A few weeks ago, Moon wanted to cash in her piggy bank. We headed to CoinStar because no one wanted to go through the trouble of actually counting and rolling the change. While CoinStar usually charges a percentage, if you take the cash in the form of a gift card – they waive the fee! Moon got most of it in Amazon gift cards but decided to put $45.00 to use at Borders. Then she found that while she could buy American Girl stuff at Amazon, Borders only had BOOKS. So she asked me to “buy” her gift card. Do you think she knew Borders was going out of business? I’m such a sucker.
Anyway, I went online last week and ordered something for everyone to read. The package arrived today – yippee! Here’s a list of what we got, reviews and links included. I’ll let you know what we think about them. Of course, I’m only reading the John Piper book because I’m both spiritual AND intellectual but JD will probably have some thoughts on that other stuff.
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he’s surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He’s one of 13 people who receive Hannah’s story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah’s voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah’s voice (italicized) and Clay’s thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading. From Booklist
The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers
“Jonathan Rogers has created a new kind of story—part fantasy, part southern fiction. It’s sad and funny and heartwarming. Imagine a southern version of a C. S. Lewis story or a Christian version of a Mark Twain tale. Imagine a world where dragons are alligators, the American South is an island kingdom of cowboys and swamp dwellers, and ugliness, it turns out, is profoundly beautiful. Jonathan Rogers, a Georgia boy with a PhD, a strong faith, and a healthy imagination, gives us a timeless story no one else could have written. I loved it.”
—Andrew Peterson, author of The Wingfeather Saga
Miss Child has Gone Wild by Dan Gutman
My Weirder School weirder than ever!
The third grade has won a weird contest, so they get to go on a field trip to the zoo. That’s how they meet Miss Child, the weirdest zookeeper in the history of the world. She thinks animals are smarter than people! She thinks elephants can paint pictures! She keeps snakes in her pockets for fun! Guess who’s going to wind up in a cage with a lion?
Also, because they were 2.99 – Mr. Granite Is from Another Planet! and Mr. Harrison Is Embarrassin’!
Desiring God by John Piper
“Mind hammering and heart warming.” – Os Guiness
“A must read for every Christian and a feast for the spiritually hungry.” – John MacArthur
Amen, La by Cherie Bennett & Jeff Gottesfeld
When Natalie Shelton and her family move from Minnesota to Beverly Hills, more changes than their zip code. Natalie’s mom accepts a position as pastor with the Church of Beverly Hills—and Natalie’s along for the ride. Before she can blink, she’s living in a mansion once owned by Ricardo Montalban, going to school with hot young Hollywood stars, and partying in the park with kids who know no limits. It’s an amazing new life—but if she doesn’t watch out, Natalie could find herself seriously messed up. Natalie has values . . . but how long can she hold on to them?
Borders is going out of business and has up to 40% off. What are YOU going to buy?
Moon Pie I will roll your coins for free – and then you can buy what you want to buy.
“Thirteen Reasons Why” is an AMAZING book! I loved it so much I read it over and over! You’ll read that in a day, it’s so hard to put down!
I did read it in a day and I thought of YOU. Actually, I thought of all the high school students that I know that should read it and that was..you. Very good!