Reviews!

The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts (Adult Nonfiction)

You will not be disappointed in Annie Wilkin’s journey across the United States in 1954 with her horses, Rex and Tarzan, and her dog, Depeche Toi. Annie is 63, cannot work her farm anymore due to her poor health, and her doctor has just given her the grim news that she may only have a couple years left to live. Rather than accepting the charity of others and settling into a nursing home, she grows one last cucumber crop, buys a horse with the money she makes from it, and sets out from her home state of Maine to see the Pacific Ocean before she dies. Her journey is treacherous (nasty weather, tiny roads, reckless drivers, and people who close their doors on her), but it’s also incredibly hopeful, inspirational, and filled with the kindness of strangers. I most enjoyed the snippets about the friendship among the animals, the many interesting people Annie meets along the way, and the moments of contemplation and gratitude woven throughout Annie’s journey.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patii Callahan Henry (Adult Fiction)

It’s 1950, and 17 year-old Megs knows the doctors have done everything they can for her brother, 7 year-old George, who is dying of a heart defect.  George has just read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and though he is a voracious reader who loves lots of books, the first book of the Narnia series is special to him.  When George asks Megs if Narnia is real, she decides to ask C.S. Lewis AKA Jack Lewis, who teaches at the university she attends.  This is the beginning of a wonderful friendship between Megs and C.S. Lewis, who answers her questions with more stories.  As a mathematics major, Megs initially wants concrete answers to George’s questions rather than additional stories.  As she jots down C.S. Lewis’ stories and her brother, George illustrates them, they unknowingly write a special book together.  

This is both a comforting and sad story, the kind of story you wrap yourself up in, and just like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, completely lose yourself in.  I particularly enjoyed the relationships.  Megs was very close to her brother and their interactions were beautiful and heartbreaking.  Megs also befriends another student, Padraig, who eventually becomes an important character in Megs and George’s lives.  

I did not want this book to end.  I cried at the end, not just for George and his family, but also because I couldn’t let this book go.  Though this is historical fiction, there are some moments of truth sprinkled in. I’m definitely going on a wild goose chase to find out more about both Patti Callahan and C.S. Lewis’ life.  Though I think it’s important that readers are familiar with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I don’t think it’s a must to enjoy this book.  I recommend this to anyone who is willing to shed a few tears for a cozy, beautifully written, vivid story that’s rich in details and filled with strong characters whose love for one another is everything.

Favorite quotes:

“George takes something of this world and travels to another, as if the story world and the real world run right alongside each other.”

“Jack became so immersed in the story world that he glimpsed it out of the corner of his eye in the real world.”

“…and the sunlight runs across the spider webs like messengers from tree to tree…”

“…like a dream making itself in the night.”

“I’d believed – fool that I was - that because I knew this end was coming, I was prepared, that I would not grieve as I had.  As if one can pre-grieve and get it out of the way.  It’s not true.  Grief is the price I paid for loving fiercely, and that was okay, because there was no other choice but to love fiercely and fully.”

The John O’Donohue quote: “A book is a path of words that takes the heart in new directions.”

Big Problems, Little Problems by Ben Feller and illustrated by Mercè López (Picture Book)

Big Problems, Little Problems spotlights a comforting ritual between a father and son that happens each time they work through one of their problems. An excellent read that includes problem-solving, acknowledgement of emotions, and vocabulary-building. What is the difference between a big problem and a little problem? The author, Feller, doesn’t say it outright, but each time dad and son work through their problems and find solutions, big problems always become little problems.

Time Capsule by Lauren Redniss (Picture Book)

I really enjoyed the simplicity in both the writing and illustrations. It wasn’t a particularly interesting time capsule, but time capsules are sometimes a personal thing. And Redniss’ illustrations of even the most mundane items are exquisite and interesting. I thought the addition of both a nightmare and dream were interesting, and I had fun wondering how they would be portrayed in a physical way that would fit in a jar. Included in the back is a fun activity for making your own time capsule.