Nowhere to Hide - Sigmund Brouwer

March 25, 2014

Author:
–Sigmund Brouwer
Publisher:
  Harvest House Publishers
Release Date:
  March 1, 2015
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Young Adult, Suspense
Length:
–224 pages
My Rating:
   2.5/5

 About This Book (from Goodreads)

William King and Blake Watt have just settled into their senior year of high school when they receive a call for help--the authorities need to use their computer skills to track down a father who has failed to make child-support payments. The invitation to become cyber bounty hunters is so tempting, they don't stop to ask why they were chosen for this assignment.

As they learn more about the man they are searching for, they discover the true nature of their mission--to help the founder of a Seattle-based software company prove that he is innocent of a much different charge. But the scariest things they learn are why they were chosen and why they were supposed to remain in the background.

You'll love following the surprising twists and turns in this fast-paced young-adult thriller from a gifted storyteller who has nearly three million books in print.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.  It looked like an interesting YA read by an author I was not familiar with.

My Expectations about This Book

In starting this book, I didn’t realize it was actually the second book in a series, the first book being Dead Man’s Switch.  Had I known that ahead of time and read the initial book first, it might have changed some of my thoughts on this book.  It would have made some parts of the character interaction and the references make more sense.  Although Nowhere to Hide is readable as a standalone (as I did), I don’t think I would recommend it that way.

Also, since my review copy was digital it had several grammatical issues and mistakes as well as every few paragraphs the story was interrupted with either a tag line of the author’s name or a statement about not reproducing the text in any way.  Both things that a reader doesn’t need to deal with in the final digital and print versions, I’m sure.  But for full disclosure’s sake, I think that did interrupt the flow for me and make the reading less enjoyable.

CRITIQUE

Were my expectations met?

I expected an intense, fast-paced YA novel about two teens helping out the CIA while being students.  What I received was a fast paced novel, but about three teens on their summer break.  Well, really, just one teen, King, was the focus of the book.  MJ and Blake played roles intermittently but were not central to the story.  That was primarily King and CIA Agent Evans. 

Also, there wasn’t very much to do with computer skills or cyber bounty hunting.  Most of that was done by Blake, and you learn about it in hindsight during the first few chapters. 

Still an interesting story.  Also rather confusing at times.  In fact, I’m still not sure I fully grasped all of the plot twists and redirections.

Prose & Dialogue

For the most part, the scenes and the dialogue flowed well.  There were a few times I had to go back and re-read as I thought I had missed something. 

The descriptions of the settings were great.  Just enough detail to make you feel like you’re there but not so much you get bored.

I think that Brouwer nailed King’s dialogue as well as that of Evans and even some of the other CIA agents involved.  The parents and other two boys seemed more like caricatures than realistic, growing characters.

Characters & Points-of-View

I don’t know that I believed any of the characters or situations could occur in real life.  Two super-smart boys being raised and homeschooled on an island that houses a prison.  The CIA regularly utilizing the skills of said boys.  If it was true to life, homeschooling really has worked out for King and made him advanced well beyond his years. 

I don’t believe there were too many characters to keep up with.  Too many plot twists and one-eighties in the overall story, perhaps.

Story Structure & Pace

The pace of this story was quick, which will appeal to the YA audience targeted.  However, I am used to reading quick paced suspense books written on an adult level.  Yet this book confused me and completely lost me at times more than any of those adult books have.

At the start of the book, there is mention of Mr. King betraying his son.  By the final page, I still wasn’t really clear on what that betrayal was.  Was his dad in on the whole thing from the start with the tech guru?  I don’t think so but am not 100% positive.

Questionable Content

I don’t believe there is any truly questionable content.  Targeting an audience of teen male readers means that of course there are some references to bodily functions and smelly socks.  However, I wouldn’t say any of that is offensive.

Originality & Predictability

I will give the book this:  I was guessing clear to the final page.  And have still been guessing since I finished it.  So it’s a book that sticks with you as you try to figure it out.  The frustration is that I’m not sure it can be figured out.  Plus, the story wasn’t compelling enough for me to want to re-read the whole thing again with the added value of hindsight.

Audience Appropriateness & Appeal

The target audience is young adult.  I would even further define it as young adult (probably middle school through freshman) males.  There are only two female characters outside of the mothers, and all female characters definitely have a very background role.  So I don’t think this book would appeal as much to girls.

I do believe it would appeal to both conservative and mainstream readers.  As a movie it would probably be rated PG.

Engagement, Entertainment & Investment

The character of King and his dynamic with Evans is probably enough to pull off additional books in the series.  However, I would recommend reading them as a series and not as standalone titles

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I think this was an okay young adult suspense novel.  I appreciated the lack of vulgar language and sex that seems prevalent in so much YA literature these days.  I enjoyed the story line for the most part.  I was just frustrated by my confusion throughout.

Pros

·         A fresh approach to a YA world full of language and sex
·         An engaging character in King
·         Fast-paced

Cons

·         Confusing at times – perhaps reading the first book would help

 

**Review will be posted on The Christian Manifesto website 05.20.15

Raising Burning Hearts - Patricia Bootsma

RAISING BURNING HEARTS:  Parenting & Mentoring Next Generation Lovers of God

March 23, 2015

Publisher:
  Forerunner Publishing
Release Date:
  January 1, 2015
Market:
  Christian
Genre:
–Non-Fiction, Parenting
Length:
–160 pages
My Rating:
   3.5/5

 About This Book (from Amazon)

Can the next generation become passionate followers of God, equipped and ready to fulfill their destinies? Christian parents and mentors are entrusted with the call to nurture and train hearts, releasing children to excel in loving and seeking God. In Raising Burning Hearts, Patricia Bootsma draws on her experience of raising six children and mentoring many others, and shares the profound and hopeful news that this calling is not beyond our reach. Combining practicality and spiritual understanding, Patricia covers important strategies that are often overlooked, like the power of blessing our children, of prophetically declaring truth over them, and of teaching young ones how to hear God s voice, seek Him in the Word, and be constant in prayer. Sharing tangible applications and real-life testimonies, Patricia assures us that parents and mentors can fulfill their heavenly mandate to raise up and release next generation lovers of God into their epic purpose.

CRITIQUE

The MoM group that I’m apart of has been discussing this book this past month.  It is challenging in some areas and has definitely presented some paradigm shifts for me in others.  Probably my favorite chapter was “The Power of the Blessing.”  I found this chapter to be infinitely practical and something I could implement right away. 

Despite all my psych courses for my education degree, and all of the many opinions on life stages, I had never come across the exact stages Bootsma presents and the Major Life Question that goes with each one.  It makes sense though.  Just as it makes sense to speak blessings over your children, their lives, their friendships, etc.  Words can bring life or death.  Harness that power. 

I will say the testimonies at the end of each chapter were my least favorite parts.  Usually I like things like that.  These seemed a bit stilted and even redundant.

Regardless, a worthwhile read for parents who are always looking for more ways to point their children to Jesus. 

Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death - Sharon Linnea

March 22, 2015

Publisher:
  The Jewish Publication Society
Release Date:
  May 1, 1994
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Non-Fiction, History, WWII, Young Adult
Length:
–151 pages
My Rating:
   4/5

 

About This Book (from Goodreads)

In the last days of World War II, a young Swedish architect, Raoul Wallenberg, was secretly sent to Budapest by the War Refugee Board of the United States Government. There he did what no other country or individual was able to do: he saved more than 100,000 Jewish men, women, and children from extermination at the hands of the Nazi Colonel Adolph Eichmann. This meticulously researched biography is based upon archival materials and first-person interviews with Wallenberg's family, colleagues, and people he saved. It is illustrated with original photographs. To this day, no one knows the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, but his belief that one person can make a difference endures as a legacy for us all. 

CRITIQUE

This is my book club book for March.  As much as I’ve read about and even taught about the Holocaust, I had never heard of Raoul Wallenberg.  While this book is meant for younger readers (think middle school), I thought it was a great introduction to Wallenberg and his work rescuing the Jews of Budapest, Hungary.  It does not get too bogged down in dates and general war information.  The book is very specific in its scope.  It is very readable and engaging.  The pictures throughout only add to the story.  Worth the read for anyone interested in WWII and Holocaust history.

How to Catch a Prince - Rachel Hauck

HOW TO CATCH A PRINCE (The Royal Wedding Series #3)

Publisher:
  Zondervan
Release Date:
  February 24, 2015
Market:
  Christian
Genre:
–Christian Fiction, Chick Lit
Length:
–368 pages
My Rating:
   4/5

 

About This Book (from Goodreads)

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could ve been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever."

CRITIQUE

I have read the other two books in The Royal Wedding Series.  Knowing them to be fun, predictable reads made me excited to read the most recent installment. 

I received a digital copy of the book from the author as a part of the Street Team and the same time my request for an ARC from NetGalley came through.  A few days later, the request I had placed at the library a few months before publication was fulfilled.  Clearly I was meant to read this book.

This book certainly met my expectations.  And it was just what I needed to be reading at the time – something light and entertaining and uplifting. 

There was a good mix between the prose and the dialogue.  I never felt bogged down in any of the details or scenes. 

There were a couple of places that didn’t seem consistent.  For example, when Corina goes home to pick up a dress and says her flight leaves that night and then shortly after says it leaves the next day.  But it was just a little blip that didn’t take away from the story.

While the outcome of the story was predictable, I still liked to get to know Corina and Stephen and “see” their interactions with each other.  I will say the break-aways to Gigi I could have done without.  And the randomness of her having been at Cathedral City seemed to come from out of nowhere.

I don’t believe there was too much backstory.  You’re hit with the twist at the start and the past, while hinted at, is explained as needed.

The romance in the book is pleasant.  I enjoyed and cheered for Corina and Stephen.  Hoewver, I found the spiritual/supernatural elements to be a bit…I hesitate to say it, but hokey.  The whole Manor and Adelaide and all.  I really had to have a suspension of reality. 

That being said, I really did enjoy the book – reading the whole thing in just a day or so.  Every time my toddler would let me, I’d pick it up and read a few more pages.  It was a much needed break between the more serious reading in my piles.  Definitely would recommend.  And even though it’s the third in a series, I do believe it could be read as a stand-alone.

I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai

I AM MALALA:  The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban – Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

 Publisher:
  Little, Brown, & Company
Release Date:
  October 8, 2013
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Memoir, Education
Length:
–327 pages
My Rating:
   2/5 stars

 About This Book (from Goodreads)

I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday.

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I Am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

CRITIQUE

This book has been on my To Read list for a while.  I was interested to read the story of a girl passionate about education.  What inspired her?  What gives her strength?  And even once I requested the book from my local library, it took me a bit longer to start reading it.  Regardless of which version I requested, the library kept sending me the Young Reader Edition.  Not what I was looking for.  However, in hindsight, I might have enjoyed it better had I read the Young Reader Edition. 

This is a book I probably should have quit considering all of the other books I have stacking up to be read.  It was not at all what I expected.  Where I expected a story about a teen who was an education advocate I found a book filled with Pakistani and Muslim history.  Where I wanted a focus on the person I received a focus on politics and corruption.  The beginning of Part 1 and Part 5 were probably the most personal.  The rest were not.  So the basic premises of the story ended up not being what I was interested in for this read.

Add to that the writing challenges, and I don’t think it is a book I will be recommending any time soon.  All the names and places were confusing.  Especially when she would write “The person’s name is X but I call him Y.”  That occurred regularly, and then you didn’t know which name would pop up in the future.

There was a lot of jumping back and forth from history to present day politics.  The story was missing any sort of smooth flow or running narrative.  Jumping topics occurred regularly.  Additionally, random conversations between Malala and her friends or aside comments would be inserted into the prose that had nothing to do with the current context.

Add to that the verb tense and language issues that probably are just a result of English being a second language made it a confusing book to read. 

Throughout the book I received no real sense of who Malala is as a person.  If you are looking for a memoir, this isn't it.  If you want to learn more about Pakistani history and politics, this is the book for you.

I wanted to love it; I just didn’t.

Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home from Birth to Age Three - Paula Polk Lillard & Lynn Lillard Jessen

Publisher:
  Schocken
Release Date:
  July 22, 2003
Genre:
–Non-Fiction, Parenting, Education
Length:
–304 pages
My Rating:
   3/5

 About This Book (from Goodreads)

What can parents do to help their youngest children in their task of self-formation? How does the Montessori method of hands-on learning and self-discovery relate to the youngest infants? This authoritative and accessible book answers these and many other questions. Based on Dr. Maria Montessori's instructions for raising infants, its comprehensive exploration of the first three years incorporates the furnishings and tools she created for the care and comfort of babies. From the design of the baby's bedroom to the child-sized kitchen table, from diet and food preparation to clothing and movement, the authors provide guidance for the establishment of a beautiful and serviceable environment for babies and very young children. They introduce concepts and tasks, taking into account childrens' ''sensitive periods'' for learning such skills as dressing themselves, food preparation, and toilet training. Brimming with anecdote and encouragement, and written in a clear, engaging style, Montessori from the Start is a practical and useful guide to raising calm, competent, and confident children.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

After seeing this marked as “To Read” by one of my friends on Goodreads, I requested it from my library.  The Montessori method (what little I know about it) is fascinating to me.  Add to that the fact I have an 18-month old at home and another little one on the way, and it just seemed like a good time to read and learn more about Montessori.
 

CRITIQUE

This book was good if a bit overwhelming in all of its ideas and skills that apparently my toddler is already behind on.  So it was nice to get to the end and have a disclaimer from the authors that it’s okay to pick and choose what to implement.  That, ultimately, every family is different and has different needs and abilities.  It would have been nice to have that up front.  It would have relieved some of my guilt.

This book really does cover pretty much every aspect of growth and development from birth to three.  It starts out with how the nursery should be arranged and why.  There are big concepts and ideas that are then broken out into the practical.

The authors discuss brain growth, the brain to hand connection, movement, life skills like dressing and feeding oneself, language and the arts, and how to help your child to develop best in all these areas.

Really, it’s probably more a 3.5 or 4 book for rating as far as the presentation of the ideas.  My lower rating of 3 is probably due to my personal biases.  It’s one I’m considering purchasing and using for reference.

I Was Here - Gayle Forman

Publisher:
  Viking Juvenile
Release Date:
  January 27, 2015
Market:
  Secular
Genre:
–Young Adult
Length:
–270 pages
My Rating:
   4/5

 

 

 About This Book (from Amazon)

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

How and Why I Acquired This Book

I have previously read two other Gayle Forman books (If I Stay and Where She Went).  This one showed up in my Goodreads YA newsletter.  The synopsis sounded intriguing, so I requested it from my library.

My Expectations about This Book

I have read books by Gayle Forman previously.  They were okay.  The premise of this one was more interesting to me than the other two.  Additionally, I like to keep my finger on what is new in YA literature due to my previous work as a junior high English teacher and having a teen and tween of my own..  As her book If I Stay was made into a movie and thus had increased exposure to teens and tweens recently, I figure many young adults will be reading her latest.

CRITIQUE

 Were my expectations met?

While the book didn’t end up quite how I thought it would, it is my favorite of her books so far. 

Prose & Dialogue

I have no qualms with the grammar or paragraphing in this book.  The chapters are short, which is great for young students reading a bit here and there as free time allows (or for mommies of toddlers). 

The story does flow with a good balance of introspection and dialogue.  There wasn’t really a lot of description, but I don’t feel that much description was necessary to tell this story.

Characters & Points-of-View

The main characters are well-developed.  I found the supporting characters to be more cookie cutter.  While never having experienced what Cody is dealing with in the novel, I felt like I could understand her feelings, her motivations, and the actions as a result.

Romantic Tension

There is some romance – or at least boy/girl relationship – in the book.  It wasn’t very romantic, but pretty real for what some teenagers and young adults do.  Definitely more of a side story than the focus of the novel.

Questionable Content

There is quite a bit of strong language in the book.  This was disappointing as I feel it did nothing to enhance the characters or the story.  It was just there because that’s how it’s assumed most teens talk. 

Also, there is smoking, drinking, and sex.  Not to mention the sensitive topic of suicide running throughout the book

Originality & Predictability
I think the novel is a fresh look at suicide and those who deal with it.  Like I said at the start, the story didn’t pan out exactly how I thought it would.  But it was much more believable this way. 

Audience Appropriateness & Appeal

The target audience is teens.  I would say the more appropriate audience would be older teens and young adults.  I would not be on board with my 12 or 14 year olds reading it at this point in their lives.  Probably when they were older and with a lot of discussion as they read.

I think this book would be acceptable to some conservative readers.  But most would read it to be able to have the discussions necessary with teens who are reading it.

Engagement, Entertainment & Investment

I did lose sleep over this book.  The short chapters made it possible to justify reading “just one more.”  In fact, I read the book in a 24 hour time frame.

 

Pros

·         Real characters dealing realistically with hard situations
·         Addresses suicide and the reasons behind it head on

Cons

·         Language, smoking, drinking, and sex
·         Some hypocrisy among some of the identifying Christian characters

***My full review will be posted on The Christian Manifesto website at a future date.