The 25 Cent Miracle by Theresa Nelson

I originally read this book when I was in the 4th grade, and I love it as much now as I did then. For a young adult book, I felt the subject matter was something that many kids could relate to: Family, and more specifically that families come in many forms, but are always there when you need them. I felt the characters were also very relatable.

I know that some reviews I have read previously for this book have indicated that they feel the 'over' use of hyphens (-) and ellipses (…) are not needed. I do disagree with this, as the author was trying to utilize these to indicate the slow drawl that a Southern accent would have, including these characters who were from Texas. Anyone who is from the Southeastern US or spoken to someone from the Southeastern US, understands that we speak slowly and we have an accent that accommodates our drawn out speech patterns. The author is merely using these punctuation marks in the capacity to which they are afforded, in this instance, to show the long pauses and drawn out words that the Southern dialect utilizes.

Overall, this book is a great read, regardless of age, and I highly recommend reading it for yourself!

Comments

The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker

I did receive this book at no charge for my unbiased, honest opinion. I absolutely loved this book! While it is listed as an adult fiction, it could easily be a great read for Young Adults as well. Abra is fearless! She is a wonderful lead character who is dynamic. I loved reading about her overcoming hear fears in order to do what she knew was right. Without a doubt, she is one of the best female characters created in a heroine/lead role. The characters were also just as relatable. The storyline was easy to follow and excellently detailed. I thought it was brilliant how the author incorporated history and legend/folklore into the story. It afforded the narrative a sense of realism that is otherwise otherworldly tale. It was incredibly imaginative story and an overall great read!

After the Shadows by Amanda Cabot

Disclaimer: Please note, I did receive this book from the publisher at no charge for my unbiased, honest opinion. When I read the publisher's synopsis of this book, I selected it on a whim. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy reading it, but I decided to select it anyway. Even after the first chapter, I was unsure if I would be able to finish it. However, the more I read, the more the story developed into a book I absolutely loved! It had elements that provoked surprise, compassion, frustration, and so many other emotions. It was a good example to show how everyone deals with grief and life's obstacles differently. Further, it is a good example of how a small, southern town in America really is: how isolating it can be; how important family and reputation can be in these areas. Neighbors really take care of each other (depending on who you are) or they may completely ignore you. If your reputation is tarnished they will ostracize and abandon you. Between hoping Em...

The Aging Brain by Dr. Timothy R. Jennings, MD

I did receive this book at no charge from the publisher for my unbiased, honest opinion. Dr. Jennings addresses Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease that are plaguing our elderly in ever increasing rates. He discusses how we might live longer and more healthily if we address our lifestyles and choices. He explains how stress and poor diet, among other things, exacerbate the issues old age presents and how these same habits, stress and diet and others, lead to a higher chance of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, especially for those when a predisposition for either ailment. He further explains steps you can do to help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease from developing. I felt that although he is only reiterating many of the same things uttered by many in the medical community, he further backed up his standpoint with well laid reasons and breaks down everything so that it is easy to understand. I, too, have a history of Alzheimer’s disease in my family, and I f...

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