I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Alan Bradley

With finances running low, Colonel de Luce agrees to transform Buckshaw Manor into a movie set over Christmas. Caught between wanting to avoid these high profile visitors, and having late night private chats with them, Flavia de Luce overhears secrets, discovers scandals, and gets caught right in the middle of a jealous revenge plot. Although Flavia desperately wants to beat the investigators to the bottom of this surprising murder, she also is highly concerned with ensnaring Saint Nicholas on Christmas Eve and proving to her sisters that he really does exist. Her split focus causes her to overlook important details and she finds herself staring death in the face. 

This may be my favorite Flavia de Luce novel. I absolutely loved it. Flavia + Christmas + high profile  movie stars? Yes please. I loved this book. And there were no dead babies. I can't swallow murdered babies very well, which spoiler alert, book 2 and 3 have those. This one however, was brilliant, fantastic, a page turner and every other positive compliment one could contrive. I read it in 2 days; I couldn't even help it. 

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag,
Alan Bradley

When a famous puppeteer rolls into the tiny town of Bishop's Lacey, curiosities abound and Flavia de Luce is in the center of all of it. Just as Flavia's thirst for figuring out the untold dramas peaks, the puppeteer ends up dead. Resolved to figure out the small and overlooked details leading up to murder, Flavia, once again, uncovers old town secrets, makes progress one step ahead of the investigators and gives readers a close up look into the silly and lovable mind of an eleven-year-old. 

After finishing the first book in this series, I couldn't wait to get started on the second, and I wasn't disappointed. The particulars in this story however are a little heavier to bear than in the last. Upon closing this purple book, I didn't dare start on the third without giving myself time to breath, consider and let my mind unravel. Flavia had me wrapped around her little finger from page 1 til the end. But today I start the third, and I can hardly wait, because these books are fascinating.

Boston Jane

Boston Jane, Jennifer L. Holm

Jane finds the propriety of Philadelphia society tiring. She wants to play, she wants to be silly, she wants to get her hands dirty, and she does not want to follow Lady Godey's Guidebook on how to be a young lady. When she receives an invitation from a handsome suitor to sail over to the Washington Territory and be his bride, Jane jumps at the opportunity, leaving all familiarity behind. When she arrives however, and her fiance is nowhere to be found, Jane must embark on her own life among the settlers, fur trappers, and Indians in the Washington Territory.

Boston Jane is one of my guilty pleasures. We all have books that we love, but wouldn't necessarily be caught reading on campus. But I'm saying it now, I love it. And there's really nothing guilty about it; it's amazing. Jane is a role model. While showing that being a girl is not about to slow her down, and that she too is capable of doing hard things, she simultaneously encompasses all that is feminine. She constantly stands up for herself, yet swallows scrutiny when no other option is available. Prone to tantrums and bemoaning tragedy, as Jane learns from her trials, she encourages us that we too can learn to gracefully wade through difficulty. 

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is the child you wish you were. Imaginative, brave and curiously sweet, Flavia is sure to capture the reader's heart as she tumbles her way through murder clues, determined to solve the mystery. After overhearing an argument in her father's study, Flavia wakes up to find a dead man in the garden lying among the cucumbers. When her father is accused as the murderous villain, she resolves to get to the bottom of the riddle and in doing so uncovers deathly, overlooked secrets from years past. 

Okay I absolutely loved this book. I snatched the last copy from the library and promised myself I would only read it at work and while walking home from work so as to savor the pages. Today, being only halfway through, I forgot the blasted book at home. Never surrendering, I found a copy online, and finished it. I honestly haven't turned pages like this since the seventh Harry Potter book. 

Heaven is Here

Heaven is Here, Stephanie Nielson

Heaven is Here: An incredible story of hope, triumph and everyday joy, by Stephanie Nielson is an inspiring memoir. Nielson shares the heartbreaks of her life and how they not only strengthened her faith in Christ, but also strengthened her marriage. Her life in the spotlight began in 2005 as a blogger. Gaining the attention of a large follower base, Nielson captivated those who followed her blog about the joys of motherhood and married life while sharing her gratitude for blessings and instilling hope.

In August 2008, everything changed for Nielson and those she loves. Her and her husband Christian were in a terrible plane crash. While Christian burned over 40% of his body, Stephanie had burns covering over 80% of her body, and was straddling death's door. She remained in a coma for four months. Waking up was a nightmare. They psychical pain was unbearable, yet it didn't hold a candle to the emotional pain that came with seeing herself in the mirror, her children's harsh reactions to her image, and her feelings of inadequacy as both mother and wife.

Nielson was able to pull from her childhood foundation of being raised in the LDS church as well as the support of those who loved her and constantly reminded her of Heavenly Father's love for her, in order to pull through this billowing tragedy. She gives readers a unique perspective on where joy, beauty and love are found and reminds them of the foundational truths that help strengthen home and family. 

A Little Princess

A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett

I've constantly been searching for a book with a stalwart enough main character that you could name a child after, and they'd have a constant role model. A character that is realistic, but pure and good the whole way through. I've found her in Burnett's, A Little Princess. Sara Crewe was raised in India as a little lady by her wealthy military father. However, when she finds herself orphaned, her fancy world turns upside down and she has to decide how to behave in her new reality.

Sara is always kind and always pleasant. She thinks though perhaps this is due to the fact that she has always had everything she ever wanted. She often wonders how she would act if she were poor, and suddenly and shockingly gets the chance to prove herself. Sara decides that no matter her circumstances, she will act as if she were a princess, always checking herself with the question of, if I were a princess, what would I do or what would I say. Little Sara wins the hearts of the reader and of those who surround her, and rises above her circumstances, inspiring all those who become familiar with her story.