1 -- About a week ago, I finished reading A Midwife's Story by Penny Armstrong & Sheryl Feldman. ©1986. It was a great read about Penny Armstrong's life as a nurse midwife. She began her training in Scotland and completed it in Philadelphia. While working in hospitals, she was especially upset by inflexible hospital regulations and the lack of respect for the birthing process. After training, she began working in Lancaster County, PA where she brought back dignity to home births and celebrated women's right to be in control of their birthing experience. She became an integral part of the community. In over 1000 births, she experienced only one stillbirth. Pretty amazing. I've had trouble learning anything new about her -- where she is, what she's doing, etc. (Thanks, Kim, for sending this one my direction!) Then I needed some quick reads after a stressful week... so I picked these off of the YA shelf:
#2 -- life on the refrigerator door by Alice Kuipers ©2007. This first novel by Kuipers, and is intended for a 
YA audience. It's a series of notes that fifteen-year-old Claire and her mother post back & forth to each other as they go about their busy lives of school and work. Their normal mother/daughter relationship and interactions are shattered by a diagnosis of breast cancer. The format may be short, simple and straight-forward, but the emotions and interactions are poignant and touching. This one will stay with me for a long time.
YA audience. It's a series of notes that fifteen-year-old Claire and her mother post back & forth to each other as they go about their busy lives of school and work. Their normal mother/daughter relationship and interactions are shattered by a diagnosis of breast cancer. The format may be short, simple and straight-forward, but the emotions and interactions are poignant and touching. This one will stay with me for a long time. #3 -- The Readheaded Princess by Ann Rinaldi ©2008. Another fine YA historical novel. It's told 
in first person by the young Princess Elizabeth (the daughter of King Henry VIII and the ill-fated Anne Boleyn) as she watches first her younger brother Edward and then older sister Mary take the throne of England and then succumb to ill health. The intrigues of court, the changing alliances, the lessons learned from tutors and her wise nanny -- all work together to help create a girl who grows into a great leader. Rinaldi works her magic to bring Elizabeth to life. A great YA read! It reminded me once again why I enjoy historical fiction.
in first person by the young Princess Elizabeth (the daughter of King Henry VIII and the ill-fated Anne Boleyn) as she watches first her younger brother Edward and then older sister Mary take the throne of England and then succumb to ill health. The intrigues of court, the changing alliances, the lessons learned from tutors and her wise nanny -- all work together to help create a girl who grows into a great leader. Rinaldi works her magic to bring Elizabeth to life. A great YA read! It reminded me once again why I enjoy historical fiction.
1 comment:
I have life on the refrigerator door too! I thought it was very sweet...and super fast to read since it's like you're reading post-it notes!
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