Tag Archives: Young Adult

Operation Oleander

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Author: Valerie O. Patterson                           operation oleander
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 192
Genre: Realistic Young Adult
Source: Purchased

 

 

Goodreads:  Ninth-grader Jess Westmark had the best of intentions when she started Operation Oleander to raise money for a girls’ orphanage in Kabul. She named her charity for the oleander that grows both in her Florida hometown and in Afghanistan, where her father is deployed. But on one of her father’s trips to deliver supplies to the orphans, a car bomb explodes nearby and her father is gravely injured. Worse, her best friend’s mother and some of the children are killed, and people are blaming Operation Oleander for turning the orphanage into a military target for the Taliban. Is this all Jess’s fault?

Ope’s Opinion:  This book is so good I am saving it for when my granddaughter gets older.  I have a shelf of books for her, so this one will definitely be on it.

It was good to see the support of the military children.  You hear about the support for adult members, but this really showed the children of the military.

I enjoyed watching the characters develop.  The story moves at a nice, quick pace.  I would like to have heard more about Jess’s coming into this family.

This book should be in school and public libraries.  It would open up a conversation for students with military families.

 

Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.   de9fc-4chairs

A Rose for Melinda

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Author:  Lurlene McDaniel                            a rose for malinda
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Pages:  208
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Told in letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors’ reports, and instant messages, the heartbreaking story of an aspiring ballet dancer battling leukemia. 

From: Melinda Skye
To: Readers
Subject: Jesse

Hi! I can’t believe it. What a surprise from Jesse. When he got my e-mail about being accepted by the Washington School of Classical Dance’s summer program, he called to congratulate me! I loved hearing his voice. We’ve been friends forever–could it turn into something more?
Melinda

From: Jesse Rose
To: Readers
Subject: Melinda

I couldn’t believe the news. Melinda is so young! How could she be sick? How did she get leukemia? She’s got to get better. She’s got to.

Ope’s Opinion:  I do not usually read books written in text, diary, email form.  It is not my favorite read, so I was hesitant to read this one.  It did not flow like a regular book to me.  I had to stop and figure out who was talking and who they were talking to.

The story was good, but very predictable.  The characters were real and had their flaws.  I did care about the characters, but I wasn’t totally intrenched in the story.

Jesse and Melinda’s love story was very sweet. I really enjoyed that part of the book.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
3 chairs

I’ll Be Seeing You

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Author:  Lurlene McDaniel                            I
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Pages: 208
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Kristi of Kritters Ramblings

Goodreads:  Carley Mattea never expected to become friends with a boy as handsome as Kyle Westin–especially not in the hospital. Seventeen-year-old Kyle was blinded when a chemistry experiment exploded. His doctors don’t know whether he’ll get his vision back, and he’s deeply depressed. Carley understands how miserable it is to be in the hospital. At sixteen, she’s had plenty of experience. But Carley is keeping a secret from Kyle. She knows boys like girls who are pretty–and she’s not. Scarred by a facial deformity, she has always used her sense of humor to cope. But now that she’s become so close to Kyle, she’s worried that if his bandages are removed and he sees her, it will be the end of their relationship. Carley wants what’s best for Kyle. But what will that mean for her?

Ope’s Opinion:  This was  a very good, easy read.  The author made you feel for each of the characters situations.  The challenges in each persons life seemed unsurmountable.  The story showed that we each have our own issues to deal with.  Some seem more difficult then others.  

This book shows how we should get to know someone before we judge who they are.  You just don’t know how someone ended up in the situation that they are in.  Take a second look at that person, give them the time to get to know them.

I am going to read more of Lurlene McDaniel.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
3 chairs