Monday, September 29, 2014

It Was Me All Along

Andie Mitchell's memoir It Was Me All Along could be the story of many a person who struggle with their weight.

That didn't make it less interesting to me.

Instead, I enjoyed Andie's story, which begins with her childhood and the home she grew up in.  It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to see that her relationship with food had something to do with her father's alcoholism and her parents' marital troubles.  I'm not sure you can blame Andie's overeating on this entirely, but it does seem fairly obvious that the stress in the home caused Andie to turn to food for comfort.




As she enters adulthood and has a physical, her doctor says her weight aloud: 268 pounds, putting her on the path to weigh 300 pounds if she continues with the way she is currently living.

This causes Andie to take a look at her eating.  There are ups and downs, some binge eating, but Andie begins exercising and looking at how much food she is eating, making better choices.  The weight loss journey isn't easy.  

And it isn't just about the food.  Even after Andie has reached her goal weight, there is still the issue of food - this time restricting her eating too much.

I was instantly sucked in to Andie's story, and inspired by her own account of overcoming her issues with food.  A picture at the book's beginning shows Andie both before and after her weight loss, and it is easy to see that she is a beautiful woman at 268 pounds or 130 pounds, and as I read it became obvious that the beauty we see on the outside is also present inside.

It Was Me All Along is a must read memoir for anyone who has struggled with their weight, and even for those who haven't , to gain a better understanding of what people with food issues struggle with on a daily basis.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Sunday Salon: The Late Edition

Beautiful fall weather this entire weekend has kept me busy outside, enjoying this while it lasts.  So, it is way later than I want it to be right now, and I haven't yet thought about lesson plans or the week ahead.




Last night was a night to sit around the bonfire with friends.  We managed to get invited and actually show up at two different bonfires in our neighborhood.  It was a late night with a lot of good food and a few drinks. 



My best intentions of working off the extra calories after church this morning quickly fell by the wayside, as our family began a major purge in our garage.  We still have stuff sitting out in our driveway and in our front yard that we will need to put away tomorrow, but we have made great progress: one full truck load to a friend's dumpster, many huge black trash bags waiting for garbage pick-up, 20 (give or take) plastic crates, tubs, etc. taken to recycling, lots of dirt swept up along with sawdust from the kitchen project, and lots of junk burned in our bonfire.  

Anywho....this means I didn't have a lot of time to sit around and read today.  Or work on lesson plans.  Or cook for the week.  Or basically get organized.  

So, I need to quickly do a few things before heading to bed.  I'm setting my alarm for a super early wake up call, so I can try and get a few things done before the week officially begins.

Little Sister's pumpkin decorating

Friday, September 26, 2014

Friday Five

I'm thankful it's the weekend, but wishing already for more than just Saturday and Sunday to catch up and recharge.  Here are the things that have caught my eye this week:








I love looking through the new Athleta catalogs that show up in my mailbox.  I already have several pairs of exercise capris, leggings, and shorts, but would still love to add these to my collection.  I also wish I looked like the model wearing them. Sigh.



You know how Facebook seems to know everything about you and things pop up that you might enjoy buying?  Well, I've been getting quite a few pop-ups from Modcloth lately, and have really enjoyed looking at the clothing they have.

I am a sucker for Kohl's Cares stuffed animals.   I love adding these to my school library collection.  This past weekend I added Little Critter and his sister.  

Joss and Main is another one of the websites that constantly pops up on my Facebook newsfeed.  My friend, Jamie, has recently moved in to a new house and purchased a lot of items from there.  I love, love, love her house which has caused me to look at the Joss and Main waaaaayyyyyy too much this week.




One of my fellow teachers brought a bunch of snacks for an in-service we had.  She was nice enough to share with those of us who didn't pack any extra food, and all I needed was one little bite of Cracklin' Oat Bran before I decided to buy myself a box.  Sadly, this is not something I will be able to keep in the house because I gobbled the entire box up within a day.  Soooooo good!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

One Kick

I feel pulled toward mysteries more lately, and have been pleasantly rewarded with some great finds.

One Kick by Chelsea Cain has received a fair amount of buzz, but even though Cain has published other books, I have never read her work.



One Kick is the first in what Cain intends to be a series, and I am anxious for the next installment, barely wanting to put this book down.  (I picked it up at bedtime one night, and was nearly through all 300 pages by the next morning.  Needless to say, I was a bit tired the next day!)

Kick Lanigan was kidnapped as a young child, rescued five years later, having lived with her captors who moved frequently and presented her as their child.  She was a part of their child pornography ring, and her experiences have left her with some issues of her own.

When Kick learns of two missing children she is asked (ordered might be a better word) to assist with the case.  Her skills in martial arts, boxing, knife throwing (and pretty much any other method of fighting), give her a way to defend and protect herself, although it doesn't prevent her from reliving some of her own past as she is confronted with trying to locate these missing children.

Cain's One Kick is suspenseful in two different ways: in solving the mystery of where the missing children are, and also in revealing parts of Kick's past and what happened to her.

I am a huge fan of One Kick and can't wait to read more in this series.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



This week's selection: The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth
Due out: February 10, 2015



Product Information taken from Goodreads:

A novel about three generations of midwives (a woman, her mother, and her grandmother) and the secrets they keep that push them apart and ultimately bind them together

THE SECRETS OF MIDWIVES tells the story of three generations of women devoted to delivering new life into the world—and the secrets they keep that threaten to change their own lives forever. Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy—including the identity of the baby’s father— hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. For Floss, Neva’s grandmother and a retired midwife, Neva’s situation thrusts her back 60 years in time to a secret that eerily mirrors her granddaughter’s—a secret which, if revealed, will have life-changing consequences for them all. Will these women reveal their secrets and deal with the inevitable consequences? Or are some secrets best kept hidden?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Where the Wind Leads: A Refugee Family's Miraculous Story of Loss, Rescue, and Redemption

Vinh Chung's life is nothing short of amazing.  Born in Vietnam in the 70s his family fled the country in an attempt to find a better life.  



Vinh's grandmother made her living after her husband's death by starting a rice mill, which eventually led to great prosperity. Vinh was born into a family with wealth, yet when Vietnam fell to the Communists, the family fled the country for life in America, where they hoped to start anew. 

Their journey was dangerous from the outset. They joined the "boat people" despite knowing that thousands of other who had embarked on this journey never reached their destination. Pirate attacks, dehydration and near starvation were all faced with immense courage.

When the Chung family finally arrived in Arkansas, their new home, their struggle was not over.  They faced a language barrier and discrimination.  Chung shares stories about the ways in which his family made their way in a new country, and the work ethic his father passed on to his children.

Where The Wind Leads is an inspirational story, Chung's memoir is not full of sorrow despite everything his family lost.  Instead, his family chose to work hard and take every opportunity given to them.  

As I looked at Where The Wind Leads on Amazon, Chung's memoir has over one hundred reviews, and still retains a 5-star rating, the highest it can garner.

I am recommending this memoir to everyone; it is truly a tale of inspiration everyone should read.




Monday, September 22, 2014

The Secret of Raven Point

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I will tell you that as soon as I saw the cover on Amazon, I added The Secret of Raven Point by Jennifer Vanderbees to the list of books I wanted to read.




Then, to add to my desire to read this book was my friend, Kristin's glowing recommendation.  

I started The Secret of Raven Point on my iPad, using my kindle app during our all day in-service on Friday night.  By Saturday afternoon as we sat at a friend's house watching a football game (and a good game at that), I was trying to find any reason to sneak my iPad out and continue reading.

Juliet Dufresne and her brother, Tuck, have had a sheltered life in South Carolina until World War II breaks out. Her brother decides to enlist, and after he is MIA, Juliet goes overseas to work as a Red Cross nurse. Although her goal is to find someone who knew her brother, and therefore give some closure to what happened to Tuck, Juliet is also finding herself a bit as well- growing up quickly as she cares for the wounded and dying.

The mystery of what became of Tuck takes a few twists and turns, which created a bit of suspense as I read. Vanderbees resolution is satisfying, although not what I expected.

I still have an earlier novel, Strangers at the Feast, by Vanderbees that I am excited to dig into after reading The Secret of Raven Point.


Sunday, September 21, 2014

Sunday Salon


Well, aside from a little rain yesterday morning that occurred during the girls' soccer games (and ended up canceling them), the weather has been beautiful. This upcoming week looks like more of the same. 

My husband is in Washington, D.C. for a few days for work.  The rest of us here at our house are all jealous since this is where we had contemplated vacationing.  Instead of visiting national monuments we are folding laundry and vacuuming while he is gone.

I have enjoyed sitting around this weekend and reading - and even getting a little organizing done.  Hopefully by the time he returns it will look like we have done some cleaning.

I still have lesson plans to write along with a few blog posts for the week.  Although it is supper time and we just returned from the grocery store a bit earlier, I have no idea what I will make.  I would be happy if everyone would find something on their own, but doubt that will happen.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend, everyone!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Book Boat's In

Cynthia Cotten's story, The Book Boat's In, tells of a little known (and now obsolete) method of bringing books to people who might not have had access to them otherwise.

An author's note in back shares how the Erie Canal's opening allowed boats to travel from New York City westward providing a variety of new and hard to get things to cities such as Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago, allowing them to grow quickly.  Floating libraries helped bring reading material to people who otherwise would not have had access to books.  



In The Book Boat's In, Jesse and his father travel to town where Jesse is excited to visit the book boat.  When he sees a copy of The Swiss Family Robinson, he returns home to count his money and try to find ways in which he can earn more to be able to buy himself a copy of the book when he returns to town next week.

Aside from helping share the story of book boats, I also appreciated Cotten's story which depicts a boy who values books and will work hard to own one himself.  Illustrator Frane Lessac's folk illustrations give this story the feel of early American life.  

I'm an easy target for a book about books and libraries, but this is one I will be reading to classes at school and sharing with my own children.  I am fascinated by the idea of floating libraries and know that my listeners will find it amazing as well.

If you're looking for some other great books about libraries, check these out:














Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday Five

It's Friday, which means another collection of great things I've found this week - either on the internet or a variety of other places.  Enjoy!




Just this past week a co-worker suggested Quest bars to me.  I've done little research on them. Aside from the fact that they cost $2.29/bar (which I think is a lot), they have 20 grams of protein, natural ingredients, more fiber than other bars, and less sugar.  And, they even taste good.  

I suffer a little bit from wanting to know more about pretty much everything.  So, when friends comment on something or someone that I know nothing about, I usually do a little bit of research on my own. I hate to be out of the loop.  This past weekend a group of gals I know went to the Zac Brown Band concert. I hadn't ever heard of the guy. Since Monday I've been listening to his album and even enjoying it.



We still need to purchase an area rug for our living room.  I've looked at a lot of rugs lately, and aside from the fact that I'm on a tight budget, I also need to look for something dark that hides dog hair.  I'm liking this one I found on Joss and Main. It's not dark exactly, but I feel like it is busy enough that a lot of dog hair would be hidden.


A co-worker of mine has a top similar to this that she purchased at Younkers. I found this one on the JCrew Factory website. It seems so versatile to me....good with jeans, black slacks, or even yoga pants.  

My week wouldn't be complete without sharing a pair of shoes that has caught my eye.  My oldest daughter has a little babysitting money that she wants to use to purchase a pair of Vans. I have been perusing their website, and these cute shoes a la The Beatles come in just my size.  Fun!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Such Good Girls

Such Good Girls: The Journey of The Holocaust's Hidden Child Survivors is a non-fiction account of a few of the thousands of children who managed to survive the Holocaust outside of the concentration camps.




R. D. Rosen shares the stories of three girls: Carla, Flora and Sophie.  Each girl's tale is unique, yet are representative of the variety of ways children were hidden and survived during the Holocaust.  

Sophie changes her name and is told by her mother that she is Catholic, As years pass with Sophie believing she is Catholic, the news that she is a Jew is nearly unbelievable.

Flora and her mother move to avoid being sent to a concentration camp, and her mother leaves Flora with others to care for her and keep her safe.

Carla, who lived in Holland, is hidden in plain sight, living with her mother and brother and a family of nine near a busy area that Germans frequented.

These three women have now shared their stories after many years of being silent.  After Sophie, Flora and Carla's stories are shared Rosen adds the stories of other hidden children and the way they have been able to find closure and also share their stories with others who have had similar experienes.

I enjoy nearly anything written about the Holocaust, and did enjoy Such Good Girls. Rosen's account was not easy for me to get into initially, and I felt little connection to these women. However, as I continued to read, Rosen shared more human elements of these ladies, allowing me to connect with them, and want to know more about them and their miraculous survival.

Such Good Girls is definitely worth the time it takes to read, and brings an interesting perspective to the Holocaust by focusing on the many children who were able to survive and go on to build lives elsewhere.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.




This week's pick: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Due out: February 3, 2015


Product Information taken from Goodreads:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes an epic novel of love and war, spanning from the 1940s to the present day, and the secret lives of those who live in a small French town.

Viann and Isabelle have always been close despite their differences. Younger, bolder sister Isabelle lives in Paris while Viann lives a quiet and content life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. When World War II strikes and Antoine is sent off to fight, Viann and Isabelle's father sends Isabelle to help her older sister cope. As the war progresses, it's not only the sisters' relationship that is tested, but also their strength and their individual senses of right and wrong. With life as they know it changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Viann and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions. 

Vivid and exquiste in its illumination of a time and place that was filled with great monstrosities, but also great humanity and strength, Kristin Hannah's novel will provoke thought and discussion that will have readers talking long after they turn the last page

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Dash

I'm trying to get through some of the books that I know my students will enjoy.  Dash, Kirby Larson's most recent novel, will appeal to a variety of middle grade readers.




Set during World War II, Mitsi was born in the United States, but is relocated along with the thousands of other Japanese Americans to an internment camp in the desert.  Although she is upset about leaving her home, most upsetting is that she will have to leave Dash, her dog and constant companion, behind.

Mitsi is dealing with the loss of her dog, but also realizing that her Japanese heritage has caused her friends to look at her differently.  With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the life that Mitsi knows changes dramatically.

Once relocated, Mitsi and her family find ways to endure their time in the internment camp.  Mitsi is able to find a friend or two, but it is her brother and his friends that most worry her.  

Larson's Dash is a great animal story, but it is also a good tween historical fiction book that will provide young readers a look at the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II.  


Monday, September 15, 2014

Blue-Eyed Boy: A Memoir

Robert Timberg was injured in Vietnam just days before he is to be sent home to his wife.  In just the span of time it takes for his vehicle to drive over a landmine, Timberg's life is changed forever.



In Blue-Eyed Boy Timberg takes us on the journey he goes through to reclaim his life after suffering third degree burns on his face and neck.  

His appearance is forever altered, and Timberg endures and endless number of surgeries as skin grafts and reconstruction take place. His wife, Janie, stands firmly by his side, encouraging and loving him.

Although a career as a writer was not on Timberg's radar prior to his accident, he had always enjoyed reading, and with few other prospects, decides he will attend graduate school and become a journalist.  

Blue-Eyed Boy is a well written memoir, clearly Timberg's decision to pursue a writing career was a good one.  Timberg shares the details of his time in Vietnam and his personal life, but what he is most focused on in the last third of his memoir is his research and the process he went through to write The Nightingale's Song.  

Had this memoir been less well written, I may have given up on it at that point.  As it is, although this was not my favorite portion of his memoir, I enjoyed Timberg's writing and felt invested enough in Blue-Eyed Boy that learning more about The Nightingale's Song was still enjoyable enough reading.

Memoir lovers, journalists, and readers with an interest in Vietnam will all enjoy Blue-Eyed Boy.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Sunday Salon


This weekend has been a whirlwind of activity. I so appreciated staying home by myself on Friday night while my husband took all three girls to the football game.  That was the one bit of relaxation I managed to get.


Little Sister had her first soccer game yesterday as did Middle Sister.  The weather was cool, definitely fall-like. Unfortunately I missed both games since I worked yesterday morning.  In the afternoon we watched the Iowa/ISU game with friends. By the time we got home it was nearly bedtime.  And today.....well, I have been up cleaning and then we are signed up to play in a 4 person best shot.

What? You've never heard me mention that I golf?  Well, my ten year old asked me if I knew how to golf.  That means I haven't golfed in the past decade. What was I thinking when I agreed to this?  I'm sure it will be memorable.


Big Sister had her second XC meet.  Her time was slightly slower than her first meet. This week I won't be able to get to her meet in time to see her run.  I don't get off work in time to get there, so my husband will be her cheering section.

My mom, who has been on vacation with her brother (visiting another brother) for the past ten days returns today - finally!  She helps out a lot when she is around, so we've really been missing her while she was gone as I tried to juggle where everyone needs to be - which seems to be three different places all at the same time!

What's up for your Sunday? I would love to relax with a book....but maybe after the golf that can happen.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus


I always kind of enjoy the little lesson I teach at school on using the thesaurus.  One of my favorite books, Chicken Cheeks, adds a bit of humor to this lesson and the kids (and usually the teachers) enjoy it.


I am so excited to add The Right Word by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet to my tool bag of resources to use when helping students learn how to use a thesaurus.

And, even though I have a perfect time to use this in my teaching, I just plain love this book and think I might just find a time to read it to every class, thesaurus lesson or not.

Usually it is the story that grabs me and reels me in.  In The Right Word, it is the illustrations (although the story is good).  I absolutely love Melissa Sweet's work.  The collage art is always unique and eye catching, and I think this latest work by Sweet may be her best yet.  I couldn't help poring over the many items she included in each and every page.  

Although I have used a Thesaurus, and taught others how to use one, there is little I knew about Peter Mark Roget until I read this biography.  The actual text in The Right Word is succinct enough that even a very young child can enjoy this biography. A timeline is included at book's end highlighting the major points in Roget's life along with important historical events, giving a bit more information about this little known man.

I've added this book to my own library at home and can't wait to add it to my school's library.  

Friday, September 12, 2014

Friday Five

I've been at an all day in-service without technology which means that my Friday Five post is just a few hours later than normal.  I thought about skipping it altogether, but there were still a few things that have caught my eye over the week.  Check out what I've been looking at online:






You know all the people who think books are outdated and are really pushing technology? They need to watch this video. A very inventive little blurb from IKEA about their new catalogue, which OK, really isn't about libraries or books, but I can totally find a way to springboard off this video and have a great discussion advocating for good old fashioned books.

Just when I think I am so over my peanut butter obsession, Jif goes and makes another peanut butter product I have to try.  I like this one (of course) and after I get this tub eaten up, I absolutely cannot allow myself to buy it again. 
I don't want to start thinking about Christmas quite yet, but these magnatiles are worth ordering now and saving for the holiday.  My girls have enjoyed playing with them at a friend's house. However, when I found out about them and wanted to purchase them, the factory where they are made had suffered some major natural disaster like a tsunami. The prices skyrocketed.  Usually a set of 100 pieces is $120.  Right now Zulily has them for just $80.  It's still expensive, but a toy that is well worth it.



I love wearing sweaters and with a high temperature in the low 50s today, can't wait to break some of my favorites out.  I did do a bit of a purge this past summer and got rid of some of the sweaters I haven't worn for quite a while, so this would seem to be a great time to add a few new ones to my collection.  
The blue swirly sweater can be found at Boden, while the plum one is at LL Bean. I wish I had an unlimited budget because there are several others out there that I would also love.




Thursday, September 11, 2014

Working Stiff: Been There, Done That


For the first ten years my husband and I were married he was a funeral director and we lived in a home attached to a funeral home.  I seem drawn to books about dead bodies and forensic science because of that, and honestly, find it really quite fascinating.  I had started reading Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, when my husband, looking for a good book to read, took over my kindle and read Working Stiff himself.





Because of his work background I was interested to hear what he thought of this book. His first words were, "been there, done that."  Which is sort of true.  But, Melinek has had a lot more experience with autopsying bodies.  My husband met with families, made arrangements, and embalmed the bodies that he picked up from hospitals, nursing homes, private residences, and occasionally from a medical examiner's office.  He does have a lot of really great stories to tell, and reading this book has reaffirmed my belief that he should write a memoir about his previous life as a funeral director.

Melinek shares vignettes from various bodies she became acquainted with through her work.  Luckily she is not easily grossed out, because many of the bodies she works with are not in good condition.  Although I was intrigued by her various tidbits, (such as the fact that a dog will stay next to his deceased human companion, but a cat will eat the companion), I was most interested in the time she spent working on identifying bodies after 9/11.  

Melinek shares a unique perspective to death and what she has made her life's work.  This is non-fiction that will appeal to a wide audience, and is easy to read. Melinek is someone I felt I could relate to, and her own experience of losing her father to suicide when she was an early teen gives her an understanding of how death affects those left behind.


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



This week's pick:  I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Due out: January 27, 2015



Product Information taken from Goodreads:

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.
 
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
 
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Nest

Middle grade realistic fiction is absolutely one of my favorite genres, and I am always so frustrated when all I see lining the shelves of the public library are fantasy novels.  Especially since that would have really frustrated me if that is all that was out there when I was growing up.  

So, I love it when I see a great new realistic fiction novel for middle grade students.

Nest by Esther Ehrlich will be out in just a few days, and I was lucky enough to have an ARC on my kindle.




Chirp (Naomi) and her older sister, Rachel, live on Cape Cod with their parents in 1972, growing up happily.  Their father, a psychiatrist, enjoys having conversations with his children, and his dancer wife has made a happy home for the family.

And then, Chirp's mom is diagnosed with a serious illness.  Not only must everyone adjust to this new normal, but Chirp's mom must also deal with the depression that comes with the diagnosis.

This is kind of a heavy book (I seem to gravitate toward those), as Chirp and her sister try to deal with the many changes happening at home.  Ehrlich's writing is perfect, capturing what Chirp experiences beautifully.

I'll be passing this off to my middle school daughter, knowing she will fall in love with Nest as I did. 

Monday, September 8, 2014

The Good Girl

Mary Kubica's book, The Good Girl, has the sort of cover that sticks with you, and a story that does the same.



I've seen this one mentioned a few places as a fall title to watch.  I can honestly say that it was absolutely amazing.  In fact, I was nearly late to work on Thursday because I couldn't leave for work until I finished it up. And once I had, I wanted to talk to someone about it.  

Kubica's novel is narrated by three people: Eve, Mia Dennett's mother, Gabe, the private detective looking for Mia, and Colin, Mia's captor.  These voices share bits and pieces of what the search for Mia entailed, while Colin shares what his time with Mia in a remote Minnesota cabin was like.

Mia Dennett, the daughter of a prominent judge and his wife, goes missing.  She is an adult, and although a bit prone to some wild behavior in her teen years, is now holding a steady job as a teacher.  Her disappearance is noted by her friends, and her family soon begins looking desperately for her.  Although she is eventually rescued, Mia is not the same girl she was before her kidnapping.  And to top it off, she can't remember her time in captivity.

It isn't until the last chapter that we get to hear Mia's voice. And when we do, the entire story is turned upside down.

I see the average ratings Amazon reviewers have given this book, and honestly, I'm not sure why.  Maybe I am not reading this book critically enough, but I was so engaged right from the start, I just wanted to sit and read.  I also liked Kubica's way of telling the story, changing narrators, as well as time periods with part of the story being told while Mia was missing, and part being told after she had returned home.

I am looking forward to more work by Kubica.  Definitely recommending this one to friends, and can't wait to discuss it.