My Cousin Rachel by

Philip is a young Englishman who finds his cousin Ambrose dead after traveling to Florence, Italy. He vows revenge against Ambrose's missing wife Rachel, blaming her for his untimely demise. When Philip meets Rachel for the first time, his mood suddenly changes as he finds himself falling for her seductive charm and beauty.


*Spoilers Ahead*

First of all - this book is not written from Rachel's point of view. It is solely based on Philip's feelings, actions and activities. 

This novel seems like a pretty basic classic until things start getting weird. Philip begins having feelings for his "Cousin Rachel" and falls in love with her, but no one is really for sure about her feelings for him. Her viewpoint is very vague if addressed at all. Everything we know about her is pure "heresay" from other characters in the book. 

The ending leaves you wondering if Rachel really did poison Philip and Ambrose and possibly her first husband as well. It also leaves you wondering if Philip intentionally did not mention and conveniently "forgot" to warn her about the unfinished bridge out by the gardens, leading Rachel to her imminent demise. 

Overall this book was really interesting, dark and twisty.  I haven't read anything else like it though it was pretty easy to get through in two days. Overall a pretty good read, though the ending leaves you pondering... 6 out of 10.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

"The true horror of occupation came over us only slowly. During the first year of German rule there were only minor attacks on Jews in Holland. A rock through the window of a Jewish-owned store. An ugly word scrawled on the wall of a synagogue. It was as though they were trying us, testing the temper of the country. How many Dutchmen would go along with them? ...Adventure and anguish, horror and heaven, were just around the corner, and we did not know."

This is a true story. A true story of terror and persecution, torture and imprisonment and death.. But it's also a true story of hope and faith and love. So much love. I can't remember if I had read this book during middle school or highschool, but whether or not I did, rereading it brought as much shock and as big a reality check as I could ever expect. The faith of Betsie, Corrie's sister, even as she lay sick and dying on a flea infested straw mattress shared with 9 other women, is inspiring and even annoying as I read through all that she and Corrie went through being transferred over and over to a worse and worse concentration camp. Their humiliation, punishments, martyrdom... so much hate. It was incredible that even these women who only harbored Jews were punished alongside God's chosen people with as much hate as anyone could muster. So much death. So much sickness and terror. About a week after Betsie died in the concentration camp from illness, Corrie was released. The kicker? Corrie's release was a clerical error. The next week all of the women Corrie's age were sent to the gas chambers and killed. I can't begin to comprehend the continued miracles written about in this book. I hope that you read it for yourself. I hope that you read it and take a good look at your own life and realize how lucky we really are.

10 out of 10.

Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson

Janner Wingfeather's father was the High King of Anniera. But his father is gone. The kingdom has fallen. The royal family is on the run, and the Fang armies of Gnag the Nameless are close behind. Janner and his family hope to find refuge in teh last safe place in the world: the Green Hollows - a land of warriors feared even by the Fangs of Dang. But there's a big problem. Janner's little brother, heir to the throne of Anniera, has grown a tail. And gray fur. Not to mention two pointed ears and long dangerous fangs. To the suspicious folk of the Green Hollows he looks like a monster. But Janner knows better. He's perfectly harmless. Or is he?



This book was by far my favorite of the Wingfeather saga. I was disappointed to see it end, but I'm super excited that there's one final book in this series. This book was full of adjustment. After the last two books of running, hiding, forcing to leave their home, the Igiby family is trying to find peace in a new land, in a new home and with new friends. However, someone you wouldn't suspect in the least is the one who betrays them in the end. It is intriguing, beguiling and saddening but I'm looking forward to the next book.

9 out of 10

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is picked on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew existed.


This book was a really easy read. I was finished after 2 days. It's based on a true story; on the author's experiences growing up. I'll be the first to admit that I am not knowledgeable about the history of Indian culture or growing up on reservations. I don't know the first thing about it, though I've tried to learn here and there over the years. But I was ashamed, nevertheless, by my own ignorance while reading this book. Is the poverty really that bad on reservations? Yes. Is the culture that different? Yes. Are more Indians killed by booze than anything else? Yes.
The journey of this boy to "find himself" so to speak, is an interesting one. It has it's low moments {many low moments, if I may say so) but it also has it's high peaks too. Pieces and parts were more inappropriate than I would have liked, but at the same time, the other parts of the book that tells of Junior's struggles to fit in at a white school versus still trying to fit in at home on the reservation, are touching. I struggled with the many deaths this child had to face. It reminded me of many I've had to face over the years.
What an eye opener. 7 out of 10

North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

Janner, Tink and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they're really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them. In order to survive, the Igibys must flee to the safety of the Ice Prairies, where the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot follow. First, however, they have to escape the monsters of Glipwood Forest, the thieving Stranders of the East Bend, and the dreaded Fork Factory. But even more dangerous are the jealousies and bitterness that threaten to tear them apart, and Janner and his siblings must learn the hard way that the love of a family is more important than anything else.


I really liked the last half of this book better than the first half. Janner kind of comes into his own and matures somewhat and the storyline itself takes a crazy (crazier?) turn that throws you off quite a bit. It's adventurous, exciting, amusing and hauntingly beautiful. I'm excited to read the final book The Monster of the Hollows.

8 out of 10