Crossing Stones

Title: Crossing Stones

Author: Helen Frost

Pages: 178

Time Took to Read: 3 days

Cover Rating: 5/5

Character Rating: 4/5

Plot Rating: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

I loved this book!!! It was a wonderfully, yet very uniquely written bo0k. The whole book was written in different kinds of poetry form. It was beautifully written, though I do not recommend it to people who don't like poems. What I liked about these is that they were beautiful and short, yet they were very easy to understand, and gave you so much more information than normal words of that length ever could. All in all I loved the characters and the plot and HIGHLY recommend this book!!!

Plot:

Eighteen-year-old Muriel Jorgensen lives on one side of Crabapple Creek. Her family’s closest friends, the Normans, live on the other. For as long as Muriel can remember, the families’ lives have been intertwined, connected by the crossing stones that span the water. But now that Frank Norman—who Muriel is just beginning to think might be more than a friend—has enlisted to fight in World War I and her brother, Ollie, has lied about his age to join him, the future is uncertain. As Muriel tends to things at home with the help of Frank’s sister, Emma, she becomes more and more fascinated by the women’s suffrage movement, but she is surrounded by people who advise her to keep her opinions to herself. How can she find a way to care for those she loves while still remaining true to who she is?

Written in beautifully structured verse, Crossing Stones captures nine months in the lives of two resilient families struggling to stay together and cross carefully, stone by stone, into a changing world.

Homeless Bird

Title: Homeless Bird

Author: Gloria Whelan

Pages: 212

Time Read: 5 days

Cover Rating: 1/5

Character Rating: 4/5

Plot Rating: 4/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

I read this book a few weeks ago, but never got to put a review for it. I enjoyed this book immensely. I love how it drew you in with a simple story line, yet got more complex as things went along. I also liked that it had both sorrow and happiness within it. It was very realistic in what would happen in real life, and I liked it immensely. A good nice, easy read. I recommend it to all.

Plot:

(I did not know much about the book going into it, and I liked it best that way, so I will only tell you a few basic things you need to know.)

This story takes place in India and starts off with a girl of 13 years, who is about to get married. (yes that is all I am going to tell. If you want to know more, read the book!!)

Whatever Happened To Janie?

Title: Whatever Happened to Janie?

Author: Caroline B. Cooney

Pages: 217

Time took to read: 3 days

Cover Rating: 2/5

Character Rating: 3/5

Plot Rating: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

I thought this book was good, but it was not my favorite book ever. It was a good companion to the previous novel in the Janie series, The Face on the Milk Carton. I thought she did a good job in developing the plot, and keeping it in line with the other novel. It really surprised me in some ways, and I think it was a really good book. I liked that I did not agree with all the decision made in the book, I was happy with it none the less. All in all, I recommend it, especially if you read the first book in the series.

Plot:

How could it possibly be true? But it is true. As Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl on the milk carton, she was overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl, it was she...

With the mystery of her kidnapping now unraveled, Janie's story continues, and the nightmare is not over. No one can bring back or relive the twelve years gone by. The Spring family wants justice, but who is really to blame? The Johnson's know that they must abide by the decisions made, but it's difficult to figure out what's best for everyone.

Janie Johnson or Jennie Spring? Who is she? Certainly there's enough love for everyone, but how can the two separate families live happily ever after?

Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet

Title: Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet

Author: Kashmira Sheth

Pages: 243

Time took to read: 4 days

Cover Rating: 4/5

Plot Rating: 3/5

Character Rating: 3/5

Plot Rating: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

I liked this book, but I must admit, I had higher hopes for it. I really like to read about different cultures, especially the Indian culture. So I really liked the setting. The plot was pretty good. I also really liked the main character Jeeta. So what's not to like???? I did not like the open ending. It really never had a conclusion, which I don't mind sometimes, but I did not like it in this book. I did like however how the author made you at first not like the mother, and then she kind of grew on you.... All in all, I liked it, but it was not my favorite. I do recommend it, just not as highly as I do some.

Plot:

Jeeta's family is caught up in the whirlwind of arranging marriages for her two older sisters, but the drama and excitement leave Jeeta cold. She knows that tradition demands the parade of suitors, the marriage negotiations, the elaborate displays, the expensive wedding parties - but where is the love and romance that the movies promise? She dreads her turn on the matrimonial circuit, especially since Mummy is always complaining about how difficult it will be to find Jeeta a good husband, with her dark skin and sharp tongue. As Jeeta spends more time with her new friend from school, Sarina, and her educated, liberal parents, she begins to question her tradition-bound family's expectations. And when she falls in love with Sarina's cousin Neel, Jeeta realizes that she must strike a balance between independence and duty and follow her own path.