Under the Skin

Someday.  There's a place for us, and all that jazz (West Side Story).  But seriously, someday I will be caught up on my book reviews--in time for me to fall behind again.  That's how it works. In 1739, Jem has escaped slavery and made it to "freedom" granted by the Spanish at Fort Mose in Florida.  But as the British close in on Fort Mose, they begin to wonder whether this is what they were promised, or if they are just meat shields/resources to the Spanish.  As Jem learns about the idea of freedom, the ideal of freedom, family, and trust, history swirls around him. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I think I could have.  In a lot of ways, it felt like it was a Newbery-fisher.  You probably know what I mean by that.  They were trying very, very hard to win a Newbery award, but in the end, it would have been more worthy of a Newbery if the author hadn't wanted one quite as bad.  The symbols felt manufactured rather than natural, ...

Another book review.  Why not?  I have to make sure that I am reviewing them at least as fast as I read them...failing at that, but you get the gist. Floss (Flora) lives with her mother, stepfather and younger half-brother.  But she lives for the weekends, when she gets to be with her father and help at his greasy-spoon cafe.  But now her stepfather has a job assignment in Australia. It's not permanent, but she can't bring her dad with.  So, Floss makes a decision.  She's going to stay with her dad.  Her mother isn't keen on the idea, but eventually comes around.  The adventures start as her father, a doting father, but irresponsible, and never having really grown up, tries to make a home for her. This was a cute little read, but doesn't really leave me with much.  Kind of like the name implies. It was fun to have the British author not try to Americanize anything, and instead explained British-isms in the story itself and have a glossa...

“You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves." My list of books that need reviewing has, once again, become completely unmanageable.  Therefore, let the mass of book reviews (once again) begin.  It's almost there.  I have almost read every John Green book ever written.  Really.  All I have left is Will Grayson, Will Grayson .  Scratch that, he wrote something with some other person called Let it Snow , and some silly humor series called Zombicorns that he wrote for charity.  Okay. I have almost read all of the solo-serious books by John Green.  And no matter what some may tell me, I like John Green books.  First, I must remind you all that I am a proponent of young adult novels that do not underestimate the intelligence and emotional maturity of teenagers.  And that is a huge reason why I like John Green.  Second, I think he's an engaging writer who has a way of touching human emotions with...