Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Susan Elliot Wright
Publisher: Skyhorse
Genre: Women’s fiction
ISBN: 978-1-63220-708-1
Pages: 384
Price: $24.99

She has finally built a life for herself after a rough beginning. Her husband takes good care of her and her daughter, and she’s happy. Although she knows she’s living a lie, she feels secure in the faith that no one ever needs to know the truth. But one day, a phone call out of the blue changes everything.

As she comes face to face with the one man who knows what really happened – and is demanding that she reveal it all – she finds herself reliving the summer of 1976, when it all took place. Alternating between present-day and 1976, her story comes to life, bit by bit. Will she be able to take her secret to the grave, or will he force her to tell all? Would it really be better to be free of such a burden and just let go of all the lies?

The Secrets We Left Behind is a haunting story of uncomfortable choices and their eventual consequences. I found myself sympathizing with the main character’s youthful, quick decision and hoping for everything to work out for the best. This is a well-written, emotional story that lingers with the reader long after finishing it. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

NeverSaid

September 28, 2015September 28, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-0-310-74661-4
Pages: 304
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
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Sarah doesn’t know what has happened to her fraternal twin sister, Annie. Until a year ago, Annie was always the beautiful and popular one. But now she’s dropped out of the beauty pageants and gained weight. Annie won’t say what’s wrong, and Sarah is too caught up in her own problems to really worry much about it. But in one week, everything changes, as the sisters spend more time talking and listening to each other.

NeverSaid alternates between Sarah and Annie’s viewpoints. Sarah tells her story in first-person narrative, while Annie only speaks in poetry. Just as Sarah is kept guessing, so is the reader, until all is finally revealed. Several current issues are explored in this coming of age book, including fat shaming, self-esteem, bullying, and social disorders. As both girls come face to face with the crisis at hand, they finally realize they have the power to change things and move their lives forward in a positive direction.

Although Annie has had to deal with something traumatic, I felt her extreme behavior was not quite believable. Through most of the time this situation was happening to her, Annie was willing and happy to go along with it, so it didn’t seem natural that she would act out the way she did. But if the reader can accept this behavior as normal, this is an interesting and absorbing read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Sloth Slept On

September 25, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Frann Preston-Gannon
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1611-6
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Sloth has slipped away from the zoo and is now snoozing in a tree. When some children notice him, they wonder what kind of creature could sleep through any disturbance. After speculating as to who he could be, they finally determine his origins and send him back to where they think he came from. Only trouble is, the kids have failed to see the notices posted by the zoo asking for his return. When sloth finally wakes up, he’s going to be VERY surprised!

Sloth Slept On is a cute story that introduces sloths to children. Always a favorite at zoos, this unique creature never fails to captivate kids as they watch him sleep soundly in a tree. The twist ending will have kids giggling over the poor sloth’s unusual predicament.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fiction

The Art of Crash Landing

September 24, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Melissa DeCarlo
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-06-239054-7
Pages: 432
Price: $15.99

Author’s website
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Mattie hasn’t got a clue what to do, now that she’s homeless and pregnant with no one but her stepfather to turn to. But when she arrives on his doorstep, he informs her that her grandmother in Gandy, Oklahoma has passed away and left everything to her. On a whim, she drives to Gandy to collect her money, and discovers her inheritance will take a few months to process. But, since her aged Malibu’s transmission has died, she’s stuck there for at least as long as it takes to get fixed. And since she’s flat broke, that may be a while.

As Mattie gets to know the town people, she learns more about her mother’s earlier years. Mattie only knows her as a broken alcoholic who kept making a mess of her life, but now she finds out her mother was once a talented girl with a bright future. But something happened that changed her, forcing her to flee town.

Mattie sees only heartbreak and struggle in her own life, which has mirrored her mother’s in many ways. In solving the mystery of what really happened to her mother, she believes she may find her own way. Learning the secret will finally give her peace and the motivation to start over again.

I really loved Mattie and found her story immensely compelling. Although she sees herself as trailer trash, she’s a warm-hearted girl who’s just made some really bad decisions in life. It’s so nice to see her grow through her discoveries and turn her life around. The Art of Crash Landing is funny and heart-warming, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Dining with… Monsters!

September 21, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Agnese Baruzzi
Publisher: White Star Kids
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-88-544-0953-8
Pages: 34
Price: 14.95

Author’s website
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Some very hungry monsters are ready to dine. Kids are invited to join them and count what they’re eating. The narrator, The horrible monster, black-as-coal… gobbled up one spider whole! and introduces all his other monster friends… and their lunch!

Count up to ten along with the monsters in this rhyming, Halloween counting book. The final page shows all the lunch items consumed so kids can count them once more. Illustrations are age-appropriate, and kids will laugh at the silly monster names.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

I Want to Eat Your Books

September 18, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Karin Lefranc
Illustrator: Tyler Parker
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-63450-172-9
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

Karin Lefranc’s website
Tyler Parker’s website
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There’s a new student in the classroom, but this is no ordinary kid. He’s actually a book-eating zombie that begins to devour every book he can find. When the class heads to the library, the students know his only goal will be to eat every book there. Acting quickly, one boy saves the day. And when another monster arrives, wreaking havoc on the library, the zombie steps in to help out, also.

I Want to Eat Your Books is told in rhyming verse with vibrant, kid-friendly illustrations. Children will giggle as the zombie gobbles books, and they’ll smile at the easy friendship between the two monsters. This book will be huge hit at Halloween. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, crafts

I Can Make Dolls’ Clothes

September 17, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Authors: Louise Scott-Smith and Georgia Vaux
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Genre: Children / Crafts
ISBN: 978-0-500-65051-6
Pages: 176
Price: $19.95

Buy it at Amazon

Fashion doll clothing can be simple and inexpensive for girls to make. A few scraps of leftover fabric, some thread, buttons, and snaps can quickly turn into dresses, skirts, purses, and coats. I Can Make Dolls’ Clothes provides easy-to-use instructions and patterns for 9 pieces of clothing and accessories designed to fit standard 12″ fashion dolls.

Most patterns use a single square of fabric along with embellishments to make the item unique. No elaborate sewing skills are needed – just a simple running stitch and the ability to add buttons, velcro and snaps. And for the creative younger girl, no-sew glue could always be substituted. Basic sewing instructions show exactly how to make the stitches, and the authors encourage girls to use these techniques to come up with their own variations.

Dressing up dolls allows girls to be creative by mixing and matching outfits to design something new. When they make their own doll clothes, they can enjoy the process even more. I highly recommend I Can Make Dolls’ Clothes as a source of inspiration and guidance, as well as a pleasurable crafting experience.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends!

September 16, 2015September 17, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jill Esbaum
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4549-0879-1
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Elwood Bigfoot is all alone, and he wants to be friends with the birdies. He decides he will build a house in a tree so they can visit him there. After covering himself in feathers to look more like the birdies, he throws a house-warming party. But the birdies are afraid of his loud exuberance, and stay away. Maybe a birdie theme park would be more fun? Elwood builds one and hollers for the birdies to join him there. Still no birdies!

Finally, exhausted and discouraged, Elwood discovers why the birdies are staying away from him. They are frightened when he yells and chases after them. Once he decides to be more quiet and gentle and let them come to him, they like him and become his friends.

Elwood Bigfoot is a great book that teaches kids how to behave in a manner that won’t chase others away. Children often have this problem with pets, when a dog or cat is frightened of their wild behavior and runs to hide. And even other kids might not always want to be around someone who’s always loud. Being well-mannered always works best if kids want others to like them. I highly recommend this adorable book with a great message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Catholic, children, Christian, Saints

The Sign of the Carved Cross (Chime Travelers #2)

September 10, 2015December 7, 2016 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Lisa M. Hendey
Publisher: Servant
Genre: Children / Catholic / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-61636-848-7
Pages: 128
Price: $5.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Katie still doesn’t know what really happened when her twin brother, Patrick, went into the confessional in The Secret of the Shamrock. But now that she’s just gone back in time to meet St. Kateri Tekakwitha, she’s convinced that the bells of St. Anne’s are magical.

Katie has been having trouble with the new girl, Lily. Although Katie is usually friendly, she is being mean to Lily, mostly out of jealousy. Katie feels like she’s not as pretty as the other girls. But after spending time with St. Kateri as she is baptized and joins the Church, she comes to realize that beauty on the inside matters much more than what’s on the outside.

After returning home, Katie finds out that Lily is new to the Church, and now she gets to share her own faith with Lily, just as she did with St. Kateri. Thinking about baptism and her own First Communion, she comes to realize just how important the Church is to her.

The Sign of the Carved Cross is a nice adventure story featuring St. Kateri. These Chime Travelers books not only provide a fun time traveling tale, but also a glimpse into the lives of the saints. Kids will really enjoy this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, humor

Animal Gas: A Farty Farce

September 8, 2015 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Bryan Ballinger
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children / Humor
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1616-1
Pages: 24
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Pig says, “I foof in the night as well as the day. It smells like perfume or flowers in May.” But the bird standing next to him exclaims, “Perfume…? Flowers…? Now that’s quite a leap. Try mold and some beans piled up in a heap.”

As each animal thinks of his own farts, he believes they smell pleasant, and describes them in flowery words. But the next in line reminds him that he’s only emitting highly noxious fumes. One by one the animals share their thoughts in humorous rhyme, until the goat finally comes up with a clever idea to outwit them all.

Animal Gas is probably not for everyone, since some folks find fart humor offensive. But for those who can handle gentle toilet humor, this book is a real gas! Kids will love it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger