Book Review: The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser (2018)

Isa Vanderbeeker is away at camp, but her four siblings - twin sister Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, and Laney - are at home with their neighbor Mr. Jeet when he suffers a stroke. While Miss Josie sits vigil at Mr. Jeet's hospital bedside, the Vanderbeeker kids begin to consider her repeated request that they turn the overgrown lot near the local church into a garden. Once they survey the land and receive (albeit vague) permission from the pastor, Triple J, to begin work, they become extremely enthusiastic about the project, hoping it will bring joy and healing to Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet upon their return to the brownstone. Unfortunately, not long after they begin transforming the space into a garden, developers begin visiting, and it is clear that they have purchased the property for the purpose of building condominiums. The Vanderbeekers do their best to keep on with their plans despite the obstacles that arise at every turn, but they worry about what will happen if their garden is gone before their neighbors get to see it.

Though I don't think this series is quite as well-written as some of the family stories of years gone by (The Moffats, The Melendys, All-of-a-Kind Family, etc.) I really appreciate the fact that an author and publisher are still producing books of this type for the families who enjoy traditional children's novels. Like many of its predecessors, this book celebrates kids working toward a goal without assistance from adults, and it shows the benefits of having a bit of a free-range childhood. Sometimes the characters come across as a little too perfect, and even with Isa absent in this story, it feels like each individual Vanderbeeker still doesn't get enough time to develop a distinct personality, but there is still something so endearing about the way the kids work together toward a common goal that will benefit someone they care about. The fact that it's a garden is a bit of a cliche, but that can mostly be forgiven, especially since the book is clearly, at least in part, an homage to The Secret Garden. 

On a personal note, I also think this book handled the aftermath of a stroke very realistically. During the last year, between the time of my dad's stroke and the day he passed away, my kids overheard me on many phone calls similar to the ones Mrs. Vanderbeeker makes in this book, and the author also accurately describes how a stroke patient might look while lying in the hospital. (The fact that kids could sneak into the ICU requires a pretty strong suspension of disbelief, but this certainly isn't the first book to ask for that kind of leeway from readers!)

Fans of the first book of the series will be pleased by this follow-up. Though I do think the first book was better, this is still a worthy sequel, and one that will be readily embraced by fans of this old-fashioned but tried-and-true genre. (Thanks to Edelweiss for the review copy!)

Book Review: 51 Sycamore Lane by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (1971)

In this quirky middle grade novel by Nate the Great author Marjorie Sharmat, a group of boys become convinced that a woman in their suburban neighborhood is a spy. Once they come to believe this, they immediately begin looking for ways to prove her true identity, leading to a series of mishaps and misadventures.

Though the subject matter and intended audiences are different, I did see quite a few similarities between this book and Nate the Great. In both books, the narrator is a boy of above-average intelligence with an unusual vocabulary for a child. And in both books, the main characters are concerned with uncovering clues in their own backyards to help solve some mystery. I have to say, though, that of the two, Nate the Great is the more polished and more compelling book. 51 Sycamore Lane felt a bit disorganized, and it took me a while to figure out which direction it was going in, and what I was supposed to care about. (The subplot regarding a petition to remove a chicken from the neighborhood seemed like it was the main plot at first.) After a while, it started to feel like the characters (and author) found themselves more amusing than I did, and I had a hard time feeling immersed in the book.

The highlights of this book are the dialogue and the strong first-person narration. The plot is weak, and though there are some mildly entertaining comments about upper middle class life, most of them are either rooted in cliches or simply no longer relevant to a contemporary audience. I own this book and will keep it for now, but if my kids aren't interested in it in a few years, it won't be hard for me to slip it into a donation box and say goodbye!

The RAHM Report for 9/24/18

What I Finished Reading

• Queenie Peavy by Robert Burch ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This middle grade novel set during the Great Depression is an interesting character study about a young girl who gets angry when other kids comment on the fact that her father is in jail and acts out as a result. The story has a moral, but not a preachy one, and I enjoyed Queenie's journey as she started to gain control over her emotions. 
• The Motoring Millers by Alberta Wilson Constant ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I own books one and three of this trilogy about two sisters living in Kansas at the turn of the 20th century, and because this second book is so rare, I thought I'd never see it. I was so surprised when my husband brought it home the other night! It's a library copy borrowed through inter-library loan, but I got to read it, and I loved seeing how this story bridges the gap between the other two books. Because the story involves a road trip, there are also lots of fun details about the way early cars worked. I'll have a review next month sometime. 
• Not Of This World: A Catholic Guide to Minimalism by Sterling Jaquith ⭐⭐
  This book was pretty terrible. It talks quite a bit about hoarding, and much of the advice seems to be a paranoid response to a fear of becoming a hoarder. As the child of a hoarder, I was surprised that the author, who has relatives who had this problem, seemed to think that all you do is call in some professional help and the problem goes away. Hoarders have to want help; otherwise, legally, they are permitted to live however they wish. Also, people who simply have a hard time getting organized or knowing how to start de-cluttering are not hoarders. The author says this, but then seems to go on as though we are all one box of mementos away from a serious mental problem. Personally, I think all the hoarding stuff should have been cut. Aside from that, the suggestions for living a more minimalist lifestyle are pretty generic, and other than vague references to being "not of this world," there is nothing particularly Catholic about much of the advice. The author also suggests getting rid of stand mixers, woks, and even microwaves, which would be completely ridiculous in my household, as those are our top three kitchen tools! I would not recommend this book. 
• The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I started this as an audiobook, then found a copy on OpenLibrary and finished it there. I love the way Krista Davis writes, and I really enjoyed all the personalities she introduced in this first book of the Domestic Diva mystery series. I also thought the mystery was really well thought out and surprising. I'm planning to skip ahead a few books and read a Halloween-themed mystery from this series during October. 

Did Not Finish

• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
  I got 50% of the way through this book before my loan from Open Library ended. When my turn came up again, I was determined to finish it, but I was reading too many books and really not enjoying this one. I finally decided that, even though it was for a challenge, I couldn't justify reading another 200 pages of a book I didn't like when so many other books are waiting for me. I'd still like to read a Nora Roberts book, but the only ones I've ever really enjoyed were the Bride Quartet books, and I've read all of them.

What I'm Currently Reading

• Charm City by Laura Lippman 48%
  I'm really enjoying this now that I'm halfway through my second time borrowing the ebook from the library. I like that the book is teaching me more about Baltimore and the state of Maryland in general. I also really enjoy Tess and her many friendships with a host of diverse people.
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 24%
  I didn't spend as much time with this book this week as I wanted, but I am excited to get back into it. I really like the writing. 
• Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern 23%
  I love this series. Mulhern can even get away with ridiculous character names like Anarchy and Khaki. 
• Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert 11%
  This is my next audiobook. The main character is a library director and the story is set during leaf-peeping season in Virginia. I'm enjoying it so far. 
• My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 6%
  I'm reading this for a Well Read Mom book club that I'm doing with a couple of my friends. I have a few weeks before we meet, but I took a peek at the first chapter, and I love the writing style already. I may not get into it again until next week or so, but I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it.
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass 0%
  I'm reading this for some homeschooling "professional development." I read a few pages a few weeks ago, but it's pretty slow-going and I'll probably need to start over and just power through it to get all the information. 

What I'm Planning to Read Next

• Naomis Too by by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and Audrey Vernick
  I have a digital ARC of this book and I need to get to it ASAP so I can post a review before too much time passes since it was published on 9/11. 
• If the Coffin Fits by Lillian Bell
  This is another ARC of a book published on 9/11 that I keep forgetting to start. Now that I have a Chromebook, I can't read ARCs on my computer anymore, and I'm having a hard time getting into the habit of reading these exclusively on my phone. Hopefully adding them here will help me remember! 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Book Review: A Long Line of Cakes by Deborah Wiles (2018)

A Long Line of Cakes is the fourth book in the Aurora County series by Deborah Wiles. Picking up immediately where book three, The Aurora County All-Stars, left off, the story begins with the Cakes family arriving in town. They are itinerant cake bakers, so they never stay in one place too long, but as soon as she sets foot in their new home, Emma Lane Cake, one of the five Cake kids, wishes she could make Aurora County her permanent address. Knowing she can't, however, and feeling heavy with the sadness of having said goodbye to many best friends in the past, Emma hesitates about making yet another new friend she will have to leave behind. But when Emma meets Ruby Lavender, she decides to put herself out there just one more time. Soon, the two girls hatch a plan that might help Emma's parents change their minds about moving so often.

I think of this author as Fannie Flagg for tweens. Each of the books of this series is so gentle, and the setting is so idyllic, that a reader can't help but feel a sense of cozy comfort when she is immersed in these stories. That said, for a fourth book of a series, published 11 long years after the third book, it assumes a lot of background knowledge on the part of the reader. I read the entire series for the first time in order to be ready for reading my ARC of this one, and it's a good thing I did. Had I not done so, I definitely would have been lost for much of the book. There are so many characters, and they share so many memories and traditions that the reader really can't appreciate the Cakes' love for Aurora County without understanding all of these details, most of which have been established by an earlier book and are only alluded to in this one. It felt like the book was trying both to tell a new story and to bring all of the previous stories to a satisfying conclusion at the same time, and it often felt like too big of a task.

All that said, for fans of the series, or those willing to go back and read the earlier volumes, there is a lot to like about A Long Line of Cakes. Kids can relate to the importance of home and friendship and they will easily become invested in understanding Emma's father's long-forgotten connection to Aurora County. The way things are resolved is also very satisfying, especially for kids like I was, who crave uncomplicated happy endings and hate goodbyes. This was an okay read for me, and it definitely does not stand alone, but for the right child who has enjoyed the earlier books, it could become a favorite.

Book Review: The Animal, The Vegetable, and John D. Jones by Betsy Byars (1982)

Clara and Deanie are looking forward to being on vacation with their dad until they find out he is bringing along a girlfriend, and the girlfriend's son, John D. John D. isn't crazy about meeting the girls either, and rather than calling them by name, he refers to them as the Animal and the Vegetable. The kids do their best to avoid each other until a near-tragedy bands them together unexpectedly.

Though this book has a quirky title, it's really a very straightforward story about the tension between kids who are forced to interact because of their parents' relationship with each other. What makes it stand out is the way Byars describes each character and brings each one to life in his or her dialogue. Each chapter is like a small character study in which the reader shares brief glimpses into the thoughts of the three main characters. Byars manages to inspire feelings of empathy for all three of them, making it difficult to take one side against the other. This means that the reader begins to accept friendship for the trio before the characters themselves can even imagine it, which contributes to the reader's feelings of satisfaction at the conclusion of the story.

I sometimes wonder why Byars seems to solve so many of the problems in her books with tragedies. In the books of hers that I have read in the past few years, conflicts have been resolved by a drowning, a car accident, a near-drowning, a punch in the face, and a flood, just to name a few. I can't tell if Byars believes that people only change when life throws dire circumstances at them (something that feels very Southern a la Flannery O'Connor) or if she is just trying to keep things exciting by throwing in these high stakes. Either way, it's a definite pattern in her work, and it has varying degrees of success. In this book, the dangerous situation works well enough, but also I think the story could have made its point just as well without putting a character in that situation.

Compared with Goodbye, Chicken Little, The Animal, the Vegetable and John D. Jones was the better book, but it is by no means as original or well-written as something like The Summer of the Swans or the Blossom series.  It's a solid three-star read which is dated, but which might still appeal to a 21st century kid in a similar situation to that of the characters.

Books On My Fall 2018 TBR

I made TBR lists for both spring and summer. Of the titles on my spring list, there are still 11 I haven't read, and from my summer list (which was much shorter), there are still 2 titles outstanding.  I have learned that I just can't stick to a list no matter how hard I try. But there are some books I'm already planning to read this fall, and that I'm pretty certain I will actually complete, so I'm going to go ahead and share those today for Top Ten Tuesday.

• Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
  I have been on a binge of books about books. I have this and Honey for a Teen's Heart sitting on my desk, and I know I will get to them soon because I want to do a blog post about books of this type. 
• Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin
  This is another book about books that I want to include in the aforementioned blog post.
• Barking with the Big Dogs: On Writing and Reading Books for Children by Natalie Babbitt
  Yet another book about books. This one comes out in November and I have an ARC from Edelweiss. 

• X by Sue Grafton
  I need to read this because I'm doing an alphabet challenge and it's all I've got for the letter X. I basically have to read it this fall if I'm going to finish it by the end of the year! 
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
  I downloaded this for Kindle when it was on sale a few months ago and saw it pop on blogs a lot when Top Ten Tuesday focused on back to school a couple of weeks ago. A mystery set at a boarding school feels like the perfect fall read to me! 
• The Figure in the Shadows and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs
  These are the sequels to The House with a Clock in its Walls. I've heard the third book is set around Christmastime, and I'm always looking for a seasonal read during December, so I'm going to try to finish book 2 between now and then so I can read book 3 when that holiday mood strikes.
  

• The Hangman by Louise Penny
  This is a novella about Armand Gamache that isn't really connected to the series and was written for adults learning to read English. It appears to be November in the story, so it seems like it will be a good book to enjoy as the weather gets older. 
• Deadly News by Jody Holford
  This is a new cozy mystery to be published at the end of October. I have an ARC from NetGalley. 
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass
  I started this a few weeks ago, then got distracted by other books. It's one of a few homeschooling-related books I hope to get through in the next month or two. 
• The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis
  I have a hard time finding Halloween-themed books that actually interest me, even though I always feel the need to read one when October comes around. I'm only just reading the first book of this series now, so I may go out of order just so I can read this one when it's seasonally appropriate. I just hope I snag a library copy before they all get checked out. 

What will you be reading this fall? 

The RAHM Report for 9/17/18

What I Finished Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny, audiobook read by Ralph Cosham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This is the best of this series so far. It was different from the ones preceding it, but beautifully written and emotional. I went back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and really enjoyed Cosham's voice. I also liked hearing the author's interview about the book at the end of the audio recording. 
• The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I read this with three Instagram friends and really enjoyed it. I avoided scary books like the plague as a kid, but this one has great character development. I'm already planning to read at least the next two books in the series. 
• The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Treasure by Jerry West ⭐⭐
  This was a read-aloud with my four-year-old. It's the weakest of the four books we've read from this series so far, but she still enjoyed the time the Hollisters spent searching in caves for stolen treasure.
• Come Back To Me by Sharon Sala, audiobook read by Amy Rubinate ⭐⭐
  I started this on audio, got fed up with all the random chapters about characters not connected to the main plot and plowed through the rest in the ebook edition. It was fine, but not as good as I'd hoped.
• I'd Rather be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I read this quick, light celebration of the reading life in just two days. It's a really fun little book in which the blogger behind Modern Mrs. Darcy shares her observations about the habits of readers. 

What I'm Currently Reading

• The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis, audiobook read by Hillary Huber 50%I'm really enjoying this audiobook. Krista Davis is one of the best cozy mystery writers, and I love all the characters in this book. 
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 49%
  I was halfway through this book a week and a half ago when my loan period on Open Library ended. I put myself back on the waiting list for it, and of course, as I soon as I started a bunch of other books, it became available again. I will definitely finish it before it expires this time. 
• Queenie Peavy by Robert Burch 42%
  I've been meaning to read this book for months to satisfy the letter "Q" for the A to Z Challenge hosted by Ginger Mom and the Kindle Quest. It's a quick read and I will probably finish it today. 
• Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern 20%
  I love this series, and it's been a little while since I read book 4, Send in the Clowns. So far, it's every bit as good as the earlier titles of the series. This author's writing style really clicks for me. 
• Not of this World: A Catholic Guide to Minimalism by Sterling Jaquith 13%
  My husband brought home a stack of Catholic and homeschooling books for me to read. I'm starting with this one because it's quick, and the subject matter is far removed from anything else I'm reading. So far it's dwelling a lot on hoarding. 
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 7%
  This book was mentioned by Anne Bogen in I'd Rather Be Reading. I normally don't read much involving magic or fantasy, but this book appealed to me in spite of that, so I'm giving it a try. So far, I like the writing a lot. 
• Charm City by Laura Lippman 0%
  My loan period for this book also expired a couple of weeks ago, and I put myself on the list again, and my turn came up again a couple of days ago. I'm going to try really hard not to let time run out again! 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?