Bridget Jones’s Baby

Posted on October 27, 2019July 3, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Bridget Jones’s Baby
by Helen Fielding

Unlike many of my other book posts on here, which are children’s books or young adult, this one is definitely rated R. There’s language and adult topics, so just be forewarned.

Bridget Jones’s Baby follows the story of Bridget ending up pregnant at an “older,” although undisclosed, age. The main trouble is that she doesn’t know who the father is. If you’ve seen the movie version, the main difference is that Daniel Cleaver is one of the potential fathers in the book.

One of my favorite themes of this book is the line that keeps popping up from both Bridget and her mother, but which is probably felt all around–“This isn’t how it was supposed to be.” I think one of the biggest lessons of motherhood, for me, is that we can’t plan how it’s going to turn out. I try my best sometimes, I really do, but as I learned very early on in the journey, there’s no way to make it be what I planned, for better or worse. And I really love that Bridget learns to embrace that. She accepts the situation and keeps loving her baby and moving forward. I love the hilarity of it all, but the scenes with Bridget and her dad are my favorites.

I’ve read the first two Bridget Jones books, and I was so upset at Mark’s death in the third (which takes place after this 4th one) that I couldn’t bring myself to read it. After some poking around, I’m still a little unclear as to whether this book of Bridget Jones’s Baby was written before or after the movie. During my research, I became side-tracked reading reviews, which I normally don’t let myself do, but the general consensus of this book seemed to be that people felt it was not up to par with the first three, nor with the movie version of it. People brought up good points, and etc. etc. But my personal take here is that these books are just fun. And, I am not trying to downplay them at all by saying that. I love the books AND, rare as it is for me to like movie versions, the movies too. But I read and watch them as an escape and an opportunity to laugh out loud. And that is what this one has been for me. A quick, fun and funny read about the lovable and very human Bridget Jones. So, if you’d like to examine the book and find faulty plot points or whatnot, don’t read it. If you want a good laugh with your old friend Bridget, then I think you’ll really enjoy it.

Ever After: Book of Legends

Posted on October 27, 2019July 3, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Ever After: Book of Legends
by Shannon Hale

At Ever After High, the students are all descendants of fairy tale characters. In their 2nd year of school, they will sign the Book of Legends. This book binds them to carry out their roles in the stories we know so well, as their parents did before them and so on and so on back in time. But Raven, daughter of the Evil queen from the “Snow White” tale, doesn’t like the idea of being stuck as the evil character of this story. As Raven questions whether to “be good” by signing the book and agreeing to her fate of being bad or being rebellious so she can be good, her new friend, and potential future target, Apple White, tries her best to convince Raven to go ahead and sign on to the agreed-upon story. Apple wants her happy ending, even if it means a poisoned apple along the way.

I was initially drawn to Shannon Hale many years ago by judging one of her books by its cover. With Ever After, however, I avoided it because of its cover. But since we’ve been all things Shannon Hale in our house of late (and I love her work), I gave it a try. It wasn’t until after reading it, I learned the backstory of how this book came about. It was a concept created by Mattel to pair with its Monsters High line. But, regardless of origin, and my aversion to the Bratz-style art, I always enjoy Ms. Hale’s books, and this was no exception. The book is definitely geared towards teens, and perhaps reluctant readers, but the story was good. I really enjoyed the age-old idea of deciding whether to embrace the familiarity and comfort of the life you’re expected to live vs. choosing to “write your own story,” even if it means you don’t know where it will lead. (I’m also a complete sucker for puns, and this book is full of them.)

This book is a series, and I haven’t read the others yet. And while it may not be for everyone, I thought it was an enjoyable read.

Liar and Spy

Posted on September 7, 2019July 17, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Liar and Spy (2012) by Rebecca Stead

I, like so many others, loved Stead’s Newbery-winning, When You Reach Me, and was inspired to read more of her books. Liar and Spy is also a middle-school novel, and while it is a little subtler and a bit “quieter” than the other, it is still a wonderful read. It touches on so many middle school issues – losing friends, teasing/bullying, trying to make new friends, family challenges, facing fears, moving, and being different. I love the way Georges (pronounced “George”) interacts with his dad. I love the off-beat homeschoolers he befriends. I love how everything comes together like a puzzle at the end. And I especially love the way Georges is able to use his situation and feelings to help him understand others. This is a great book for any age, but how wonderful to have a book geared towards middle schoolers.

Love, Stargirl

Posted on September 5, 2019July 17, 2020 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Love, Stargirl (2007) by Jerry Spinelli

This sequel to Jerry Spinelli’s award-winning, Stargirl, follows the free-thinking, homeschooled teen on her adventures in a new town. The book is written in a diary/letter format by date, and chronicles a year of Stargirl’s life. She befriends unlikely people, much like Pollyanna or Amelie, and changes their lives for the better, just by being herself. Stargirl’s spirit and love of life are bound to rub off on the reader, as well.

Here are some activities/thoughts to extend learning based on this book (Spoilers included!):

–Dootsie struggles to understand the concept of April Fool’s jokes. Research the background of this “holiday” and come up with some fun and harmless jokes you might play next April 1st.

–This book is written as a long letter to Leo, but it manages to tell the story of Stargirl in the process. Write an extended letter to a friend that helps tell part of your story.

–Betty Lou has a night-blooming cereus in her yard. Research this incredible plant and see if you can find a cutting of one to start your own cereus.

–Research the Northern Mockingbird and its eating habits.

–Stargirl’s town hosts an annual “Blobfest.” Research this 1950s movie and, if you’re feeling ‘brave,’ rent it too. Based on this information, do some Internet research to see if you can figure out the town this book is based on.

–Stargirl practices meditation. Find someone who practices meditating and ask him/her about it. People meditate in very different ways. Read about some of them, and then give it a try for yourself.

–Stargirl’s dad is a milkman. Although this seems like an old-fashioned concept, there are still milk deliveries to this day. Research the history of milk deliveries, the modes of transportation used, milk chutes, and what types of products were/are delivered. Why would milk delivery make more sense than buying it from the store?

–Margie’s Donut shop is featured throughout the book. Have you ever tried making your own donuts? Look up a recipe, and give it a try!

–Alvina and Dootsie become like little sisters to Stargirl. The Big Brother/Big Sister organization actually has a program that matches teenagers or adults with “little” brothers or sisters. Contact your local chapter to find out if it is something you’d be interested in.

–When Stargirl sees Perry in the library, he is reading “Ondine.” Read this play and think about why Spinelli may have chosen this to include in the book.

–Research the equinoxes and solstices. Do they always occur on the same dates? Think about Stargirl’s relationship with the passage of time and why it seems appropriate that her solstice calendar is important to her but clocks are not.

–Create your own solstice calendar, or, at least, hold a celebration for one.

–What do you think Enchanted Hill looked like? Draw a picture that shows the calendar or the celebration.

–Betty Lou is afraid to go out of her house. What is the name for this fear? Research the causes of this phobia and how it might be overcome.

A Time Apart

Posted on September 1, 2019September 14, 2019 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

A Time Apart (1999)
by Diane Stanley

When 13-year old Ginny finds out her mom has cancer, she also finds out she’ll be spending her summer with a dad she barely knows. Not only that, she’ll be heading from Texas to England where her dad is a professor heading an Iron Age project. Ginny is plopped in the middle of this experiment, living and breathing life as an Iron Age girl would have. Along with a small group of families and couples, Ginny must give up the luxuries of modern life to become a participant on this farm.

Diane Stanley is the author of one of my favorite books, Bella at Midnight. A Time Apart is definitely an enjoyable and interesting read. Since I usually gravitate towards “lighter” books, it was different for me to read something discussing a serious illness and a strained father/daughter relationship. There wasn’t anything too horribly depressing or dramatic, just a touch more reality than I typically read in my light-hearted children’s books.

Apparently, there was a 1970s early “reality show,” where participants did live on an Iron Age farm similar to the one discussed in the book. I’m excited to watch and read more about that.