Each Little Bird That Sings

Each Little Bird That Sings

Title:  Each Little Bird That Sings

Author:  Deborah Wiles

Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.

Place and year of publication:  New York, September, 2006

Number of pages: 247

Where I found this book: School’s Library

Summary:

In the town of Snap finger, Mississippi, there is a funeral home called Snowberger’s funeral. This story is about Comfort, the 2^nd youngest member of the snowberger family. She has seen death more than two hundred times, to the point that she became used to it.

Everybody was shocked after Comfort’s great-great- aunt Florentine death. So they started to prepare for her funeral.  Suddenly, her best friend Declaration turned super mean. She made fun of Comfort with her new  friends; Tiffany and Kristen. A fuming fight forms between Declaration and Comfort when Comfort’s mom asks Declaration to babysit Peach. As most of you don’t know Peach is Comfort’s cousin and she would do anything be away from him, in other words she hates him.

When the funeral day came, Declaration, Comfort, and Peach walked to the cemetery. Then, Declaration purposely scared peach and he ran towards the Creek. Comfort and Dismay ran after Peach to get him back. He fell into the creek and while she was saving him she lost her balance and fell into the creek. They were drowning. Comfort sacrificed her dog( who she loves the most) to save her cousin who she hates. Finally her dad comes and saves them. What happens to Comfort and Declaration’s friendship? Does Comfort start to appreciate her cousin Peach?

I think the author named this book “Each Little Bird That Sings” because a death is like a storm in anybody’s life, and you have to learn that just like every storm it will pass. After each storm every little bird sings. The theme of this book is mainly about death and how to handle it.

Christian Perspective:

I think this book is written in Christian perspective. The reason I think this because they have dealt with problems in a Godly way. God says to love your enemies. Comfort did exactly the same. She sacrificed her dog for a person she doesn’t like that much. One thing I think Comfort should have done was to forgive Declaration because God says we should forgive others because God forgive us for all the bad things we have done.

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book. It was depressing sometimes but it also had really good morals in it. One of the things I loved what Comfort’s uncle said “we live to serve.” This is really important to me because it tells me that it is our job to serve God and we can do it however we like; for example sports, art, music, acting, etc.  Another thing I loved about this book was how Comfort hated Peach but after the fight at the cemetery they were becoming good friends. She started to appreciate him and his differences. I chose to read this book because I have heard about this book and people told me that it’s a good book. If I could recommend this book to somebody, I would recommend it to a person who likes reading realistic fiction books. 

Liesl and Po

Title: Liesl and Po

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper Collins publishers

Place and year of publication: New York, 2011

Number of pages: 307

Where I found this book: I own this book

Summary:

This book is named Liesl and Po because this book mainly revolves the adventure of Liesl and Po. Three days after Liesl’s father died, a ghost named Po appeared in her dark bedroom in the attic( thanks to her step mom) with a dog or cat looking pet named Bundle. They wanted her to start drawing again, because she used to draw before her father died. She thought that Po is a ghost, and if he can find her father, tell him her message, then she would start to draw.

After a lot of searching, Po finally found the ghost of her father. He asked him exactly what Liesl wanted to ask him “How did you die and I really miss you.” He replied “I really miss you too and I should have never eaten that soup.” Liesl found his response really confusing.

At the same time, outside her house was a boy named Will, holding a wooden jewellery box. It contained world’s most powerful magic. Suddenly, he remembered that he needed to get some supplies for the alchemist like a blind man’s eye, some chicken hearts, etc. from Mr. Gray.

When Mr. Gray went to get the supplies he fell asleep and put the world’s most powerful magic next to an identical jewellery box. After Will and the alchemist took the ashes to her. Her face was burning red, when she figured out that it was not the magic, but some person’s ashes. Will raced out of the mansion with his full speed before the alchemist and Madame Premiere to catch Will.

There at Liesl’s house, Liesl thought of a plan to run away from the attic and go to her old house to bury her father’s ashes next to her mother’s. When Karen (a maid who always brought Liesl’s food in the attic) comes to give her food, Po scared her. In the hurry to get down the stairs, she forgot to lock the door, giving Liesl a way to escape.

On their way to her old house, Liesl and Po met Will and they started their journey together. Do Liesl, Po and Will get to the old house in time?

Perspective Christian:

I don’t think this book was written in a Christian perspective. One thing Liesl could have was to trust in the Lord and she should have prayed when she got stuck in difficult situation. Just like the verse Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” When Madame Premiere got angry at Will, she could explain it to her angrier at Will; she could have explained it to her more nicely and calmly. Just like God forgives our sins.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading this book. One of the things that stood out to me the most were that how much she loves her dad and how her step mom was so rude and she didn’t like her. I felt really sad for her. One thing I really liked about her character was they she was always calm and always knew what to do. The main reason I read this book was because I haven’t read a fantasy book yet. I f I could recommend this book to somebody, I would recommend this book to a person who enjoys reading fantasy books.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller

Title: Helen Keller

Author: Leslie Garrett

Publisher: DK Publishing

Place and year of publication: New York, 2004

Number of pages: 127

Where I found the book: school’s library

Story:

This book is inspired by Helen Keller. This book is about her life, her struggles, and her achievements. Helen had a brain fever she was only one and half year old. After some days, her fever broke. No one knew what the fever had done to Helen. One day, when sunlight was hitting Helen’s face, she didn’t turn away from the bright light. She wasn’t blinking her eyes, Helen was blind. Few days later, her mom realized that she was deaf too.

Helen got to know members of her family: her parents, her step brothers, James and William; her aunt Ev and the servants. She used her simple signs to communicate with her family. For example, for bread, she would imitate cutting and putting butter on slices. For ice cream, she would shiver. Helen had developed 60 signs.

One of Helen’s favorite pranks was locking people in rooms. One day, she locked her mother in the pantry, after 3 hours she was found and released. The Keller’s endured Helen’s pranks until her behavior and her pranks became danger to Mildred (her new baby sister). One day, Helen saw Mildred sleeping in her favorite doll’s cradle. She turned the cradle over. Luckily, Mildred wasn’t hurt.

Helen’s parents started to find someone who can help Helen. After some time, a teacher was found. The teacher’s name was Anne Mansfield Suvillian. Anne had a terrible childhood herself. When she was 3 years old, she rubbed her eye because it itched. She had an infection. Then they took her to a doctor told them the problem was Trachoma. He gave them some medicine to put in Annie’s eye but it didn’t help either. Later Annie’s mother developed Tuberculosis. Her mother was expecting a baby. He was born with a disfigured hip because of Tuberculosis. Another baby was born named Mary. Few days later, Annie’s mother died. Annie was sent to a poor house along with Jimmy, her brother. Later, Jimmy died too. Annie had no one left. Then she graduated from an institution for blind. By the early 1887, Annie felt ready to educate Helen Keller.

The first thing she asked when they reached the house she asked “where’s Helen?” Helen’s dad pointed at the front porch. Annie was shocked t her arms to see Helen’s appearance. Helen felt some footsteps coming towards her. Helen thought it was her mother and she hugged her. Then Helen twisted her arms to get free and ran away from her. Curious, she came back and touched her face, her clothes etc.

Helen came to Annie’s room and Annie gave her a doll which was a present from the Perkins students. Helen loved that doll. Annie took Helen’s hand and carefully spelled D-O-L-L in Helen’s palm, she repeated it over and over again. Helen began to shape the letters herself. Annie took the doll from her and she wanted Helen to spell doll into Annie’s hand and she would return it. Helen had another idea. She launched her fist at Annie, she knew that Helen might do that and she was ready. She grabbed Helen’s arm and held it tightly. Helen ran out of the room. But curiosity brought her back. Helen thought of the spelling on the palm as game and they played it daily. One day, Annie took Helen to a water pump. First she made Helen touch the water and then she wrote W-A-T-E-R on her hand. Helen was confused. She did it again and again. Finally, Helen understood that she was trying to tell her that each word is actually a thing in real life. She asked Annie to spell what everything was in her palm every day.

When Helen grew up, she wanted to go to Radcliffe, which is the sister, school of Harvard. Cambridge school was made especially for girls who wanted to attend Radcliffe. In October 1896, she started attending Cambridge. It was pretty hard for Helen and she was studying history, German, Latin, and literature. Annie was not allowed to be with her during exemptions, instead her teacher spelled the questions into her palm. Finally after all the hard work, she got an acceptance letter from Radcliffe. Helen was the first handicap to attend the university. She arrived in fall of 1900. In 1903, Helen published her first book named The Story of My Life. In June 1904, Helen graduated from Radcliffe.

Helen wanted to become a socialist. She wanted to fight against the reason why most people become blind: Poverty. In 1909 she became a member in a socialist party. Then she started a lecture tour. In 1913, she was ready to take the stage. Helen was so terrified that she said that she would always remember this day even till her last breath.

Later she took some break from the socialist work and wrote some books which were: My religion and Midstream: My Afterlife. Helen was really exhausted from all the writing. My religion was inspired by the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg.

On October 20, 1936, Annie died. Helen lost the person who she cared and loved the most. Helen’s friends were worried that now Annie gone she would fall apart. Annie’s remains were placed in National Cathedral in Washington. She was the first woman to receive such an honor.

In 1964,Helen received a presidential medal of freedom. After an year later, she was elected to the Women’s Hall of Fame at New York World’s Fair. In late May she had a heart attack and on June 1^st she died quietly. She had lived a wonderful life and she knew when she died she would be able to see and hear.

Christian perspective:

I think this book is written in Christian perspective. As a socialist, she wanted to help people who were in need and spread God’s love and show them that He cares and loves them a lot. She had a hope in her that she wanted to help to stop the reasons people became blind after birth. She went to wounded men and gave them courage and told them that life isn’t over.

My thoughts

I really loved this book. The things I loved the most about the book were to see her courage and how she stood up for her rights. She achieved most of her goals even though she was disabled like graduating from Radcliffe, and she was also known as the most educated deaf and blind person in the world. I decided to read this book because a friend recommended this book to me. I would recommend this book to a person who enjoys reading about people’s lives and the amazing things they have done.

Rules

Title: Rules

Author: Cynthia Lord

Publisher: Scholastic

Place and year of publication: New York, 2006

Number of pages: 200

Where I found this book: school’s library

Story review:

Catherine is a twelve year old, who has an autistic brother named David. With her brother’s autism it makes her life a little complicated, so she makes rules for her brother. So that he would understand the world and I also think this book’s name is Rules because she makes rules her brother.

While Catherine and her mom take David to occupational therapy, there she meets a boy named Jason. He cannot speak and has to use a wheelchair. He uses a communication book to communicate to people. In that book he has plain and boring looking words mentioned by Catherine herself. Catherine got a chance to make some words for him. The only thing she did differently was that she added colours to her cards. One day her friend Kristi asked if Jason would like to join Catherine to the community dance. The problem was that she never mentioned anything about Jason’s disability to Kristi. Because she didn’t know how Kristi would react.

By the end of the book, she begins to ask herself, what is normal? During the book, Catherine learns to accept herself, her family, and Jason just the way they are. She also learns not to be scared of what people think about her. The most important thing is that she learns to deal with her life and brother.

I think the themes of this book are acceptance and disabilities because Catherine had a hard time accepting David’s disabilities.

Christian perspective:

I don’t think this book was written from a Christian prespective. When Catherine felt alone and neglected by her parents, she should have went and prayed to God because God would never leave her and neglect her. We are his children and he loves us deeply and no matter what happens He would never abandon us. The other thing is that she still wished that her brother was normal but God made him that way and she should accept him just the way he is.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed the book. I liked how she learned to accept people just the way they are and that she shouldn’t be scared of what people think about her. I think Cynthia Lord was trying to tell her readers that no one is perfect. There are flaws in everybody, not just with people with special needs.We all try to make things perfect, but sometimes things don’t end up the way we want them to be. I would recommend this book to a person who loves realistic fiction books and especially those people who have to grow up with a brother or a sister with a disability.

Every soul a star

Title: Every soul a star
Author: Wendy Mass
Publisher: Hachette book group
Place and year of publication: New York, 2008
Numbers of pages: 322
Where you found the book: In the school’s library

Story review:

This book is written in 3 perspectives: Ally, Bree and Jack. If they were in a same school, they won’t even talk to each other.

Ally, she lives in Mood shadow campground, Middle of nowhere, U.S.A. She will not and cannot imagine life anywhere else. But fate has different plans for her, after the eclipse she has to “civilization “or in other words in a city. She is shocked so she and Bree make a plan. They even helped Jack and Mr. Silver in Mr.Silver's project with Ryan, Melony, Bree, Kenny (her brother). They had time of their life. Next afternoon, they saw their saw the eclipse right above their heads.

Bree is a popular, pretty and believes that she got switched at birth because her parents and her sister are geniuses. She wants to be a model .When her parents told her that they are moving to a campground; she was crushed because she’s not actually a nature girl. When they arrived, she decided she would never survive here. She got together with Ally and Kenny to make a plan. She even looked at the moon through a telescope. Then she realized that her "inner geek" is realeased. When she saw the eclipse she never ever saw anything that beautiful.

Jack is an overweight and always lonely plus no friends, just failed Mr, Silver’s science class. So, instead of doing summer school Mr. Silver offers him to be his assistant at an eclipse tour. He’ll write a report at the end and that will count as his science credit. On the way he made a strong connection with an old lady named Stella(he met her on the bus) and Ally. He plans to miss the eclipse.

As the eclipse is approaching all three of them are looking for something(even though they might not know what it is). In the end would they find it...or not.

Christian perspective:

I don’t think this book was written in a Christian perspective. Ally and Bree should have prayed and should have asked God to guide them. Before they actually put the plan into place they should have prayed and that if it didn’t work, they should know God should guide them, and he as always with you.

Your thoughts:

I really liked and enjoyed the book. I liked how the book was divided into 3 perspectives, and how sometimes one person starts from where the last person left off. I liked how each chapter ends off with the cliff hanger and it forces you to read more into it. I loved all the characters. My favourite one was Ally. The reason why I thought she was a nature loving girl, cheerful and did not care what people thought about her. I think the name of the book “ Every Soul A Star” correctly because every soul is as precious as a star. If could recommend this book to anyone it would be a person intrested in Science or a person who just loves realistic fiction.