Life Code - Dr. Phil McGraw (2013)

Title: Life Code: The New Rules For Living in the Real World

Author: Dr. Phil McGraw

Genre: Advice

Published: 2013

Number of Pages: 244

Recommended for: Teenagers and adults

Summary: (official) In Life Code: The New Rules for Winning in the Real World, six-time New York Times #1 best-selling author Dr. Phil McGraw abandons traditional thinking and tells you the ugly truth about the users, abusers, and overall “bad guys” we all have in our lives. He also reveals the secrets of how they think and how they get to and exploit you and those you love.  Dr. Phil abandons convention to prepare you to claim what you deserve and claim it now.

Content Review

Sexual content: Some minor stuff.

Profanity: Some bleeped out quotes.

Violence: None.

Drug content: None.

My opinion: I love watching Dr. Phil and lately, all he has been talking about is Life Code "that my son published!" I liked some of the excerpts he used in the show, and I don't know anyone who doesn't have a BAITER (backstabbers, abusers, imposters, takers, exploiters, reckless) in their life.

~

The first part talks about BAITERs, and how to identify them. The second part is the new "playbook" and strengthening YOURSELF. The final chapter talks about protecting/raising your children in this world.

This is the first self-help book I've ever read. The first chapter is pretty boring, as he mostly rambles about why he wrote the book. If you get bored, don't give the book up - because it gets much better. I really enjoyed the first parts, which were about BAITERs and I loved the final chapter. The middle got a little boring, but I think that was because a lot of it didn't apply to me. My child isn't getting bullied (I don't have kids), nobody in my family is a drug addict, and I am not in a abusive relationship (I'm single). Nevertheless, it would still be useful to people in those situations. This book is packed with very useful information and advice.

I would very highly recommend this book.

The Invisible Wall - Harry Bernstein (2007)

Title: The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers
Author: Henry Bernstein
Genre: Historical memoir
Published: 2007
Number of Pages: 300
Recommended for: 13+
Summary: (official) The narrow street where Harry Bernstein grew up, in a small English mill town, was seemingly unremarkable. It was identical to countless other streets in countless other working-class neighborhoods of the early 1900s, except for the “invisible wall” that ran down its center, dividing Jewish families on one side from Christian families on the other. Only a few feet of cobblestones separated Jews from Gentiles, but socially, it they were miles apart.
On the eve of World War I, Harry’s family struggles to make ends meet. His father earns little money at the Jewish tailoring shop and brings home even less, preferring to spend his wages drinking and gambling. Harry’s mother, devoted to her children and fiercely resilient, survives on her dreams: new shoes that might secure Harry’s admission to a fancy school; that her daughter might marry the local rabbi; that the entire family might one day be whisked off to the paradise of America.
Then Harry’s older sister, Lily, does the unthinkable: She falls in love with Arthur, a Christian boy from across the street.
When Harry unwittingly discovers their secret affair, he must choose between the morals he’s been taught all his life, his loyalty to his selfless mother, and what he knows to be true in his own heart.
A wonderfully charming memoir written when the author was ninety-three, The Invisible Wall vibrantly brings to life an all-but-forgotten time and place. It is a moving tale of working-class life, and of the boundaries that can be overcome by love.

Content Review

Sexual content: None, really. I mean, nothing that would really offend anyone. A circumcision is told in somewhat detail.
Profanity: "Bloody 'ell" hell, one use of s***, b***ard. Racial slurs.
Violence: Jews are beat up, Henry's father goes into rages, smacks Lily, and pulls her hair on one occasion. Nothing super serious.
Drug content: Henry's father is a drunken idiot.

My opinion: I don't have a little brother, but if I did, I would want him to be like Harry. A librarian recommended this to me, knowing how much I like this kind of stuff and I was not disappointed.
(some minor spoilers included)
What makes the story the most is the people. I mean, the way their religion, background, and personality.
Harry - a sweet little Jewish boy who tells the story
Lily - Harry's intelligent Socialist sister, who has been deeply in love with a Christian since she was 12. (the character I felt most sorry for)
Arthur Forshaw - Christian boy in love with Lily, who fought in WWI
Harry's Mom - like any mother, who wants the best for her children and always trying to make ends meet.
Harry's Dad - a big jerk who doesn't care about his family, and who drinks and smokes and doesn't ever acknowledge his family
Rose - Harry's snotty sister who acts like her Dad
Sarah - Jewish girl sent to Australia for kissing a Christian boy
Freddy - Christian boy who Sarah kissed, goes to war, loses both his legs, and commits suicide
As a Christian who has been passionately curious about Judaism, hearing stories of Christian anti-Semitism make me so angry!! I can completely see why Jews don't approve of inter-marry. Jews have been persecuted for quite some time, and they want to keep their religion and traditions. This book (and some parts of Fiddler on the Roof) tell just how important keeping traditions are to them.
I think perhaps (in some cases, such as the two mentioned in the book) they take it a little to far, but I can see their point of view.
Anyways, the title seems to really fit the story. I mean, 2 rows of houses on the same street - each acting like the other doesn't exist? And then it is a love story that seems to tear off a few bricks on that invisible wall. Towards the end, the wall lowers, and is only a few feet high - the two sides can see each other, and are so much closer than ever before, but there is still a wall. And in the end, it is a baby who tears down the wall.
I would recommend it to high schoolers and up. There are some difficult sentences and I don't think anyone younger would get the plot enough to enjoy it.

If the plot sounds interesting, you definitely won't be disappointed. Harry has also written 2 sequels which I will definitely try.

A Coal Miner's Bride - Susan Campbell Bartoletti (2000)

Title: A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska (Dear America; Lattimer, Pennsylvania, 1896)

Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Genre: Historical fiction

Published: 2000

Number of Pages: 219

Recommended for: 10+

Summary: A diary account of thirteen-year-old Anetka's life in Poland in 1896, immigration to America, marriage to a coal miner, widowhood, and happiness in finally finding her true love.

Content Review

Sexual content: A few references to kissing, love, etc. Nothing major.

Profanity: None. 

Violence: This is a fictional account of the Lattimer Massacre. Some minimal violence.

Drug content: Drinking, whiskey, and cigarettes are mentioned.

My opinion: A Coal Miner's Bride is the diary of a young Polish girl who goes to America after her future husband, who she has never met, pays her fare. Her future husband, Stanley, has three little girls and his wife had died in childbirth. However a romance blossoms between Anetka and a soldier, Leon, who she claims not to like but anyone who has read a romance before knows they're in love. Leon as well as Anetka's little brother Josef go to America to be with their Papa, leaving behind Poland and all they have ever known.

The story was interesting, the characters were realistic (with flaws) and believable, and it tells the little known story of the Lattimer Massacre. The ending was sad, and it had an Epilogue which read like a nonfiction, with everyone's obituary which was kinda depressing. The ending included more information about the time period, pictures, and a pronunciation guide to some Polish words in the book.

Kisses From Katie - Katie Davis (2011)

Title: Kisses From Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption 

Author: Katie Davis with Beth Clark

Genre: Christian memoir

Published: 2011

Number of Pages: 288

Recommended for: 12+ (mostly junior high and up)

Summary: (Official) What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because they think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person and didn’t even speak the language? A passion to follow Jesus.

Katie Davis left over Christmas break of her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people of Uganda and the needs she saw that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting thirteen children in Uganda and has established a ministry, Amazima, that feeds and sends hundreds more to school while teaching them the Word of Jesus Christ.

Content Review

Sexual content: A brief mention of women involved in prostitution to pay for food. 

Profanity: None. 

Violence: There is no violence in the typical since. However, this book is set in a Third World country and some of the stories will make your heart break.

Drug content: Drinking, and cigarettes are mentioned. It is said many people brew alcohol as a means of survival.

My opinion: God's miracles shine very brightly in this book. I really did enjoy this book. Katie truly is an inspirational to a lot of people, including me. Each chapter includes a "One Day" journal entry at the end, which was interesting. Raising 14 girls is enough to drive anyone nuts. What I did not like was how, unless she was comparing herself to Jesus (When I'm weak, He is strong) she pretty much portrayed herself as perfect. I mean, dealing with 14 young girls, who COULDN'T be stressed? Well, Katie never mentions once she is stressed. She seems to be perfect; trusting God all the time 100%, never getting angry, etc. etc. I understand God works miracles, but I don't know anyone (or heard of anyone) who hasn't gone through something life-changing (Louis Zamperini, Corrie ten Boom, etc.) and hasn't felt stressed to the point of breaking down and wanting to quit. I mean God purposely uses people who really aren't much to human eyes. Moses, Jonah, Noah, and David are a few biblical examples. Well anyway I haven't really read any modern memoirs so I don't know if portraying yourself in that manner is common.

One thing I DID like (and I wish more Christians did) was the way Katie ministers. She is not the type of person to force you become a Christian. She SHOWS what the love of Christ is. She doesn't judge, she is not pushy, she trusts the Lord and she LOVES. She realizes she can't end poverty or hunger, and she doesn't try. She LOVES. Whenever possible, she and her team feeds and clothes and cares for those she can. Most of these children who she cares for have never felt loved and she understands it would be impossible to explain Christ's love without loving because the children wouldn't understand. (and neither would I)

You can follow Katie's blog at: http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

In the language of Luganda, "Amazima" means "truth". Here is Katie's nonprofit: http://amazima.org/

I would recommend this book to any Christian out there!

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (1843)

A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories. Everyone has at least seen one movie remake, and I have been to a play of A Christmas Carol. It took me about 2 1/3 hours to finish this book, and I loved every one of them! I truly enjoyed it, and believe it should be required reading in schools, because most kids nowadays think Christmas is all about give-me give-me give-me Santa Rudolf Santa. It is 100% clean, with the exception of a few uses of a donkey's other name.
You can get this for free on iBooks.

Anyways, God bless us, every one!

Run, Boy, Run - Uri Orlev (2003)

Title: Run, Boy, Run

Author: Uri Orlev

Genre: Historical fiction

Published: 2003

Number of Pages: 192

Recommended for: mature 10+

Summary: (Official) Run, Boy, Run is the extraordinary account of one boy’s survival of the Holocaust. Srulik is only eight years old when he finds himself all alone in the Warsaw ghetto. He escapes into the countryside where he spends the ensuing years hiding in the forest, dependent on the sympathies and generosity of the poor farmers in the surrounding area. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, several chases, captures, attempted executions, and even the loss of his arm, Srulik miraculously survives.

Content Review

Profanity: a** is used once. B*****d twice. 

Sexual Content: The word circumcision is used twice. Numerous people ask Srulik/Jurek to undress to either see if he's circumcised or bathe him. Srulik is repeatedly told not to swim. (I suppose boys swam naked back then. I would never dream of it.)Page 59: After a girl's dress flies up, she asks a boy to pull down his pants. The boy, circumcised, does so without thinking. She then replies "Yours is different from the other boys." Then, a cow gives birth. When he says he's never seen an animal give birth, she tells him "You and I were born the same way." than asks him if he knew how babies get into a woman's stomach. The only thing written is "She told him."When he calls the girl crazy, she replies, "Didn't you ever see a dog mount a b*tch? Or a Billy goat do it with a goat?"Page 81: During a peeing contest, a boy, angry at Jurek, reveals Jurek's secret. [he is circumcised] The word "penis" is mentioned.In chapter 14, a girl and boy have sex twice. Although the word is never mentioned, it is noted their clothes are hanging up. Younger kids might not understand. ("What are they doing under the blankets?") and "Marisza had said, "You'll understand when you're older."
Violence: This is the story of a Jew doing WWII. Jurek is repeatedly beaten, he loses an arm, nothing to shocking.
Drugs/Alcohol: It's WWII, everyone nearly smokes. (Kids included) alcohol and vodka are mentioned.

My opinion: This is one of the most amazing stories I have ever read. It is fiction, although based on a true story. I would highly recommend to mature 10 year olds and up. Except for the sexual content, this would make a very good story for a Holocaust curriculum. However, this could be used as a read-aloud with certain parts edited. Jurek is kind of like David from I Am David by Anne Holm and in the way he adjusts with losing his arm, is as resilient as Bethany Hamilton.

Jurek is a clever young Jewish boy thrust into a very adult and violent world. Although there are no graphic details of violence, this book is sad at times and will break your heart. The entire time, I wanted to jump into the book and shout, "Jurek! I love you!" This kid is thrown around from family to family, and after growing accustomed to it, the war ends. His perspective and the end are very unique.

There are a few minor grammatical errors, I think are from the translation from Hebrew to English. So, younger readers may have a wee bit of trouble.

The Chosen - Chaim Potok (1967)

Title: The Chosen
Author: Chaim Potok
Genre: Historical fiction
Published: 1967
Number of Pages: 304
Recommended for: 13+
Summary: The best plot summary I've found would be from Sonlight homeschooling curriculum.

"In 1940s Brooklyn, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a secular Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep friendship.

Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, crises of faith, loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love. A deep and thought-provoking work."

My opinion: It has been a while since I have read a novel as good as this one. Despite being fiction, this has made my top six-star worthy list.

This is a story about the friendship of a young Hasidic Jew and a secular Jew. Told in first-person, this takes place during WWII and post-WWII (the creation of Israel)
At first I was wondering why this book didn't have an "official" summary/plot, like most books do. Well, a plot summary would not do the book justice. I mean, the book is about a friendship, but (definitely) not your typical, cheesy story.

The first part of the book profiles how Danny and Reuven's friendship began. The second part profiles their lives in high school and their friendship. The third part profiles their college lives, which is also a major time in history; the creation of modern-day Israel.

This book was truly an amazing book on friendship. From the very first page you knew it was amazing. I LOVE Jewish culture (More the "Reuven" type, not necessarily the "Danny" type. But I am interested in both). The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a genre, "Jewish Appreciation" fits the bill.

I would not recommend this to anyone under 13. Not because of content issues, the book is clean with minimal violence, no sexual content, and some minor profanity. Anyone under 13 would have a very difficult time comprehending it. When I was younger, I hated when people said it was too hard, and I, being stubborn, accepted the challenge. (Who am I to say a kindergarten can't read "The Boxcar Children" if they comprehend it?)
However this book deals with some things teens and up would be able to comprehend. A second-grader with a high school reading level probably won't know what psychology (Danny is interested in psychoanalysis) is, the Holocaust, or even the complexity Hasidism and silence. (There is nothing inappropriate about the book, thou)
Teens/adults: if you don't know what "Shabbat" or "Talmud" means, you're going to have a hard time with this book. I, knowing enough about Jews to get me through most books, struggled. I mean the book is about two religious Jews, one whose life revolves around religion. There's references to Shabbat, Passover, the Torah, Talmud, earlocks, and different prayers. But, don't let this stop you from enjoying this fabulous novel.