Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This story of a young girl during the holocaust is different than most as it is narrated by "Death". Overall a good book -- one that gives the reader many different perspectives of what it was like for various people during that time period.

Review: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really liked this book and look forward to reading the next two in the series. This book really makes you think about how life would be different if things suddenly changed drastically, and if you would be prepared, or forward thinking enough to put yourself in a good position to survive. The only thing that really bothered me about this book was that they had water through most of the book, but did not have electricity very often at all. I don't know how they were having running water -- with no electricity the water pump wouldn't work ... other than that, I thought most of it was relatively believable. I think anyone from about 5th grade on up would enjoy this book.

Basketball

Well, we went through a bit of a thaw and a good share of the snow we had melted ... and then we got hit with another storm and got most of back.  This week some of it has melted again -- then we got a few more inches through the night -- this morning on my way to church it was misting.  If we get rain on top of this it won't be pretty.  We've had a total of 6 snow day already -- I like a snow day now and then, but I'm about at the point where I say enough ... I don't want to be in school in the middle of June.  :-) 

David has been playing on a traveling basketball team -- his team started out pretty rough, but they are getting better and better each week.  They actually won both of their games yesterday!!  I've posted some pictures in our photo gallery (or click on the photo galleries tab at the top of the blog and choose 2011 Basketball.) I know I need to work on my basketball photography, there must be a trick to getting good pictures, I just haven't figured it out yet.

Review: The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Hannah (Chaya) steps back in time and sees first hand what some of her relatives went through during the Holocaust. A great story that will really help YA's understand what the Jews went through.

Review: Feed by M.T. Anderson

Feed by M.T. Anderson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have to say this was one of the most disconcerting books I have ever read. Sad thing is, I could see some aspects of this story happening in the future, and it scares me. It shows how we all need to be careful not to stop thinking for ourselves ... I would also only recommend this to older teens and even then I would warn them about the explicit language.

Review: Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Wish by Alexandra Bullen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute story, can see it having a lot of appeal for teens. It did seem like there were lots of references to alcohol, with the characters (all minors) doing the drinking though, and it all seemed to be taking place right in front of or under the noses of adults. Perhaps things are different on the west coast (not that I don't think teens on the eastern side of the country drink, they just don't usually do it so freely in front of adults.)

Digging Out??

So, what's it like in your neck of the woods?  Are you digging out?  We're not sure exactly how much snow we got, but we got quite a bit.  Chris spent almost 3 hours out on the tractor plowing out parts of the trail and driveway and says there's a bit more to do.  The boys have both been outside to play a couple of times, and I've had a chance to test out my new snow shoes.  We opened the "front" door this morning to see just what was out there and saw this large drift right in front of the porch (top left picture).  As you can see there is quite a bit of snow built up on the picnic table ... and you can't even seen the small table that is sitting right next to it.

Jonathan got creative this morning and built a small fort with his Lincoln Logs -- I need to get him to get out some other stuff and turn off the TV!!

We've already gotten the call telling us we don't have school tomorrow ... hopefully I can get all this laundry done and caught up so I can spend tomorrow relaxing.  Hope you are all keeping warm, and if you have to be out on the roads, drive safe!
~Kati