Books I Read in June

I did a lot of comfort reading in June with 7 adult books, 1 young adult, and 2 middle grade.  Here's my list!

Every Bride Needs a Groom | Janice Thompson | 4 Stars
This is a Hallmark type story set in Texas about a woman who wins a wedding dress in a contest but has a break up with her boyfriend and no wedding can be planned.  It is funny and I especially liked her brother's antics. A very sweet and clean romance.  I found this on my bookshelf and I am not sure where it came from.  There are more books in this series. 

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel | Val Emmich | 3 Stars

This book is based on the broadway musical of the same name. It is about a lonely, anxiety-laden high school student who mistakenly is thought to be the best friend of a student who has died by suicide. He ends up rolling with it because it can't figure out how to tell the truth. It starts his own romance and a revolution of kindness in his school. I expected to be as moved as I was listening to the music but was let down a bit. I think in this case, the musical is better. This is a YA book and includes language and mature topics. A friend lent this book to me!

Indian No More | Charlene Willing Mcmanis | 5 Stars
This is a middle-grade book about a Native American family who leaves the reservation and moves to Los Angeles after the government declares they are no longer considered Native Americans.  I loved this book and I encourage everyone to read this book which illuminates a historical event most don't know anything about. I checked this book out of the library. 

Things You Save in a Fire | Katherine Center | 4 Stars

A woman firefighter moves from Texas to Boston to help her mother and join a new fire station. She ends up battling lots of prejudice and fighting for equality along with learning to forgive her mother. I loved this book and plan on reading more from her. I got this book from Book of the Month. 

The Ringmaster's Wife | Kristy Cambron | 4 Stars

Think Downton Abbey and Water for Elephants and The Greatest Show on Earth. There are two time periods to keep track of...but the author always gives a timestamp at the beginning of the chapter. One of the characters is based on Mabel Ringling who married John Ringling. Since there isn’t much information about her...the author imagines what she was like. I would love to visit their home in Sarasota, Florida now! I got this book from my church library. It is a clean read with messages of God’s love and forgiveness.

Out of Left Field | Ellen Klages | 4 Stars

It is 1957 and Katy wants to play little league but is rejected because she is a girl. She takes on a mission to find out the history of women in playing baseball in hopes to get them to change their minds. This is such a great story that promotes social change and women's rights. I really enjoyed this one. This is a middle-grade book and I got it from a school library. 

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder | Joanne Fluke | 3 Stars

This cozy mystery is about a cookie store owner in Minnesota who solves mysteries in her home town. It always includes lots of recipes and is really corny and sweet. It is really comfort reading.  I read this on Libby. 

When Love Calls | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars

This is a sweet vintage read set in Iowa about orphaned sisters. The oldest gets a job as a telephone operator and gives up her dreams of being a lawyer to provide for her sisters. Interesting to learn about the job of a telephone operator. I got this book series from my church library.

While Love Stirs | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars

The sisters move to St. Paul and the second sister follows her culinary dreams. One of her first jobs in promoting gas stoves by traveling around and doing cooking demonstrations. 

As Love Blooms | Lorna Seilstad | 4 Stars
The third sister follows her dream of horticulture and gets in involved in Como Park. I enjoyed this series because it really felt like a visit to local museum and learning about the family that lived there. They are also very charming and always promote women's suffrage and rights. 

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

5 stars | Grades 3-7 

This is a funny and heartwarming story about a girl who is a genius at math because of an electrical accident from lightning when she was 8. She had been homeschooled but at the age of 12, she returns to school. Yes, middle school. You know that will be difficult! Lucy knows she will face kids who will make fun of her. She's a savant when it comes to math but also deals with obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Now she needs to fit in and find friends! Throw in a pet shelter and rescue project and some quirky but loveable characters and you end up with a great book! I loved it!

This book reminded me a little of  Wonder by R. J.  Palacio but with more humor and math! This would also make an excellent read-aloud!

 

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

  

4 stars | A Place to Belong | Cynthia Kadohata | Grade 4 and Up

An American Japanese family leaves an internment camp, renounces their American citizenship and gets on a ship to go back to Japan. The parents and their two children discover the horrific conditions in the destroyed city of Hiroshima as they pass through on their way to the grandparent's poor country home. The grandparents are so happy to see their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren again. But, life is very hard in Japan, and getting even enough rice to eat is difficult. The book takes the reader along as the family struggles for how to survive and what difficult choices they may have to make.

This book would be a great teacher or parent read-aloud for kids so that lots of discussions can take place. Adults should read it for insight into Japanese Internment history. 

There is humor, heartbreak, joy, and sadness in this quiet and yet impactful novel. I want adults to read this book and then encourage kids to read it or read it to them. The cover and subject matter will not market to kids because this one needs some selling!

I am feeling inspired to promote middle-grade books through YouTube because of all of the people that inspire my reading from YouTube with their book reviews.  So, give a listen and subscribe to my channel!