The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship by Jeffrey Zaslow

The Girls from Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow is a fascinating look at 11 women from Ames, Iowa who have been friends for more than 40 years. Zaslow not only profiles the individual women but also examines the value and benefits of friendship, in particular female friendships. I am of similar age to the women in the book and it was fascinating to note that their proximity to cornfields did not make them any less different than me - a girl from Larchmont NY. Love, joy, sorrow, adversity - they see each other through it all. While I don't go back 40 years with too many people, those I do share a history with are special. There is something to be said for having a friend you can call anytime, day or night, and know that they are with you no matter what.

Grow: A Novel in Verse by Juanita Havill

If you enjoyed reading Love that Dog or Hate that Cat (both by Sharon Creech) you might want to pick up Grow: A Novel in Verse by Juanita Havill. Twelve year old Kate joins Berneetha, the neighborhood "fat lady" to transform an empty lot into a beautiful garden. Along the way we meet up with Harlan, a troubled young man who wants to be given a second chance along with a host of others who realize the value of community. A quick and delightful read.

The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

Another Nutmeg nominee, The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin, provides a look at what it's like growing up Chinese American. It can't be easy being the only Chinese student in her grade but Grace manages it with finesse and balance. When her mother explains The Year of the Dog is a good year for friendship and "finding herself," Grace sets off on a year long search for both. I love opportunities to look at the world from different perspectives - Grace Lin has has done a masterful job of allowing the reader to experience life as Grace, a young Chinese American girl. Told from Grace's perspective along with vignettes from her parents' lives, The Year of the Dog is a feel-good read.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have written a thoroughly delightful read. Told in letters, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society celebrates friendship and books. Taking place over eight months in 1946, we meet and get to know intimately characters who you'd want very much to invite to dinner. The end of the war serves as a backdrop and while suffering is part of the story, it doesn't overwhelm you. Sometimes I wonder what is the highest compliment one can give to a book and I think this is it - I didn't want The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to end. (An interesting side note, Annie Barrows is the author of the Ivy and Bean series for kids.)The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

More Nutmeg Books

I have been putting a dent in the Nutmegs. Here's what I've read - the quick overview is from nutmegaward.org and then I follow with my thoughts.

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

"What would you do if your parents dropped you off at an unknown aunt’s house in the middle of the night, in an unknown town, where everyone you met looked at you as if they just saw a ghost? This is Bethany’s living nightmare, and it takes all her courage to slowly unravel the truth.

I've never read a Haddix novel and am glad I finally did. Double Identity is fast-paced and has it's fair share of twists and turns. Some interesting questions arise about cloning so don't be afraid to discuss them with an adult.


Rules by Cynthia Lord

"If you have to tell your autistic brother “to keep his pants on in public,” how can you hope for a normal life? Catherine discovers that her own behavior with new neighbor Kristi and wheelchair-bound Jason make her look again at what “normal” really means."

Put simply, Rules is a delightful story about what it means to be a sister and discovering the gifts in the people around you - even if they are related.



Drita My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard

"Drita emigrates to New York City from Kosovo. During a social studies project, she meets Maxie, a native New Yorker who can’t seem to stay quiet in school. What can two girls from such different worlds possibly have in common? More than you think."

Told in the voices of Maxie and Drita, Jenny Lombard does a great job of exploring the ups and downs of being an outsider and what it takes to be a friend.

The Film Club by David Gilmour

Canadian film critic and novelist David Gilmour's memoir, The Film Club, is both a book about a parents love and how to watch a movie. When he saw his son Jesse failing and unhappy in high school, Gilmour told him he could drop out of school if he (Jesse) agreed to watch three movies a week with him (Gilmour). Jesse jumped at the opportunity. If you can suspend judgement of Gilmour's parenting style and appreciate a father's unconditional love for his son, this book is a good read. If you are a movie buff and are interested in how a critic looks at a film, this book is a good read. (As an aside, having read The Film Club I realize how simple my own take on movies is - did I enjoy it or not? There is a list of the movies mentioned and I'm looking forward to seeing them, perhaps with a new eye.)

A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin

Ann M. Martin, lives and writes in upstate New York. She also volunteers for an animal rescue organization. In her book, A Dog’s Life she tells the story of Squirrel, a puppy born in a gardening shack surrounded by cats and mice and other assorted animals. Squirrel’s mother took wonderful care of Squirrel and her brother Bone – showing them how to hunt and find food but when they reached an age where they could take care of themselves she left and Squirrel and Bone were left to fend for themselves. Told from Squirrel’s perspective, A Dog’s Life explores what it takes for a stray dog to survive – moving from town-to-town, where to find water, how to deal with traffic and highways, when to trust and when not to. It is by no means an easy life but it does become a way of life for Squirrel. And based on her encounters with humans you can understand why she might prefer to be on her own. When you read A Dog’s Life perhaps you’ll ask yourself the same question I did – will Squirrel, who from all appearances sees like a lovely dog (I’d invite her to live with me), ever find someone to love and be loved by? Read the book and find out.

Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Do you have brothers? Did you ever wonder what it would be like to have brothers? Jon Scieszka (rhymes with Fresca), author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man, and Cowboy and Octopus was one of six boys. Knucklehead is a tribute to growing up Scieszka. Thirty-eight vignettes tell the family story (did you know seven pounds is enough to break a collarbone). Jon's mom was an RN, his dad, an elementary school principal. Instead of calling the boys by their names his parents would often call them knucklehead. As in, "Which knucklehead took a bite of the turkey last night and filled the hole in with stuffing?" Or, "Hey knuckleheads, get in the car, it's time for church."

Being the sixth of seven, I was often called KevindebbiebrendantimmydeirdreAMY. This memoir made me laugh...and laugh...and laugh. It is perfection - no matter what size your family is. How perfect? I'll be ordering two copies for my elementary age nephews (all the nieces are too old for it).

The 50 Page Rule

There is a librarian out in Washington state who introduced me to the 50 page rule. Her theory is that giving a book 50 pages to reveal itself is plenty of time. If at 50 pages you are not engaged, don't care about the characters and dread the thought of finishing the book, put it down - there are too many good books out there to waste time with one that doesn't speak to you. (I wish I was aware of this rule back in 1984 when I was reading Stephen King's Christine.)

Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park

One of the nice things about doing the Nutmeg Book Bowl with the fifth grade is I have to read books I might normally pick up. Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park is one of those books. Kevin is twelve and home alone - he had a half day of school and his parents are working late. He's finished with all but his social studies homework and is doing a fine job avoiding it when suddenly there is a man in his room brandishing a bow and arrow. Not only is he brandishing a bow and arrow but he used it to nick the button at the top of Kevin's hat. Who is this man? Would you believe the Korean king, Chu Mong who founded the Koguryo Kingdom in 37 BC? What follows is a delightful time travel story of a 21st century boy trying to help a Korean King from 2000 years ago get back to his home.

Ice Bound by Dr. Jerri Nielson

When I saw Dr. Nielson's obituary a couple of weeks ago I decided to pick up her book Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole. If you don't remember - Dr. Nielson was the lone physician at the South Pole during the polar winter of 1999. Her job was to care for all the physical and emotional needs of her 40 colleagues. Because it gets so cold during the polar winter, planes cannot land or depart. It is shortly after the last plane leaves that Dr. Nielson discovers a lump in her breast. She keeps an eye on it for three months before deciding she needs help - but where does one get help when you are ice bound? Ice Bound is not just Dr. Nielson's story - it is the story of 41 people who come together as one to help a friend; it is the story of an oncologist in Indiana who finds a way to be both hopeful and honest with a patient she has never met; it is the story of a family who loves their daughter and sister so much they would do anything for her. It's not an easy read (her back story is fascinating) but it does give one pause (much like Three Cups of Tea) - how different is their DNA than mine?

Attack of the Turtle by Drew Carlson

While I didn't do it on purpose, the timing was perfect for reading the historical fiction novel, Attack of the Turtle by Drew Carlson. Set in Connecticut and New York during the summer of 1776, Turtle tells the story of 14 year old Nathan Wade, a fisherman's son, who works with his cousins David, a 33 year recent Yale graduate and 27 year old Ezra, a farmer, to build the first submarine used in warfare. Special appearances by Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Generals Putnam and Washington, give the reader a good look into what it must have been like to for the Patriots as they battled the British in NY Harbor.

Olive Kitteridge and Other Books I Hope to Read

A few weeks ago I sat down with the NY Times Book Review, chatted with colleagues and created my own summer reading list. While I will be reading plenty of kids books I also need to feed my soul with the adult variety. For the record, I enjoy both the fluff and denser, character driven books. I'll read a memoir or two as well.

Yesterday I met Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge and was engaged by the second page. Set in a small coastal town in Maine where people are a bit more complex then one might think, Strout weaves 11 stories together in which Olive plays either a major or minor part. She is an incredibly flawed and engaging character who you want to alternately cheer for and yell at. Sometimes I judge a book by whether or not I'd like to be friends with the main character - I think Olive would have frustrated me but I could see having dinner with the Kitteridge family every so often.

The rest of my list:

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by MA Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Downhill Lie by Carl Hiaasen
The Film Club by David Gilmour
The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff
The End of Overeating by David A. Kessler
The Help by Kathryn Stock
Ice Bound by Dr. Jerri Nielson

And if I can get my hands on the new Janet Evanovich, James Patterson and Jane Green books...

The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret

When the first line of a book is, "The night I moved in with my Aunt Ethel she shot a bat in her kitchen," you know you're in for an unpredictable ride. A crazy aunt (who makes the most amazing cakes), a ghost with a peg leg desperate to be an angel (but can't until he finds love in his heart), and an unsolved robbery (can you say one hundred thirty thousand dollars) make Peg Kehret's The Ghost's Grave a most enjoyable read.

Three Cups of Tea - A Family Affair

I may be a bit late to the "tea party" but I just finished this book and am in awe of Greg Mortenson. I fear that I will butcher his story so put simply, Greg has made it his mission to educate the children (in particular the girls) of Pakistan and Afghanistan. His journey is inspiring. The people he meets, the lives he changes, the difference he has made and continues to make gives one pause. The good news is the publishing world realized it was a great story and have produced three versions: one for adults, one for young adults and a picture book. I imagine dinner table conversation possibilities are endless.