Summer of the Gypsy Moths

While Stella’s flighty mother is drifting from one town to the next, Stella is sent to live with her Great Aunt Louise on Cape Cod. Even though Louise is kind of grumpy sometimes, Stella likes living with her. Louise keeps things nice, neat, and orderly, something Stella’s mom never did. Stella has high hopes that her mom will eventually settle in Cape Cod with her and Louise, and they’ll be a happy family.

One obstacle to that “happy family” scenario–along with Stella’s mom’s lack of reliability–may be Angel, a foster kid who’s also living with Louise. Angel and Stella are like oil and water, and they seem to work best when they stay far away from each other. Fate, however, seems to have other ideas.

When the girls discover that Louise has suddenly passed away, they must work together to decide what to do. Neither girl wants to go into group homes or anything like that, so they do the only thing they can think of. They keep Louise’s death a secret. They make up plausible excuses for Louise’s absence. They take care of the vacation cottages that Louise was responsible for. Stella takes comfort in cleaning, gardening, and keeping Louise’s prize blueberries alive. Both girls do what they must to survive as long as they can. It’s not easy, but Stella and Angel think they have no other choice. They must learn to rely on each other.

Both Stella and Angel have taken on more than any two kids should, but their predicament is bringing them closer together. They’re communicating, working together, and learning more about each other. They each have their own ways of coping with this horrible situation, and they’re doing the best they can.

But what happens when the secrecy finally becomes too much? When the truth is revealed, what will it mean for Stella, Angel, and their future? Will they find the sense of family and home they so desperately need? Will someone finally take care of them? Find out when you read Summer of the Gypsy Moths, a 14-15 South Carolina Book Award nominee by Sara Pennypacker!

Grandma’s Gloves

Grandma’s Gloves, written by Cecil Castellucci and illustrated by Julia Denos, was a nominee for the 2012-2013 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

The young girl in this story loves spending time with her grandmother, especially in the garden. Grandma teaches her everything she knows about gardening. When Grandma becomes sick with Alzheimer’s disease (based on the context of the story), the girl points out that Grandma always remembers to feed and care for her plants.

Eventually, Grandma passes away, and the girl is extremely saddened by the loss of one of the most important people in her world. She finds solace and a closeness with her grandmother’s memory in one of the things that she and her grandma shared–gardening.

While I dread using this book for a read-aloud (I can already see myself breaking down in front of a bunch of 1st graders), I think this book deals with a topic that nearly all young people will have to face–the death of a loved one. Grandma’s Gloves demonstrates that it’s okay to be sad and that the memories of those lost can always be kept alive.

Radiance

In Radiance, we are introduced to Riley Bloom, a twelve-year-old girl who died in a car accident and is not happy about it.  (Who would be?)  She crossed the bridge into the afterlife with her parents and her dog, but she’s still focused on the life—and the older sister—she left behind.  That’s all about to change, though.  It’s time for Riley to find her purpose Here (the author’s version of Heaven).  And just what is her purpose?  Well, she’s going to be a Soul Catcher, or someone who convinces souls tied to earth to make the journey across the bridge to Here.

Riley has no idea what she’s supposed to do, but The Council, in addition to giving her a job, has also provided her with a guide.  Bodhi is forever fourteen-years-old, kind of a dork (but with definite cute potential), and surely keeping secrets from Riley.  All of that has to be put aside, however, as Bodhi takes Riley on her first assignment.  They journey to England where a being known as Radiant Boy has haunted a castle for centuries.  It is up to Riley to convince him to cross the bridge and find a new life Here.  She’s convinced it will be a breeze, but can she succeed when so many Soul Catchers before her have failed?  What will happen if she fails?  What will happen if she succeeds?  What next?  And why is Bodhi so nervous about this particular assignment?  What else is going on?

Join Riley and Bodhi as they face their fears and learn that letting go can make them truly free when you read Radiance by Alyson Noël.

I think Radiance is great for upper elementary and middle grade readers.  It’s a quick, easy read, and the characters are memorable and engaging.  There is some scary imagery (an evil clown with dental instruments, for example), but the lesson about overcoming fear is more powerful than those images.  I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the second and third books in this series, Shimmer and Dreamland, soon.  The fourth book, Whisper, is due out sometime in 2012.

If you think you’d like Radiance or would like more information on this series and others by Alyson Noël, visit http://www.alysonnoel.com/index.php.