Set In 1965 Chicago And Narrated By A Ten Year Old Girl
582256
LAST NIGHT AT THE BLUE ANGEL is an entertaining if somewhat uneven novel.  Almost eleven years old in 1965 our main narrator Sophia lives with her fame seeking, jazz singer mother Naomi in a hotel in downtown Chicago that has seen better days.  Sophia and Naomi are supported by a quirky cast of characters they have known for years including Jim a policeman turned photographer who is in love with Naomi, Sister I a lesbian former nun and now a lay teacher and Sister I's sibling Rita a transvestite.  Sophia's natural father a gambler named David is also still in love with the bisexual Naomi as is his sister Laura an airline stewardess.  While Sophia carries the narration for the part of the story set in the mid 60's Naomi's voice tells her story from the 50's when she was forced to leave her farm family in rural Kansas after a scandal involving forbidden love.  Her exodus eventually led her to find her voice and passion for singing.

The first part of the novel is the best as the second half seems too contrived to be believable.  There is a well carried out theme concerning race relations in the 1960's that focuses on Sophia's friendship with an African American girl names Elizabeth and the scenes that included  Elizabeth and her parents were my favorite parts of the book.  I enjoyed the novel and felt parts were excellently portrayed and plotted while others more resembled an unbelievable soap opera.  Still this is an above average novel many will be entertained by as I was.
4682453
If not for a quirk of local politics, it is unlikely that we fifteen-year-olds in Mrs. Riddle's high-school lit class would have been exposed to Ellen Glasgow's novel BARREN GROUND.  Published in 1925 but set a few years earlier, the novel relates the life of Dorinda Oakley, a poorish young woman from a traditionally poor region of Virginia, the Southside.  Having lost her fickle fiance to a wealthier woman, Dorinda moves to New York City in order to make something of herself.  This she eventually does, but the price is high.

I could mention the extreme reaction Dorinda has upon hearing her first symphony concert, but can't go into details here lest I introduce a spoiler.  Suffice it to say that it was something even today's fifteen-year-olds might want to be kept from, but Ellen Glasgow was a Virginian, as were we, so politics trumped "good taste" and in this case, I was pleased.  Given the resurgence of American women's literature over the past thirty years, BARREN GROUND has come back into its own, and that's good too, I think.  It should be read.
4355534
This story is all heart with a few nail-biting moments.  There are so many things packed into this story of a Catholic family in Boston, set in the 1970s.  Frances Orillio and Maddy Malone meet when they are about eleven and this work takes you through their lives to high school days.  Some of the themes explored are the relationships between mothers and daughters, bullying, family secrets, bigotry and roles of men and women in that era.  There were rich descriptions and the characters were fully developed.  I worried for many of them as danger and heartache came into their lives.  I laughed in certain circumstances and teared up in others.
If you liked movies such as The Man in the Moon, or Steel Magnolias I believe you would enjoy this book also.  They are not exact matches, but the mix of coming of age, endearment and also tragedy and drama is a pretty good approximation.
Because I have reviewed the audio version I want to share with you my opinions about the narrator also.  Jeanne Whitehouse did a wonderful job.  She utilized accents for the voices in just the right way, from the mothers Boston accent, to Maddys tomboyish way, from young to old- Annie, the small child, to the grandmother, and men such as the brothers and Fathers.  Her reading also conveyed the heart of the characters. This was a wonderful listen.
I was provided a code to listen to this audible in order to write an honest review.
2937549
It's 1965, on a ski vacation in Vermont; 16-year-old Carole Mason loses her virginity to 26-year-old Eddie, an unemployed actor, and college dropout. What she did not expect was Rita Bodreau joining them. Rita has sex with Eddie and dies in their shared bed afterwards. Eddie blames the overweight and drunk Carole for breaking her neck when she was sitting at the top of the bed. Eddie, Carole, and her best friend Naomi, dump the body and make a pact never to tell. Carole normally a well-behaved, shy, studious teenager has a hard time dealing with the consequences. Eddie haunts her throughout her life, taking full advantage of the situation. Her secret distances herself from her parents. They were so proud of Carole going to Vassar upon graduating from the prestigious Spence School in New York City. Carole drops out of Vassar in her first year. Once her mother dies, Carole takes off for California. Ten years later, Carole ends up back in Vermont, still haunted by what happened. Finally she opens up to Will Burbank, her lover, who convinces her that she was not guilty. When Carole finally confronts Eddie; he manages one last time to inflict more physical pain but it turns out the emotional blackmail was far worse. A haunting read that shows secrets never truly go away no matter how much we want them to.
544858
Living in chicago i enjoyed this book based around the worlds fair and the chicago fire, and the pinkertons. a page turner, held my interest.  great book for young and older women to read and enjoy.
3462574
My 11 year old daughter recommended I read this book, and I was not disappointed.  The voice of Anna, the narrator, is so true.  She describes the emotional world of a young teenager with humor, compassion, and intelligence.  The book deals with heavy subjects, without sentimentality.  Mary Overton
1053294
The Age of Amy: Channel '63 is the third installment in the Age of Amy series and this time finds 16-year-old Amy in the midst of a court battle to gain emancipation from her parents and family who have become so engrossed in the materialism and consumerism of the modern age, she cannot take it any longer.  As a diversion, Amy and her best friend Hubert head to the local theme park, Theme Farm, where a new attraction, Used-to-be-TV has just opened, enticing people to "tune in" to the year 1963.  This is right up Amy's alley, as she longs for the simpler days of the 1960s, with the white picket fences and family dinners, ala Leave it to Beaver.  Things become a little more personal once Amy meets a young man from 1963 named Clifford and is able to get a "magic clicker" to remove restrictions placed on the attraction to prevent changing history -- which is exactly what Amy ends up attempting on both a personal and global level as she tries to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

There is a lot going on in Channel '63.  The plot is really in two parts, the emancipation storyline and the Used-to-be-TV tale.  Both are framed in the context of Amy trying to find her place in the world and her center of happiness.  Both are intriguing, and could have easily been explored separately in individual books.  Being placed together, I feel as though they were a little lost in each other.  I felt that both the emancipation resolution, as well as the time in which Amy and Clifford fall in love were both rushed.  These are minor points, however, once the book has finished as so much more overshadows these issues.

Since Channel '63 is a science fiction/fantasy book, we are treated to an interesting world that, while much like our own, is very different. The most obvious departure is in the theme park, Theme Farm, which is run by creatures known as Fritterz -- beings with animal heads and human bodies.  They are able to speak and have human intelligence, but keep their animal characteristics.  They have developed the technology of Used-to-be-TV, where they have tapped into security and television cameras from today and in 1963 to create a two way communication system.  Speaking to the science of this technology, Edwards is not overly concerned with how things work, and we're spared the "hard sci-fi" aspect of this, but he is aware, and treats very carefully the idea that actions in the past can affect aspects of the future.  This is made clear in the fact that the theme park attraction has built in safeguards against tampering, and how history changes after first interaction between Amy and Clifford with the "magic clicker" in use to circumvent these safeguards.  Once it is clear that changes are possible, Amy will attempt to change history on a larger scale in regards to the Kennedy Assassination (similar to Stephen King's 11/22/63) where she learns the hard way the pitfalls of tampering with history.

Ultimately, Channel '63 is a quick, fun, quirky read with very likable characters and ends up being more of a character story than a time travel tale.  We are treated to lots of snips and jabs at modern society and culture, from the reality shows Amy's parents enjoy, to the restaurants here and Hubert frequent within Theme Farm.  It's a very fast coming of age story as both Amy and Clifford find their place in life and the world.  Amy finds that all she ever wanted in life was right under her nose, she just needed to step back to see it, and Clifford learns the same, as he breaks out of his straight-laced lifestyle to grow into a strong musician and political activist.  I found the whole thing to be a very endearing, interesting, and memorable story and world.

I received an advanced copy thanks to Enchanted Book Promotions and Brice Edwards in exchange for an honest review.
367259
The reader is transported to the year 1969, so the book is almost like a time machine.

If you like adventures, mysteries, trains... or you're simply nostalgic about the 1960s era;&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Picaresque-of-Imagine-Purple/dp/1621478823/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Picaresque of Imagine Purple</a>&nbsp;delivers.

It introduces Ima Purple, a middle-school teacher with bright orange hair and purple shoes, who becomes a detective by going on a trip. She gets involved in some sticky situations when everything around her starts to seem like a mystery to her. She begins seeking clues to unravel these mysteries. She means well, but she isn't always on the right track.

Entertaining history-mystery... Seems perfect for readers from late elementary to early high school. Pre-teen audience and above... I read and liked it, in my late 30s. I think it would be great for summer readers and homeschoolers!

"Last Passenger Train Across Newfoundland" begins a mystery series. The first book sets the scene with detailed descriptions of the way people acted, traveled, dressed and entertained themselves not-so-long ago. A respite from today's fast-paced, mass-media lifestyle--it gave me insights and a sense of connection with the generations before my time.

Ms. Fine addresses many historical events and subjects relevant to the 1960s. She also had me cracking a dictionary for the first time in years, researching old movies/songs/historical figures. I was glad I did!

There is definite juxtaposition of rule-makers and rule-breakers--those doing the 'right thing' and those exhibiting less 'refined' behaviors. Society was changing quickly in 1969-1970 and counterculture was becoming the norm. Ima deals with this new reality. Through the story, her bossiness--and insecurity--subside a bit, thankfully. I liked all the supporting characters and was grateful for their presence. Some speak in dialect; I found myself reading these parts aloud to understand them better.

Yes--this could be read 'to' or 'with' younger readers. It's not pure juvenile fiction/nor young adult--maybe a hybrid? The reading level is somewhat accelerated; and I really did HAVE to look up some things. Occasionally, content is a bit mature for young kids. Pre-read if you are concerned about kids reading about characters with rough edges. However, they may provide teachable moments?

A few graphics at the front of the book help visualize the overall story, but mostly it's up to the reader's own imagination to "imagine" the sights, smells, sounds, etc. Ima's whole adventure is full of imagery, so I found it easy.

Slow start, but once the story got going, I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep reading. Action definitely builds as the train rides along.

The reader will find his/her own rhythm and points of interest along the journey. When I finished reading, I felt like I'd been on the trip. And I had actually gotten SMARTER. It's old-fashiioned fun, but still thought-provoking.

Ima is smart, honest, and ALWAYS curious! I'd rate this (G) to (PG-13). Haven't read it in ebook/kindle form yet, but I will! It really brought out the kid in me... and I recommend it to readers of all ages!
4541099
What Ellen Wittlinger does best is capture the voice of her characters. Best known for her YA novels Hard Love and Parrotfish, Wittlinger proves she's equally adept at middle grade.  This novel touches on some tough real-life subjects---a friend's coming out, a grandmother's memory loss, a family's lean times--but there's a sweetness to the telling, and Maisie, the novel's narrator, is authentic, interesting and lovable.  This is a novel sure to engage its tween audience, but the story will resonate with adult readers as well. Movie fans are in for a special treat.
4071678
This is a perfectly nice story about rural living in the 1950s. I liked the voice of the narrator, 12-year-old Rachel. I also liked her intelligence, hard work, and love for school. There's no gripping plot here; it's more a depiction of a family and a way of life. He first chapter is a bit heavy-handed with Christian messages (there's quite a bit about honoring fathers and mothers), but the overt Christian-ness doesn't extend any farther into the book. Family, honesty and hard work are important throughout, but not in an "I wrote this book to teach you values" sort of way. I enjoyed it, and although I personally don't feel compelled to read the rest of the series, I would happily recommend it to any 8- to 12-year-old who seemed interested.

(Note: I received a free advance reading copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association Annual Conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Houghton Mifflin!)
1359513
"Flexible Wings" was a very well-written and well-performed audiobook. It was such a good listen that it was hard to put down for a YA (Young Adult) audiobook. I'm not sure about the specified age of 8-10.  I sincerely feel that the topics are too much drama for this age group. As an adult, I liked it. This story has great world-building with Summer, the protagonist being a military brat and the metaphoric hummingbird.

Why I would be cautious for pre-teens: The mom in the story who, along with the dad has chosen a military career but the mom is somehow portrayed as being a "bad parent" and is treated disrespectful by Summer for being deployed. This does however resolve itself at the end which made me happy. All in all this was great writing by Veda Stamps.

Natalie Hoyt did an amazing job narrating this audiobook. Her performance was enthralling as well as engaging. She hit it out of the park. She was the epitomy of Summer with her highs and lows. I was impressed by her talent and I love it when author and reader are a perfect match.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.
1475096
What I liked: I really enjoyed this book. Not as much as the audio-series, mind you, but still. It was fun to go back in time and learn so much about a time that isn't discussed very often any longer but effected our lives so drastically.
What I didn't like: The kids didn't love it. None of them. Theyd listen to me read it but not one of them would pick it up themselves.

More
Author: Marianne Hering, Marshal Younger
Source: Tyndale House Publishers
Grade: C
Ages: 7-13
Setting: World War II Holland
Series: AIO Imagination Station Bks. , #9
2294454
We listened to the audio version of this book in the car. Fantastic! Both my 10 & 16 year old kids enjoyed it. The story as told by the kid (Jack) in itself for my younger kid, and the writing and vocabulary for the older. We enjoyed many laugh-out-louds during the audio book, and really enjoyed the story. Most kids today don't get to experience the freedom of a kid growing up in a small town in the 60's - even when he's "grounded." This is a wonderful story!
3481197
I rented it for my 10 yr old sister. She watched it after reading the book and she loved it!
3835766
Fifteen year old Mosey Slocumb wants to be like other girls her age.  She wants to have close girl friends, she wants to date boys, and she wants to have a mom and a dad who love her to the core.

But none of this seems to be in the cards for her.

Mosey lives with her grandmother "Big" Virginia who feels that something bad happens every fifteen years.  Why she had her own daughter, Mosey's mom, Liza, when she was 15.  Liza in turn had Mosey at 15 and when Liza turned 30 she has a massive stroke, that seems to carry a lot of mystery around it.

Then as if life is not mixed up enough, while a pool is being put in for Liza's therapy a small box of infant bones is found during the dig and life takes yet another spin...

  Whose bones are they and who holds the secret to that answer?

This is my third book/audio by Joshilyn Jackson.  I have listened to Gods In Alabama, and Backseat Saints.  All three of these audio books are narrated by the author and if you are an audio book person you are going to love her narration.  If you are new to audio, these books would be wonderful starters as she is a captivating read.

A Grown Up Kind Of Pretty is a bit different from the previous two books I read.  Because of Mosely's age and occasional first person narration of the book, you could almost call this a YA read.  Almost.  Big is also a first person narrator of the book and Liza comes in as a third person narration, mainly recalling the past and what she wishes she could change.  The result of this style of writing is impressive as you are hearing from the three generations of women with only 15 years between each of them.

I found the story line engaging but occasionally hard to keep track of the present and the past that were being discussed by the current narrator, you really had to pay attention to the perspective that the story was being told from, Mosely's being the easiest to follow as she has a younger tone and voice.

Over all, I am once again thrilled with the creativity of Joshilyn Jackson, while this is not my favorite of hers that I have listened to, I am glad I spent time with it and look forward to reading/listening to her again.
1380692
I had trepidations about buying this audio book. On the one hand I love World Fairs and have started to read any books that I could find on this subject. I have been to the one in 1964 in New York and in 1967 in Montreal. My father was at both of them and in 1933 in Chicago. On the other hand, I am leery of reading true stories of murderers. Henry H. Holmes was a serial killer, con man and torturer.

This is the first time that I have read anything by Erick Larson. He put in a tremendous amount of detail in this story, at times I felt that I was watching a movie. He carried the reader through time not only by the events but by the physical condition of the person. Also having been to Chicago and grown up in Indianapolis, I was already familiar with some of Chicago's history and with the towns in Indiana. The narrator , Tony Goldwyn carried me through this story. I almost felt like he was holding my hand during the grittier parts of the story of the killer.

I have learned so much about Chicago in the 1890s, about the architecture contests, inventions, problems unique to the city and also I wonder if my great grandparents read the story in the local newspapers then about America's first serial killer.

The two stories fit together so that they enhance each other and make the story better than if they were told separately. I now want to read more or listen to more of Eric Larsen's books.
3059003
Title: Girl in Snow
Author: Danya Kukafka
Read by: Kirby Heyborne, Jacques Roy, and Candace Thaxton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: Approximately 9 hour and 13 minutes
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio Digital Review Copy  Thank-you!

High school it girl Lucinda is found with a broken neck next to the elementary school carousel in a small town in Colorado.  Who would have murdered Lucinda and why?  This story is told through the perspectives of three very different people.  But like all small towns, their story arcs are connected in more ways than they could have imagined.

Cameron Whitley is very socially awkward.  A quiet soul who loves art, he also loves to play statue nights and walk around the neighborhood hiding as a statue and watching families through their windows, in particular, he loves to watch the beautiful Lucinda. Was he Lucindas stalker or a misunderstood youth?  Camerons father was a cop who went bad and left town years ago, but the town has not forgotten.

Russ Fletcher is a cop and former partner of Camerons father.  He is investigating the death of Lucinda and finds himself entrenched in the story with his brother-in-law Ivan, the school night time janitor a suspect, as well as his former partners son, whom he promised to protect.  Will he be able to find the true killer as well as the truth about himself?

Jade Dixon-Burns was once Lucindas friend, but now considers herself her enemy.  Lucinda not only stole her baby sitting job, but also the boy she loved.  With backyards that abut, Jade has noticed happenings around Lucinda that play into the greater narrative.  Is Jade a killer or another misunderstood youth?

I liked the three interconnected narratives and different perspectives.  I really liked Jades sass and how she told things from the point of view of what she should have said and what really happened.  I loved that the audiobook had three different narrators to tell the three point of views.

The story moved pretty slow for me and was more of a young adult novel than a true thriller.  I didn't feel connected to Lucinda at all and didn't care about her death as much as I should have.  There was some major plot turns later in the book that didn't feel true with the narrative that lead up to that point.  SPOILER ALERT (Russ and Camerons dad and their pinky love.  What????) SPOILER END  I had listened to the audiobook of Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia earlier this year and it was a much superior book . . . I think part of my problem was I kept comparing that book to this with the similar subject, high school girl murdered in a small town.  I figured out the murderer in Girl in the Snow pretty early on in the game, although I did doubt myself a couple of times.

Overall, Girl in Snow is an interesting story of murder in a small town, with a very well written story of a teenage problems and angst.  I want Jade Dixon-Burns to have her own spin off.