LISA AND LOTTIE by Erich Kastner Did you know that Disney's The Parent Trap was based on a book published in 1949? As soon as I heard about it, I ordered a copy, and it's a fun one to wrap the summer up with. Lisa and Lottie is the story of twins separated at a very young age by their parents' divorce. Lisa lives in Vienna with her father and Lottie in Munich with her mother. Neither one knows that the other exists. When they come face to face with each other accidentally at a summer camp, they are shocked to learn about each other's existence. This may sound like the Disney movie, and the bones of the story are the same, but this story fleshes out a little bit differently. The European setting helps with that! This is a fun summer camp read that progresses into the school year.

EVERYWHERE, STILL by M.H. Clark. Illustrated by Claire Lemp Today I attended a funeral for a man that changed lives wherever he went. He made a difference in the world, and he will be missed tremendously. Stashed in my TBR pile was a picture book dealing with loss. I had planned to share about it in the fall, but today's the day. Everywhere, Still is a book that deals with losing a loved one either by death or a move that separates you by many miles. The book deals with how memories can make us smile and how sometimes they just hurt. It mentions how badly we wish the person back right next to us, but that the wishing doesn't work. Then there's all the love that we have inside for the person still, and even though the person is gone, the love knows where to go to find them. The one part that's going to be a bit debatable is the book tells us that the person gone sends their love back, and it rests in the heart of the little girl sharing the story. Overall, the book is a beautiful read that may help younger ones process thoughts and feelings when a loss or big move occurs.

CAMINO GHOSTS by John Grisham Dark Isle is an island located off the coast of Florida that has been uninhabited since 1955. For years it sat desolate and untouched until now. Tidal Breeze Corporation, a developer company that stops at nothing to get what they want, has turned their eyes on the deserted island deeming it the perfect location for their next casino. The only problem? An elderly woman named Lovely Jackson who claims that she is the sole owner of the island. She didn't come by this island by purchasing it. She claims to be the last survivor of a colony of escaped slaves that settled there over 300 years ago. There's no paperwork that can verify this claim. There's not even a birth certificate. However, she does know the dark secrets about the island's history, and they're all about to come to light. This book is a very interesting read. However, there are some things to be aware of. HEADS UP- There is a small amount of profanity. Without going into too much detail the island does have a voodoo curse surrounding it, and the book deals with the curse several times. We are following the stories of slaves and slave catchers so there is violence and death. The slave women are raped at a couple of different points. There is no graphic detail to this. You just know that it happens. There is also mention of a gay couple with no detail on their relationship.

THE ADVENTURES OF SOPHIE MOUSE: LOOKING FOR WINSTON by Poppy Green. Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell Younger siblings can be difficult to deal with especially when they want to follow you around everywhere. That's what Sophie Mouse experiences in Looking for Winston.  Sophie just wants some time with her friends to work on a project without little brother Winston hanging around, but he follows her anyway. When Sophie catches him, she immediately sends him back home. Later, as she and her friends are working, she realizes she actually needs his help. Arriving home, she finds he's not there and that he never made it back. Where could he be, and more importantly, is he okay? Sophie Mouse continues to be a very sweet series for young readers. The stories contain struggles that kids can relate to, but author Poppy Green is faithful to resolve them in a good, uplifting manner. This is a series that kids can read out of order. I tend to read the books as they pertain to the seasons. I have loved everyone of these books so far and highly recommend them!

AN ANGEL FOR SOLOMON SINGER by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Peter Catalanotto. Newberry winning author Cynthia Rylant brings us a very heartwarming story in the picture book An Angel for Solomon Singer. Solomon Singer is an elderly man who lives in a hotel for men in New York City. Everything about his surroundings makes him very unhappy, and he longs for his Indiana farm, boyhood days. At night, to get out of his room, he roams the noisy streets aimlessly. One night he happens upon a little cafe, a beacon of warm, yellow light in the midst of the chaos. That little cafe changes everything for Solomon. The welcoming smile of the waiter and the down-home styled food take him back to his younger years. Solomon Singer has found a piece of home even in New York City. This book delivers a very powerful message. We are surrounded today by lonely people. For this particular story, I'm going to focus on the elderly. The elderly are a very valuable part of life. It is upon their shoulders that we, as the next generation, stand today. I don't doubt for a minute that a man like Solomon Singer is full of wonderful stories that he would love to share with others if he only had the opportunity. Get to know the Solomon Singers around you. Even if they aren't full of stories, they are valuable just in who they are and deserve to be appreciated and listened to by the rest of us.

HEROES: LEGO BUILDERS CHANGING OUR WORLD - ONE BRICK AT A TIME by Graham E. Hancock After going to the bookstore the last time, I shared that I had picked up a few books to build either a class around or supplement our studies in our homeschool. This is my first share of those books. I'm going to start this post off by saying I have not read this book yet (the explanation for no green, yellow, or red light). I have a serious Lego loving teen in the house. He has been that way since the first day he could get his first two blocks to connect together. When I came across this book, I knew it needed to be a part of his STEM studies for the year. Heroes is a book that features 12 true stories where builders take Lego blocks and use them to solve a true life problem. One story showcases the creation of a prosthetic arm, another the creation of Braille bricks, still another the repair of a cracked box turtle's shell using Legos. The stories, at a glance, appear to be very engaging and should get the wheels turning that these "toys" have application possibilities that exceed play only. I expect that this book will be one of the highlights in our study this year.

THE DEAD SEA SQUIRRELS: MERLE OF NAZARETH by Mike Nawrocki The Dead Sea Squirrels continues to amaze me with each new story packed with truth and value. This is not a series that I would have picked up naturally on my own. Someone placed the first book in my hand, and I am so glad they did! Merle of Nazareth picks up where Whirly Squirrelies ends.( With that being said, you will want to read these books in order, because each book is a continuation from the one before.) After being kidnapped, our two favorite squirrels, Merle and Pearl, find themselves back in Israel. What makes this book so fun and different than the others is all the modern and historical info about Israel that is embedded into the story as the two squirrels travel around. Nawrocki does a fantastic job of keeping the story appealing while giving the reader a bit of education. As always, our two squirrels have some great lessons they learn along the way that young readers can relate to.

WINK by Rob Harrell Wink is one of those amazing books that I found really hard to put down, which is why it is on my TOP BOOKS OF 2024 LIST. The story is about a seventh grader named Ross Maloy who deals with a rare form of eye cancer. It is based on author Rob Harrell's true experiences which adds a level of genuineness to the story that can't come any other way but by experience. Ross is one of those typical kids that has been able to blend into the background of his school life so far. When he is diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer and undergoes treatments that dry out his eye and leave it constantly runny, make his hair fall out, and damage the sight in that eye, blending in is a thing of the past. Suddenly, he is the talk of the school from overwhelming sympathy to nasty cartoons someone is posting on social media. He just wants to go back to being "normal," but that is no longer an option, so it's time to find something that gives him an out. He turns to music and ends up forming a rock and roll band. Through that medium he is able to deal with the highs and the lows that the cancer is throwing his way. This book is a really great read and helps us realize the need that kids going through this have for understanding, but at the same time, as much normal as we can possibly give them. I highly recommend this book! HEADS UP- There are a couple items to discuss. First there is a little bit of junior high crassness. For example, Ross draws comics and he creates the character "Bat Butt" which gets him sent to the principal's office. He then turns it into "Bat Pig." There are two places where you know profanity is being spoken, but it is expressed by symbols ( *!$# ). Band practices are held at a friend's house and while they wait the dads ask if they can have a beer.

FARMER BOY by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Illustrated by Garth Williams Some of my kids love The Little House Series. In fact, one would tell you it's her favorite childhood series. They were the books that stayed on the shelf by her bed, and she reread them constantly. But I also have kids on the other side. One in particular probably frowned her whole way through Little House in the Big Woods a few years ago.  When it was time to try again I reached for Farmer Boy, and we had much better success. Farmer Boy is the story of Almanzo Wilder's childhood, and it has a completely different air to it than the rest of the books in the series. First of all, we just have to talk about the food they eat. I can't tell you how many times my daughter looked at me and said, "I'm hungry!" as we read through the chapters. Almonzo's Mom, Alice, and Eliza Jane know how to keep the family fed! Second, Almonzo has some serious scrapes that kids can appreciate reading about. Third, Almanzo loves the farming life, and the tales that involve his personal animals are great for animal loving kids! If you have a kiddo that struggles with the series and you want to get at least one in, I'd recommend it be this one!

SOMEONE LIKE YOU by Karen Kingsbury Dawson Gage has been in love with London Quinn for as long as he can remember even though she told him not to fall for her. So, he settles for the next best thing, being her best friend until he can change her mind. He thought he just might be well on his way to success when unexpected tragedy strikes. Now Dawson is desperately trying to figure out what God's plan is in all of the heartache. This squeaky clean romance read will take you through the joy and pain that so oftentimes comes in one way or another in our lives, but it leaves you full of hope knowing that through it all, God is there every step of the way!

GAGA MISTAKE DAY by Emma Straub and Susan Straub. Illustrated by Jessica Love. Oh my goodness, this book is a hoot! I have such fond memories of my grandparents, who both lived in other states than we did. Visiting them included lots of very special times and lots of fun. That's what Gaga's Mistake Day is all about! Gaga comes over every Saturday to babysit her granddaughter while her parents get their errands done. What happens next is pure joy! As they go through the day, Gaga makes lots of "mistakes" allowing the little girl to do things she wouldn't normally get to do. This story beautifully showcases the type of relationship that we typically think of when we think of our children spending time with their grandparent(s). The artwork in this book is fabulous. The bright watercolors vibrate with happiness and movement. Highly recommend!

THE HAWTHRONE LEGACY by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Barnes takes us right back into the heart of the major disruption that Avery Grambs has caused in the Hawthorne family. After all, this unexpected, borderline homeless girl inherited the family billions, but why? That's exactly what The Hawthorne Legacy digs deeper into. Who exactly is Avery Grambs and what is her relationship to the Hawthorne family? Is there some type of connection that no one was aware of? After all, before Avery's mother died she kept telling Avery she had a secret, and there were postcards of different places from around the world left behind. Then there's the matter of unknown charities that have been supported for years that no one is familiar with. Get ready for lots more puzzles, adventure, murder attempts, and romance issues as Avery spends time with the Hawthorne brothers in The Hawthorne Legacy. HEADS UP- There is the continuation of language. While the "true " profanity is not heavy, it is present. However, the "fake" profanity that Avery's friend does where she substitutes words for heavier language is also present. (See the review of Inheritance Games for further explanation) There are a few heated moments. The hottest one is probably the strip bowling that is played. The game is interrupted before anything major happens. We do have a continuation of a lesbian relationship. It is not a major piece of the story, but there is a kiss.