Friday Reads: Moon Over Manifest

A dear friend sent me this book in the mail.  For no reason.  Just because.  Now you know why she's a dear friend.  (Thank you, Wendy!)


Moon Over Manifest
by Claire Vanderpool

For: 8-12-year-olds

Genre: Historical fiction

Published: 2010

Description: Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.

Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”

Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

Why I liked it:  I really loved how the author weaved two different time periods together into one story.  The main story is set in the 1930's and is from the main character's point of view, but I the second time period during World War I was told through newsprint  and letters and stories from folks who'd lived through it.  But mostly I connected with the main character as she struggled to find herself by searching to find who her father really was and how the town of Manifest had molded him.    I felt her longing, and I wanted her to grow from the experience (which she did).  In my opinion this deserved the Newbery Medal (which it received in 2011).

Have any other historical fiction from either WWI or the 30s to share? Please do!  And happy weekend reading!

Friday Reads: Grave Mercy

I've been steering clear of YA lately, mostly because I'm trying to keep my MG* sensibility while I revise my current MG manuscript, but when I heard people mention Robin's newest book, I HAD to get a copy and read.  I'm a huge fan of her MG Theodosia series, but this YA is completely different.  And oh so good!


Grave Mercy
by Robin LaFevers

For: Teens

Genre: YA fantastical historical romantic adventure (aka hard to categorize, which is awesome)

Published: 2012

Description: Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Why I liked it: I am not a huge fan of anything dark, so I was a little nervous when I started this book, since it begins in a very dark place and promises more darkness throughout.  But this story is not about assassination and death and darkness as much as it is about Ismae coming to terms with herself and her past, and how she finds her own path forward.  And the romance in this book is real and deep and not gratuitous (which I appreciated immensely).  I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance with lots of intrigue.


Do you have any other suggestions for YA historical romance or historical adventure with a romantic twist?  Please share, because I am ready to read!

And happy weekend reading!

*Because someone always asks, MG stands for middle-grade, books written for 8-12-year-olds.

Introducing My "Friday Reads" Series (and the First Book: Luncheon of the Boating Party)

I read a lot.  (Obviously.)  I'm online a lot.  (Yep.)  I figure I should put the two together somehow, so today I'm announcing my new weekly series...Friday Reads.  I know, this is such a novel idea and everything...

I hope to spotlight one book I love each Friday.  I'm not a reviewer, nor do I ever want to be one, but I love to share books I love.  I tend to read mostly middle-grade (for the 8-12yo crowd), so this series may fall heavily in that direction, but I hope to mix it up with some YA and books for grownups, too.  Maybe even some great non-fiction, self-help and inspirational books, and the occasional picture book as well.  I'll pick from new releases and older books, classics and bestsellers, award-winners and those that never got a chance to shine, first-time reads to books I've read dozens of times.  And, yes, I will pick books from all genres, because I just so happen to read all genres (except horror and erotica, because that's just not how I roll).

Since I do love getting suggestions for more books to read, I'd love to have my readers (that's you guys) tell me about books similar to my Friday Reads.  If you know of one, please share!

FYI, not that you were asking, but I chose Friday so you'd have the weekend to read the book yourself (if you are so inclined), and then you can come back here and leave me a lovely long comment about how I choose the awesomest books on the planet and how you can't believe you ever got through the weekends without my book suggestions and how you plan on showering me with gifts....

Okay, fine.  The gifts are optional.

Anyway, since there's no time like the present, today's Friday Read is actually one I haven't read for a few years but I still think about it (that's how much I liked it).  And it's for adults, too, which seemed like the place I should probably start this series, since I am supposed to be one of those adult creatures:  

Luncheon of the Boating Party

by Susan Vreeland

For: Adults

Genre: Historical Fiction

Published: 2007

Description: With her richly textured novels, Susan Vreeland has offered pioneering portraits of artists' lives. Now, as she did in Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Vreeland once again focuses on a single painting: Auguste Renoir's instantly recognizable masterpiece, which depicts a gathering of Renoir's real friends enjoying a summer Sunday on a café terrace along the Seine. Narrated by Renoir and seven of the models, the novel illuminates the gusto, hedonism, and art of the era. With a gorgeous palette of vibrant, captivating characters, Vreeland paints their lives, loves, losses, and triumphs so vividly that the painting literally comes alive.... (The Boston Globe).

Why I liked it: I am a huge art history fan.  This book is art history come to life.  What more can I say?
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Do you know of any books similar to this?  A good historical fiction about art or artists?  Please share! And happy weekend reading!