The Sky is Falling

I read this book (and its two sequels) over and over and over again as a kid.  This is truly a classic of Canadian children's fiction.  

Anyway, I am in the process of moving and when I went to bed last night all my books were packed up, so I had nothing to read.  I found this tucked behind a cabinet in my old room, and so I took it to bed with me to keep me entertained in my last night at my mom's house.  It kind of seemed like a fitting  choice, seeing as how it was such a big part of my childhood.  

This story of two young children leaving England for Toronto as war guests during the early part of World War II is always great.  I've always found myself deeply sympathetic with Norah and her depression at being sent away.  That said, the book never justifies her neglectful treatment of her confused little brother, and by the end when everything is repaired in their relationship, you forgive her.  

Reading it as an adult was a bit strange.  I thought I would take a different perspective and be a bit more sympathetic (or at least understanding) of the adult characters, but that didn't happen.  Instead I felt about eleven years old again, and I completely lost myself in the story.  This includes sitting among cardboard boxes this morning crying like a loser at the end.  

This book has always been a favourite, and I am glad I was forced to pick it up again.  I give it 5 out of 5 Messerschmitts, and I think I may have to see if I can find the other two books in the series somewhere.

Goldengrove

I picked this book up solely because of the cover.  I seriously love canoeing.  This cover makes me think of summer camp, family summer vacation in Ontario and weirdly enough about a series of books I read as a kid where the characters would spend their summers at a cottage in Muskoka.  

Anyway, the cover was a win, and the book itself was actually pretty decent too.  Taken from the perspective of a 14 year old girl during the summer following the accidental death of her charismatic older sister.  She ends up getting involved with her sister's grieving boyfriend, and it moves into some pretty bizarre territory.  

The best thing about this book was that I think it portrayed grief in a pretty lifelike way.  The characters were all stalled in their own ways after the death of Margaret, and it took each of them a very real and immediate reason to decide to move forward in their lives.  I think it was also very good that it didn't all wrap up neatly at the end.  Much like real life, instead of closure some relationships just drifted apart.  It was a really relatable way to write a book.

My only pet peeve was that the timeline didn't really work out.  Really, it's such a stupid thing to get worked up about, but come on!  Nico, the main character, watches movies all throughout the film.  Each time she does, it is specified that she watches them on DVD.  This is fine.  However, in the epilogue she starts talking about her life in her marriage 25 years later.  Now, DVDs aren't exactly new technology, but are they 25 years old?  No way.  Even if they are, they haven't been in the popular sphere for that long.  Maybe 1o years, maybe.  But there is no way that you would have been able to go to the local small town video store 25 years ago and rent classic film on DVD.  Really.

Anyway, the DVD issue notwithstanding, it was an enjoyable read, and one that can't be considered teen fiction (yay me!).  I give it 3.5 creepy boyfriends making you dress up like your dead sister out of 5.  

Sweethearts

Recommended by my bestie, Sweethearts was a great story about growing up, and the people that you meet and leave along the way.  The writing brought to mind Sarah Dessan in that slightly tortured, real-world problems sort of way.  

The story opens with the narrator (Jennifer/Jenna) as a young, awkward 9 year old who is navigating her existence with difficulty.  Tortured by her peers because she is poor, chubby and a bit neglected, she finds solace in her one friend, Cameron.  The two have a very close, soul-mate type existence.  One day, her friend fails to show up to school and she eventually hears that he has died.

The rest of the book goes back and forth between the present (with Jenna as a transformed 17 year old) and a creepy past event that shaped her perception of herself and her relationship with Cameron.  What is great about this book is that Sara Zerr, the author, doesn't waste words.  It's a quick, efficient read that tells the story well.  My biggest issue was that it was a bit unrealistic.  As a child of Abuse it is totally understandable that Cameron would have issues with commitment and communication, but the way he came in and out of Jenna's life like some sort of mythological beast was a bit weird.  Also, and this is just my issues, but it lacked the kind of resolution I craved.  I'm all for real relationships in books, but it was really unsatisfying to have nothing to follow up on.  It kind of felt like when someone (usually me) forgets the punchline of a joke and then has to explain why it should have been funny, or has to add in "oh wait, I forgot to tell you that the donkey was pink" at the punchline.  Kills the mood.  Every time.

Anyway, it was a decent read, and I enjoyed it.  3 stolen Snickers bars out of 5.

City of Glass

City of Glass is the third book in a trilogy that I (dorkily) got into a couple of years ago.  Buying into the whole Vampire/Werewolf/Fairy thing that is popular right now, with a whole lot of Harry Potter, it delivers what it promises.  That is, it's fun escapism that is moderately well written.

I won't go into details as to the plot or anything because at this point, it won't make any sense and really, do you care?  Probably not.  It was pretty predictable but overall entertaining, and I enjoyed it as a suitable conclusion to the series.  I give it 3 out of 5 overly emotive 16 year olds with magical powers out of 5, with a special bonus wizard's staff for making me laugh out loud more than once.  It's the little things...