Review: Destiny Rewritten (Fitzmaurice)

Title: Destiny Rewritten
Author: Fitzmaurice
Genre: Fiction, Realistic, Families, Dreams, Books/Writing, Fate, Secrets
Pages: 335
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Ages: 4th-7th grades

From the Publisher: 
Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn't even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then, just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she loses the special volume of Emily Dickinson's poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily's understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way. 

This is a book review for 5th grade me. I grew up in the era where the only books in my elementary school library that interested me were Nancy Drew, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Little House on the Prairie, and everything written by E.L. Konigsburg. And I'm sure that I read more than one Choose Your Own Adventure. From here I went straight to Agatha Christie (mainly because there wasn't an entire publishing industry devoted to "teen" books). 

There are many other books that were probably sitting on the shelves that I honestly wish I had discovered at the time, and not when I was "old" (Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series for one), but believe it or not, I didn't devour everything on the the library shelves back then. I stuck with what was familiar and proven. (This might be why, when I have a student today that reminds me of "me," I am sometimes known to say, "you will read this because I said so"). 

I also grew up in the era of Danielle Steele novels turned into made-for-TV movies, and I hope it doesn't make me sound lame to admit that I'm pretty sure I watched most of them

All of these things explain why I LOVE this book by Fitzmaurice and am buying a copy of it for my going-to-be-6th grade daughter. 

I truly enjoyed Emily's narration of this book...it read true, like an actual 11 year old. She introduces us to a cast of quirky characters (most of which are her family), and her daily journey. All she wants to do is write romance novels (her correspondence with Danielle Steele almost "steal the show" for me) and find her father. When it is discovered that her cherished book of Dickinson poetry, which accidentally found it's way into the Goodwill box, actually contains clues to her father's identity, she is propelled on a quest to retrieve it.

I love Emily, and I think that tween readers will also. You can't help but root for her...and maybe get a little angry at a mother that won't give up family secrets except via musings in book margins. (And there's a similar history of this in my family, so another reason why I feel so in tune with this book). Emily's story of self-discovery, family, friendship, and making your own fate is one that will resonate with younger readers. I know that 5th grade me would have found a new friend in Emily...and would have desperately wanted to help her find her book. 

Review: Raven Summer (Almond)

Title: Raven Summer
Author: Almond
Genre: Fiction, War, Fate, Friendship
Pages: 198
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Okay, I'll be honest with you, this is a tough book for me to review.  Mainly because I'm not quite sure who the intended audience is.  Set in England, in the recent past (very recent--it is during the war in Iraq, which is still going on), Liam is playing in the neighborhood when the call of a bird leads him into a field where he discovers a baby. Liam brings the baby home to his parents, who involve the police in locating the infant's parents.  When none are found, the baby is put into a foster home.  Liam and his parents travel to visit the baby (named Allison), and there Liam meets the family's other foster children: Crystal, a bit of a wild girl; and Oliver, a refugee from Liberia. 

It is Liam's interactions with Oliver and Crystal that drive the plot of this short story.  Why is Oliver so afraid to return to Liberia?  What horrible tragedies of war has he experienced?  What are children capable of? 

I was actually intrigued by this book, which received several starred reviews.  Almond is a popular and award-winning author, and I have enjoyed his other books, especially "Kit's Wilderness" which won the Printz Award (the Newbery Award equivalent for teen literature).  However, I was also perplexed by this book.  Who is the audience supposed to be?  The message is clearly about the effects of war.  I think it is a good read for adults...lots to think about.  But are teens going to be interested in this, regardless of how short it is?  Is there teen appeal?  I don't think that the cover actually does it any justice in this department.  The above rating reflects my opinion on the perceived popularity with teens.  What do you think? Have you read it?