24-26: Spring Rain, Book of Unholy Mishief, & Remarkable Creatures

This past week or so, I read three incredible novels, amazingly, all dealt with the topic of faith and the unknown.  Which that is what faith is all about, right?  The platform on which the unknown builds.

Spring Rain by Gayle Roper

This book found me at one of our local bookstores in a section of books marked down to fifty cents.  I am grateful.

Spring Rain caught me attention because one of the characters has AIDS.  I cannot remember reading a book that deals with this topic; thus, I was hooked and interested in how a Christian writer would approach this topic...by the way the character does die, and the resolution is interesting.

Spring Rain is also about character Leigh and her son Billy and the mystery and circumstances surrounding their lives.  A fairly quick read, this one is definitely "chick lit," something that I very much enjoy after an intense week.

I appreciate how the author dealt with the many issues within this novel.

The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

Set in Venice at the beginning of the Renaissance (1498), The Book of Unholy Mischief or The Chef's Apprentice tells the story of Luciano, an orphaned beggar, who obtains the favor of Chef Ferrero and becomes his apprentice, as he continues to hunt for the book of which everyone is desperately seeking, to the extent that some even torture and kill.  Luciano is a nosey yet determined young man, who proves that perseverance does pay. 

I took this novel with me to the National Beta Club Convention.  On our way home, one of the young ladies asked if she could begin reading this novel...and she was hooked.  Every so often, I would hear her say, "This is so good."

I purchased this novel well over a year ago at the recommendation of one of the blogs I follow (sorry!  I really wish I could remember which one!), and the novel sat and waited for me to select it as my next read.  To my regret, I wish I had read it much earlier so that I could have recommended it to my students last year, for I can name several who would have greatly enjoyed reading this one.

This novel dealt, too, with Christian issues, some of which I agreed; some of which I did not.  This is a novel I would love to read with a group and have discussions throughout.

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

A friend/peer on a state-level committee recently recommended this read.  After our meeting that evening, I checked this one out on the Internet and then bought four of this author's novels.  Then yesterday afternoon, after returning from a week on the road, I sit down with novel and began to read and continued to read until I could no longer stay awake and then finished it when I awoke this morning.  Yes, it's that good!

Remarkable Creatures, a work of historical fiction (early to mid-1800's) and a New York Times bestseller, relates the life and findings Mary Anning, who had the "eye" for finding fossils of long-ago and now extinct, creatures, and her friend/mentor Elizabeth Philpot, also a fish fossil hunter.

What probably intrigued me the most was the questioning by Elizabeth Philpot of how these extinct creatures fit into the stories of the Bible and the answers she found as she matured, answers to which I happen to agree.

Please consider reading these novels!

23: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

Just finished reading Richard Paul Evan's new young adult series Michael Vey:  The Prisoner of Cell 25.  Yes, you will like this novel...whether you are male, female, student, or teacher.

This series begins the adventures of the Electroclan, a group of thirteen who were electrified as babies:  Michael, Taylor, and eleven others, all who have just a bit different skill or talent.  Then, there are the normal ones:  Ostin, Jack, and Wade.

Michael, the main character, has Tourettes, which is tremendous trait for an author to place on a character.  A character, one with a disability, who overcomes.  Since Michael's story is told in first-person, the reader enters the brain, the emotions, the mental struggles of this character and "feels" with the character.  (Taylor's story is told in third-person...good example of point of view...just a note to self, the teacher.)  :)

As a teacher, I am excited about the use of this novel as a read-aloud within my thematic units that I am continuing to create, for I believe it will fit nicely within my Pioneer and Survivor units.  Cool!

Yes, you may pre-order this novel here at Amazon!

22: The 360 Degree Leader

John C. Maxwell's book The 360 Degree Leader lives up to its subtitle...Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Full of anecdotes and quotes, lists and bullets, the book reads quickly.

Throughout this book, I annotated much, as what I read either affirmed or challenged who I am at this moment in my life. At one point, I had an Epiphany of sorts...may read about that here.

The 360 Degree Leader should be read by all leaders: leader-want-to-be's and those already there at the top of the leadership ladder.

An extensive writer, Maxwell has written a number of books on his passion: leadership. Please consider checking out these free resources.

21: The Sun Also Rises

Embarrassingly, I had never read this novel before, which is one reason why I chose it as one of my reads for Dana Huff's Book Challenge Books I Wish I Had Read in High School.

My husband loves Hemingway.  Let's just say, I grew to appreciate the storyline and his style.  Lots of dialogue.  A tad bit stream of consciousness.  Man stories.  Man desires.

As an English teacher, I did appreciate the symbolism of the bulls and the bull fighting.  Really think the story was told on two levels.

Will I read Hemingway again?  Of course!  As that English teacher, I, again, am embarrassed to admit that I have read so little of Hemingway's works.

20: Heroes of the Valley

Jonathan Stroud, author Heroes of the Valley, creates a fantasy world involving trolls and, well, heroes during the medieval time.

I ordered this novel sometime ago for my classroom and picked it up last week as I planned how to spend time during an extended bus ride.

Young Halli, age 15, quickly becomes a favorite because of his not being a favorite in the novel.  The reader's loyalty, though, proves true as Halli matures and helps lead his people to overcome the many obstacles his house (one of twelve in this valley).

Yes, I will recommend this novel to my students in the fall...especially boys who enjoy fantasy.