Orphans of the Living by Jennifer Toth
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Orphans of the Living is another book I would categorize as both a great resource and bitterly painful to read. The quote “Orphans of the Living” is a reference to those children living in the foster care system. The book tells the stories of children who have aged out of the foster care system, with the details pulled from their actual case files. It is rough reading, and a real reminder that there are children being wounded in the foster care system…it is a broken system. While each story had its own sadness and heaviness, in each I remembered an amazing thing about God…he’s a healer of the broken hearted. Each of these children had a common denominator, they were never exposed to a person who genuinely believed God’s word and shared it with them (or at least this portion of their story was never told). I have to hold on hope that the hurt children coming to us will have that advantage. Overall it was good to hear the perspective of the children. While I already knew not to lock children in the trunks of cars, there were some good reminders, like don’t speak unkindly about the biological family and help them find something something that makes them feel excellent and talented, treat them with patience and kindness. The book itself was brutal and I would strongly discourage any non-foster parents from reading it, basically it’s worst case scenario not just for foster care but for life.
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
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From the opening chapter of The Spellman Files I was hooked. The story begins with Isabel Spellman in a high speed chase. Realizing her attempt to escape is futile, she finally gives up and turns herself in…to her parents. The Spellmans are a family of Private Investigators, their daughter Isabel has recently turned from a life of trouble making to join the family business. Isabel’s keen detective skills and above average suspiciousness land her in trouble over and over again, especially when it comes to personal relationships. In a family where spying, bugging, and borderline stalking are the norm it’s no surprise when Isabel can’t make a relationship work. The Spellman Files was a fun read, filled with humor and a pinch of mystery.
The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
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In The Curse of the Spellmans, though two years have passed, Isabel hasn’t changed. She still investigates her boyfriends, she still spends entirely too much time at the local bar, she’s still obsessed with answering any and all mysteries, and drawing unfortunate and completely wrong conclusions. The best part of this second installment were the hilarious exchanges between the youngest Spellman, 15 year old Rae, and her unwitting “best friend” 44 year old Officer Henry Stone. The plot was somewhat more predictable than The Spellman Files, even still I loved the antics between the Spellmans. Overall, I really loved them both.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
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So, I’m going to level with you. I chose this book based solely on the title and cover art. I have known since kindergarten not to judge books by their covers, but this one had my interest peaked before I turned a single page. Amateur scientist, 11 year old Flavia de Luce has an unfortunate meeting with a dying man in her garden who whispers his final word “Vale.” When her father is suspected and arrested for his murder Flavia turns her scientific prowess to prove his innocence. A thoroughly entertaining story, I can not wait to read the rest of the series.
How about you? What are YOU reading? Any suggestions for my reading list?
