Month: April 2019

Be Safe, Love Mom: A Military Mom’s Stories of Courage, Comfort, and Surviving Life on the Home Front by Elaine Lowry Brye

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Be Safe, Love Mom: A Military Mom's Stories of Courage, Comfort, and Surviving Life on the Home Front

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Elaine Lowry Brye is an expert on surviving the military. As a veteran, daughter and granddaughter of soldiers, wife of a serviceman, and mother to four children in the military (all representing different branches), Elaine gives the most comprehensive advise for those with loved ones serving.

From the very start, this book is filled with page after page and story after story, of the bravery those left behind showcase. Not only does the reader feel like they know Elaine and her family but the other families whose stories are included as well. She gives practical advise and hope to those who love someone who are called to serve without judgement. Some of my favorite stories are when Elaine humbled herself by talking about moments when even she couldn’t keep it together. She also describes her time in country when she worked as a teacher in Kabul and when she was invited to introduce First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2012 Democratic Convention (and when she needed a boost from behind from Vice President Biden to get back up a step).

This book is a must read if you have anyone serving (or even if you don’t). It will give you a sense of understanding and hopefully inspire you to help those that sacrifice so much for our freedom and country. Even if you are not a fan of the military, this is a must read. I also recommend it to fiction writers who are needing a perspective on the homefront.



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Soldier’s Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers by Gary Paulsen

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Soldier's Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen is a quasi-true story about Charley Goddard from Minnesota who enlisted in the Union Army when he was 15, during the Civil War. Paulsen based the story and events on Charley’s real life but exaggerated some of the battles to fill out the plot.

Charley is an innocent young man when he enlists in the Army, thinking he will never see battle. He is driven by doing the right thing and often sees himself as an outsider in the ranks. Before too long, Charley is faced with the realities of war. In the end, it changes who he is and what his life will become.

This book starts off extremely slow but eventually picks up and I was able to get thought he last several chapters quickly. Charley seems distant and I would have preferred to have the voice of someone more invested in the unit. Overall, it would be a good read for reluctant male readers in the middle grades, if they can get past the first 3-4 chapters.



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Still Me by Jojo Moyes

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Still Me

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was not a fan of Still Me by Jojo Moyes. Although I love her writing style (that’s what helped me finish the book), the plot was severely lacking in interest. I just wanted to slap some sense into Lou and be done with her story.

In Still Me, Louisa Clarke goes to New York to once again find out who she is….WHY DOESN’T SHE KNOW YET?!?!?! She is working as an assistant for a posh family and trying to find out where she fits in. There are several bumps along the way but they don’t stay true to their nature in all of them. Characters such as Nathan, Sam, and Lily are talked about throughout the book and their stories help unfold Lou’s.

Having read the entire series, I wish I would have stopped after the first one.





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Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

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Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, #1)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Sarah, Plain and Tall is a cute story about how a little girl, Anna, and her brother, Caleb, meet Sarah, a would be mother to them. Since the death of their mother, shortly after Caleb was born, their Papa has been lonely and raising the two children. He decides to take out an advertisement for a wife and mother. Sarah, a spinster from Maine answers the ad and is soon on her way to the prairie.

This book is a sweet story but I think it is difficult for the young age its written for to understand it. My daughter who is 9 read this with me and was not captivated by the story as much as a girl 30 years ago might have been.

Recommended for a read-a-loud to young kids.



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To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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To Kill a Mockingbird

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a reread for me. I first read To Kill a Mockingbird, like most people, in high school. I remember not being impressed with it and read it only because it was assigned. I reread it this past year because so many of my students were reading it and I wanted to recall details about the story.

Upon my visitation to Maycomb, Alabama again, I found I really enjoyed the writing and crafting of this book much more than the plot. The story follows Scout, a young girl who witnesses racism on a daily basis. Her father is a prominent lawyer and is defending Tom Robinson who is a black man charged with raping a white woman. Through the story, it is clear Tom Robinson is not guilty but will the people of Maycomb agree?

Recommended to those who had to read this in high school to reread.



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After You by Jojo Moyes

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After You (Me Before You, #2)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


After You is the continuation of the story that began in Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I absolutely fell in love with the the main character, Louisa Clark, in the first book and still enjoyed her in this second installment.

After You follows Lou as she tries to come to terms with Will’s death. Unexpected people show up and she discovers more about the man she loved and lost. I enjoyed this books darker side. Lou is going through a tough time and becomes depressed joining a support group, trying to find herself again. This story holds so much truth about losing someone you love but we do see glimpses of the old Louisa.

I have already started the third book and cannot get enough of this series. The writing is superb!

Recommended to fans of quirky stories or fans of BritLit.

Purchase this book here.

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