Early Word: Fight

Fight

Craig Groeschel

PD: 10.22.13 by Zondervan

Summary:

Author and pastor Craig Groeschel helps you uncover who you really are---a man created in the image of God with a warrior's heart---and how to fight the good fight for what's right. You will find the strength to fight the battles you know you need to fight---the ones that determine the state of your heart, the quality of your marriage, and the spiritual health of your family. Craig will also look at examples from the Bible, including our good buddy Samson. Yep, the dude with the rippling biceps and hippie hair and a thing for Delilah. You may be surprised how much we have in common with this guy. By looking at his life, you'll learn how to defeat the demons that make strong men weak. You'll become who God made you to be: A man who knows how to fight for what's right. And don't you dare show up for this fight unarmed. Learn how to fight with faith, with prayer, and with the Word of God It's time to fight like a man. For God's Sake, FIGHT

Thoughts:

In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him down or cut him
'Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains
Yes, he still remains ...

"The Boxer" - Paul Simon

My dad is the boxer of my family. Not professionally. When I was little, he knocked out the boogie men in my dreams and under my bed. In every matter, he always instilled the need to help others. My dad has always helped others from pulling off the side of the road to help repair someone else's tire to freely giving up his holidays to help feed the homeless.

All fathers are boxers. They get knocked down a lot. I have seen my dad take some pretty hard hits which has left lasting effects. The distinction between the best fighters and all the others is that the best ones always get back up to answer the bell.

Craig Groeschel has written a book in order to help men keep up the good fight. Divided into five sections, the book takes the reader through the rounds which affect men everywhere and how to come out a championship belt winner in every area of his life.

Rating: 4.5/5

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy through Booksneeze.



Early Word: Carolyne Letters

The Carolyne Letters

Abigail B. Calkin

PD: 09.24.13 by Book Sparks Publishing

Book Summary:

Amelia: young, naive, in love. Geoff: charming, narcissistic, intelligent. In a decidedly European affair, a young couple consummates a courtship destined for differences. The resultant pregnancy provides a haunting yet charming backdrop for the challenges of love and its often unwanted decisions.

In the first person and in a creative journal style, author Abigail Calkin explores three choices that Amelia can make—give birth, give the baby up for adoption, or abortion. The resultant exploration and mature reflection provides a unique and rich literary backdrop for the choices each young woman faces when pregnant.

My Thoughts:

I love the written word. I love that I was born into a generation that is consumed with technology. I only need 140 characters or less to send out a written message about my thoughts, feelings, disappointments, and/or celebrations into the world. Tweet! Social media has significantly impacted my daily life.  In the morning, I can connect with publications, blogs, Facebook and/or Twitter in order to find out what is happening in the world around me professionally and personally.  Simultaneously, I will be alerted on my I-phone that, House of Hades by Rick Riordan is scheduled to come out on October 8, 2013 and my grandmother is looking for Gluten-free recipes.

 It wasn’t long ago, that people were shy about what they revealed to each other. People were frightened to let other people know their true fears and doubts. They would hide behind a façade of being completely in control allowing others to believe in their confidence and knowledge. People thought their world was perfect, but was it really?

Throughout the 1960's, women, such as Amelia, sat riddled with the guilt, anxiety, and the weight of their choices. Pressured by society for her decision, Amelia was forced grow up a little quicker than she anticipated so she chronicles her thoughts throughout each day in a letter to herself and later to her daughter, Carolyne, explaining her decision. Each lettered entry allows the reader a side by side view of Amelia's thoughts as she's living them. Her anguish and torment flow through her words and really capture the essence of the perspective of those times.

Rating: 3/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review



Early Word: FreakBoy

Freak Boy

Kristin Elizabeth Clark

PD: 10.22.13 by Farrar Straus Giroux (MacMillan)

I love reading acknowledgments. They offer a rare glimpse into the view of the author. The author of FreakBoy shared a very special acknowledgment to fellow author, Ellen Hopkins- ..."who, when I went to her, wringing my hands and whining to her that she  needed to write something for gender-variant kids, listened patiently, then said, 'No, this is a story you need to write yourself.' " I'm so glad you did. My hat's off to you, Kristin Elizabeth Clark, because this is a PHENOMENAL story!

This summary is what caught my eye:

From the outside, Brendan Chase seems to have it pretty easy. He’s a star wrestler, a video game aficionado, and a loving boyfriend to his seemingly perfect match, Vanessa. But on the inside, Brendan struggles to understand why his body feels so wrong—why he sometimes fantasizes having long hair, soft skin, and gentle curves. Is there even a name for guys like him? Guys who sometimes want to be girls? Or is Brendan just a freak?

And this part intrigued me:

In razor-sharp verse, Kristin Clark folds three narratives into one powerful story: Brendan trying to understand his sexual identity, Vanessa fighting to keep her and Brendan’s relationship alive, and Angel struggling to confront her demons

 I am no stranger to books written in verse. Some free verse books written from different perspectives often introduced too many characters with too little character development which made the book really difficult to follow. I was a little skeptical of this book for that reason.

Freakboy is AMAZING!! Written from three different perspectives, the author writes as though the reader can easily see the world through each character's eyes. The ability of a book to act as a gateway into another world where a person can experience someone else's life for a little bit and shut out the outside world has always been the reason reading is my all time favorite pastime. For transgendered teens, or anyone really, who is living in a world where they can't be their true selves, reading offers a way to see new avenues of possibility. There is hope beyond their current circumstance. This book is that light in the dark.

Bottom Line: Read this!

Let your freak flag fly! We acknowledge you!





Early Word: Magic Words

Magic Words

Edward Field

PD: 9.1.13 by Vanita Books

As a small child, I remember when we had indoor recess and  my teacher would say, "come sit in a circle,children!" Everyone would race to the circular rug anxiously waiting in hopes that they would be the one chosen to hear the teacher's initial phrase. As she whispered her secret message into the first child's ear,the other children started giggling in anticipation. The string of words passed along an invisible line from ear to ear through cupped hands and tiny, whispering voices until the child at the end of the circle suddenly jumps up exclaiming a phrase completely different than the original one. The message became muddled in translation. Communication dropped along the line.

In Magic Words,Edward Field weaves strands of an old Inuit story together to create a cautionary tale of words and the important web which connects and affects everything they touch. The sixteen page book portrays such an important concept into a small easy-to-understand story line perfect for young readers complete with beautifully illustrated pictures.

Rating: 4.5

I received this pre-pub from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Early Word: The After Girls

The After Girls
Leah Konen

PD: 4.18.13 by F+W/Adams Media

My Summary:

Tick tock goes the clock and Ella, Astrid, and Sydney watch their childhood memories fade away like dandelions seeds blowing in the wind.

Standing in the lonely cabin reminiscing over pictures that had been taken, the three girls cling to the security of knowing they will always be together.

Tick tock goes the clock and high school graduation is now approaching leaving the girls to plan the perfect summer.

Unfortunately for one, the clock stops.

Frozen in time, Astrid’s body lies on the floor “her gorgeous red hair splayed out around her, her blue dress—the same one she’d worn to graduation—crumpled and wrinkled. The key—the one that was always tied around her neck, … lay flat on her chest.”

Ella and Sydney feel abandoned and alone.

Their worlds have been turned upside down leaving the girls to make sense of this horrific tragedy and to seek answers to their many questions.

How could they have spent so many seconds, minutes, hours, days, months or years with their best friend and not know her true thoughts?

How could they have missed the signs?

Could they have saved Astrid from this horrible fate?

Watch how the grief-stricken girls conquer their own demons while uncovering the facts behind the death of their friend.

My Thoughts:

After discvering this book, I have come to find that this is one of those rare finds that you would find at a garage sale marked down for $.10 which turns out to be more valuable than its description portrays. I really enjoyed the book. I am definitely suggesting my library buy it. This book provides a realistic look at loss and how its grasp reaches far beyond a person's death.  The storyline is great, the mystery is thrilling and spooky, and the characters are interesting to watch as they fight past their own demons in an effort to grieve differently.  

Rating: 4

I received this pre-pub from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Early Word: The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door

 

 

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/j3zz/2327679492/">deepinswim</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

 

The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door

 Karen Finneyfrock

 

PD: 02.21.13 by Viking Juvenile

 

Celia Door's adrenaline begins to pump into her bloodstream. Her heartrate jumps. Her blood pressure surges. Her fight or flight response makes her drop the f-- bomb on her arch-nemesis, Sandy Firestone when she learns Sandy has set out to ruin her life. Eighth grade would be forgotten or would it be? Now Celia enters her freshman year guarded by her dark eyeliner and black combat boots. For Celia, the process is simple and clear. Revenge is natural, but so is poison, and poison, by definition is deadly. Then Celia meets Drake,the cool new kid from New York with the savvy style who trusts Celia with his secret and solicits her to help him make his dream come true. Will Celia's anger and thirst for justice act like a poison in her own heart and ultimately destroy her relationship with Drake?

 

My thoughts: I  felt drawn to Celia's voice as she came across as both tough and vulnerable. The author's descriptions of bullying and family problems were very relatable in today's society for young adults. Sandy was written as a typical mean girl and  as the author revealed additional things about Celia’s past, my heart ached more for her. This is such a great read and I think alot of young adults would relate to something in this book. I am definitely buying this for my library's collection.

 

Rating: 5

 

I received the pre-pub from Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.