Review: A PATTERN FOR PEPPER by Julie Kraulis (C)

A PATTERN FOR PEPPER

Written and illustrated by Julie Kraulis

Release date: August 1st, 2017

Published by: Tundra Books (NY)

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: Hardcover

SUMMARY

Pepper is getting a dress made for a special occasion. It's the first dress that has ever been made just for her, and she wants it to be perfect. But what pattern is right for her?

Pepper is particular, and nothing works at first.

Dotted swiss? Too plain.

Houndstooth?

Not enough color.

Pinstripe?

Too glum.

As Pepper learns about each fabric, she finds a reason why it's just not the one. 

Will Pepper ever be able to find the perfect pattern?

Julie Kraulis takes readers on a journey through gorgeous patterns and their origins - from the mountains of Switzerland to the green grass of Scotland - in search of Pepper's ideal pattern. The incredible illustrations make for a dress, a character and a book that are impossible to forget.

MY REVIEW

It's not often that you come across a children's picture book that has so many amazing unique elements to it - it's soothing storytelling not only gives you the main character's good-natured adventure and are emotionally invested in the outcome, but you will also learn things that you will not soon forget! And when I say "you" I mean whomever is reading the book - whether you're a child, parent, teacher, etc.

In A PATTERN FOR PEPPER, Pepper is in need of a new dress for a special occasion so her mother takes her to their family tailor, who is conveniently named Mr. Taylor - which may have been done purposely for the young reader to remember and relate Mr. Taylor to his job as a tailor, but made me and my boys giggle at the coincidence... Mr. Taylor is determined to help Pepper find the perfect fabric for her dress and introduces her to many patterns - houndstooth, toile, argyle, and many others. With each pattern that is introduced to Pepper, Mr. Taylor explains what the fabric is, or why and how the pattern got it's name - very fun and informative! I've never given much thought to fabric patterns before, and as someone who comes from a long line of maternal seamstresses you'd think I would have known some of these! 

After a few patterns are introduced and Pepper answers as to why none of them would work for her, Mr. Taylor finally finds the perfect fabric for Pepper, and together, they design, cut, piece and sew the dress... in the end, we see Pepper wearing her beautiful new dress to her special occasion and the entire story falls into place... 

The illustrations are unbelievably remarkable - soft pencil drawings, and yet memorable and bold. It is hard to explain, but it is as if the illustrator poured their heart into each and every stroke of their pencil... and considering that this story was inspired by the author's mother and grandmother, I'm guessing that I may be right on this feeling... 

What I loved most about this book is that if you pay attention to ALL of the illustrations, Mr. Taylor's explanations and stories of each pattern and all the little details that one may miss the first time reading, there is underlying story that you can also piece together - and it is the sweetest thing to see how everything in this book ties together so beautifully! Which will make you want to re-read the story, over and over again to feel the love and warmth of it all. 

A definite favorite for those who love to sew, loves clothes, pattern, history or just a thoughtful and engaging story to share with someone they adore!

*A hardcover copy was sent to me by the publisher, Tundra Books, for an honest review.

All thoughts here are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Julie Kraulis

Toronto-based author-illustrator Julie Kraulis is a stop and smell the roses kind of gal who loves to create. Her heritage is rich in clothes-makers - her mother and grandmother are both master sewers - which has inspired a lifelong interest in all things sartorial. While she loves patterns of every kind, her heart belongs to the Herringbone Club: the best place to find a good game of croquet. 

Julie is also the author and illustrator of Whimsy's Heavy Things, An Armadillo in Paris, and An Armadillo in New York. 

LINKS: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Book Haul #96: The I Still Love You, Lois Lane Edition

Good day to you all, fellow bookgeeks!!!

It's been awhile since I've been posting/blogging regularly - I needed to take an impromptu break. Not only from my blog, but from social media altogether (except, it seems, from instagram - I'm addicted, lol!) I just took some "me time" to spend more time with my boys and catch up on books/movies I wanted to read/watch without any distractions or pressures. It's a good way for me to relax and be able to put things back into perspective. 
I'm happy to be able to jump back into a regular schedule again!
I feel re-energized and ready to take on the TBR and review pile again... with the exception that I have decided to take breaks more often. I'm hoping to be able to incorporate one or two week breaks every 6-8 weeks and see if this will help keep things on track. If I find myself not needing to take a break, bonus! But if I find myself looking forward to a break, then I will definitely have to reconsider what I'm doing and make some hard changes... 
BUT, all is good now! And I can't wait to share some reviews I have ready to go! And other fun posts for the summer :)

Hope you are all in a good place! And happily enjoying your reads :)


Here are the books that I've acquired in the last 2 weeks:

I am participating in Stacking the Shelves, 
hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews!!!

*What I received for review...

-  CIRCUS MIRANDUS (HB) by Cassie Beasley (MG) from Penguin
- THE RED CAR (HB) by Tim Hoppey (C) from the author 
- LOVE & PROFANITY (HB) Edited by Nick Healy from Switch Press
- LOIS LANE: FALLOUT (HB) by Gwenda Bond from Switch Press
- THE PERFECTION OF THE PAPER CLIP (HB) by James Ward from Simon & Schuster

*What we won in giveaways...
- THE BIG BOOK OF ANORAK (HB) by Cathy Olmedillas (MG) from The Reading Ninja
- SOPHIA MARTINEZ: MY FAMILY ADVENTURE (PB) by Jacqueline Jules from Capstone

*What I received from my amazing #OTSPSecretSister!...

*What we purchased...
- TITO, THE FIREFIGHTER (TITO, EL BOMBERO) (HB) by Tim Hoppey (C)
- P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU (signed HB) by Jenny Han 
- SIDE EFFECTS (signed PB) by Jen Calonita 

* * * 

A few pics from the past few weeks... 

My June TBR!

I went to a book signing!!! Recap post will go up this upcoming week :)

Oh my, I purchased something that isn't bookish!!!
Getting my nails on... it's been so long, I had no polish left, lol!

My oldest boy showing off his Scholastic book fair purchase!
Good choice, am I right??? ;) 

My #FridayReads and #WeekendReads :)

* * * 

Thank you SOOO much for stopping by!!!

Don't forget to leave a comment with your link so I can visit your hauls too!!!

xoxo

Release Day Blitz (Giveaway): CIRCUS MIRANDUS by Cassie Beasley (MG)

I am so very excited about today’s release of CIRCUS MIRANDUS by the fabulous Cassie Beasley! 

Thank you for stopping by for the Blogger Blitz that I and so many other wonderful blogs are participating in. Thanks so much to Word Spelunking for organizing this! 

Cassie has sent along a very special letter sharing her feelings about seeing her book get published and all of the amazing support she has received so far...

Dear Readers,

Ages ago I hung a poster in my room with the words “The Circus Opens Summer 2015” in bold letters across the top. At the time, it seemed that Summer 2015 would never come. Now, miraculously, June 2 is here, and Circus Mirandus is springing up in bookshops all over the country.

In the story, those called to Circus Mirandus feel a change in the wind. They hear music on the air, pipes and drums leading them toward magic and hope and heart’s desires. Eventually they find themselves before the gates, standing, as I am now, on the threshold of somewhere both wonderful and unknowable.

As people read the pages into which I’ve poured so much time and self, I wonder what they’ll think of the world I’ve created. I wonder if they will love it as much as I do. It’s an exciting moment, stepping through these gates into a place I’ve imagined but never seen.

Thank you so much for making this journey with me. Thank you for supporting the book. Thank you, most of all, for believing.

Cassie Beasley

More details about the book are below, as well as a Rafflecopter giveaway for a bunch of swag items, courtesy of Penguin Young Readers! 

Enter for a chance to win at the bottom of this post.

CIRCUS MIRANDUS

by Cassie Beasley

Release date: June 2nd, 2015

Published by Dial (Penguin)

Genre: Middle Grade 

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Micah Tuttle believes in magic, even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve. Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other — the Man Who Bends Light. 

Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. 

The Circus is real — and the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. 

With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather. The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. And now it's up to Micah to get the miracle he came for. 

Readers will fall in love with CIRCUS MIRANDUS, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in the world.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CIRCUS MIRANDUS

« “On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp… On another, it's both serious and thick with longing… A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care.”                                     —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

« “Circus Mirandus is not a simple story, but readers will be rewarded for delving into its intricacies. This gripping fantasy tale will have readers hooked from the opening scene to the breathtaking—and unexpected—conclusion.”                                                                 —School Library Journal, starred review

« “Beasley’s debut is a bit of its own three-ring circus, masterfully diverting readers’ attention among the pressing matter of Ephraim’s illness, the inventive descriptions of Circus Mirandus in Ephraim’s flashbacks and Micah’s visits, and the larger, more serious tragedy of those who refuse to believe…Readers will be left with…the hope…that those who still believe will always have magic in their lives.”                                                                                                       —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Debut author Beasley has built an imaginative world in evocative, painterly prose, particularly the circus, and she’s filled it with compellingly multifaceted characters.”                               —Booklist

GIVEAWAY

There will be 5 winners!!!

Winners will receive: 

- Signed hardcover of CIRCUS MIRANDUS

- Audio sampler 

- Animal crackers

- Pack of 10 bookmarks

- Poster

Giveaway begins today, June 2nd, and will end on June 16th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cassie Beasley

Cassie Beasley is from rural Georgia, where, when she's not writing, she helps out on the family pecan farm. 

She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

CIRCUS MIRANDUS is her first novel.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

This weekend only! $2.99 eBook sale on Marie Lu and Sarah Dessen books from Penguin Teen!!!

For this weekend only!!!

This is your chance to either catch up on Marie Lu's LEGEND series 

OR

read those Sarah Dessen books you've been dying to get to!!!

HURRY! Don't miss this wonderful offer!!! 

Available ONLY on April 25th!!!

Legend: http://bit.ly/1cfNo0B 

Prodigy: http://bit.ly/1GbFLl1 

Champion: http://bit.ly/1yTLtdJ

Available ONLY on April 26th!!!

The Truth About Forever: http://bit.ly/1J6shx5

Lock and Key: http://bit.ly/1bfQkuM

Along For the Ride: http://bit.ly/1PbepSA

Just Listen: http://bit.ly/1J6s2SG 

Stacking the Shelves #87: March Book Haul Part 2

Hello fellow bookgeeks :)

Lately I have been drawing a blank on everything - there are no words coming out of my mouth, lol! I have a ton of thoughts; but when it comes time to speak to someone, text, or even write a book review... nothing! And I can't figure out why! SO frustrating!
I keep blaming it on lack of sleep, I'm too old to continue to only get about 4-5 hours a night. But with kids and worries, its been hard lately. And, I always have to read before rolling over and going to sleep - it's a habit that I don't want to ever break! But, that comes with consequences too; sometimes I get caught up in the book and time goes by... time that I could be catching a few extra z's.
So, my question for those of you who are in the same or similar position:
Do you put a time limit on your reading? Maybe a page/chapter limit?
I really need some guidance on time management ;)

Anywhooo... I received a few awesome books this week to make everything worthwhile :)
How'd you guys do???

I am participating in Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews!!!

*What I received for review...

- WRITTEN IN THE STARS (HB) by Aisha Saeed from Penguin
- SORCERESS (Spellcaster #3) (signed ARC) by Claudia Gray from the author

*Books I received in trades because of "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?" meme :)

- TIGER LILY (ARC) by Jodi Lynn Anderson 

*What I purchased...

- LAMENT: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie #1) (UK PB) by Maggie Stiefvater

- BALLAD: A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie #2) (UK PB) by Maggie Stiefvater 

* * * 

A few pics from this past week :)

It was Hubs birthday this past Wednesday!

Sweet boy with his "Baby" monkey :) 

My #FridayReads and #FridayNightMovie

* * * 

Thank you SO much for stopping by today!!!

Don't forget to leave a comment with your link so I can visit you too, please!!!

xoxo

Waiting On Wednesday #119: MOSQUITOLAND by David Arnold (YA)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!!

The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!

And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 

What I'm currently waiting for... 

MOSQUITOLAND

by David Arnold

Expected release date: March 3rd, 2015

Published by: Viking Children's (Penguin)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

"I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange." 

After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the "wastelands" of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland.

So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane. 

Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, "Mosquitoland" is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.

Why I'm waiting on MOSQUITOLAND...

Oh my, where to start...

First - my heart already aches for this main character, Mim. 

Second - ROADTRIP!!!

And last - I already feel like I'm going to need some tissues for Mim's story. I'm hoping that she gets some sort of 'closure' at the end. 

Cannot wait to read this one and feel all the feels!!!!!

SO, what are you waiting for???

Book/Movie Trailer Friday #6: MOSQUITOLAND (YA), JURASSIC WORLD (NR) and SMICK (C)

I have a new addiction: BOOK/MOVIE TRAILERS!!!

I'm an "old lady" who doesn't do much late Friday nights except read, 
catch up on some Big Bang Theory episodes or watch a few chick-flicks... 
and maybe bake a cookie or two... 
until I discovered that there are a lot of trailers out there, not only for movies, but more and more for books! And well, it's a new hobby of mine that I want to share with all of you!
Enjoy :) 

MOSQUITOLAND

by David Arnold

Expected release date: March 3rd, 2015

Published by: Viking Children's (Penguin)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

"I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange." 

After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the "wastelands" of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland. 

So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.

 
Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, "Mosquitoland" is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.

BOOK TRAILER for MOSQUITOLAND


Book and music, written and produced, by David Arnold

MY THOUGHTS

I have so many thoughts about this book's summary and trailer, but cannot articulate all into words.
It just sounds like an amazing book! One that will surely make an impact and leave an impression on me.

Plus... roadtrip!



*     *     *     *     *


JURASSIC WORLD
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Written by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow
Produced by Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley
Executive Producer(s): Steven Spielberg and Thomas Tull
Based on characters/books by Michael Crichton

U.S. Release date: June 12th, 2015
Genre: Action/Adventure 
Rating: Currently unrated
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard

SUMMARY

Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar, off Costa Rica's Pacific coast, now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond.

This new park is owned by the Masrani Global Corporation.

Owen, a member of the park's on-site staff, conducts behavioral research on the Velociraptors.

At the corporation's request, the park's geneticists create the Indominus Rex, a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, to boost visitor attendance... but it soon runs wild on the island.


MOVIE TRAILER for JURASSIC WORLD



MY THOUGHTS

OMG! I really never thought we'd ever get this movie!

Didn't they learn anything about the Velociraptors?!
Now they've gone and mixed it up with a T-Rex?!

Plust... PRATT!!!



*     *     *     *     *


SMICK
by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Juana Medina
Expected release date: February 5th, 2015
Published by Viking Juvenile (Penguin)
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Smick is a BIG dog. Sit, Smick.

Chick is a little chick. Stay, Smick!

So what happens when they see a stick? 

Written by New York Times bestselling author Doreen Cronin and ingeniously illustrated by newcomer Juana Medina, Smick is a story of unlikely friendship, a sense of adventure, and a lot of wonderful wordplay.


BOOK TRAILER for SMICK




MY THOUGHTS

First of all, aren't these the cutest little characters you have ever seen?!

AND, the narrator's voice is just the sweetest!
I want this as an audiobook too :)


*     *     *     *     *



What trailers are you watching right now???

Review: THE ANIMALS' SANTA by Jan Brett (C)

THE ANIMALS' SANTA
by Jan Brett

Release date: October 21st, 2014

Published by: Putnam Juvenile (Penguin)

Genre: Children's Story and Picture Book

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: Hardcover from the publisher. 

SUMMARY

When Big Snowshoe tells Little Snow that the animals’ Santa is coming with presents for everyone, Little Snow wants to know who he is. The animals say they have never seen him.  Maybe he’s a badger, a moose, a polar bear, or a wolf, they tell him.  But this spunky little rabbit thinks they are just fooling him.

On Christmas Eve, Big Snowshoe finds a way to see the animals' Santa when a Snowy Owl in a red cap swoops down with a pack full of presents.  Never again will an excited Little Snow doubt that there is an animals' Santa.

MY REVIEW

Jan Brett is one of our most favorite children's writers and illustrators to date. Her books are so intricate, yet inviting and heartwarming. Her beautifully woven stories are fables that are thought-provoking and memorable...

In THE ANIMALS' SANTA, Big Snowshoe and his forest friends try to explain to his little brother, Little Snow, that the animals' Santa is coming. Little Snow wants to know who the animals' Santa is. But none of the animals have ever seen who it is that brings them presents every Christmas. 

The animals then proceed to tell Little Snow all the gifts they had received the year before. But Little Snow is convinced that it is all not true. Wouldn't someone have seen him by now? Or seen his tracks in the snow? All the animals then try to guess as to who the animals' Santa may be, since there is always snow at Christmas they begin to presume that it has to be large animals that can plow through the elements. But Little Snow gets upset, he is still unconvinced and thinks that everyone is teasing him and trying to trick him into believing in something that no one has seen.

On Christmas Eve, when they all go to bed, Big Snowshoe comes up with an idea... and soon enough, they are all awaken to a beautiful discovery!

The story itself is engaging and beautiful, however, the illustrations really bring it to life. Throughout the book, the larger panels support the main narrative between Little Snow, Big Snowshoe and the other animals. But on each page, there are smaller panels telling a smaller, quieter story that will engage your little ones curiosity - this side story will encourage your child to create their own story and make their own predictions as to who the animals' Santa could possibly be. 

All who love children's stories, pictures books and memorable holiday stories to share with their families will absolutely fall in love with this new heartfelt and joyous Christmas book.

*I received a hardcover copy from the publisher for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jan Brett

With over thirty three million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real." 
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting." 
Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books." 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Review: BELZHAR by Meg Wolitzer (YA)

BELZHAR

by Meg Wolitzer

Release day: September 30th, 2014

Published by: Dutton Juvenile (Penguin)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary/Paranormal

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: ARC from publisher.

SUMMARY

If life were fair, Jam Gallahue would still be  at home in New Jersey with her sweet British  boyfriend, Reeve Maxfield. She’d be watching  old comedy sketches with him. She’d be kissing  him in the library stacks.

She certainly wouldn’t be at The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school in rural Vermont, living with a weird roommate, and signed up for an exclusive, mysterious class called Special Topics in English.

But life isn’t fair, and Reeve Maxfield is dead.

Until a journal-writing assignment leads Jam to Belzhar, where the untainted past is restored, and Jam can feel Reeve’s arms around her once again. But there are hidden truths on Jam’s path to reclaim her loss.

From New York Times bestselling author Meg Wolitzer comes a breathtaking and surprising story about first love, deep sorrow, and the power of acceptance.

BOOK QUOTES from BELZHAR

"Everyone," she continues, looking around at all of us, 
"has something to say. But not everyone can bear to say it. 
Your job is to find it." ~ p. 34

"To find out what another human being feels, 
a person who isn't you; to get a look under the hood, so to speak. 
A deep look inside. That's what writing is suppose to do." ~ p.161

"Books light the fire - 
whether it's a book that's already written, or an empty journal that needs to be filled in." ~ p. 250

 MY REVIEW

I have never had such a hard time trying to decide whether or not I liked a book. If I look at this story in one way - I want to shout out to people how brilliant it is and spoil everyone by telling them about the part that made me gasp and throw the book across the room (don't worry, no damages were made!). And then when I turn around and look at the book the other way - I want to throw the book down, stomp on it and just say no, no, no!... I am still undecided. And I'm going to attempt to tell you why, which will be difficult because I have chosen to remain spoiler free.

Our main character, Jam, has suffered a tragic loss. Her boyfriend Reeve is dead. After having only known him for less than 2 months, and dated him half that time, Jam's grieving seems a bit overboard to me. But, who am I to judge. I have lost a few distant relations and friends, and they touched me very deeply and I cannot imagine losing someone that close to me, but the feelings that she had just seemed a bit off to me... I had sympathy for Jam. But in all honesty, I felt like she was burying herself in sorrow on purpose. Trying to hide from something, perhaps...
After a year has gone by and Jam shows no intentions of moving on, her parents decide to send her to The Wooden Barn - a therapeutic boarding school in Vermont. She is then forced to live with an interesting and nosey roommate, and she must attend all of her classes. Soon enough, the most sought after English class roster has been released and Jam finds herself in a classroom with four other students. No one knows why they were chosen for this elite class, and no one knows why it's so popular and also, so secretive and inclusive. And we all get a front row seat to see what "Special Topics English" is all about... Jam soon realizes that this class is more than just studying Sylvia Plath's works and writing in their new red journals. These journals offer a way to revisit their tragedies in a tranquil way in order to help them get over their loss - a place that they've decided to nickname BELZHAR.
Because no one knows how BELZHAR works, this little group soon becomes close confidants and swear to watch out and support each other. Little by little they start to share what has happened to them, and each time, Jam holds back afraid to share her story. I got the feeling that she wasn't just afraid to fall into her deep sadness again and not be able to climb back out. But she was also afraid of what the others would think of her. And that was confusing for me. Any type of loss cannot compare to another person's undoing. I couldn't decide if Jam was dismissing her own feelings because her loss wasn't as huge an impact as the others, or if the other person's tragedy was up to par with hers.

I have to admit. What kept me reading were the other four supporting characters - Casey, Marc, Sierra, and Griffin. I was completely intrigued with their stories and character development. While Jam was stagnant, the others were growing and accepting. It felt like Jam kept going around in circles and contradicting herself. She was supportive of the group facing their fears, healing and doing what they had to do to accept their lives in order to move on. And even though Jam was starting to create a life for herself at the school, participating in activities and taking an interest in the others, when it came to her own issues, she kept backtracking and daydreaming about Reeve and visiting BELZHAR. Even after she noticed that the things that were happening in BELZHAR weren't right and could never improve or be more than what it currently is. She was still determined to find a way to go back and be with Reeve even if it was unrealistic way to live.

Because of my conflicts with this story, it just goes to prove that Meg Wolitzer is a brilliant writer. I believe that with this book being a homage to Sylvia Plath, the book aims to bring awareness to mental illness and that things are hardly ever what we think they are. Some things are more complicated and hard to explain and understand. And I have to admit, I had a very hard understanding Jam's story and how easily things seem to tie up in the end.
We are told not to judge people, but we are only human and cannot help ourselves. We are taught to categorize things, and that is what happens. In my heart I know that Jam did not intentionally do the things she did just for attention, and that she was truly a broken-hearted girl. Who is to decide whether or not Jam's breakdown was legitimate or not? Especially without knowing the entire story.

If you have read BELZHAR and wish to discuss or debate, please let me know! I have yet to discuss this book with anyone who has read it, and I am very interested in knowing if anyone feels as conflicted and emotionally drained as I do.

I have not read any of Meg Wolitzer's other books, all from the adult genre. But I am in dire need to fix this soon. Her writing style and character development has captured me and I am curious to see what adult issues she has entwined into her stories. I'm also looking forward to seeing more YA books from her too! Cannot wait to hear about what she's working on now/next...

*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Meg Wolitzer

Author photo copyright Deborah Copaken.

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