The Possibility of Now by Kim Culbertson

Interest Level: YA

Reading Level: 4.5

Lexile: 740

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Currently on pg. 22, chapter 3

After years of being an overachiever, Mara James has a breakdown during a calculus exam. A classmate records the incident and posts it online. It goes viral. Mara decides to leave her school and go live with her father in Tahoe to escape the embarrassment.

I understand Mara's drive for perfection. My own daughter has that same drive. I also can relate to Mara personally. Her struggle with everyone knowing her personal business and talking about her. It reminded me of when my father's private plane crashed and it was all over the news.

The Righteous Smuggler by Debbie Spring

Finished the book

George Santayana was a philosopher and poet. He is quoted as saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." May we never forget the holocaust and the millions of people who lost their lives. In this book Hendrik joins The Free Netherlands, an organization that worked secretly to assist people feeling Nazi Germany. Although Hendrik is fictitious, The Free Netherlands organization was real. It is nearly impossible to read a book fiction or non-fiction about the holocaust and not cry. I may have not shed actual tears but what makes this book so sad is that it is based in reality. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. May we never repeat the past.

The Righteous Smuggler by Debbie Spring

Interest Level: 5-8

Reading Level: 5.0

Lexile: 750

Genre: Historical Fiction

Currently on pg. 16, chapter 3

As I have stated before in this blog, I love historical fiction. This book is set in 1940 in Holland during the Nazi's invasion. Holland had hopes of remaining neutral as they did in World War I. The response of the people in Holland toward the persecution of Jews was mixed; 45,000 Dutch men and boys volunteered to assist the Germans and some of the Dutch fought back. This story is about the fictitious Hendrik Vandinther and his father. At this point they are in their boat answering a SOS call.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

Finished the book

SPOILER ALERT - Gwen returns to her world without Olivia but she brings Hook. Gwen is reunited with her mom. Near the end of the book when Hook and Gwen try to free the Queen, the book gets a bit slow. By that point though you, as the reader, are already invested in the story-line. I will add this book to the middle school library collection. If you like fractured or twisted fairy tales, you will enjoy this book.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

Currently on pg. 203, chapter 25

At this point in this version of the "Peter Pan" story, the reader is not certain if Pan or Hook is the good guy or if they are both evil. I am betting that they are both evil; victims of their circumstances, stuck in Neverland. With roughly 60% of the book read, it has not yet grabbed me. I am not carrying it around everywhere I go. I have been been reading on the average one chapter a day. That would put me finishing the book at the end of this month. I am already researching what to read next.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

Currently on pg. 132, chapter 17

The italicized preludes to each chapter are like an entirely different story about two brothers going off to war. I am puzzled by these preludes. Are the brothers now Hook and Pan? Does it have nothing to do with this story? Is it from a famous novel?

As I researched trying to determine what the preludes meant, I found comment comparing this book to Splintered by A.G. Howard. It is a good thing I didn't see that prior to starting this book. I am not sure if I would have still read it.

As far as the story, (SPOILER ALERT) Gwen is now with Pan on Neverland. He rescued her from Hook's ship.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

Currently on pg. 92, chapter 13

SPOILER ALERT - We now know that the Fey, 'dark monsters,' kidnapped Gwen and Olivia. Gwen is on Captain Hook's ship in Neverland. It is starting to get hard for her to remember anything before she was grabbed. She is even finding it hard to recall Olivia. Now Hook is talking about 'the girl.' Could he mean Olivia?

I am enjoying the story. It is well written. I am not to the point where I am carrying the book around with me but I have about 250 more pages to go. So, we shall see.