FAR FROM YOU, by Lisa Schroeder Posted by Mrs. Schauer

FAR FROM YOU, by Lisa Schroeder

AR: Yes

Interest Level: Upper Grades

Most of you know that I have been on a Lisa Schroeder kick since she reached out to my daughter Hailee, which I blogged about in my I Heart You, You Haunt Me post. I have have read three of her books now, and I do believe that this one is my favorite.

This is Alice's story, and it follows her through the process of grieving her mother's death, accepting her father's new wife and baby, and facing the realities and decisions of young-adulthood. Written in prose, there are so many beautiful words in this book. It is a fast read--but a powerful one.

I will be forever indebted to Lisa for the compassion she showed my baby girl during her time of loss. Hailee is still grieving--and she's grieving hard--but she's healing with the help of her faith in God, her friends, and people like Lisa who have reached out to her. As I told her in an email, when that package came in the mail, the YA lover in me was awed that she would take the time to do something like that, but the mama in me was at a loss for words. (And THAT, for anyone and everyone who knows me, is a rare occurance!)

At this moment, I can honestly say that Lisa Schroeder's books are the most requested books in my library. Kids who NEVER, and mean NEVER read on purpose, just because they want to, are asking for more from her. I hope this is one author that will be around for a long, long time. Her books are a salve for the souls and emotions of people who are dealing with loss and grief.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU LISA SCHROEDER!!

OH! And I get to meet her next week!!!!!!!

THE UNWRITTEN RULE by Elizabeth Scott Posted by Mrs. Schauer

THE UNWRITTEN RULE

by Elizabeth Scott

AR: Not Yet (but soon, or so they tell me!)

Interest Level: Upper Grades

I have read four of Elizabeth's books, and holy smokes, does this lady have some kind of range! My first experience with her books was LOVE YOU HATE YOU MISS YOU, which is the story of a girl dealing with the death of her best friend. It was a heart-wrenching read, but the characters were so believable that the pages seemed to turn on their own. After finishing it, I wanted to read more by Scott, so I gave SOMETHING MAYBE a try. I listened to the audio of it on a road trip and I’m sure I had people in passing cars wondering if I was either drunk or crazy, because I laughed my way through most of it—what a delightful read! (err, listen) I was on an "Elizabeth Scott roll," so I selected another one...and it stopped me dead in my tracks. The experience of reading LIVING DEAD GIRL was like slamming myself full force into a brick wall—repeatedly. I had to wait a month after reading the book before I was able to formulate the blog entry for it. It isn’t a very long book, and the plot-line makes for an extremely fast read. Emotionally, though, it was one of the toughest books I've ever gotten through. Now, I’ve just finished THE UNWRITTEN RULE and I have to say, it's in a class all by itself, just like her other books are.

At first glance, the inside flap summary and cover (love the game of "footsie!") make this seem as if it could be any other teen angst story. You know, girl crushes on boy, boy kind of crushes back, misunderstandings ensue, boy dates girl's best friend, girl secretly pines for boy....blah blah.

WOW...are first impressions wrong! I don't want to divulge too much of the story because I want readers to experience the book for themselves. In Brianna, Sarah and Ryan, the author has created totally relatable characters that unfold for the reader in layers. To me, the way the characters are developed, is what makes this book more than "just another teen angst novel." The girl you want to hate because of her shallowness and catty behavior, you simply can't, because her character has been developed in a way that makes you totally understand why she behaves the way she does. The girl you want to smack upside the head for being a doormat....again, you can't, because you totally get why she tolerates years of treatment that most people would walk away from after just a few days.

THE UNWRITTEN RULE is a story about friendship and first love...but it's not all tied up neatly with a bow, which is the thing I liked the most about it.

I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth brings to her readers next! (Next on my list? BLOOM.)

The Playlist...

After posting yesterday's blog entry about I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, by Lisa Schroeder, I have gotten quite a few emails asking for the playlist I referenced. I decided to just post it here, as a blog entry. If you know of any songs that you think would be good for this particular list, please either comment, or email me at: tschauer@pettusisd.esc2.net

1. Adam's Song, by Blink 182

2. Address in the Stars, by Caitlin & Will (Thanks, Deidre)

3. Festival of Friends, by Bruce Cockburn (Thanks, Susan)

4. Forever, by Rascal Flatts (Thanks, Julie!)

5. Gone Away, by The Offspring

6. Hear You, Me, by Jimmy Eat World

7. Here by Me, by 3 Doors Down (Thanks, Lisa!)

8. Meet You There, by Simple Plan

9. Memory, by Sugarcult

10. My Immortal, by Evanescence

11. Slipped Away, by Avril Levigne

12. Stand by Me, by Oasis

13. Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me?) by Simple Plan

14. View from Heaven, by Yellowcard

15. Wish You Were Here, by Pink Floyd

WOW...Additions to "The Playlist"

I have gotten some suggestions for additional songs, so I thought I'd add them here, and update it if any more should happen to come in. I'm not including all of them on my personal playlist for my daughter, but I think this could be a fantastic resource for someone to turn to should they ever need it.

16. When I Look to the Sky, by Train (Thanks, Lynn!)

17. Angel, by Sarah MacLachlan (Thanks, Lynn!)

18. I Will Remember You, by Sarah MacLachlan (Thanks, Lynn!)

19. Tears in Heaven, by Eric Clapton (Thanks, Lynn!)

20. Leave Out All the Rest, by Linkin Park (Thanks, Lynn!)

21. Twenty-Three, by MC Lars (Thanks, Jane!)

22. Feel the Healing, by Pam Thum (Thanks, Charlynn!)

23. Life is Hard (God is Good) by Pam Thum (Thanks, Charlynn!)

I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME by Lisa Schroeder Posted by Mrs. Schauer

I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME

by LIsa Schroeder

AR: Yes

Interest Level: Upper Grades

Before I review this book, I would like to share how I got it. This Friday will be three weeks since my fifteen year old daughter Hailee lost her best friend Mariano in a car accident. While trying to find a way to help her heal, I began to search for songs so I could create a playlist for her, similar to the one in Schroeder's book CHASING BROOKLYN. I wondered if there was an actual playlist to go along with the book so I decided to search a little. I found Lisa's blog and a reference to the playlist Brooklyn used while training. I also saw that she was planning to work on the "From Joy to Sorrow" playlist, so I commented and asked her if she had ever gotten it done. I explained that I had already put a dozen or so songs together, but would love to see the titles she had come up with. She said she hadn't gotten to it (I can't imagine how busy she must be--her blog alone is FANTASTIC, not to mention book releases and all the other fabulous things that a best selling YA author must get to do) She said she'd love to see the songs I had come up with, so I emailed them to her, along with a few more details of what Hailee was going through. Her reply took my breath away. She asked if it would be OK if she sent Hailee a copy of I HEART YOU YOU HAUNT ME because many teens had told her it had helped them deal with loss. Would it be OK???? Are you kidding me?

When I got home yesterday, there it was: the package! Inside were copies of CHASING BROOKLYN and I HEART YOU YOU HAUNT ME. She had personally inscribed them with a message that Mariano would want joy for Hailee, not sorrow and that he will live on with her forever, in her heart. She also included a beautiful, heartfelt note to Hailee. Even as I type this, I am getting all teary-eyed. I CAN'T WAIT for her session at TLA--and now Hailee is begging me to take her with me so she can thank her in person. What an amazing, thoughtful person Lisa Shroeder is!

OK...now about the book....

This novel in verse opens with Ava attending her first funeral, for her boyfriend Jackson. She is mired in a grief so painful and real that she can barely breathe. Her grief is coupled with tremendous guilt, because she feels Jackson's death was her fault.

About a week after the funeral, she's in her bathroom, when she suddenly feels a splash of cool air and she senses that someone is behind her, and when she glances in the mirror, she sees, just for a split second, not just her reflection, but someone else--Jackson's. So begins the continuation of their love story. From the book jacket, "Ava can't see or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here. Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds."

I really don't want to say much more about this book because I think it is one that the reader needs to experience it all the way. I do know, without a doubt, that reading it is going to provide healing for my baby girl--as soon as she's ready. Lisa Schroeder totally ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF!!