Call Me HOPE

I picked up this novel on a day trip to Madison. I love the bookstores there! But we really go to visit the Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb, the Penzy’s spice store in Madtown, and then the cheese store in Cuba City – we make this trek once or twice a year. While there we  always spend some time in the bookstores. This became one of trips when our daughter was in grad school at the University of Wisconsin.

Gretchen Olson has written a book about eleven year old Hope who is bullied. This bully is not the typical bully we find in novels about bullying and middle school kids; this bully is her mother. Hope says the worst name in the world is STUPID – it seems that no matter how hard she tries to please her mother, her mom just thinks she is stupid and tells her so. This name is certainly not the worst – she is verbally abusive all the time.

Hope tries to cope by creating a point system that in her mind after so many points her mom will stop saying things or glaring at her. Her friendship with two women who run a used clothing store helps her survive. Finally, a school counselor also steps in to try to help Hope.

I think reading this book reminds all of us how hurtful words can be – it really isn’t true that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

New Format

So, what do you think? I changed from the other design because I am not knowledgeable about changing the CSS and I wanted to have the tabs. The picture is actually an original — taken by my daughter.

Manga & Other Summer Reading

I know some of you are interested in reading manga. Here is a web site that might give you some ideas  for books to read – Top 12 New Kids Manga.

This came from lists of summer reading called Rebecca’s Pocket.

I have been busy  reading, and have finished several of the Caudill choices for next year. I have also read a couple of myteries. I will post  about these books soon.

Kissed By An Angel by Elizabeth Chandler

Kissed by an Angel Elizabeth Chandler

“Kissed by an Angel” is about (you guessed it) angels! Only they aren’t the type of angel you would normally think of. These angels are not up high and they don’t have wings! The most accurate description of these angels is ghosts with special “powers”.

                When Ivy’s mom decides to marry super rich Andrew, this is fine with Ivy accept for one complication; Andrew has a son the same age as Ivy. His name is Gregory. And Gregory is not nice at all. He is a downright spoiled brat. Gregory is mean to Ivy’s little brother Philip. Philip and Ivy share a strong belief in angels.

                Then Ivy’s whole world came crashing down.  Ivy and her boyfriend were driving and a deer appears! But, Tristan, Ivy’s boyfriend, can’t stop. She didn’t realize it yet, but the cars brakes had failed. And Tristan was pronounced dead on the scene. Before Tristan’s death Tristan told Ivy that he loved her. But Ivy couldn’t find the courage to voice her feelings of love to Tristan. . .

                Now Tristan finds that he is dead. He is an angel from heaven sent to help Ivy. He tries to talk to Ivy, but she pushes him away. She has lost her belief in angels. Tristan knows that someone cut the brake line in his car. And the killer wanted Ivy dead, not Tristan… the killer could strike any day. And if Ivy continues to push him away in her mind, there might be no hope left for Ivy’s safety.

Welcome

We have some library helpers who love to read, and they are going to share their thoughts on books that they have read. Those of you who know these readers personally have listened to their advice when you visit the library; now you will be able to get advice online.

Visit our blog often to see what everyone is reading.