Showing posts with label bullies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bullies. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Dog Bone Soup


Shawn Daniels grew up in the Boomer era. He was a poor boy materialistically, but rich in spirit and ingenuity.  Shawn went from foster care to a tarpaper house with no doors on the bedrooms and an abusive drunken father. His ability to withstand his environment led him to rise above and find new horizons.

This is a fast moving read that will take its characters from early childhood to adulthood with all of the trials, fears, joys, and experiences that life had to offer a poverty stricken family. Middle grade to adult will find this book entertaining.

Bette Stevens, author of Dog Bone Soup, has captured the essence of a dirt poor family struggling in the 1950s and 60s. Her ability to put you right in the action of the story will amaze. For those who grew up in the 1950s, this will take you back, and for those experiencing for the first time, this book will drag you in and hold you till the last page.  Happy reading everyone. Great book!



Author of Dog Bone Soup




BIO
Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies (milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Bette A. Stevens is the author of award-winning picture book AMAZING MATILDA; home/school resource, The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to DOG BONE SOUP. 

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Tommy's Amigo



Tommy’s Amigo written and illustrated by Nancy Carty Lepri, is a story about a Mexican boy who desperately misses his father and also wants to fit in with his school mates.  He lives with his grandmother who has also migrated to the US.  In spite of her deep love for her grandson, his Grandmother’s pride seems to rule her judgment.   As a result, Tommy is left to desperation that could cause him his life.

Tommy is bullied, but tries to roll with the punches. He finds himself in confrontation in the lunch room at school.  His close friends back him up, but Tommy’s life begins to spiral out of control from that point on.  His father has been sent to jail for something he is not guilty of and Tommy must find a way to stay out of foster care.

Tommy’s Amigo is a pleasant surprise.  His Amigo shows him how to hang in there when all is unraveling.  Tommy finds himself in trouble a number of times throughout these pages.  The story is fast moving and will hold the attention of boys and girls to the end.

The problems in this book are true to life and would certainly help any child relate to those of other culture or those who are experiencing similar conditions.
Great Book!

This book has been reviewed by Susan Hornbach, author of children’s literature