What I've Read This Week . . .
Glory in the Flower (Keeping Days #2) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic This book picks up where Keeping Days left off. Tish reflects on the past six months and is determined to be more mature in the next six months and handle what life gives her. She has a lot of new things to juggle this year: school, homework, Mama's impending new arrival, not to mention the revival of the Brownings literary society and the school's production of Romeo and Juliet in which Tish and her sort-of-boyfriend Ken play the leads! There's also continued altercations with Mary Lou Hodge, the town hoodlum Doug, who happens to be Ken's brother, worrying about big brother Ben, younger sister Marnie and trying to sort out her feelings for Ken. Through it all, Tish writes faithfully in her journal and learns a lot about herself and her family in the process. I enjoyed this second book much better than the first. The plot seemed more interesting and realistic and I could relate to Tish's feelings about High School and wanting to maintain the same level of academic success she had always been known for. The story is told is beautifully written prose with some very moving passages. The style seems too introspective and sophisticated for Tish's character though, but that's really my only complaint.
The Sanctuary Tree (Keeping Days #3) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
The third book in the Keeping Days series follows Tish and her family through the last half the year 1901. With the loss of her beloved Gramps and her beau Kenneth moving away, new teachers, new assignments and family obligations, Tish is worn thin. This time Tish can't even turn to her writing because she believes the magic is gone. When she needs a friend the most, her friends turn on her, not understanding that she's grown up a lot in the last year and moved beyond the emotional level of her peers. She feels no one understands her except Ken and he has enough trouble worrying about his own family. Only when someone holds a mirror up to Tish to view her own behavior can she examine herself and discover what really matters in life. This book is very similar to the first one in tone and plot. Tish was excessively annoying in this book and even though I remember feeling that way at her age, I felt bad for everyone else instead of sympathizing with her. There is also a lot of religious philosophy and Christian teachings throughout the book. The voice of the character still doesn't sound like a teenager and I am still not wild about this series.
A Mustard Seed of Magic (Keeping Days #4) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
A continuation of 6 months in the life of Tish Sterling leading up to her 16th birthday. In this book, Tish tries to rediscover her lost love of writing and enlists the help of Mrs. Owens, her former English teacher. Tish isn't quite prepared for what learning to write well brings her and once again she feels alienated from her friends. She also misses Kenneth Latham, who is struggling with his own problems in Pennsylvania. Mary Hodge is back in town and no one can seem to forget what she did. Tish tries to help Mary, but only makes the situation worse. With help from her brother Ben, her friends and Mrs. Owens, Tish finally comes to know who she is and know what she wants. This is my least favorite of the series. I found it just more of the same from the first book and I got tired of Tish being obnoxious and melodramatic. There is also quite a bit of religious philosophy and debate and deep introspection. I think the author tried too hard and put her own interests and thoughts into the plot which makes it seem unrealistic for a story narrated by a teenager.
A Nice Girl Like You (Keeping Days #5) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
This 5th book in the Keeping Days series stars Saranne Albright, Tish Sterling's niece. Saranne is 15 and the daughter of a famous women's rights activist and niece of a famous writer. She feels the weight of expectations on her and thinks she can't live up to them. Saranne's family say she is sensitive like Tish and the thing Saranne is most sensitive about is being nice. She wants to be bold like Katie or do something great like Tish but instead, she's just there to lend an ear or a hand. Old scandals resurface from the Hodge family and old prejudices and past deeds are heaped on the head of 16-year-old Paul Hodge, the local bad boy. Saranne sees the potential in Paul and when he needs a friend the most, she enlists the help of her family to unbury old secrets and save Paul. Saranne also tries to help her widowed aunt recently returned from England with her own little girl. Like Tish, Saranne feels others' pain deeply but because she's less stubborn and proud than Tish, she is better at assessing what needs to be done to fix the situation. I liked Saranne and felt sorry for her in the beginning and enjoyed seeing her come into her own. The same old message about passing judgment is revisited here but in a slightly less heavy-handed tone than the stories narrated by Tish. It was fun, yet surprising, to see what happened to the old familiar characters. Unfortunately, the local library doesn't have the final volume of the series so I'm left wondering what happened to certain characters and how it all ends up. If you know, leave me a comment with a detailed plot description!
Glory in the Flower (Keeping Days #2) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic This book picks up where Keeping Days left off. Tish reflects on the past six months and is determined to be more mature in the next six months and handle what life gives her. She has a lot of new things to juggle this year: school, homework, Mama's impending new arrival, not to mention the revival of the Brownings literary society and the school's production of Romeo and Juliet in which Tish and her sort-of-boyfriend Ken play the leads! There's also continued altercations with Mary Lou Hodge, the town hoodlum Doug, who happens to be Ken's brother, worrying about big brother Ben, younger sister Marnie and trying to sort out her feelings for Ken. Through it all, Tish writes faithfully in her journal and learns a lot about herself and her family in the process. I enjoyed this second book much better than the first. The plot seemed more interesting and realistic and I could relate to Tish's feelings about High School and wanting to maintain the same level of academic success she had always been known for. The story is told is beautifully written prose with some very moving passages. The style seems too introspective and sophisticated for Tish's character though, but that's really my only complaint.
The Sanctuary Tree (Keeping Days #3) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
The third book in the Keeping Days series follows Tish and her family through the last half the year 1901. With the loss of her beloved Gramps and her beau Kenneth moving away, new teachers, new assignments and family obligations, Tish is worn thin. This time Tish can't even turn to her writing because she believes the magic is gone. When she needs a friend the most, her friends turn on her, not understanding that she's grown up a lot in the last year and moved beyond the emotional level of her peers. She feels no one understands her except Ken and he has enough trouble worrying about his own family. Only when someone holds a mirror up to Tish to view her own behavior can she examine herself and discover what really matters in life. This book is very similar to the first one in tone and plot. Tish was excessively annoying in this book and even though I remember feeling that way at her age, I felt bad for everyone else instead of sympathizing with her. There is also a lot of religious philosophy and Christian teachings throughout the book. The voice of the character still doesn't sound like a teenager and I am still not wild about this series.
A Mustard Seed of Magic (Keeping Days #4) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
A continuation of 6 months in the life of Tish Sterling leading up to her 16th birthday. In this book, Tish tries to rediscover her lost love of writing and enlists the help of Mrs. Owens, her former English teacher. Tish isn't quite prepared for what learning to write well brings her and once again she feels alienated from her friends. She also misses Kenneth Latham, who is struggling with his own problems in Pennsylvania. Mary Hodge is back in town and no one can seem to forget what she did. Tish tries to help Mary, but only makes the situation worse. With help from her brother Ben, her friends and Mrs. Owens, Tish finally comes to know who she is and know what she wants. This is my least favorite of the series. I found it just more of the same from the first book and I got tired of Tish being obnoxious and melodramatic. There is also quite a bit of religious philosophy and debate and deep introspection. I think the author tried too hard and put her own interests and thoughts into the plot which makes it seem unrealistic for a story narrated by a teenager.
A Nice Girl Like You (Keeping Days #5) by Norma Johnston -- YA Historical Fiction/Classic
This 5th book in the Keeping Days series stars Saranne Albright, Tish Sterling's niece. Saranne is 15 and the daughter of a famous women's rights activist and niece of a famous writer. She feels the weight of expectations on her and thinks she can't live up to them. Saranne's family say she is sensitive like Tish and the thing Saranne is most sensitive about is being nice. She wants to be bold like Katie or do something great like Tish but instead, she's just there to lend an ear or a hand. Old scandals resurface from the Hodge family and old prejudices and past deeds are heaped on the head of 16-year-old Paul Hodge, the local bad boy. Saranne sees the potential in Paul and when he needs a friend the most, she enlists the help of her family to unbury old secrets and save Paul. Saranne also tries to help her widowed aunt recently returned from England with her own little girl. Like Tish, Saranne feels others' pain deeply but because she's less stubborn and proud than Tish, she is better at assessing what needs to be done to fix the situation. I liked Saranne and felt sorry for her in the beginning and enjoyed seeing her come into her own. The same old message about passing judgment is revisited here but in a slightly less heavy-handed tone than the stories narrated by Tish. It was fun, yet surprising, to see what happened to the old familiar characters. Unfortunately, the local library doesn't have the final volume of the series so I'm left wondering what happened to certain characters and how it all ends up. If you know, leave me a comment with a detailed plot description!
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