Bread and Roses, Too

Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson

I must say that I was disappointed by this book. It's about the "Bread and Roses" strike at the Lawrence, Mass., textile mills in the early 20th century. It should be an inspirational story, but this book make it so bland and cliched. We never really learn what it was like to work in the mills. The characters are all caricatures. And the ending is so darn neat and tidy. Lame.

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie

Is there any author better than Sherman Alexie? I'm totally enamored with his prose and poetry. I'll read

anything by him -- and love it. This book was no exception. It focuses on his troubled relationship with his mother, a reformed alcoholic and unrepentant liar who showed Alexie little love and yet gave him the tools to leave his hardscrabble existence on the reservation to strive for something better. Alexie approached his subject from multiple angles: Mother as a mother (not so good); mother as victim (going back centuries; and mother as survivor (a damn good one). It is hard to fathom the damage our government has done to America's indigenous peoples. I don't know why I so enjoy being reminded of that fact. But I think it is important that I am.

The Someday Birds

The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla

In this book, four children -- an older sister, an eccentric brother, and two younger twins -- travel cross-

country to visit their father, who is undergoing brain surgery after an injury suffered as a journalist in Afghanistan. The "eccentric" brother bonded with his father over birds. His father once created a list of "someday" birds -- those birds that he wanted to see someday -- even if some of them went extinct. He keeps track of his sightings of these creatures as they travel.

I'm a sucker for any book that features birds and birding, so, naturally, I liked this one. In addition, the main character was believable and likable. You were rooting for him and his siblings the whole way. Definitely an entertaining read.