Can you Catch a Microbe Killer?

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

Another great teen historical fiction novel.  It's told in a series of journal entries including penned drawings. 

Prudence is an intelligent and curious teen living in the beginning of the twentieth century.  She has a mind for science and experience with death.  She is given the rare chance to work at a laboratory (as a secretary) where she gets pulled into a medical investigation of a deadly outbreak in New York City.  Prudence  gets to help track a killer.  But is it a person or a microbe to be considered the killer? 

I enjoyed the way this book was written.  I enjoyed the medical history and mystery included in the book.  It was wonderful to experience the growth Prudence goes through and the way she heals her heart.

This book won the 2011 National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.  It is a unique book to find for Young Adult readers.

Case for Christ for the Intellect

The Christ Connection: How the World Religions Prepared the Way for the Phenomenon of Christ by Roy Abraham Varghese

This was a good book.  Not exactly what I was expecting, but I'm glad I read it.  I thought it was going to be more about the connection other religions share with Christ than it was.  That was covered and it was very interesting, yet the majority of the book then branched from there and talked about evidence that points to the truth of Christ and His Resurrection.  Nearly every, if not all, proposed arguments against Christ was detailed and then logic/proof was given to refute each of the arguments.  The book is well researched and well written.  It is not a quick read and nor a book easily skimmed.  The reader needs to be invested in the book, which isn't a bad thing.

I do enjoy my nook, however, this is one book I wished I had not read on my nook.  I didn't realize there would be several tables in the book.  These were difficult to read and follow on my Simple Touch nook.  It was also difficult to refer back to things which I really wish I could have done more easily.

This is a very interesting book for those who want a serious read about the truth of Christ and His follower's claims, as well as for those who would like to have ready arguments for the scholarly atheists in their life.

Plan on an Interesting Read

unPLANNED by Abby Johnson

 This book is the story of Abby Johnson's experience volunteering at, working for, and running a large Planned Parenthood Clinic.  Her goal was to help young woman (and perhaps ease some of her own guilt).  People from Coalition for Life (founders of 40 Days for Life) are ever-present outside the fence of the clinic, so Abby has come to know them and they know her, but she also knows they don't understand what she really does or why it's important she does it.  But, eventually, Abby comes to know what it is she's truly doing and what it is those above her in the organization care about.  After helping in a procedure by performing an ultrasound, Abby realizes she shouldn't and can't keep doing her job at Planned Parenthood. Now what?  Abby Johnson has to make a difficult and important decision that will have a huge impact on the safety of her family--financially, physically and spiritually. 
Abby Johnson is very honest in her book, relating the path in her life that lead her to Planned Parenthood and then lead her away from there and home to the Coalition for Life offices.  Abby Johnson is also fair and compassionate; no one is presented as saint or villain.  I'm very glad I read this book.  I found it exteremely interesting to read about an insider's experience in Planned Parenthood.  I also think this book is good for everyone to read no matter where you stand on the abortion issue.  There are things everyone can learn from Abby's journey.

Is Being Brave Selfless? Is Being Selfish Brave?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

These are central questions for Beatrice as she decides which faction to belong to.  In an attempt to avoid more devastating war, five factions have formed: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).  These factions work together to govern and provide for the citizens of a dystopian Chicago.  At age 16, each citizen must decide which faction to chose.  Whether they will stay where they were raised or join a new faction is a major decision.  But making the decision guarantees nothing.  Each candidate must pass a rigorous trial to determine if they will be accepted into the faction or become factionless--a homeless untouchable.

Beatrice encounters new alliances and new emotions on the path she has chosen. She must also endure dangers, deceit, and death as the peace that has been found in this city begins to crumble.  What Beatrice thought she knew begins to disintegrate and her bravery will truly be tested. 

This suspenseful and intriguing trilogy should not be missed!!  The second book came out in May and I can't wait to read it.

More Books With Autistic Characters

As public awareness of autism increases, so does the number of books that include autistic characters. Here are a few with my accompanying opinions.

Rules by Cynthia Lord

I love this book so much.  It is the winner of a Newbery Honor Award among other awards. Catherine is a twelve-year-old girl with a brother, David, who has autism. Catherine has tried teaching David some rules so he doesn't embarrass her quite so much. They are also rules you have to follow when dealing with David or you'll have a breakdown on your hands. When Catherine meets a disabled boy her own age, the rules she's always followed may need to change. In the end, Catherine ends up making great choices for her brother and herself. This is a great look at the stress siblings of special-needs children have as well as the isolation many kids with disabilities face everyday.  Of all the books in this post, I feel this book as the most authentic autistic character.  That may be a difficult statement to back since the symptoms of autism are so variable, but that's my opinion.  This really hit home for me because of my children's experiences and especially how important Frog & Toad are to David, and my kids as well. Young or old, you need to read this book. It is so good.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko  

This book is also a Newbery Honor Award winner. And, it, too, deals with the stresses placed on a sibling of a child with autism-like symptoms and needs. This book is unique because this all takes place at Alcatraz in the 1930s! I read this years ago, so I don't remember a lot of it. I don't have the intense feelings about it I have for Rules but I do remember that I really liked it. Choldenko recently penned a sequel to this book (unfortunately I haven't read it) called Al Capone Shines My Shoes.  (Cover has been redone.  New cover is pictured.)

The London Eye Mystery by Siobahn Dowd

This book takes place in London.  Ted has autism.  Ted tries to relate all of life to weather.  Even the part of his life when his cousin disappears while on the London Eye.  A seeming impossibility.  Ted and his sister Kat who is butting heads with everybody in her family end up working together (not Kat's idea) to find their cousin.  I thought this book was okay.  Many adults and kids I know you have read the book really liked it...unique characters, mystery, foreign setting, but it didn't really grab me.  I felt like maybe it just didn't have enough to make it a teen book so they put it in the juvie section.  Why not read it and let me know your thoughts.  I have mixed feelings on this one, but I seem to be alone in that.

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

This was fun a book to read!  Evan is ending his school year, so you would think he'd be happy, but he's not.  His little sister, who's really smart but not so good with people, is going to be in the same class he's in next year.  The same class, same teacher, same classroom!  I think my boys would love this, they're used to it from home schooling, but Evan is dreading this.  Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to express this to his sister and she just doesn't get the subtle hints.  This and other misunderstandings lead to a contest between the two siblings to see who can sell the most lemonade.  It's war and it's on.  I really enjoyed the story but there's more to the book.  Each chapter has tips for running a business and there's even a bit of math in the book.  Besides some business help, I hope kids take away the idea that not sharing what you're feeling can really mess things up.  While Evan's sister, Jessie, is never referred to as autistic (and being smart but not good with people does not equal autism) I put this book in this post because many of her symptoms and problems the siblings face are similar to those with autism and/or autistic siblings.  I am so excited to read the two sequels: The Lemonade Crime and The Bell Bandit.  Book 2 deals with a theft that happens in the first book.  Each chapter gives the definition of a legal term.  Some say the second book isn't as good as the first, but if you read The Lemonade Wars you won't care what the critics say you'll want to read The Lemonade Crime.  The third book is about a Christmas visit the grandma's with a mystery to be solved.  There may be another character introduced who has autistic-like traits.

I haven't read this book yet, but I wanted to at least mention it in this post.  Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is a National Book Award winner about a fifth-grade girl with Asperger's syndrome.  Her brother has dies.  She's left confused without the person she normally turned to for guidance when the world wasn't black and white.

One more book, again unfortunately, I haven't read it, but I'll list it here as another opportunity to read about an autistic character.  Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin received a Schneider Family Book Award (like Rules) and is about a autistic boy who may have found someone online who understands him, unlike his neurotypical peers.

Not about autism, but about a child with special needs, Out of My Mind by prolific and award-winning author Sharon M. Draper, is about a girl with cerebral palsy.  Most people at her school don't realize her brilliance.  When she gets a chance to try to prove herself, she has to decide if it's worth the risk.  Another on my to-read list, but it sounds so good I didn't want to leave it out.

 too late at night to proof read, but I will fix any mistakes tomorrow

A Book to Inspire Us All

The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews   illustrated by Philip Hurst

I wish I had blogged about this book earlier.  It would make a wonderful graduation present.

This beautiful picture books starts out about the young boy Norman Borlaug, who grew up and helped feed millions of people with improved seeds and agricultural methods.  And so, he changed the world... but the book then introduces us to Henry Wallace, the vice president who gave Borlaug the task and encouragement to do what he did, so maybe it was really Henry Wallace who changed the world...but we are introduced to George Washington Carver, who encouraged Wallace as a young boy to study nature and plants, so really it was probably Carver who changed the world...except that when he was a boy, he was saved from kidnappers by Moses Carver.  So maybe it was really Moses Carver.  The book ties is all together and suggest that the reader can be the child who changes the world.  This true tale is very inspiring.  My children and I were all moved by the book, both it's story and illustrations.  And if this is of interest to you, Borlaug and Wallace of from Iowa, and George Washington Carver, met Wallace while studying at Iowa State University.

Curiosity Killed the Cat?

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

This is a really interesting book, especially if you know about autism.  Mark Haddon worked with people with autism and you can tell.  He is spot on with his main character and narrator, Christopher, an autistic 15-year-old.  Christopher is being raised by his father after his mother's death.  His teacher helps him navigate the world, but he is on his own when the killing of a neighbor's dog sets him on a search for the truth.  It's intended target is adults, but some teens may also be moved by the book.  It does contain rough language and hard realities that I wouldn't recommend for any of the teenagers I know, but perhaps others.

I think I mostly enjoyed this book because I deal with autism every day. I laughed and cried throughout the story. It is an interesting story, a short read, and definitely worth checking out.