How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the U.S.A. by Marjorie Priceman

How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A by Marjorie Priceman

Review by Mary Rowe (Library Queen's Weblog)

Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Can she bake a cherry pie, Charming Billy?
She can bake a cherry pie
Quick as the cat can wink its eye.
She’s a young thing and cannot leave her mother.

Billy Boy’s future wife may have learned to bake a cherry pie from this book, How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the USA by Marjorie Priceman. .

How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the USA is a book with lessons you would wounldn’t imagine from just reading the title. The reader gets a tour of the United States and some basic concepts about the raw materials needed for many common products, and of course, a recipe for cherry pie. Everything needed to make this cherry pie must be gathered because the cook shop is closed. You will need to get everything necessary to make what you need to bake the cherry pie. You will need a pie pan so you will need steel to make the pie pan. To make the steel you will need coal. To get the coal you will need to go to the closest coal mine. Each element of the pie making process takes you to another state to get the raw materials for a tool or an ingredient.

The book reads almost like the If You Give a …books by Laura Joffe Numeroff. With the use of the word “you” as the main character the reader becomes part of the story.

“In the mood for a cherry pie? Let’s get started. First, mix flour and salt in a bowl. What, no bowl?

You will definitely need a bowl. Also, a pie pan, a rolling pin, a measuring cup, a pastry slab, a set of spoons, and some pot holders- which you can get at the Cook Shop.

But if the Cook Shop happens to be closed…

Go to New York and hail a taxi. Ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

There find the closest coal mine. Coal is used for making steel, and you need steel to make your pie pan. Take the trolley deep underground and fill a bucket to the brim. Don’t forget your hard hat and flashlight!”

That is the beginning of your whirlwind adventure to gather all the necessary tools and ingredients to make a cherry pie.

The author takes the reader to many states and gives a small aspect of the states culture, industry, or geography. One state the author has you visit is Alaska. There is nothing to get from Alaska. You just go because its there. I thought this was a “stretch” but a fun jaunt. Overall the visits to the states follow a logical course for the goal of making a cherry pie.


The illustrations are playful and full of detail. They add to the story by depicting some of the concepts that might not be farmiliar to the children. The illustrations also depict the rich cultural diversity of our country.

I would recommend this book for grades 1-3, but I plan to use it with my fourth graders who are studying the United States also. I plan to send them on a search for all the raw ingredients needed to make the cherry pie. It will be an internet scavenger hunt where they are given the object and have to find the raw materials. We will read the book as a culminating activity.

Marjorie Priceman is also the author of How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "The text is entertaining and filled with interesting facts. Priceman's gouache on hot-pressed watercolor paper illustrations add tons of other tidbits. " (read more...)

The Bookworm's Booklist: "Includes a brightly painted end paper map of the U.S.A.—and a recipe for cherry pie, of course! " (read more...)

InfoDad: "The book is fun to read, fun to look at and fun to learn from – and families can try the pie recipe together. " (read more...)

More info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375812555
• ISBN-13: 978-0375812552
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher
  

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Meilo So

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Meilo So

Reviewed by Erica Moore

What would you do if your neighbors destroyed your home of nine years? Well thankfully Pale Male had many fans and friends to protest for him.

Pale Male is New York City’s famous red-tailed hawk who came to Central Park when he was very young and stayed. He and a mate built a nest atop an apartment building across from the park. This was the first time people witnessed a red-tailed hawk nest on a building. Pale Male would raise more than 20 chicks in nine years in the nest on 5th Avenue.

In 2004 the building owners removed the nest thanks to the Bush Administration’s weakening of environmental protections. This set off an international outcry accompanied by local New Yorkers protesting. Pale Male’s nest was soon restored.

The story of Pale Male is inspiring--something wild adapts and survives in an urban environment. The writing is smooth and full of information as it unfolds. This is an easy book to share with kids. There is factual information as well as a great story with tension, drama and a perfect resolution. This should inspire new bird watchers. I know it made me get my backyard birding books out of the kitchen drawer and look up the birds at the feeders with my kids.

The illustrations by Meilo So are beautiful. The reader is given a hawk’s eye view as most of the pictures are from a hawk’s perspective as he flies around the park and buildings. The water colors capture the movement of the hawks. I love the picture of the babies leaving the nest and landing nearby. The end papers are the red tails of the hawks, and even the dust jacket has a hawk in flight wrapped around the book with a stick in his beak ready to rebuild that nest.

There have been several picture books about Pale Male since his nest was taken down, and this is my favorite. Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City has received many starred reviews and is sure to show up on recommended book lists.



What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Chicken Spaghetti: "The ensuing bird-related goings-on make an exciting picture book, and young readers have a fine avian protagonist to cheer for." (read more...)

Fort Lee Children's Room Blog: "I recommend Pale Male for all ages because it is a story anyone can appreciate and it may just inspire you to learn more about this great animal." (read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "I have one word for you: Endpapers. Man, I wish I had them to show you here. They’re sublime: Pale Male’s auburn hawk feathers, all spread-out and larger-than-life atop a bit of blue sky. Gorgeous, I tell ya. Thank you, Meilo So, for that moment of beauty." (read more...)

Texas Trifles: "Though I already knew about the New York City hawk's story, this book turns it charmingly into an avian adventure with a heartwarming ending." (read more...)

More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (March 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375845585
• ISBN-13: 978-0375845581
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Monday delights!

Likely Story by David Van Etten

I'm happy to present Amber Felix's first review at The Well-Read Child.
You can find Amber blogging regularly at A Fetal Attraction.

Likely Story by David Van Etten (who is actually comprised of three authors: Chris Van Etten, David Ozanich, and David Leviathan)

Daughter of a reigning soap opera queen, Mallory is tired of her mother's drama and contrived catch phrases stolen from the set of her soap opera "Good as Gold". After a particularly disastrous conversation with her mother, Mallory takes to her blog to gripe about how unreal daytime television is, claiming she could write a better soap easily.

Although Mallory wrote that blog out of anger, her mother's agent finds the entry and calls to tell her he'd like to see the script if she had it. Lying through her teeth, Mallory says she's got it all written up and will send it out per his request. The instant she gets off the phone, she frantically sets to writing a synopsis (or "bible" in her words) of her vision of what a soap opera should be. A realistic one that teens can relate to, all the while picturing her best friend Amelia in the title role, despite the fact that she has no real-life acting experience. !

The book takes us through what happens when a script is greenlit, from casting to set designing, all from the viewpoint of a teenager with her own soap opera story unfolding in her real life- from dealing with her less-than-affectionate mother to struggling with dating a boy who is already taken; the storyline and character beg to be believed, but fail.

While it was a catchy book and mildly entertaining, the characters and events make it easy to believe that this book is fiction. A pretty quick read with a lot of "Does he like me? Do I like him?" internal questions asked, you try to feel a little bit of emotion for Mallory and her mother, instead you find yourself indifferent, perhaps even disliking the characters at some points.

Likely Story could be a fun read for a young adult, there are little to no sexual situations, the dialogue is easy to follow and the story has a twist at the very last page, all the better to get you to read the next in the series!


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Mrs. Magoo Reads: "Most girls will probably find it a quick but enjoyable read. It's also really cool that three authors- all male- were able to create the character of Mallory, as well as a novel that has one collective writing style." (read more...)

Flamingnet Young Adult Book Blog: "...it was all a little less stimulating than expected. Likely Story was obviously in the genre of teenage but compared to other books, I believe there is a lot better out there." (read more...)

Wordcandy Bookshelf: "Likely Story is witty, clever, and stylish, with a lot of delicious soap opera in-jokes...Unfortunately, much like the soap operas it parodies, Likely Story is also totally unsatisfying." (read more...)

The Book Muncher: "Likely Story is not a particularly exciting novel all the time, but it was an enjoyable read. Readers looking for a milder version of the A-List will enjoy this novel too. " (read more...)

The Book Reader: "Likely Story was a really original book. The plot moved a little too slowly for me though. The characters weren't all that likable either." (read more...)

Bookshipper: "What I really enjoyed about this book is that the lead character Mallory could have been written as a vain, stuck up teenager - but rather the authors decided to make her the exact opposite of her shallow, rude tv-star mother. The interaction between mother and daughter is sometimes painful to read, but you get the distinct impression that both are putting up a front for the benefit of the other." (read more...)




More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 037584676X
• ISBN-13: 978-0375846762
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Born to Read by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

Here's the latest review from Mary Rowe a.k.a The Library Queen.

Born to Read by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

I was prepared to write my review for Born to Read and had all my
ideas ready to go. I planned to write the review while babysitting my
grandkids, so I brought the book along. My notes had several
comments I had taken as I read and reread the book:




1. Wonderful message to share - but seemed forced

• Reading will help you win - but it won't make you win every time as in the bike race
• Coaches frown on basketball playing and book reading at the same time
  

2. Story line seemed a bit contrived

• Putting the child in impossible situations which are made to seem realistic (correcting the doctor's diagnosis, competitions above child's ability)
• Reading in the tub (oh my what were they thinking? ) Water and books don't mix.
• Realistic examples and the fantasy giant fit together well to present the message
  

3. Illustrations were superb!

• Details- you can almost feel the texture of clothing
• The expressions on the faces of the characters are entertaining
  

But, then my three year old grandson saw the book. "Can I read it?" was his first question. "What is it called?" was the next. I watched while he took the book and began pointing to the letters on the inside of the cover. " I know that one. Here is a "b" Nana." When he finished with those he knew, he turned the page and began to read. He put his finger under each word and started making up a story to go with the illustrations. He paused before "reading" each page to look at the illustrations and point out what he liked or noticed that was interesting. He knew most of the books in the baby's crib and told me which ones he had in his room and which ones were in his sister's room. He "read" the whole book with great enjoyment. Later, when I tried to find the book during their naptime to write this review it was not where we had left it when Noah finished reading.

After my grandson's nap I asked him if he knew where the book was. "It is in my room Nana, I wanted to read it again at naptime, and will you read it to me now?" He and his five year old sister paid close attention to me as I read Born to Read. When I told them I had to take the book home to do my homework, Noah nodded seriously and asked, "Will you bring it back?"


So much for my notes, this book is a hit with the three-year-old reviewer! Maybe sometimes, we older reviewers would be better off letting the books speak to the children and judging their reactions as the true test of a worthwhile book.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Kidazy! : "This wonderful book rhymes words with such enthusiasm that you can’t help but get in to the story yourself rooting for Sam!" (Read more...)

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "I think that this book is well-intentioned, sometimes fun, and gorgeously illustrated. I think that parents who want to encourage young readers will buy it and read it to their kids, and that they will enjoy it. But my personal recommendation, if you're looking to encourage a child to love books, is to not push this particular book too hard." (read more...)

Young Readers: "Great premise. Great start. Ultimately falls into mediocrity. Slightly disappointing." (read more...)


Cheryl Rainfield: "Born to Read celebrates reading and reinforces its importance. It’s got a wonderful message, though the message is laid on a bit too thick for me. Still, it’s got a message that both kids and parents really need to hear–that reading can help you." (read more...)


More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375846875
• ISBN-13: 978-0375846878
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

High Dive by Tammar Stein

Yesterday you met Janssen, (who blogs at Everyday Reading), and today I'm happy to be presenting her first review for The Well-Read Child. Enjoy!



High Dive by Tammar Stein
Arden doesn't have a lot of roots. Her mom is an army nurse and has been stationed all over the world, meaning that Arden has moved every few years her entire life. The one place she's always been able to rely on, though, is the beach house in Sardinia, Italy that her parents bought on their honeymoon (her mother was already in the army, so they felt a beach house could give them some stability, since they'd never probably own a home). Arden and her parents have gone back every few years since.

But then Arden's dad is killed in an accident and her mom is deployed to Iraq to work in the hospital for eighteen months. Arden and her mom decide to sell the beach house, and Arden, who has just finished her freshman year at Vanderbilt, volunteers to go clean it out and lock up before the new owners take over. She's dreading the trip, though, and the idea of returning to the scene of so many happy childhood memories which now seem long gone.

On the flight over, Arden meets three girls from the University of Texas (coincidentally the same university I'm now attending) who are on their way to Paris. They invite her to skip her connecting flight and come to Paris with them instead. Surprising even herself, Arden agrees and finds herself in Paris. Of course, the cheap and clean hostel the three girls are staying at is full, and Arden finds herself sleeping alone at a dirty and overpriced hotel. Despite the friendliness of the girls, she feels incredibly alone and is constantly reminded of her nearly-debilitating fear that something will happen to her mother and she'll be left completely alone.

Added to her worries about her mother, is the situation with Peter. She and Peter went to elementary school together for a year or so while both of their families were stationed at a base in Kansas. They weren't exactly close friends, but they certainly knew each other and when, in high school in a new city, she discovers that Peter is there too, she is thrilled to know someone, anyone. Peter has grown up to be unbelievably handsome and the star of the swim team (with Olympic prospects); the girls at the high school worship him and Arden is afraid to confess how much she likes him too.

But then, when her dad dies, he writes her a sweet little letter about a funny incident he had with her dad, and they become real friends. On graduation night, he kisses her, but afraid of losing her one friend and hating herself for secretly feeling like something good might have come out of her dad's death, Arden pushes him away and they go back to being friends. Over the past two years, they've remained in contact via email and have gotten very close, but Arden is afraid to ever mention graduation night or her deeper feelings for him, fearing that she'll lose him too.

Compared with her own situation, the Texas girls seem to have an easy and fun life - plenty of money, life-long friends, and the ability to just relax and have a good time. The title, High Dive, comes from the feeling of being on the edge that Arden is constantly fighting. She knows she'll eventually have to deal with the beach house, and her fear of losing her mother, and her relationship with Peter, but she doesn't know if she'll jump or go back down the ladder.

I think this book could easily have slid into the melodramatic, unrealistic YA territory (my mom is in Iraq! My dad is dead! I have no friends!) but Stein handled the topic beautifully. Not only was the writing gorgeous, but the characters, especially Arden and her mother (represented mainly through emails), are real and well-developed. Although I'm older than Arden by a few years, I can certainly still identify with many of the worries she finds herself constantly returning to.

There's quite a lot of talk about religion in this book, but I wouldn't consider it a religious book. It's more focused on Arden's reflections of the deep religiousness of the people and churches that built cathedrals and other monuments of their faith all over Europe. Arden mentions at one point that she is Jewish (she's worried she won't be able to rent a room for the night at a Catholic convent with the other girls) and later she reflects that Jews don't have the sort of massive churches and temples that she's seeing all over Paris and Italy. Instead, they carry their highly portable Torah scrolls. "I understood such measures," she says "but still, sometimes it was nice to see proof of your faith larger than life and permanently on display. Somewhere, not far away in the soft Italian night, the great Duomo stood, a massive testament to the the belief that God existed, that He loved us, and that we were not alone." (Page 106).

This book had so many beautiful passages that I ended up with little Post-it tags all over the pages. I particularly appreciated that the lovely prose never slowed the story or weighed down the narrative flow. Here are a few I especially liked:

"When I first found out about the deployment, I'd tell people my mom was heading to Iraq. I expected them to be impressed. But instead, they'd give me the same look I might give someone if they told me they had been diagnosed with cancer. Concern, pity, and that slight hint of distaste. They looked at me like something awful had already happened." (Page 8)

"Reading [Peter's] answer and feeling my heart nearly ache with teh sweetness of it, I finally admitted to myself that what I felt for Peter was more than friendship and a lot closer to love. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him. I could bare my soul to him but not my heart." (Page 70)

"I wanted to believe that God or fate or whatever was up there deciding who lives wouldn't, couldn't take my mother. But I knew the futility of thinking like that. There wasn't anyone keeping score. No one with a clipboard making sure the outcome was fair." (Page 85).

"Most people, I gradually noticed, didn't spend that much time looking at [the statue] David. It seemed like all they wanted out of their trip was the ability to say to the folks back home that they saw David." (Page 111)

This is definitely a girl book, although I could see some boys dealing with a deployed parent identifying with it. It's geared more toward older girls, not because of mature content (there are only a few swear words in it and only passing mention is made of another girl who has had sex) but because it deals with the kinds of emotions that come as you prepare to leave high school and move on to college - what kind of relationships do I want? Who do I want to be? How do I mesh my childhood with my impending adulthood. What do I have faith in? When do I make the scary jump and when do I walk back down the ladder?

It's a book that deals with the difficult aspects in life in a gentler way than books like Speak or Story of a Girl. It's a book I wouldn't worry about recommending to someone else's teenager, but I also wouldn't fear that they thought was talking down to them. It's simply a thoughtful, interesting, and beautiful book that I feel most teenager girls could identify with, whether or not they had any military connections or a deceased parent. I highly recommend this book.


What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Becky's Book Reviews: "Rich in detail and featuring well-crafted characters, High Dive is a great book highlighting the nuances of life." (read more...)

Thanks to Becky for the other links:

Teenreads.com: "Tammar Stein’s descriptive imagery, the characters’ realistic conflicting emotions and dialogue, as well as the almost-subtle integration of current (sometimes hot-button) topics, drive the story along." (read more...)

YA Book Realm: "Each character's emotions and actions are portrayed realistically. The book is fast and fun book, yet still manages to capture the sacrifices the troops in Iraq and their families have to make." (read more...)

A Patchwork of Books: "Strong, yet vulnerable characters that come across as beautifully lost as Arden do not come along nearly as often as we would all like, but if you pick High Dive up for yourself or a teen, you will not be sorry." (read more...)





More info:

• Age Range: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375830243
• ISBN-13: 978-0375830242
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

Grace Lin: My Daughter's Favorite Illustrator

Over the past week or so, my daughter has gravitated toward the two Grace Lin books we have in our house.

First, Chronicle Books sent us the paperback version of Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors, written by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Grace Lin. It's a concept book written in rhyme that features gorgeous spreads of Chinese characters in both Asian-themed and familiar settings with objects in the color featured on the spread.



For example, here's the opening of the book:

The text is "Red is a dragon/ Red is a drum/ Red are the firecrackers--here they come!" The book continues with many more colors: yellow raincoats, flowers, and a taxi; green toads, bottle gourds, and jade; a blue pool, dragonfly, and pair of sneakers; pink peonies, white dumplings, and more. A glossary in the back explains more about some of the items in the book that some kids may not be familiar with, such as lychee fruit, chopsticks, silk fans, and more. This is a wonderful way to not only teach colors but to also introduce children to another culture.


And speaking of teaching kids about different cultures, take a look at Lin's book, Bringing in the New Year (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008). Both written and illustrated by Lin, this book follows a Chinese family as they prepare for and then celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The entire family participates in the preparations: "Ba-Ba hangs the spring happiness poems. Ma-Ma makes the get-rich dumplings. Mei-Mei gets a fresh haircut."

The preparations lead up to an exciting celebration with firecrackers, the arrival of "lions" to scare away last year's bad luck, and an exciting pull-out three-page spread of the arrival of the dragon. Here's just one page of this impressive and vibrantly-colored spread:

At the end of the book is a two-page summary of the Lunar New Year, which includes information about the customs and traditions of this special holiday. And if anyone doubts the importance of having fun, colorful end papers, check out my little one who is fascinated with the end papers in this book. This one was taken earlier this week during our post-bath time reading session.

Yes, she loves Grace Lin, and we're definitely going to add to our collection. Check out Grace Lin's Website for more information about all of her books.

As Good as Anybody by Richard Michelson; illustrated by Raul Colón

As Good as Anybody by Richard Michelson; illustrated by Raul Colón
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375833358
ISBN-13: 978-0375833359
Source of book: Review Copy from Publisher

In this biographical picture book, we learn the stories of two people from very different backgrounds, but who both struggled for equality. One is an American boy named Martin, the son of a minister who is angry when he sees “Whites Only” signs everywhere in his community. The other is a Polish boy named Abraham Joshua Heschel, the son of a rabbi who follows in his father’s footsteps. When he’s a young man, he’s kicked out of his German university because he’s Jewish and is angry when he sees “No Jews Allowed” signs everywhere.

Abraham goes to America in hopes for a better life, but when he arrives, the country is in the throes of the Civil Rights Movement. He hears of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the boy we met in the beginning, who is now a man, and joins him in the Selma Freedom March.

Raul Colón's rich pencil and water color illustrations complement the books serious and deferential tone. He explains his palette choices in the jacket flap. The illustration of Abraham's boat arriving in the choppy waters of Ellis Island with the Statue of Liberty standing tall is particularly stunning, and the final illustration of King and Heschel provides a sense of hope.

This is the inspirational story of two powerful men who joined forces to bring change to the world. A must-read for every child, and a must-have for every classroom.

Resources for teachers and parents:

• Online Readers Guide
• Online Teachers Guide (you have to download the PDF on the site)

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Julie M. Prince at Young Adult Books Central: "I absolutely love the way this book illustrates how important it is for people to continue the march—-to recognize and speak out when they see injustice." (Read more...)

Young Readers: "It's also the story of how two men from two different backgrounds came together in the mid-sixties for a worthy cause. The text by Richard Michelson is simple and straight forward." (read more...)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: "It’s a powerful, stirring tribute to two of America’s most prominent civil rights leaders and to justice and equality." (read more...)

Do you have a review of As Good As Anybody? Leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here.

Visit Picture Book of the Day for more Nonfiction Book Reviews!

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Reading level: Young Adult *
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375851763
ISBN-13: 978-0375851766
Source of book: Review copy from publisher



In Christina Meldrum's debut novel that was just released this week, fifteen-year-old Aslaug has been isolated from society by her eccentric and haunted mother. She doesn't even know who her father is, and her mother has never revealed his identity to anyone. In fact, she has claimed that Aslaug was an immaculate conception, a claim that plays a pivotal role in the book.

Even though Aslaug's been isolated, her mother has given her an education that pales in comparison to her peers. She's fluent in Greek, well-versed in ancient runes, and knows how to use local herbs and plants for nutritional and medicinal purposes. In fact, when Aslaug's cancer-ridden mother dies of a jimsonweed overdose, Aslaug is a suspect in her murder. Jimsonweed, also known as madapple, can help ease pain, but too much can kill someone.

After her mother's death, Aslaug finds an aunt and two cousins who live in a nearby town who take her in. Aslaug soon discovers that this family has its demons, and she ends up being caught in a dark and twisted plot that eventually ends up with Aslaug being on trial for murder.

Christina Meldrum's technique and gripping plot make this book one of the best I've read this year. The book switches back and forth between Aslaug's trial and her story leading up to the trial. Meldrum, a former litigator, actually began writing this book when she was still a litigator, and her background in the legal system makes Aslaug's trial seem very believable.

Through the haunting plot, she also reveals a vast knowledge of botany, herbology, science, and religion. Aslaug is a likable character who evokes empathy from the reader. Take this passage for example:

"...our house was a prison, but a palace, too: at times it spiraled deep into the earth, and deep into the sky, depending on Mother's mood. I see that now. Life was a revolving mystery, sometimes terrifying, sometimes maddening. But always provocative. Interesting. And although its meaning seemed beyond my grasp, it never seemed meaningless" (page 211).

The suspense continues to build in the book until the very end when the truth behind the murders and more is revealed. I couldn't put this book down, and I recommend this for mature teens and adults because of the language and mature subject matter. However, without this, the twisted characters wouldn't have been believable and the bizarre plot wouldn't have been effectively executed. I sincerely hope this isn't Meldrum's last novel.



*contains mature situations and language






What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Booktopia: "Christina Meldrum has written a devastating, gut-wrenching, compelling and thoughtful story....The characters are all broken but fierce, and I found myself loving and hating them in equal measure." (read more...)

Reading Rants: "This brilliant, densely written amalgamation of botany, religion, murder mystery, courtroom drama and dark family secrets is the twisted brainchild of newbie author Christina Meldrum. Now, I read a LOT of YA fiction, and this one stopped me dead in my tracks with its utter bizarreness." (read more...)

Miss Print: "Although “Madapple” is thin on actual action, it’s still a page turner that left me anxious to see how it would all turn out." (read more...)


If you've reviewed Madapple, leave a comment with your link, and I'll post it here.

Confessions of a Serial Kisser by Wendelin Van Draanen

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375842489
ISBN-13: 978-0375842481

In Confessions of a Serial Kisser, Evangeline has always been a "good girl," receiving good grades, hanging out with "good friends." She now lives with her mother in a tiny apartment having moved out of her childhood home after her parents' separation. One day she's cleaning in her mother's room and finds a box of romance novels under her mother's bed. One of these books, A Crimson Kiss, draws her in, and she sets upon a mission to get her own crimson kiss. This mission soon becomes an obsession as she kisses nearly every boy who crosses her path, including her best friend's boyfriend. As her reputation and relationship with her friend are damaged, she's coming to terms with her father's betrayal and his attempt at reconciliation with both her and her mother. Her life seems to be spiraling out of control as she searches for her crimson kiss.

While it's a good idea to expose teenagers to classic, thought-provoking literature, to truly make them lifelong readers, they need to have fun with reading. Give them the opportunity to read fun books that interest them because if reading always seems like homework, they will quickly get turned off. Confessions of a Serial Kisser is a light-hearted book whose title and pink cover with the big red lip print will beg girls to pull it off the shelf. Though it is funny at times and a fast read, its flaws will prevent it from becoming as well loved as Van Draanen's Flipped.

Many readers will find Evangeline annoying. She kisses boys without thinking of the repercussions, and she's super quick to judge others when she herself is not a model of good behavior. Robbie Marshall is a "dumb jock," Eddie Pasco is a "stoner," and she's downright cruel to poor Roper Harding who has obvious personal hygiene issues. Speaking of Eddie Pasco, there's this weird, overwhelming and forced anti-drug messaging in book. Eddie is one of Evangeline's "victims," and when she realizes he's a stoner, he becomes the scum of the earth while, Izzy, the creepy record store owner seems like a likely stoner himself. It almost felt like a cheesy PSA at times.

There were also some awkward passages that didn't really seem to fit. Evangeline is a rock 'n roll girl, and it's rock 'n roll that helps heal her relationship with her father in the end. She identifies with music and listens to it constantly, which is a truly believable characteristic. However, there are times in the book when Evangeline is listening to music, and she throws out the name of the band, the album, and all of the songs. It interrupts the flow and seems more like Van Draanen's, (a professed fan of rock 'n roll as indicated in the jacket flap) homage to her favorite bands. Also, the fact that Evangeline seems to be a self-taught master hair stylist is also a little unbelievable, and that she has to "babe herself up" to get guys is also a disappointing.

To be a truly good book, the reader really has to identify with the main character, and many girls won't be able to do this with Evangeline. While the concept is entertaining, the execution of a believable, likable character is not there.


Not EVERYONE agrees with me. See what other bloggers are saying:
Bookshelves of Doom: "Evangeline's voice never really worked for me. She never crossed the line of being a character on the page to becoming a person in my head, and so I was never fully pulled into the story. Because of that, the dialogue never really worked either -- and so the book ended up feeling like a 290+ page sitcom, complete with loads of exclamation points and the end-of-the-episode Big Lesson."

What I Blogged: "Plenty of surprises, plenty of laughs, and plenty of complications. This is all held together with a really touching story about dealing with a beloved parent’s betrayal."

Biblio File: "Overall, it was a nice book about finding yourself and how you won't be crimson without some attraction. There was friend drama that I didn't fully understand, because there were some serious flaws in that relationship even before Evangeline starts going kiss-crazy."