The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
This is the summer book I have been longing for. Charming, heartwarming, but nuanced with emotions. Arthur, our main character, lost his wife and has bridled his pain with routine. Eating the same breakfast, watering his fern, and dressing the same way each day. Arthur wakes up on the first anniversary of his wife’s death, ready for the same routine. However, he stumbles upon an unfamiliar piece of jewelry in his wife’s things. A fully decorated charm bracelet. After discovering there is meaning behind one charm, he is off on a journey to find the meaning behind these tiny symbols. Arthur finally breaks out of his routine and finds out much more than he ever wanted to know. However, in the process, he finds himself. It may sound trite or cliché, but it was a lovely little story. Light, but not fluff, true to the human experience, but not too sad. I am thankful I found this little treasure.
Mona the mouse gets separated from her family in a terrible storm. She wanders through the woods and stumbles upon The Heartwood Hotel. On a stormy night she finds shelter, and the most magnificent home. There are perches for the birds, burrows for the badgers, and a home for little Mona. The kind owner gives her a job and a place to stay. Life at the Heartwood is not always easy. Her co worker Tilly is nothing but a pest, and Mona misses her family terribly. However, she finds community and belonging. This book is enchanting, and delightful. The world building is charming, and any animal loving child will eat these books up.
Roz the robot washes up on an isolated Island. When her button is pushed, and she is turned on, she explores and meets all the wild inhabitants of the Island. She soon discovers a little gosling in need of care. Roz begins a journey of learning to mother the gosling and trying to fit in with all the other animals. Not every animal is trusting of outsiders, and Roz faces many challenges. This book is engaging and sweet. The themes of acceptance and friendship are a wonderful springboard to conversation with children. Read Aloud to 2-5th graders. 5th Grade Independent Reading Level.
Elizabeth comes home from school to find her mean aunt and uncle have left for the holidays. She is being sent to the mysterious Winter House hotel. This is the best twist of fate Elisabeth has had in years. Winterhouse is an unusual and enchanting old hotel at the foot of a mountain. Elisabeth meets the all the quirky guests and the peculiar owner, Norbridge Falls. Soon she has met a friend her age, and life has never been better. With fluffy treats baked fresh each day, skiing, ice skating, and the most extensive library anyone has ever seen, Winter house is truly paradise. Until some strange events begin to unfold, and Elisabeth finds herself in the middle of an old family mystery. This book was fantastic, you will wish you could book a room in Winter house, it is reminiscent of the world of Harry Potter. I loved it, and I know children will too. Perfect for 3rd-6th grades. 6th grade independent reading level.
Best Overall Character: Emily Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman– Emily is the most real, quirky, and charming character I have read in a long time. She has been through very difficult circumstances, and we meet her just as she is beginning to step out of a safe, but isolated life. I was moved, laughed, cringed, and cheered for her the whole way through.
Best Historical Fiction: The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict– Did you know Albert Einstein’s wife was also a genius mathematician and physicist? This is a riveting and heartbreaking story of their love affair. It was fascinating.
Best Middle Grade Novel: Wishtree by Catherine Applegate– Told from the perspective of a tree, the history, heartache, and hope of a little town is revealed by one little tree. Beautiful, imaginative, and wonderful.
Best Sophisticated Brain Candy: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandya Menon– When Dimple heads to Standford for a summer program, she has no idea her traditional Indian parents have betrothed her to another student in the program. Calamity ensues, and it is funny, sweet, and light. Sometimes you just need a light read, this is it, but well written.
Best Non-Fiction: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park– A simply stunning novel about the lost boys of Sudan. Everyone should read this book, and teachers or parents of 4th graders and up should add it to their read aloud list.
All the British Authors I follow on Twitter have been singing the praises of this short novel, told in letters. It was published back 1970, it is a book of correspondence between a free lance writer in New York, and a book seller in London. I love epistolary books, and so far this is charming. What are your book clubs reading lately?
Mabel Pear lives in a small town under Mt. Ranier, where cell service is spotty, the locals are quirky, and things get very complicated. Mabel’s parents are spies. Her aunt runs the local diner, a spoon museum, and cares for Mabel while they are on missions. Mabel is training to be a spy of her own. When her parents cannot be reached, and a new local detective is acting suspicious, Mabel’s spy skills get tested.
Cornelia is 11 years old, feisty, without a soul in the world to care for her. Her only living relative is a long lost Aunt Kate in Chicago. Cornelia finds herself dropped on the doorstep of a suspicious, bristly woman. She does not want a child, especially an unkempt, wild, willful girl like Cornelia. Her aunt is Kate Warne, a secret detective. Cornelia is full of spunk, but she is also fearless and street smart. She proves to be somewhat useful in solving Kate’s detective cases. Aunt Kate keeps her around, yet the threat of dropping her off with an orphanage is always present. Kate Warne was actually the first woman detective in Chicago. This story combines the factual history with a sweet, adventurous, and wild tale.
Beginnings and Book Ends 