughter experienced because she didn't like the color of her frisbee.

Saving Sight: An Eye Surgeon's Look at Life Behind the Mask and the Heroes Who Changed the Way We See by Andrew Lam

★★★★

When my daughter was 5, she had a frightening incident involving a foreign object in her eye. We had no idea what it was, but every effort to flush it out with water failed. Clearly in pain, she cried and repeated, "I can't see! It hurts!" I was scared out of my mind, afraid she'd have permanent eye damage. I called the doctor's office in tears, and in the end, a pediatric ophthalmologist used specialized equipment to identify and remove a TINY, thin, clear piece of plastic.

In Saving Sight, Andrew Lam writes about eye injuries that are 1,000 times worse than what my daughter experienced.

This book has two main focuses, both of which made for really fascinating and compelling reading: the author's personal experiences with various types of eye issues he has encountered with his patients, and the individuals who made the amazing advances in technology and medicine that help cure those eye conditions.

I appreciated the author's frank honesty as he recounted the care he gave his patients. He was at times doubtful and uncertain, but he utilized his training and found solutions to whatever problems were put in front of him. In this line of work, in which the doctor is literally giving people the gift of sight - which, in turn, is sometimes equivalent to the gift of life itself - one might imagine that such a doctor would develop a kind of God complex. But, Dr. Lam comes across as humble and dedicated, with a bedside manner that I wish my doctors had.

The stories behind the major innovations in eye care were equally interesting. Most of us probably don't give a second thought to the specialized equipment, techniques, and drugs used to examine, improve, and maintain our eye sight (like LASIK) or to cope with loss of sight (like braille). But, wow! These inventions and advancements - and the people behind them - have had and continue to have such an incredibly significant impact on so many people's lives that I really think Dr. Lam is doing the world a service by telling their stories. As a sort of added bonus, many of the stories have a World War II connection that any history buff would be likely to appreciate. (It's not surprising that the author received his undergraduate degree in History, as noted in the "About the Author" section.)

If you're very squeamish, it may be worth noting that some of the information outlining medical procedures performed on the eyes is explicit and detailed. Also, the book describes medical research performed on animals, which may not be agreeable to everyone (though hopefully everyone would be able to see the important scientific value of such research). Even Monsanto, the giant of recent GMO (genetically modified organisms) backlash, makes a cameo in a positive light.

While thoroughly appreciating all that I read in this book, I sometimes wondered if the one book tried to be too many things all at once. As a whole, the book is readable and approachable, though the writing style jumps around between informal first-person narrative (like a memoir), third-person historical fiction, and straight-up non-fiction. Tangential commentary popped up here and there about different aspects of the American medical system, like the medicolegal climate and flaws in the healthcare system. Though still interesting to read, these observations were like side discussions relative to the main ideas of the book.

Finally, as a person with a close family member with Parkinson's Disease, I sometimes feel it is my responsibility to help accurately spread Parkinson's awareness. On page 51 of the paperback version, Dr. Irving S. Cooper is said to have "developed a freezing probe...to cure Parkinson's disease." Many people might just gloss over the sentence, but in this case, I am a stickler for word choice. While Parkinson's Disease can be "managed" with medicine and surgery, there is no actual cure yet - though many dedicated people are working towards finding one. The U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health describes Dr. Cooper this way: "He developed several novel techniques for the surgical management of Parkinson's disease," and his work helped to "alleviate the movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease." (Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/98...)

Overall, a really interesting read that I think any person who has ever seen an eye doctor would appreciate. An inspirational book that I will keep on my bookshelf and encourage my children to read when they are older.