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I downloaded this book on Kindle after reading a recommendation in Magnolia magazine. It was published in 1998, but I hadn’t read it before. A young teen girl, Zinny, and middle child in a large family that has suffered some tragedies, strives to distinguish herself by clearing a trail near a fictional town in Kentucky. It is a story of quiet resilience and the blooming of a young spirit determined to leave a mark, making this a heartwarming, soul-deep journey. Whether you are ten or a...

Craig Johnson is one of my favorite contemporary authors, but…I haven’t liked any of his recent books. In fact, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve enjoyed them. I read some reviews of Return to Sender and noticed that many readers agree with me, even when they gave the book a 3 or 4 star review. What they like are the characters, not the story, and I agree. What else I didn’t like: the Russian plot line that continued from the prior book. That transfers the series into a serial. I had no...

Having read the first three of the Hunger Games years ago, when I thought the series was only going to be a trilogy, I picked up this prequel about President Snow’s past. How could Collins make a villain an interesting and likeable person, one a reader can root for? She’s more than able to do it. Explaining his complex motivations and the reasoning (even though horribly misplaced) behind the origin of the games, Collins provides twists and surprises, and wraps it all up so well– this book...