Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur BOOK REVIEW

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up at the Book Fair thinking it would be good for my daughter, and of course that means that I need to read it first. I like to know what they are reading so that if they ask me something I can talk with them about it.

This is a coming of age story about a girl, Elsie, who is entering middle school and turning 12, and all the horrors that come with that. My daughter entered the junior high school last year, and this book captures some of that girl drama perfectly, although there is so much more in real life.

It is also about her finding herself, and who she is in a unique way since her parents are not around and she lives with her aunt and uncle. It is a really well written story. I enjoyed it even as an adult. I have passed it on to my daughter and I look forward to discussing it with her. I am hoping that the story will help her to deal with some of the girl drama at school that she has had to deal with this year.

I would recommend it to any girl to read the summer before they move up to the middle school or junior high school. Not to scare them, but to let them know, if this happens, it's ok. This is what you do, not this. I think it is the perfect book to help get parents and girls talking about the troubles and bullying at school and issues of who am I and what is my purpose that this age brings.

Well done!

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The Magic Knot (The Magic Knot #1) by Helen Scott Taylor BOOK REVIEW

The Magic Knot by Helen Scott Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I grabbed this book through a swap on a whim, without really reading much about it except the Irish of it, so I wasn't sure what to expect, or if it would be good. I was pleasantly surprised.

The book is well written, and somewhat believable in the mixing of human life with folklore and legends in the tales of pixies and fairies, and even leprechauns in the book.  It makes for a good read, and for me it was a quick read, which is what I was looking for at the moment I sat down with this book.

We are introduced to Naill and his twin Michael O'Conner. Very Irish, very traditional and steeped in legend and lore. They are half fairy we learn later. They both talk with an Irish accent and speech pattern that feels right in this book. It's not too heavy and I don't think the characters would have been as believable without it. Well done on the author's parts because the accent and speech pattern can easily overwhelm a book.

The trouble comes in the form of Rose Tremain, who thinks she is a human woman about a normal job. All is not as it would seem.  Through out the book, we learn of the truth of Rose's mother, and the betrayal of her father and what he really is, and the truth as to what she is and what her birthright is.

It's a clever and fun story, and I enjoyed it.  It stands quite well on its own, and I feel complete having read it. Only just realized this is  a series and it continues. Not sure if I will search it out or not, but I have a number of books in my to-read pile right now, maybe later.



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Best Laid Plans...

So the kids have been on Holiday Break from school since school let out on Friday afternoon, December 16th. Today was the first day back to school.  I was so ready to get my house back, to not hear kids shows on the tv, and to get some work done.

I had so many plans for today. I was going to sweep my living room, and it was going to stay swept till after everyone got home from school, instead of being messed up again in 5 minutes. I was going to get the kitchen back in shape, and write up and post the new house rules we agreed on during break. I was going to turn on Food TV, or watch the Top Chef Masters Marathon on Bravo all day while working. I was going to be an adult, and not have to do anything kid related all day! So much for the best laid plans of mice and men.

All my plans went out the window around 5:30am this morning when I woke to my youngest daughter throwing up on my bed! Yep. Not sure how this happens, but she comes in to tell me she is sick and ends up throwing up on my bed, at least it wasn't on me this morning!  All my kids have done this. They will get up and come climb in my bed, only to say Mommy, and then threw up all over the bed! At least the older two have stopped. Somewhere about this age, they started just going into the bathroom, they finally realized that I would hear them and come running. Hopefully the youngest will realize that soon!

She hasn't run a fever, but she has been throwing up about every hour. Have been trying to get small sips of gatorade in her, but she keep bringing it back up. On the good side, she did fall back asleep for about half an hour.  She says she is feeling better, but it was only about half an hour ago that she last threw up, so we'll see if she continues to feel better when we reach that hour mark.  Thinking she might have a bit of a stomach bug. At first it seemed like just water, maybe she got up and got some water and drank it too fast, but when she repeatedly threw up, changed my mind. Knowing that she is not running a fever makes me feel a little better about it all.

It's one of those things about being a Mom, that you can never really count on the plans you make, something can always pop up and change those plans. But the other thing about being a mom, is that I am here to hold her, soother her head, and get her through this. You know what, I wouldn't change that for anything in the world.