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THINGS WE CANNOT KEEP by Amanda Cox GREEN LIGHT AGE: 9TH GRADE - ADULT Things We Cannot Keep is the newest release from Christian author Amanda Cox. Those of you who participate in BOOK CLUB will recognize her name as the author of the wonderful book we read not too long ago, The Edge of Belonging. A couple of Christmases ago, I came across the wonderful, and often times moving, British TV show, The Repair Shop. Dedicated to restoring people's broken heirlooms, there is always a story that goes with the item that is being repaired. Things We Cannot Keep makes readers feel as if they've stepped directly into the heart of that show. Tess Holcomb has made her way in the repair shop world. What her customers and employees don't know is that Tess Holcomb has a secret. It begins with the fact that her name isn't even Tess Holcomb. Many years ago, she ran away from home and tried to bury all the memories that went along it. When a mysterious package arrives at the repair shop addressed to Tess Baker, there's some serious and uncomfortable explaining to do. Opening it up, she finds an unfamiliar item with mysterious instructions. At first, Tess chooses to ignore the package and go on with her life, but then someone from her past shows up at the shop - someone whose memory she thought she left behind in that little podunk town she grew up in. Now that everyone knows exactly what is going on, ignoring the situation isn't an option. Instead, she's going to have to solve the mystery of the sent item and figure out what exactly it has to do with her. I have to admit, when I first started the book, I was a little disappointed to find it matched The Repair Shop so closely. However, once the story got a few chapters in, I was pretty hooked. Highly recommend! HEADS UP - Readers learn about an affair that happened in the past with no intimate details. There are references to abuse and neglect. No gory or gruesome details.

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi While these chapters do begin to give us a few reveals about Theo, they also continue to build the mystery. But it wasn't so much these components that caused me to stop and think in this week's chapters. It was the topic of what is truly valuable and what is just static noise in our world today. CHAPTER 46 What do we learn about Theo in this chapter? We learn that he only truly loved one woman in his life, and it wasn't his wife. We knew bits and pieces of this through some of the past chapters. This time, Theo actually spends a moment talking about it with Tony. We learn it lasted less than a year, and that she left. The quote Theo shares with Tony is worth spending a few minutes on. "A man who loves all women loves no woman. A man who loves only one woman loves all women." What are your thoughts on that? Flushing that out a bit, it's easy to understand that a man who can't keep his eyes off all women isn't going to have a significant relationship with a woman in his life. Who wants to feel like they're always in competition for whomever walks by that man? Can a world of trust. care, and security be built on such a roving foundation? The answer is definitely no. However, the man who loves one woman learns to respect women as a whole, not only in how he treats them, but how he views them. They aren't his playing field. Many of them are committed to someone else and off limits. He knows that and respects it. Closure to the Clarise portrait, the former girlfriend of Cleve. Do you remember him? The only person that destroyed a portrait. The only scene where we have seen Theo lose his temper. Thankfully, Mia is no longer with him. She escaped his clutches. In a moving moment. Mia requests that Theo destroy the portrait, and he does. Mia is no longer the woman in that portrait. Do you remember the description of her face in the chapter about her portrait? It was beautiful, "magazine worthy," but it held "sadness." It had clearly suffered "loss." I'm wondering if that loss was the loss of herself within that relationship. That girl is gone. CHAPTER 47 What do we learn about Theo? We learn some of the ways he has celebrated Thanksgiving in the past. I was moved to see how despite his loses in life, he is a man who still celebrates in meaningful ways. I had to smile as I read this chapter. I was eating pumpkin gouda cheese with crackers, and I felt immediately transported into the heart of fall. The mention of "ghosts" was interesting. Typically, when people mention ghosts they're associated with things that are from their past, their memories. This whole event is going to be a door that cracks this mystery open a bit more. I abolutely loved the description of the leaves in this chapter. The referece to the Gingkgo trees shining as bright as Shekinah Glory, I find myself wondering if that means God is blessing this whole endeavor of Theo's with His presence? A sort of sacredness to what he is trying to accomplish? CHAPTER 48 What do we learn about Theo? We learn that he is not above confronting someone and making them squim about the useless things they spout out of their mouth. We also see the attention he gives to 3 portraits of Asher's mom that show her at 25, 50, and 75 - the aging and changing of a life. There's something more here. There is a lot we could cover in this chapter, but I mainly want to focus on the juxtaposed scenes of before Pearce arrives and after he arrives. Before Pearce arrives, we have a scene worthy of a Hallmark movie = the food, the friends and family, the atmosphere, the house. Then Pearce arrives, and it's as if a tornado comes through and destroys everything that is beautiful and valuable. He is as self-centered as they come. He is a constant, crass interruption, and he ruins everything that is trying to be celebrated and enjoyed. I could feel myself tense at his abrasive nature just reading the chapter, and I couldn't wait for him to leave. Theo is of the older generation that doesn't shy away from speaking directly into what they are seeing. You gotta love the older generation. I remember watching my grandfather do this in his later years. There is a realization that time is valuable, that it comes to an end, and that often times people chase folly in their lives. What a fool Pearce is! But how often do we value the same type of things that he is saying? How many times do we value money over service to others? Once upon a time missionaries were more plentiful and the common man lived to make the world a better place for others. It wasn't this "I'm gettin' mine" mentality. I fear that we are moving at such a fast pace in life that we aren't really thinking about what we are dedicating our time and energy to and what that end picture looks like. We all breathe a sigh of relief when Pearce leaves, but guess what? Pearce needs saving as much as the rest of the world does. CHAPTER 49/50 What do learn in this chapter about Theo? His thoughtfulness extending to the point of the gifts he chooses for each of his friends. Theo is in New York attending to "business." Wonder what type of business that is? I still feel like we have a health crisis going on. Don't you love how Mrs. Gidley gets roped into the "Santa's Elf" roll? I had to laugh at that idea. Mrs. Gidley has come to appreciate what Theo is doing with the portraits, and Theo knows it. That's why he commissions one for her. Oh my! What a moment to think about. Last part I'm going to talk about is the letter to Asher and the emphasis put on lthe importance of looking into a newborn baby's face - drinking each other in. There's something deeper that Theo is alluding to behind these words. I just know it. Thoughts? Comments? I'd love to hear them!

SEED BY SEED By Esme Raji Codell. Illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins. As we step a little deeper into September, it's time to start thinking about apples and books about apples. Seed by Seed is a beautifully illustrated picture book that talks about the life of Johnny Appleseed, but it's one that's got me thinking as it mentions his religious beliefs.. The story tells that he loved books, "especially books by a religious man named Emanuel Swedenborg who preached love, tolerance, and faith." Those words have become such overused buzzwords that they've just about lost their meaning in today's world, so I've begun to dig a little. I haven't gotten very far yet, and I won't go super deep, but I am curious about Johnny Appleseed's faith. There is one element of this book that does bother me. In the Author's Notes at the end of the book, Codell mentions the Swedenborgian hymn, "The Lord is Good to Me," that is thought to have been one that Johnny Appleseed sang in his travels. She writes that you can replace the word " 'Lord' with 'World' or 'Earth' to taste' in the song. If we're going to respect Johnny Appleseed and what he accomplished, then lets attribute to him what was probably the greatest reason he did what he did in his life, his faith - not the world or the earth. I'll include part of the hymn at the conclusion of this review. Oh, the Lord is good to me, And so I thank the Lord For giving me the things I need; The sun and the rain and the appleseed. The Lord is good to me! Amen!

THE ESCAPE GAME by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss YELLOW LIGHT WITH CAUTION AGES: YA - NA (Young Adult - New Adult) Escape rooms, reality TV, and murder make up the foundation for Marissa Meyer's newest book, The Escape Game. Chock full of twists and turns at every moment, The Escape Game is a thrilling read to navigate. However, there are some serious pitfalls to be aware of. It's Season Four of The Escape Game show, and the teams are assembled to compete for the ultimate prize of one million dollars plus a trip to Sweetbriar Resort, an escape room gamer's paradise. But these players are entering the game with an ominous leftover from Season Three, the unsolved murder of Alicia Angelos, one of the contestants. Not everyone playing the game is doing so with the prize in mind. Some are there to figure out what really happened. Following the stories of four main characters on Team Helsing (named after the main hunter in Bram Stoker's Dracula), readers get to experience everything from the escape rooms to the struggling team's dynamics as four very different personalities collide together on screen for the world to watch. Carter Kelly, an unbelievable math whiz who's an introvert living behind her hit, social media avatar, Kick It Carter. Beck Matheson already spends time designing escape rooms at home. Beck hopes to one day be the Game Master on The Escape Game. Adi is desperately trying to make his own way in life. Desiring to get away from his embarrassing mom, a former movie star that's trying to claw her way to the top again, he looks forward to finding a way out. Sierra Angelos is the sister of murdered Alicia Angelos. Prime suspect in her sister's murder, she's here to figure out what really happened and clear her name. Clearly, there are more than just puzzles waiting to be solved.. There will be a sequel. HEADS UP - There is no doubt that The Escape Room has a dark overhang to it that lends a bit of a modern gothic/thriller feel to the story. -There is a decent amount of language including f-bombs. -An affair is going on, but there are no intimate details given. -Beck is a homeschooled, trans kid. Mentioned once or twice in the story, there's not a lot of focus given to the subject, but it is present.

DAUGHTERS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON by Lisa See YELLOW LIGHT WITH CAUTION AGES: ADULT Daughters of the Sun and the Moon is being added to my SARAH'S FAVORITES BOOKLIST. Despite some intense content, this historical fiction read exposes troubling events in history surrounding Chinese women, and it treats the content with as much dignity and respect as possible. Lisa See continues to bring readers meaningful and moving reads that focus on the abuse endured by women within the Asian culture. They are not stories for the faint of heart, but neither should they go untold. Set in 1870 in Los Angeles (post Mexican-American War, but pre-Southern Pacific Railroad Days), three Chinese women arrive finding themselves in very restrictive lifestyles. Beautiful Dove is born into the family of an imperial scholar who never amounted to much. When the matchmaker presents an opportunity for her to be sent to Los Angeles as a second wife to an important man that will use her as an arm ornament, her family jumps at the offer. Desiring love, she finds herself instead constantly put on display as a reminder to everyone of her husband's status and wealth. Petal is one of many mouths to feed in a peasant family. Considered worthless, she is sold by her parents. Thinking she is going to Los Angeles to be a bride, Petal devastatingly finds out she's been sold into prostitution instead. Moon is an educated woman as the daughter of a doctor. Unable to practice on her own, she marries a young doctor who studied under her father. She spends her days wondering if her marriage was one of convenience due to her skills or one of love. As readers, we come to know each of these three women well and what their lives look like day in and day out. Each woman has longings of what she thought life would be that are buried underneath a mountain of expectation. That is until the Night of Horrors, a true event in Los Angeles history, happens. During the Night of Horrors, the anti-Chinese sentiment comes to a brutal climax, and all three women are changed forever because of it. Overall, I found this book to be a very stirring read. Before I dive into the HEADS UP section of this book, I'm going to take a moment to compare this book to another popular novel on the market right now, The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. In my personal opinion, I would hands down read Daughters of the Sun and Moon over The Calamity Club. Both books deal with prostitution, so what makes one different from the other? It really boils down to a couple of things for me. First, in Daughters of the Sun and Moon, the women involved in prostitution do not do so willingly. They have been sold or forced into it amounting to a form of slavery. The Calamity Club is more about choice not force in becoming a prostitute. (One of the prostitutes is trying to get her daughter back, so there is still some heartfelt emotion in the book.) Second, the overall feeling of The Calamity Club is one of continual crassness -the dress, the language, the lifestyle, etc. Daughter of the Sun and Moon is definitely more refined. HEADS UP - Prostitution is a big topic in this book. While you do go into the bedrooms sometimes with the girls, it's in the conversation that happens not in the sexual acts. Rape occurs but with little detail. There is a very small amount of language, no f-bombs.

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi I'm not going to comment as much as I typically do on the reading this week. A lot of this week's focus is about Kendrick and Lamisha meeting Mr. Mendez, the man that caused the accident killing Lamisha's mother and seriously injuring Lamisha. We learn that Mr. Mendez is an illegal here in the US whose American-born daughter is suffering from cancer. His desire is to be close to his daughter as any father would want. We all know the topic of illegals is a hot-button right now, and it's not my desire to turn this book club into a political warzone. We each know how we stand on the issue, and while it is an extremely moving (and out-of-the-ordinary) happening, I'm going to leave it at that. We also deal with the hot-button topic of a broken legal system. Kendrick was arrested for something he "didden do," but he was too poor to hire a good lawyer and ended up in jail. Again. this is a subject that could potentially cause more disagreement then benefit, so I'm just going to leave it at that.. I think the thing to take away from this part of the book is the truth pointed out that we rarely look in people's faces and really see each other. in today's world. I'm going to stretch this way beyond the boundaries of illegals and broken legal systems to say we are all guilty of this. Often times, we are too engrossed in our phones or too busy with our overpacked schedules to take the extra moment it requires, and we're suffering as a society because of it. There's two more things I want to mention for these chapters. The first is that at the beginning of Chapter 41, we have this focus on Theo's physical state. He grips the handrail tightly going down the steps. When he is startled, it takes him what I would consider longer than usual to catch his breath. I may be completely blowing this out of proportion, but I continue to think that Theo is dying. The river also catches my attention. Originally, I thought maybe we had a metaphorical connection between the river and Theo when I read this chapter, but there are comparisons and contrasts between the two of them. For example, both have hidden things under the surface (a comparison), but the river is deathless, and Theo is not. You can go through each point made and compare or contrast them. The last part to talk about is Theo's celebration of Tony. Theo's gift to Tony of the port wine is a revealing of a bit of himself. The beauty of the culture that Theo grew up in caused him to be aware of how the littlest things change everything. Detail is important. From this heartfelt story, Tony shares another piece of himself, the story of his best friend Bobbo. I really find myself asking how one man can endure so much pain, and the truth is many couldn't. They came home and were never able to speak about what happened to them. Bobbo's sharing of his faith with Tony made him hope when Bobbo died that maybe there was an "end with a future." Almost oxymoronic, isn't it? But oh the truth that resides in that statement! Now, Tony has the little New Testament that bears the scars of that time. He hasn't bought into the idea of Christianity, yet. He's still wrestling with his demons. I'm hoping for Tony there's an "end with a future" coming. Thoughts? I'd love to hear them!

THE LEGEND OF THE LAST LIBRARY by Frank L. Cole GREEN LIGHT AGES: 5TH -8TH GRADE I love being pleasantly surprised by a book, and The Legend of the Last Library did just that! Oh by the way, this book is squeaky clean!! Woohoo!! Juniper "Juni" Knox lives in a world of scavenging, electricity shortages, and no paper of any kind. Novexus made sure of that when they destroyed all books in known existence to induce a reliance on their deceptive and controlling technology. However, a legend exists about a library containing millions of volumes, each worth more than their weight in gold, hidden away somewhere underneath the city. When a series of strange clues about the mysterious library surface, Juni finds herself on the same hunt that cost her parents their lives years ago. That's not where the secrets end, though. Twists and turns in this book will have readers feeling as if they are on a hunt worthy of Indiana Jones or National Treasure with the pursuit of knowledge and imagination as the truly priceless prize. To top the fun of this book off, The Legend of the Last Library is filled with references to lots of well-known books.

12 TRUTHS EVERY TEEN CAN TRUST by Paul David Tripp In a world that glorifies the idea of relative truth, Paul David Tripp comes along with a book laying out 12 TRUTHS (with a capital "T") that every person can rest on according to Biblical scripture. The caption on the cover really nails it - "Core Beliefs of the Christian Faith That Will Change Your Life." That's what real truth does. It gives us a foundation to stand on and begin to build our lives off of. A relative truth foundation is one that often consists of shifting sand always changing as the elements of life strike. Topics include God, God's Holiness, God's Sovereignty, Sin, Justification, Sanctification, and 6 more. Each topic begins with a defining doctrinal statement that is clearly laid out, followed by a list of scriptures, and concluded with a "Why it Matters" paragraph to solidify the importance of the topic. Then, there are 7 days of short devotionals about the topic with a scripture reference and a reflection question. It's well done and can foster deep thought and discussion as teens wrestle with owning their faith in today's world. 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust will definitely be finding its way into either our family devotions or my teens' personal Bible times. This is worth checking out!

BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD by Toshikazu Kawaguchi GREEN LIGHT AGE: ADULT I enjoy it when a friend finishes a book and sends it my way to read. Such is the case with Before the Coffee Gets Cold. There are rules about going back in time in the small, out-of-the-way coffee shop. There is only one chair where it works, and you must remain seated in it the whole time; you can't change the future; you can only meet people that have been to the coffee shop; and you must return to the present before your cup of coffee becomes cold. So, with those rules in mind, is there really any point in going back in time at all? Most definitely. Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a moving set of stories about a handful of people that step inside a small, Japanese coffee shop looking for resolution to their relationships and lives. Divided into 4 vignettes, it becomes the perfect book for short-sitting, reading accomplishments or as a quick story to close the day out with before you fall asleep. Originally written in Japanese and later translated into English because of its popularity, these stories tend to be emotional, so if you are prone to tears, have a tissue nearby. HEADS UP - A light spattering of language. No f-bombs. There is a ghost in the book who occupies the needed chair in the coffee shop. She isn't spooky, she more provides a bit of an atmosphere signifying that the people who choose to time travel back are stepping into a mysterious experience.

MASTERS OF THE GAME by Sam Smith and Phil Jackson YELLOW LIGHT AGES: 9TH GRADE - ADULT I recently finished this as a read aloud for my basketball-loving, teenage son. Now, before you click over to Amazon and drop it in your cart, make sure you check out the "Heads Up" section, because there is a bit to be aware of. Sam Smith, former writer for 29 years at the Chicago Times, and Phil Jackson, best known for his role as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and the LA Lakers, team up together to share the journey of the NBA through the scope of 75 legendary players. Beginning with George Mikan and ending with Giannis Antetokounmpo, this book tracks the major changes the NBA has seen over the years from the underhand foul shots to the addition of the three point line to the first black players to the addition of recruiting players from other countries to dunking to the change in focus of the game based on players strengths and so much more! Overall, it's really an interesting read. Each player has an opening section about him - what skills he was known for, teams played for, accomplishments, injuries, awards, etc. Then it goes into a back and forth dialogue between Sam and Phil. We really liked the opening section about the players and enjoyed learning about them. The discussion section was hit or miss for us. Sometimes the discussion began about the player, but then launched into a reminiscing time of other things going on at that time. My one improvement for the book would be to keep the dialogue focused more on the actual player. We would have loved to have more personal thoughts and experiences about the player that would have helped us "get to know him" better especially the ones that were from before our time. Despite this, my son enjoyed the book, and when I asked him if it should go on the shelf or in the giveaway pile, he emphatically responded, "Shelf!" HEADS UP - The one thing to note is that there is a bit of language in the dialogue portion. It's not heavy, but it does include a few f-bombs to navigate. When I encountered them reading aloud, I "bleeped" them out.

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi This week's chapters caught me a bit by surprise. I found myself reacting internally with a "wow" response versus the ongoing one of sadness or wondering where a part was leading. Allen Levi is a master at keeping us coming back for more by letting us feel intense emotions, but constantly changing them up, so we don't drown in the depths of them. CHAPTER 36 - What did we learn about Theo in this chapter? A couple of points we've already considered continue to be verified. Theo is a master at friendships. He and Mr. Ponder have a very special one. More about that in a moment. He has won over Mrs. Gridley. She does still have some lingering questions, but she's been swept away in the magic of his quest. More about that in a moment! Despite all of this, Levi leaves this chapter dangling a bit with the statement about both of them being "unwitting apprentices." Is Theo's mission one of doom or blessing at the core? We don't know the answer to that yet! Let's talk a minute about the friendship between Mr. Ponder and Theo. I get it. I really get it! Friends can come in a variety of ages that can be a real blessing, but I think we all appreciate having a friend that relates to us in age, intelligence, and interests. Would you agree? You can share your whole life with that person, because they really understand you. That's what we have between Theo and Mr. Ponder. Mrs. Gidley - We have to say a few words about her! I knew she would be sneaking through the files looking for info on Theo! She doesn't find anything, and she knows that sometimes there were clients that were "off the books." Hmmmm, I'll bet that has you wondering as much as it does me! BUT she's bought into this whole purpose of Theo's, and it's changed both Mr. Ponder and Mrs. Gidley for the better. There's life and energy flowing through those offices now. There's joy! It isn't "business as usual' with clients in and clients out. I really loved how this quote sums up the change, " Theo's creative generosity was a welcome disruption to business as usual." How are you and I adding creative generosity in to disrupt the mundaneness of life for others? CHAPTER 37 We learned in this chapter that Theo has a formidable temper when certain circumstances happen. I've got to mention the genius of the names that Allen Levi chooses sometimes for his characters - in this case, Cleave Torber. As soon as I read his name, my brain immediately went to "cleaver," and that's kind of what popped out in this encounter! The jealous boyfriend - the one who thinks he is acting out of protection for his girlfriend but is really acting out of a desire to control her. All I could hope as the scene unfolded was that Clarise was okay and not hiding away in a house, nursing bruises from the latest beating. We get an allusion to this possibility by the picture of Cleave stomping his boot print across the destroyed portrait leaving a mark "like a bruise." The erupting temper that doesn't listen to reasonable explanation, we've all seen it, and it's destructive. Then, a new side of Theo emerges. One that rises up in fury. One that is a righteous anger based on the destruction of a purpose and property. However, it does leave us a bit shocked at how fast and how furious the hurricane of emotions blew in, and it leaves us wondering if this temper has shown up in any other times or places in Theo's life. Derrick Prentiss, Minette's husband and an employee of the DA's office who recognizes Cleave, steps in. He's dealt with him before which tells us about Cleave's criminal record. He instructs him to move on. Then, he turns to Theo and warns him about the danger of people who won't understand or care about what he's trying to do. Foreshadowing? Time will tell. CHAPTER 38 What do we learn about Theo in this chapter? We have a confirmation of his ongoing care for people, and we see how people experiencing his generosity now have a common ground to come together. There's a cool interaction between Simone and Kendrick involving music. I really liked this chapter. Through the course of their discussion, they figure out that they have a common friend in Theo. I think it's going to be a lot of fun to watch different threads from the story cross and bring people together with Theo at the heart of those crossings. CHAPTER 39 What do we learn about Theo in this chapter? He will not be thwarted from his goal or moved from where he is trying to work! We never really learn anything about Lena in this chapter. Instead, we have a run-in with a very rude man who isn't paying attention to what is going on around him. How many times do we run into people like this? How many times do we behave like this man? Theo slides over next to him and begins humming to get his attention. I had to chuckle at this choice of intervention. But who is this rude man? He is none other than Minnette's dad/Asher's brother. Something tells me, we'll meet him again. CHAPTER 40 This is the chapter that really got to me. Ellen's planned afternoon for Theo. What do we learn in this chapter? We learn the true depth of kindness that Theo has. How many of us would go on an excursion with a homeless, mentally-struggling woman? How many of us would share a peach without wondering where it came from or where it's been that she packed? I probably had a continuous smile on my face as I read and imagined their time together. The true beauty and joy that washes over us as Ellen shares all of her special spots with Theo is borderline baptizing in nature. The theme of birds comes back into the picture again as she shows him all of their nests hidden away with baby birds in them. The whole thing is Ellen's best gift, her best offering given in trust and gratitude to Theo. It is so incredible moving! Then, the featherwood! I think I laughed outloud at the hatbird. Ellen is still Ellen, and we love her for it!

OH, CARROTS! by Mariajo Ilustrajo As garden harvest time is in full swing, I have a picture book for you today that some of you will find humorous and endearing, and some will find silly and skip. Oh, Carrots! is the story of a rabbit who is lonely. He does everything by himself. One day, he goes out to the garden to harvest his first carrot and ends up with an unexpected friend! When he pulls the carrot out, it's alive and ready to experience the world. That's a far cry from the normal life the rabbit lives. At first, the rabbit tries to get rid of the carrot, but then he begins to realize how much he really enjoys having it around. The following spring, together they sow an entire garden of veggies and harvest a whole crop of friends. Overall, the story is fun and can be applied to real life friendships with people that cause us to step outside our comfort zones a bit. The big thing I plan to do with this book is use it in my writing class this year. The ultimate question I found myself asking when I closed the cover was, what exactly is this rabbit going to eat now that all the veggies are his friends? I can't wait to read their endings!