Castaway Kid: One Man's Search for Hope and Home by R.B. Mitchell

 

Rob Mitchell's first-hand account of growing up in an orphanage seems entirely foreign in a day when such institutions have long been closed. It's hard to fathom an experience where one's earliest memory was of being left by his own mother with strangers at the orphanage. 

As Rob's tragic tale unfolds, it is one of addiction and gut-wrenching abandonment time and again. With an absent father and a mother incapable of staying sober enough to care for him, Rob relied on the cobbled-together family at the children's home. And while staff did what they could to make up for the loss of parental love, it wasn't really the same. Bullied at the children's home, rejected by classmates, and never having a place that was his own home, Rob--not surprisingly--grew up to be an angry young man. The only bright spots in his life were phone calls from a grandmother and her occasional visits (that predictably decreased as she aged). 

Throughout his life, Rob had various adults who offered love and support. He even later reconnected with his Dad's family, visiting them over the summer holidays. Every year he hoped that someone would choose to adopt him, but that never happened. It wasn't until adulthood that some of questions about his life were finally answered. Thankfully, God had planted people in his life to gently draw Rob toward spiritual truths. Truths about a loving God who wanted a relationship with Rob. 

The book is ultimately one of hope. It offers the inspiring story of a boy who overcame tremendous odds to find himself a child of a loving God. As he had spent his whole life searching for a family to belong to, Rob found his own happy ending when he met the love of his life and had the opportunity to create the home that he had never experienced himself. 

Rob's story is equal parts heartbreaking and inspirational. Ultimately, it points to the saving grace of a God who was patiently waiting for Rob to join HIS forever family. This would make an excellent book club selection to help better understand the struggles of children who have been affected by addiction. You can find a free discussion guide from Tyndale Press. And while we no longer have orphanages, our nation is faced with a crisis of addiction that has left countless children in the foster system. Castaway Kid is an incredible story that has the power to move families to consider opening their home to a child who longs for a place to belong. 

Purchase your copy of Castaway Kid today from Amazon. By using my affiliate link, you help support my efforts to share worthwhile books through my reviews. Thank you!

Jett Cooper by Mac Hill

 

Fourteen-year-old Jett Cooper and his dad Jack are like two peas in a pod, or rather, two pilots in a plane. Jett has spent much of his childhood immersed in all things aviation and spending all his free time (and some of his school time) at his family's flying school in Australia. Like a finely tuned flight plan, Jett has his future all mapped out to become a pilot like his father. Nothing compares to the feeling he gets when he is soaring above the earth and flying with his dad. 

Jett also shares a love of flying with his best friend, Ella. They both have plans to attend flight school and have clocked many hours learning to fly. With an upcoming junior competition on the horizon, they are vying for a coveted scholarship for the flying academy. But all of that changes when a terrible accident occurs at the flying school. And suddenly, Jett's mom is not so willing to let her son put his life in danger in a plane. 

Jett's mom doesn't realize how much flying is part of his life, and he vows to do whatever it takes to still fly in the junior competition. Readers will quickly be drawn into the exciting life at the flying academy. Will Jett's mom relent and let him compete? How can he face a future without flying? For anyone who aspires to be a pilot, this book offers a realistic view of not only what goes into running a flight school but all the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes maintenance of airplanes. As Jett faces his own challenges, he realizes that not everyone around him has his best interests in mind. Will his actions lead to another tragedy at the flight school? Trusting the wrong person can be deadly.

Jett Cooper blends a number of themes to perfection: family dynamics and adolescent angst, the importance of being loyal to friends, learning who to trust, and figuring out one's future. All with a dash of mystery and some nail-biting thrills in the skies. 

The author includes a very extensive aviation glossary at the back of the book. I loved the two very helpful maps for the Kirri Kirri Air Show as well as the course for the Blue Wolf Junior Air Competition Racecourse. The maps offer a great piece of supplementary learning as readers can practice decoding a map key and locating places on the map that are in the book. Jett Cooper was a fun and fast-paced middle grade book with a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend it! You can purchase your own copy on Amazon. (Note: By using my affiliate link, you help support my efforts to share worthwhile books through my reviews. Thank you!)

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Jett Cooper for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received. 

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles

 

The Parisian Chapter offers a loose sequel to the author's book, The Paris Library, in which readers were first introduced to Lily (in more of a supporting role). Lily takes on center stage in this book, and the story is set in the 1990s as she and her friend, Mary Louise, have moved from Montana to Paris to pursue their respective dreams: Mary Louise as a painter and Lily as a writer. Up to that point, neither had achieved anything close to success. 

After five years in Paris, Lily and Mary Louise's friendship has started to fray at the edges. When Mary Louise moves out, Lily loses one of the constants that had previously helped center her life. As her personal goals continue to go unmet, she faces hurdles as well in her work as Program Manager at the American Public Library (APL).  

A recalcitrant patron makes some days particularly unpleasant. Lily's boss offers little help but plenty of criticism--if a program that Lily planned goes well, her boss is the first to take credit. These frustrations are tempered by the connection she feels for a patron she affectionately termed "Book Head." Readers will enjoy the cast of characters at the APL--one can't help thinking they would make great material for a future novel if Lily ever has time to write! The expectation that APL staff volunteer part of their time has made it very hard to find the time and energy to put into her own writing goals.

And while she hasn't yet achieved her own literary dreams, Lily does enjoy planning events with a variety of authors: some dull, some overrated, and all having done what she hopes to do someday. While Lily's story is the primary one in the book, some chapters are from the perspective of other characters (written as first-person accounts). Helps provide some insight without bogging down the main storyline.

Some parts of the story I could have done without--mainly references to promiscuity. A story can be perfectly compelling without having to throw in bedroom references (thankfully in print, these are easily skimmed over, but not so easily skipped with an audiobook). Sadly, it's those unnecessary details that make it very hard for me to unreservedly recommend this book to others.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Parisian Chapter from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini

 

Both new and long-time fans of Jennifer Chiavernini will no doubt enjoy the latest dispatch from the esteemed author's pen. I had read several of her earlier works, but it had been a few years since I had read something of hers. I liked that while the book incorporates some of the staple characters of the original series, it is not necessary to know all of their back stories. The Patchwork Players puts those OG characters into the background and lets a new cast take center stage.

The new characters are quite literally a cast from a popular historical television series, "A Patchwork Place." In an effort to understand quilting techniques as they existed during the show's time period, a number of the cast are spending a week learning more about quilting techniques. 

The grande dame of the cast is Julia, an actress of reknown and one who cannot accept the fact that the series days are numbered. Julia is hoping that during the week she can persuade the series writer to extend the show.  When her desires are at cross purposes with some future opportunities for other actors, chaos ensues. I have to admit that I really started disliking Julia at that point, but hoped all would come right in the end. 

Readers who are quilters will undoubtedly enjoy all the shop talk about techniques and historical sewing practices (not being a quilter, I assume the information is accurate, but I mostly skimmed over those parts). 

I think readers who are unfamiliar with previous books will have their curiosity aroused enough to go back and discover more about the origins of the stately manor where the retreat takes place and learn more about the staff that work there. I didn't feel quite the same connection with retreat attendees in this book, as it seemed the focus was on the instructional parts and not as much on the personal stories of the characters. All in all, it was a decent read--not one of my favorites in the series but one that I was happy to see come to a satisfactory conclusion.  

You can purchase your copy on Amazon (affiliate link that adds no cost to you but helps support my efforts to review and recommend books to others).

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Patchwork Players from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received; all views expressed are solely my own.

Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

 

Emmie is a little mouse with big ideas--very helpful trait when faced with a BIG problem. Living in an attic with all sorts of interesting cast-offs, Emmie fills her days upcycling others' long-forgotten detritus into amazing new creations. I love the image of something so tiny having ideas that must be expressed. Emmie is a great model of problem-solving as she uses planning, trial and error, and determination as she continues working on better and better plans until she meets with success. Although her definition of success isn't quite what she thought it would be. With a fun twist and a heartwarming message for readers of all ages, this is an excellent book to add to any home or school library. 

Particularly noteworthy are the intricate drawings. Readers will find new discoveries every time they explore the pages in Emmie's world. A visual and literary treat!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Emmie Builds Something New from Red Comet Press through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and the opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein

 

Chris Grabenstein, author of the popular Mr. Lemoncello book series, has returned with another offering for middle-grade readers. Benjamin and Ethan Broderick are brothers who have nothing in common, yet they are forced to work together to solve the puzzle of all puzzles for a prize beyond either's wildest dreams!

Benjamin and Ethan have grown up hearing about their dad's legendary trip on Route 66 with his younger brothers. Those older Broderick brothers drove cross-country, camping along the way and making incredible memories. Now that Ethan has graduated from high school, it seems the perfect time to recreate that epic road trip. And to sweeten the deal, Ethan's parents offer the use of a truck, camping gear from the sporting goods store (run by Mr. Broderick and his brothers), and the gift of fuel from an aunt. How hard could 2 weeks be with a younger brother?

So begins a quest that involves puzzles, pranks, and (very mild) peril. And while Ethan and Benjamin are racing toward a prize, they discover that some things are worth more than money. Things like friends and family (yes, even siblings). I loved that wholesome fun was had and valuable lessons were learned, and it all took place without offensive language or snarky attitudes--how refreshing! 

With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 approaching in 2026, this would be the perfect book to either learn more about the famous highway--or better yet--use as a guide to plan and execute one's own epic road trip!  This would make a great classroom read-aloud during the school year that might also inspire families to check out some of the anniversary festivities being planned along this historic route!  

With a dash of the Lemoncello's trademark wit, the cross-country antics of the 39 Clues, and the mystery of The Westing Game, readers young and old will love this book! 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest from Random House Children's through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received. 

Dear Miss Lake by A.J. Pearce

 

The fourth and final installment of the adventures of Emmy Lake, intrepid advice columnist for Woman's Friend, once again features her efforts to keep spirits up despite the lengthening war. It's July 1944, and the staff have decided to make a temporary camp in the country at Rose House, thanks to the kindness of a friend's grandmother. The paper sails along with nary a blip while staff members navigate living and working together. And one of the best collaborations ends up being a wedding. With resourcefulness, creativity, and force of will, Emmy is determined to make the day memorable in spite of rationing and so much scarcity. 

A wedding isn't the only project Emmy undertakes. When her husband gets sent to places unknown, she carries on valiantly until she gets a telegram about his assumed capture. This sets her on a new course that puts her in the path of other women whose husbands, brothers, or boyfriends are missing as well. Emmy is determined to do all she can to raise spirits and keep up morale not only through her column in Woman's Friend but also by sharing more about the remarkable work women are doing in the war.  

As coworkers and friends pour their hearts into their work and their families, Emmy keeps tackling the next project, helping to distract her from the loneliness of her husband's absence. With one friend married and a coworker soon to be, Emmy finds some bright spots to focus on until the best-laid plans go awry. But with each new challenge, Emmy continues to carry on--exactly what she's been encouraging other women to do. And as the political war seems to drag on and on, the people in Emmy's world face one type of war or another: some publicly and some privately. With each new hurdle in her life or a friend's, she discovers hidden reserves she didn't know she had. 

The whole Dear Mrs. Bird series is a cozy experience--like joining a good friend over a cuppa and facing life head-on with courage and resolve and never giving in to despair. While these particular characters may be fictional, they are modeled after so many women who made it through the war years with grace and pluck. Who wouldn't want to be like them? Bravo to Ms. Pearce for creating such a satisfying and meaningful series. I highly recommend it! You can grab either a hardcover or paperback copy at Amazon. By using my affiliate link, you help support my efforts to share worthwhile books through my reviews. I so appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Dear Miss Lake from Scribner through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.