The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

I loved Andy Andrews' new book The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters. This book illustrates that point in such a beautiful way. I think everyone needs reminding that each decision we make affects others and could impact the world for years to come.

This short book is an easy read. I think I read it in less than an hour. But the truths contained in this small book will stay with me for life.

I think this book could be especially impactful to young people ages 10 and up. I am going to require my 5th/6th Literature class to read this book this year. As I think all of us have this desire deep inside us to impact and change the world for the better. This book illustrates how choosing to do the right thing can have far reaching consequences. And that each person's life matters.

I highly recommend this book. This book spoke to me in a very personal way, as I felt God speak to me through other people on two occasions, that I was like a butterfly to God. I understood this to mean that I was changing and becoming something new. But through this book I am challenged to see the "butterfly" in a different way. That the butterfly is more than me just changing, but that through my life I can start a chain reaction to change the world.

I received an advance copy of this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

I came across a delightful blog a few months ago. Grace Lin is an children's book author and illustrator. Her newest chapter book, Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, won the Newberry Honor Award this year. Grace Lin's blog post on the Newberry Banquet was delightful to read. How fascinating it was to read about her experience receiving her award.

Minli spends her days working hard in the fields with her parents. They are poor and Minli decides she will go on a journey and find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. Minli encounters people and creatures, including a dragon, who help her on her way.

Where The Mountain Meets The Moon is a masterpiece from Grace Lin. The story, the writing, the stories within the story, the art work, even the font used in the book all show such amazing attention to detail. I understand why this book was given the Newberry Honor.

I feel like I need to read this book again to glean the truths that it contains. The book explores making wise choices, treating people right, doing good, and putting others before yourself. This book also explores the theme of contentment and how to go on when life disappoints.

Please read this book, you will so enjoy getting to know Minli and discovering where her journey takes her.

New CF books from the library

I love my library. I keep requesting books and they keep ordering them for me. Last week three new books were waiting for me. All three were great reads!


First is Limelight by Melody Carlson. Claudette Fiore used to be beautiful and somebody in Hollywood. Now she is old, poor, and alone. She thinks her life is over, but returning to her hometown and the house she grew up in, she learns about what is really important in life. I so enjoyed this book! It is well written and life affirming.

Next is Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh. Tamara Leigh's books are Christian chick lit, with thought provoking deeper issues included. Splitting Harriet was a fun read. I especially appreciated the depiction of the inner workings of a church that are spot on. Harriet is a pastor's daughter who rebelled in her life but has since returned to the church and works part time as the Women's Ministry Director. Her Dad retires and his new replacement at the church wants to change things and brings in a consultant to bring new life to their church. Harriet does not want anything to change. She bumps heads with the consultant, but ultimately learns much about herself, forgiveness, grace, and freedom in Christ. Highly recommended!

Last is Women's Intuition by Lisa Samson. I LOVE Lisa Samson. Her book Embrace Me is one of my all time favorite books. Women's Intuition was written in 2002, so it is not one of her new ones. I loved Women's Intuition, too! It is the story of a grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter, and a housekeeper. You will have to read the book to find out more. There is something about Lisa Samson's books that just make me happy to be alive. I so enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of Lisa Samson's books.

Wanted: Perfect Parents

I purchased Wanted: Perfect Parents by John Himmelman from a garage sale for 10 cents. It has quickly become one of Luke's favorite books. We have read it so many times. Gregory's parents see a sign on his bedroom door that reads Wanted: Perfect Parents. They ask Gregory what the sign is about and he tells them he is looking for perfect parents. He then describes to his parents what "perfect parents" would let him do. The perfect parents would never make him clean his room, would let him have every kind of ice cream at once, would let him flood the bathroom with water and swim with sharks, would buy him a pet elephant, and more. The illustrations are so much fun. Of course the book ends well with Gregory understanding the parents he has are perfect for him.

In the book the "perfect parents" let Gregory do whatever he can imagine. I think that is why Luke enjoys the book. Luke has already told me he wants to do some of the things Gregory imagines. I enjoy the book as well and especially love reading it with Luke!

Screen Play by Chris Coppernoll

Screen Play is a new Christian fiction book by Chris Coppernoll. I had never heard of this author before but what caught my eye is that he is married to Christa Parrish, who is a phenomenal author.



Screen Play was good and an entertaining read, but I can't say that I loved it. I think what I didn't like about it was that it seemed too much like a fairy tale. Everything worked out so well for the main character and real life just isn't like that. Also, a situation at the end involving a rescue just seemed silly and not necessary to the overall story.

Seesaw Girl by Linda Sue Park

After reading A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park I set out to read more books by this author. I found Seesaw Girl from the library and enjoyed it!

The story, set in 17th Century Korea, introduces us to Jade, a girl who wants to experience the world around her. But as a girl, as was the custom, she is not allowed to step beyond the walls of her family compound. At first Jade seemed somewhat silly and the pranks she pulled seem a bit much. But she matures and even though her circumstances don't change (she still is not allowed to go beyond her family compound) her outlook does. I love the line on the last page where Jade says, "It's not enough. But I will learn to make it enough."

Seesaw Girl is a wonderful children's book with themes of family and contentment that speak to all ages.

Book List

Starting in August, at the Homeschool Co-op we attend, I am teaching K and 1st grade Literature and 5th/6th grade Literature. 5th and 6th grade are combined with 17 students. We will have class once a week and they will have assigned reading during the week. Our focus for the year is the Middle Ages/ Medieval time period. Since I am teaching, I get to choose the books. Yay! I have read and read and read trying to find the best books to use for the year. All of these books I love and I hope the students love them too.

Here are the books I have chosen:
5th/6th Grade Book List

I am so excited for this class. Such great books. I can't wait!

The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech

I will be teaching Literature for 5th/6th grade in the fall. To prepare I have been reading and reading so many excellent books. One author I have fallen in love with is Sharon Creech. Her books are so good and deep. I have read four of her books so far and each one is a treasure. I have just started Walk Two Moons. My mom, the librarian, recommended Walk Two Moons to me three years ago, and she even lent me the book. But did I listen to her expert advice and read it? It has only taken me three years to start Walk Two Moons.

But on to The Unfinished Angel. It is a brilliant little book. Oh what an amazing writer Sharon Creech is. This book is told from an angel's perspective. Somehow Ms. Creech captures the angel's voice and makes this angel so charming. The combination of the angel's confusion over which words to use and her imperfect English only add to the charm. The angel is unsure of herself and wonders if she is a fulfilling her angel duties as well as other angels. She meets a girl and together they transform a town.

Be careful where you read this book. I read it during the boys' swimming lessons. After reading the chapter titled "The Nature of Papas" I had tears running down my face because it was so moving. I had to keep wiping my face. Who knows what the other parents thought of me?

Please, please read this book. It will be in the children's section, but any age will enjoy this book.

Visit Sharon Creech's blog here.

Demon A Memoir by Tosca Lee

I finally read Demon A Memoir by Tosca Lee. I requested this book at the library and they ordered it for me. I love it when they do that! Anyways, I had heard nothing but praise for this book, and I had high expectations that I would be blown away by it and love it. Demon is well written and has some interesting parts but I just didn't love it. Tosca Lee definitely raises some interesting points. I had never really thought much about why Lucifer was thrown out of heaven. He just wanted to be equal with God right? This book showed Lucifer in a different light. In this book a demon visits an author and tells him the story of Lucifer and the author begins to write the story. But I wanted more than just the demon telling the story. Demon is essentially a love story of God's love for man. Overall a good book, I just didn't love it.

Dogwood by Chris Fabry

From the publisher:

Will returns to Dogwood intent on pursuing Karin, the only woman he has ever loved--only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. The secrets of Will and Karin's past emerge through a young boy who wishes he hadn''t survived the tragedy that knit those two together and then tore them apart.

Please right now go to the nearest bookstore and buy this book. Dogwood starts out a bit slow and kind of confusing as the chapters are told from different characters' point of view. But it picks up quickly. I had no idea where the book was going and how everything would be resolved. Chris Fabry is a master storyteller and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially waiting to find out the details of the events that lead up to Will being put in jail. The first big reveal at the end was shocking and brilliant. I was amazed at the author going there. The last chapter was beautiful. This book shocked me, brought me to tears, and revealed Jesus' love to me in a different way. I so enjoyed Dogwood. I am excited to read more books by Chris Fabry.