Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

This was a really fun read.  It is the second in Ally Carter's Heist Society novels.  The first one is all about stealing paintings, but in this it is about stealing the Cleopatra Emerald which everyone says is cursed.  Kat and Hale and their gang decide to do it, and it seems that maybe it is cursed after all.  What does a con do when they are conned?  A fun, teen read.  I enjoy their figuring out how they will steal things and get away--so totally beyond my world that it is fun.  A good lesson in what you think you can do by yourself and when you really need your friends, too.  If you haven't already, check out Heist Society before you read this.

Rebekah by Orson Scott Card

Rebekah is the second in Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis  trilogy.  I didn't like this one as much as I enjoyed Sarah, the first one.  The story of Rebekah's early life and being found by the well were very good, but once she got with Issac it seemed like they were just arguing all the time.  It was interesting the author's take on Issac and how he dealt with almost being sacrificed by his father.  This plays into a lot of why they argue and what makes Issac how is he.  Yes, these men were prophets, but prophets are still men and human and have the whole range of emotions and experiences everyone else had--or sometimes they have way worse than most have had.  I am sure dealing with that was not an easy thing for Issac, and that issue brings up a lot of the arguing and discussions that Rebekah and Issac have.  Issac never feels like he is quiet good enough, and then it goes in the story of Esau and Jacob.  It tells of their growing up, and how Rebekah helps Jacob to trick Issac to give him the birthright.  It was a good read, interesting, but I just felt like the arguing/discussions of Rebekah and Issac were a little too much too often.  I am anxious to read the last called Rachael and Leah and see how that compares. 

Crossed by Ally Condie

CCrossed by Ally Condie is the sequel to Matched which came out last year.  It is a dystopia society type novel along the lines of Hunger Games, but way less violent.  Is there really freedom when one has not choice?  There is a love triangle between Cassia, Ky, and Xander.  Cassia decides she will do anything to get back with Ky including leaving the Society and life as she has known.  Journeys are made and rivers and mountains are crossed as both Ky and Cassia search for each other and what they really want and where they really want to go.  Now that they have a choice, what will they choose?  I enjoyed it, and the ending leaves you waiting impatiently for next November when the final book in the trilogy comes out.  If you haven't read Matched, then definitely put it on your reading list so you can read Crossed. 

Sarah by Orson Scott Card

Sarah by Orson Scott Card is the first in the Women of Genesis trilogy.  It is historical fiction based on Abraham and Sarah's story in the bible.  I loved this book.  When you read it you have to realize this isn't based on a lot of fact, because there isn't a lot in Genesis to go by, but Card does a wonderful job keeping the characters true to their greatness and creating a wonderful history and story.  Sarah is such a wonderful women, such a woman of faith.  You cry for her when she can't bare a child, and cry when she makes the decision to give Hagar to Abram and then you cry for joy when she finally has Isaac.  You watch her build her faith and grow.  I thought it was a very faith promoting book and very uplifting.  I would highly recommend it.  It will make reading Genesis more interesting next time around for me.   I am looking forward to reading the other 2 in the series Rebekah and Rachel and Leah.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

This book was amazing!  It is a nonfiction about a World War II plane crew that crashes, how the survivors make in on a raft for the longest time ever known in the Pacific Ocean and then as POW's in Japan.  This was hard to read at times and turned my stomach as I read about the treatment of the POW's by their captors, but I had such an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what those brave men did and went through for others, myself, my country, and my freedom.  A friend said, "It was an honor to read this book," and I agree.  Anything that makes us understand and better appreciate our history is well worth our time.  WWII has so many stories from the millions that were involved on both sides, and we can learn and grow so much from those, and it is so important that we do.  This is a wonderful example.  Laura Hillenbrand has a wonderful writing style that takes you right there to help you appreciate it even better.  How these men went through all this, came out alive (which is a miracle) and then were able to overcome and move on and even forgive (which is an even bigger miracle) is so uplifting and amazing and a tribute to God and the human spirit.  Please check this one out.  You will not regret it.

The Ranger's Apprentice Series update

So, I am loving John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series.  My whole family is.  My 11 year old girl has finished all 10, my 13 year old girl is on #9.  My 9 year old girl is on #6.  My husband is on #7, and I am currently half-way through #5.  My 6 year old boy hasn't started them yet :) 

Just a word of advice when you read this series.  Read them in this order 1,2,3,4,7,5,6,8,9,10.  #7 needs to be read after #4, and then just go from #7 to #5 and continue on.  Flanagan skipped several years in the stories between #4 and #5, and he realized this and went back and filled in those missing years with #7, so read them in that order.  Such a good series!!!!

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

Described as a "philosophical self-help humorous travel memoir" this was an interesting read.  It is non-fiction.  It took me a while to get through it, and he was a little more crass than I normally like--normally don't like anything crass or with language.  This had a little of both, so I can't highly recommend it, but it was interesting.  Eric Weiner is a grump, and he was determined to find the world's happiest place.  Each chapter he goes to a different country and tries to figure out why that place is happy or not.  A positive therapy researcher--or a happiness researcher-- has rated the countries in the world from the happiest to the least happy, so Weiner goes to check them out.  Netherlands, Switzerland, Iceland, Thailand, and Bhutan are some of the happiest.  Weiner goes to each of these to see why.  Moldova is one of the least happy, and he also goes there to find out why.  Britain, India, Qatar, and the US are also visited and discussed.  It was interesting to learn about the different places and what really does make people happy.  Hate to over use the word "interesting," but it was that and informative.