Today's read... Someone for Sasquatch by Jeanne Moran

Today's read should be packed with fantasy. I haven't read a sasquatch read in quite a while, but I have the feeling this book holds more than that. Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect, so I'm just going to dive right in and see what happens.

SOMEONE FOR SASQUATCH

by Jeanne Moran

Middle Grade Fantasy

224 pages

ages 8 to 12

When some of her magic-filled arrows don't work, a creative Friendship Fairy invents a new way to connect humans. A rule-following Love Fairy makes trouble for her by reporting this violation to Headquarters. Other fairies begin to take sides.

To settle the growing conflict, Headquarters creates a contest. The two fairies are challenged to find a human companion for the loneliest creature on earth: Sasquatch.

But while the two fairies bicker and compete, they learn about a plot to destroy not only Sasquatch but all cryptid species-including fairies...

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125702131-someone-for-sasquatch

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Sasquatch-Jeanne-Moran/dp/B0C1J1LZ5C

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/someone-for-sasquatch-jeanne-moran/1143499420

BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/p/books/someone-for-sasquatch-jeanne-moran/20088109

MY TIDBITS

Fantasy, mother nature, and friendship come together in an adventurous read with a touch of humor and tons of heart.

As the last remaining of her kind, the Sasquatch is the loneliest creature on Earth. Father Time and Mother Nature are determined to help her find a companion, and humans appear to be the best shot at success, but it's unclear how that will work. When two fairies are discovered to have broken the rules, they are placed in a head-to-head competition to see which one finds a companion for the Sasquatch first. Not only are these two fairies as different from each other as fire is to water, but they soon run across a larger problem. Something or someone is plotting to destroy the magical creatures completely, and to save everyone, they need to learn to work together.

This book dives into a rich fantasy world, which holds not only fairies, trolls, and other mythical creatures but also weaves in fantastical entities such as Mother Nature, Father Time and more. Then, the author throws in modern humans to create two realms joined by portals. To make this even more exciting, the fantasy realm carries familiar aspects from the modern world. It creates a rich world with enough familiarity to draw in, while still allowing the dreams of fantasy to work their magic.

The characters hold quite a bit of personality and spunk. It's fun to meet every single one. The back-and-forth especially between the fairies adds humor, even when more serious tones sink in. Along with the humor and mystery, there are also important messages about friendship. Not only are the fairies very serious about their mission to join humans, but while helping Sasquatch and solving the other problems, they also need to learn to get along themselves. It creates a fun read with heart for more than just fairy fans.

And here she is...

Challenge and change energize me.

In my career as a pediatric physical therapist, I helped hundreds of children gain strength and motor skills. That left me time (ha!) to teach Sunday School, direct an after-school program, organize an international student-athlete exchange, and help plan and implement construction of a new community playground. Along the way, I learned a bit about tang soo do and sudoku, tap dancing and German, whole foods cooking, and the fun of selling on eBay. Anything to avoid cleaning! 

I write fiction and nonfiction for young and young-minded readers surrounded by vinyl records, countless books, and lots of dust bunnies.  

https://jeannemoran.weebly.com/

Review: The Path Divided by Jeanne Moran

THE PATH DIVIDED

Risking Exposure, Book 2

by Jeanne Moran

Middle Grade Historical

295 pages

Every choice has a consequence.

When a magical picture frame reveals the danger facing a teenage traitor, her best friend hatches a plan to sneak her out of Nazi Germany. Options are few. Choices are desperate.

Decades later, an aged Nazi hiding under an alias plans to die with his secrets intact. Confronted with his role in the fate of his sister and her best friend, he must decide: maintain his charade or face the consequences of the path he chose so long ago.

In this powerful conclusion to Risking Exposure, interwoven tales of guilt, sacrifice, and hope crack the thin divide between personal safety and loyalty to those we claim to love. 

MY TIDBITS

With lots of tension, emotion and a tiny dab of magic, this is an intriguing tale which brings a bit of World War II to life in a way appropriate for ages 10 to 16.

After her parents' death, Rennie works on a farm and leads a quiet life as a girl in Nazi Germany should. She wonders how her best friend, a girl suffering from polio, is and hopes that after her disappearance that she's fine. Scarred by their father and the brutal murder, Werner, Rennie's older brother, fully supports the Nazi cause and is disturbed by his sister's attitude to the undesirables. Rennie doesn't want to do anything to hurt her brother, but she also can't turn a blind-eye, especially when it comes to her best friend. Thanks to a magical picture given to her, Rennie can see the paths change color with each decision she makes. But each decision, while helping one side, puts the other in danger. Rennie hopes to find a way to save both her brother and friend, or maybe must choose only one.

This is the second book in the series, and while it isn't extremely hard to sink into book two without reading the first one, I would still recommend reading them in order so as to fully understand the circumstances and characters.

This book is written from different points of views and time lines. While Rennie lives during WWII, Werner's part is placed more in the future, long after the war has ended. Both also include flashbacks, which help the needed emotions and situations slide together. By doing this, the author has done a wonderful job at bringing across the depth of the attitudes surrounding the characters and makes it easier to understand their decisions and the impact it made on their lives.

Unlike many books which take a look at this time period, the author brings the problems and difficulties across in a way young readers can connect with. Rennie is a normal girl with a golden heart. Her concern for others and recognition of the situation around her make her easy to root for. It also becomes clear how difficult it is to make certain decisions when placed at a type of crossroads. I found the magical painting to be a wonderful way to bring this problematic across. Every decision and action has consequences, and not all are always the way we'd hope them to be.

The plot hits upon issues which are appropriate for the age group, and while it is sold as a young adult book, I'd recommend it even for upper middle graders. It takes a more personal, every-day life view of WWII and brings Germany and some normal citizens' problems across in a very realistic way. But the steady pacing and tension situations make sure this isn't only a read for those interested in history. It's a gripping read which will draw even more history-shy readers in


And here she is...

In her career as a pediatric physical therapist, Jeanne Moran helped hundreds of children with disabilities gain strength and motor skills. That left her spare time (ha!) to teach Sunday School, direct an after-school program, organize an international student-athlete exchange, and help plan and implement construction of a new community playground. Along the way, she learned a bit about tang soo do and sudoku, tap dancing and German, whole foods cooking and the joy of selling on eBay. Anything to avoid cleaning!

Jeanne writes fiction and non-fiction for young and young-minded readers surrounded inspirational quotes, vinyl records, countless books, and innumerable dust bunnies.  

http://jeannemoran.weebly.com

Review: Risking Exposure by Jeanne Moran

RISKING EXPOSURE

by Jeanne Moran

Middle Grade Historical Fiction

184 pages

 Munich, 1938. Nazi Germany. A timid Hitler Youth member contracts polio. Photographs she takes of fellow polio patients are turned into propaganda, mocking people with disabilities – people just like her. She too has become an outsider, a target of Nazi scorn and possible persecution. Her only weapon is her camera.

    This historical fiction novel unveils a lesser-known side of the Nazi agenda, the pogrom against people with disabilities. A sequel is in the works.

MY TIDBITS

Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, this story tackles some very difficult, historical themes. Still, the author does a tremendous job in presenting the happenings in a manner kids ages 9+ can easily delve into, sympathize with and digest.

Sophie is a normal, fourteen-year-old girl, who following the law, takes her place in the Hitler Youth. Her talent as a photographer promises her a special role in the group, one she's proud of until she realizes what that really means. Her doubts in the Reich's intentions deepen when she contracts polio and finds herself facing life as a 'cripple'. The growing rumors surrounding her father aren't helping matters either.

Sophie grabs from the very first page with her natural personality, a little self-doubt and a good gut feeling when things aren't as they should be. Although fourteen, there's still a bit of 'kid' in her and her friends, which makes her simply easy to like. Her character doesn't come across as old-fashioned or out of date, but rather seems as ordinary as a girl today. Her reactions and fears are very realistic, and the danger of the world around her hangs like a darkening shadow the entire way through without becoming overwhelming. It's simply a perfect mix.

This may be placed in the past, but the historic scenes come to life with descriptions which pull in but never weigh down. Although foreign, the settings are easy to picture and nothing seems forced or out of place. This is a world familiar enough to dive into and become a part of. Every now and then, a German word is thrown in, just enough to grab attention without ever causing confusion. To help out with the foreign terms (and as a fun language extra), a short glossary is also added at the very end. 

There are several important messages in the pages. Although the horrid circumstances surrounding the Jews is touched upon, this book focuses in on another group disliked by the Nazi regime--'the useless eater'. It also focuses on courage, learning to accept ones self, and standing up for what is right. In other words, this book is packed and leaves the reader with something to think about long after the book is set down. It's a historical fiction kids will get immersed in and enjoy, and is even fitting for a classroom situation.

But even with all of this, the book is simply a wonderful read that never has a boring moment and keeps a reader glued to the pages the entire way through. I can highly recommend it.

And here she is. . .

JEANNE MORAN!!!

- Challenge and change energize me. In my career as a pediatric physical therapist, I’ve helped hundreds of children gain strength and motor skills. That left me spare time (ha!) to teach Sunday School, direct an after-school program, organize an international student-athlete exchange, and help plan and implement construction of a new community playground. Along the way, I've learned a bit about tang soo do and sudoku, tap dancing and German, whole foods cooking, and the joy of selling on eBay. Anything to avoid cleaning! I write fiction and non-fiction for young and young-minded readers surrounded inspirational quotes, vinyl records, countless books, and innumerable dust bunnies.

 You can find her on her website : http://jeannemoran.weebly.com/about-me.html