The Last Stand and Touch Blue

I recently read The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick. It is about the battle between Custer and Sitting Bull in which Custer died. There is, understandably, a lot of background information about the battle between the various tribes of indians and the whites and the indians. It was disconcerting on several levels -- humans just behave abominable sometimes -- but also very interesting. It's a topic that I really didn't know much about.

One thing that was a little curious was that there isn't that much actual information about how Custer really died.... his whole entire group was obliterated and there were not too many eyewitnesses, so I guess there's just not that much good information. Still, I was surprised.

Taking a break from the wars with the indians, I read Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord (see Abby's post on this book below). Like Abby, I loved it! I think I read it in only one day. This marvelous author addresses difficult situations with charm and grace and humor. It is truly a gem for all ages about 10 and up! I also HIGHLY recommend Rules... it somewhat explains our family!

1 MONTH! (And another book...)

Yes, one more month until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 1 comes out. This is exciting. I'm going to go at midnight, which I've never done before and I can't wait!

I think I have mentioned the book Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's really sad, but really good if you want to look into it. There should be a post about it somewhere down there. But anyway, it ends super abruptly saying there would be a sequel.
Now, about three years later, I notice the sequel, Forge, at the bookstore! It wasn't near as exciting as finding Touch Blue--I didn't knock any other books off the shelves--and I haven't bought it yet, because I'm in the middle of the Harry Potter series for the fourth time (in preparation for the movie). But I'm very excited that it's out because I'm dying to know what happens. It was all sad and intense at the end...

So anyway, I'm happy about that.

We're also reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare in my English class. Marvelous book! I've read it probably twice, so this should be my third time. It's SO good, and you should read it.
I also highly recommend another book by the same author...The Sign of the Beaver. I think both of those won Newberry Awards of some kind, that's how good they are!

Silas Marner

I recently re-read Silas Marner by George Eliot. Oh, my goodness! How I love this book! It's theme of love and kindness overcoming sadness and pain is so beautiful, and it is so tender. I never get tired of reading certain classics.... I gain some knowledge every time and they always feel fresh. This is one of those to me. This book has so many interesting relationships -- the townspeople one with another, the townspeople with Silas (I love the growth here!) and the relationship between Eppie and Silas. I also enjoy the imagery of the town and the stone pit -- and the colorful imagery of the gold of both Silas' money and Eppie's hair. It's just marvelous and heartwarming.

When Eppie comes into Silas' life, he begins to be healed emotionally and he begins to reach out to other people in his community. My own children have helped me heal in many ways, and I often think about all the people I admire and know because of connections forged by my children. I think I meet the best people in the world through my triplets.

I am thankful for this book... each time I read it I am reminded of the true richness of life.

YEA!!!

One of my favorite books of ALL TIME is Rules by Cynthia Lord. It is so good. If you haven't read it, I command you to. You'll regret it someday if you don't.
It's mostly about a girl named Catherine, and her brother has autism. The majority of the book is about her feelings towards that and how she deals with it. I could relate to her so well because of my brothers, and I really liked that. Even if you can't relate to it in any way, I still highly recommend it. It might not speak as much to you as it did to me, but I loved it and I don't see why anybody else wouldn't at least like it very much. It's written really well and it can help you gain greater understanding of people with disabilities.

So, ever since I discovered that book in about fourth grade, I've been looking up the author, Cynthia Lord, to see if she's writing any new books. (I do this periodically with all my favorite authors) And a couple years ago, I saw on her website that a new book of hers Touch Blue, was coming out in Spring 2009. I eagerly waited, but I never found it. The next time I checked, it said Fall 2009. After that I pretty much gave up.
So then a few days ago we were going to Barnes and Noble to buy Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (my Mom just read it and I'm going to read it soon) and I see this book, next to Rules, called Touch Blue.

I was so excited I seized it off the shelf and another book went flying out of place onto the floor. I was practically jumping up and down "Can I get it? Can I get it?" I didn't care what it was about. I was just excited to read it.

I started it a couple days ago and I'm loving it! It's about a charming little island town in Maine. They go out Lobster fishing all the time in their own boat, and it's really charming. I'm about halfway through and I'll be really sad when it's over.

So anyway, that's my exciting book news for right now.