Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
This novel won the 2012 Michael Printz award for Young Adult Literature – a very big award in case you didn’t know. I enjoyed it and think it will truly resonate with any adolescent female (maybe also adult females) who have fallen head over heals for a good-looking, popular, athletic boy who breaks their heart. Handler is the true name of the author who penned the very popular “Series of Unfortunate Events” under the name Lemony Snicket. He knows how to write for young people, but I haven’t heard much buzz from teens about this book… probably because it is realistic fiction and not fantasy/ sci-fi/steampunk or filled with vampires and such.
Now that it won a big award it will most likely be shunned by teens and only read by older women (teachers and librarians) who are glad to be past this stage of life!

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
This is our book club selection for February 2012. I knew very little about it when we chose it for discussion. Now that I have finished it, I can see that it will provide a great deal of meat for thoughtful chewing. The stories of the people who handle the Haggadah (the text recited at the Seder on the first two nights of the Jewish Passover, including a narrative of the Exodus) are full of human anguish.
It demonstrates the sinfulness of human nature when we allow our differences to become reason enough for disrespect, hatred, and even murder. The fact that any particular religion or faith is the instrument by which one People or culture feels justified in its domination over another People or culture is so opposite of the loving God I have come to know personally. Those who are so “certain” of their righteousness have time after time acted cruelly and sinfully. It has to stop. But the only way I know to make it stop is by trying to live out my own belief that God loves all People, no matter their color, race, gender, ability, sexuality, or faith. What else will we as sinful humans find about each other so that we may denigrate them rather than lift them up? I hope that we have seen the last.
Back to the book – read it … and please think and act in the ways that will make this world a more loving and peaceful place.

So many books, so little time! Since the last posting I have read "Mockingjay" by Suzanne collins, "Wonderstruck" by Brian Selznick, "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, and "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos.
My recommendations: skip 'Heaven is for Real', read "Wonderstruck" if you liked "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", read "Mockingjay" if you've read the previous two books in the series to find out what happens to Katniss and her world; and DEFINITELY get hold of "Dead end in Norvelt" - I really agree with the committee who picked this as the 2012 Newbery Award winner!