When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

I did read this book last in the series like I was supposed to even though I read book 2 before book 1. I would recommend reading this series in order though, you get so much more respect for some of the different characters. You've just gotta read this series!

This is the 3rd book in the series, like I mentioned: the last. Hannah is just getting used to her life and actually starting to really appreciate it when she recieves a call from home, from Sarah, the sister she hadn't even missed. But everything at home is falling apart and it's because of something she started. She has to go back and patch things up. But will she ever truly be happy after seeing what she had done to her community?

This book was fabulous. It totally wrapped up the series. Throughout the entire series I rooted for different things to happen and in the end, nothing had gone how I had planned but I was very very very satisfied. I would recommend this book to like, EVERYONE! Probably over the age of 10, maybe even 12, but there is no such person as that of someone who is too old to read this book. It is timeless and amazing!

EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO IS READING THIS NEEDS TO GO READ THIS SERIES: Sisters of the Quilt!

I would rate this book a 9/10 because there were a lot of moments in the book that really frustrated me although that doesn't mean the writing or anything was bad, the book probably wouldn't be as good without them but I'm still grading it down because of them because they had made me super frustrated. The ending was super fabulous.

I would rate the entire series 10/10 because it was just fabulous and everyone should read it!

-Flounder

When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall

I just finished this book and I loved it. Looking at the bottom of the book I found that this is the second book in a series called Sisters of the Quilt. I didn't know that until then. I read this book without even knowing there was a first so that just shows that the author explained everything. Although after I read the first book, I think it would be better to read them in order.

This book is about Hannah Lapp who decides to run away from home. Her Old Order Amish community falls apart along with all her plans. This is the story of how she makes it in the Englishers world and how she finds love after her escape along with how things are doing in the community she came from in Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania.

I would recommend this to teenagers up because I don't believe that elementary school students should be reading about the more adult concepts such as rape. I know I made this book sound really dry and boring but it truly isn't. There's a lot of stuff going on for Hannah and her family back at home. Such as with her fiancee Paul, (Stereotypical question's start:) Will he ever get over her? And for an even bigger question, after Hannah's sister Sarah started going crazy, Matthew and Elle's relationship starts heading down a rough path and Luke and Mary trying to regain their relationship, will life in Owl's Perch ever be the same without Hannah? ...There, now it sounds a little more exciting. But I won't tell anybody answers and you're just going to have to read the book. (DO IT!!!!!!)

I would rate this book a 10/10 because I couldn't put it down. I wasn't really expecting the ending when it came but I liked it because it left it a ways open so you can decide for yourself how things turn out. Also the drama and life that went on couldn't have been any more well planned out.

READ THE BOOK FOLKS. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ AND I HAVE NO DOUBT I WILL READ IT MANY TIMES TO COME.

-Flounder

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall

This is the first book of an amazing series. I actually read this book after I had read the second book. I just had to read this after I had read the second book. This is a must-read series!

This book is about Hannah Lapp, an Old Order Amish girl, the oldest in her family. She becomes secretly engaged to a Mennonite man who has one more year of college until his graduation. They love each other and he has promised her that he will do whatever it takes to convince her father that he will take care of his daughter. But then the "Unmentionable" happens to Hannah. Around the same time, her brother and best friend get in a horse-and-buggy accident which leaves them in extensive care at the hospital. Hannah's life starts crashing down and this is her story.

I would recommend this book to more mature people because of some of the concepts. It has some broken romance. Also, it might make you cry because I certainly did.

I would rate this book 9.9/10 because I feel like it wasn't perfect, but it was still very amazing.

-Flounder

Eggs by Jerry Spinelli

I just read this book. I started it around 5 this after noon at finished around 7 so it' not too hard a read, it isn't teeny but it's not a week long book.

This is a book about a boy, David, who's only 9 years old. He's moved from Minnesota to live his grandmother who he's convinced he hates. His life has gone downhill. His mother has died. He refuses to follow any of his grandmother's rules. Instead, he follows every other rule that he could possibly think of in the hopes that his mother will come back to him. She died because someone had forgotten to put up the WET FLOOR! sign and she slipped and died. Since that person didn't follow a rule, he will try and follow all rules in hope to bring her back.He meets Primrose who hates her mother and doesn't have a father. They hate each other but are practically inseparable. An odd pair they make.

I have to say, I was the one in my family who my mom had bought this book for but I never really bothered reading it because I thought it looked boring. Now that I've actually read the book, it's not as bad as I had originally assumed. I would say I expected it to be really boring but then it wasn't and I even cried every few chapters.

I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a sweet, short book about a boy and a teenage girl.

I would rate this book 7.8/10 not because it was bad or anything like that at all. It's just that some of the things that happened were kind of weird or boring or something. I guess they made sense with what the author was trying to do but I still didn't exactly like some of the concepts. The ending was nice, I feel like it could have been a teensy bit better but that's okay.

-Flounder

Happy Late Mother's Day!

Hey guys, HAPPY LATE MOTHER'S DAY!
I hope you all did something special for your mother. They do a lot more than you may realize.
I realize now I didn't saying anything about Cinco de Mayo either so I guess I'm acknowledging that now.
Enjoy your lives!
-Flounder

When it Happens by Susane Colasanti

This was one of those sweet books about finding true love and how it can be in the least expected people.
I thought overall the book was pretty cute and good but it wasn't really the kind I like. Definitely only for mature people... The book was in the point of view of the main girl and boy character. It's kind of disappointing thinking that a boy's mind processes the way Colasanti makes it seem, but I think it's sadly correct.
Actually, the book goes by very fast and barely anything happened. I don't know why, but this really annoyed me. It fascinates me how an author can pull off tiny scenes for so long without making it seem dragged out and boring.
Well, like I said, I'd recommend this to older, mature teens. Also to people who like romances and believe true love is out there, you just have to go get it
And I'll rate this book a 6.7/10  I liked it, but it wasn't that great and some things just really bugged me.
~Mushu

My Mother The Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow

I read this book on a Wednesday because I stayed home sick still recovering from a fever. I have to say, some books I don't bother finishing but this one I did and that's really saying a lot.

This book was about a girl who lived with her mother who was, in fact, a cheerleader although not the type you would first assume. She was known as one of "The Cheerleaders" to the public world. "The Cheerleaders" was a group of women in the ninth ward of New Orleans who would stand outside the public school and shout insults at the one negro girl who was being sent to the "white" school as part of the acts of desegregation. This is the story of the girl, Louise, and her mother who work at an inn, Rooms on Desire, their home. And they have a very intriguing guest who influences their lives and will change them forever as well as the secrets that are revealed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction because that's exactly what it is. It sort of has some romance in it and is probably a girl book but practically all of the books I read are considering I am a girl. This book might be more appropriate for middle school students and up or maybe even older elementary students.

I would rate this book an 8.6/10 because it was very good and entertaining enough for me to read it the entire way through while wanting to find out what happens next. Although it is not a 10/10 because some of the details and things that happened could have been better. In my opinion, the ending was good for the story which I usually think of books unless they're really boring or bad books. That's all.

-Flounder

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

I read this book on Tuesday when I was sick and stayed home from school. I have to say that it's different from a lot of the books I read and review. This book was a Pura Belpré Award Winner, a Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner, a WIlla Catner Award Winner, an ALA Top Ten BEst Books for Young Adults, Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist and even more. So as you can see, this is a very good book.

This is a book about a girl name Esperanza who lives in Mexico with her mom, dad and Abuelita (grandmother) on their ranch. For reasons I won't tell you so as not to completely spoil the book, Esperanza and her mother have to escape Mexico with one of their servant's family and flee to California. This book is about Esperanza and her struggles adjusting to life on a Mexican labor camp.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about true issues and books about teenagers and struggles, not just about rich white girl troubles but about real people.

 Although this book won many awards, I would rate this book an 8.5/10 because I wasn't really very captured in the beginning of the book although once I got into it it started to get really good. Often times I was mad at Esperanza because she kept complaining and being rude although in her position I can understand how she would be very confused. Also, I got really attached to the character Miguel.

-Flounder