Schuyler's Monster : A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughterby Robert Rummel-Hudson.
Robert is actually a friend. I met Robert when MSC and I were first dating. We were so surprised to hear about Robert's book (and family) when another UTA friend called us one night and told us to turn on the news.
The book is a heartwarming memoir and wonderful account of a parent's advocacy for special needs children. Robert's words, sometimes very blunt and overwhelming, convey never ceasing desire to have the very best for his daughter, no matter her abilities or disabilities.
Not only am I reading this book because Robert is a friend, but because of my invovlement in education. I do not have a background in special education. When I was a child my elementary school had inclusion students from the School for the Deaf and the special education school located next door. I was one of the students partnered with one of the inclusion students. I never saw the students as different, just from a different school. This idea continued on through my years as a classroom teacher, having inclusion students from this same School for the Deaf, and even now as a share time with the special needs students in my school. I love the way Robert advocates for his daughter, Schuyler. He fights for her on a daily basis.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa GregoryIn this historical fiction account of the lives of Mary and Anne Boleyn, we learn how Mary was the first Boleyn to catch the eye of King Henry VIII. I have fallen in love with the writing style of Philippa Gregory (thanks Monica for the recommendation0 and want to read everything she has written.
My love of history combined with the fictionalized account of Henry VIII. I love this time period and I love historical fiction. A win, win for me!
Identical by Ellen HopkinsI was introduced to this book through a blog (I don't remember which one). The synopsis intrigued me..."Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own deark secret, and that's where their differences begin.
For Kaleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All the Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?" (Amazon.com)
Now, doesn't that sound intrigueing? I thought so. I have always been fascinated by twins. This book, however became something like a challenge...it is written in prose. This is something I did not expect. Not hard to read, rather easy actually, but very different from anything I have ever read. It is a Young Adult book, so something a middle school / high school student might read. I am intrigued by Hoplkins' writing style and plan to read some of her other books.
Frill Kill by Laura Childs
I just started this fifth book in Child's scrapbook mystery series. As a scrapbooker, I love reading these mysteries about the owner of a scrapbook store in New Orleans, Carmela and her best friend Ava, the owner of a voodoo magic shop. There have been times I have felt as if it would be fun to be Carmela, except for her involvement in murders. They are just fun to read...the next one in the series (on the table waiting for me to crack the cover) is Death Swatch.
Okay, here you go...yes, I am reading four books right now, but they are all different, so I don't get them confused too often, as if I could...Henry did not have a twin, Schuyler is not involved in murders, Carmela does not have a monster to slay, and Kaleigh is not having an affair with a king...I don't think!
