by Madeleine L'Engle

Austins, reader. Reader, Austins. Now that we've made the introductions...
This is a good book. This is a sort of life-is-being-lived book. You can't really say that nothing much happens, when in fact a child's life is altered, a potential girlfriend is chased away, and a dog becomes a hero. Let's face it, these things happen in every book. There is a difference though. In this book, shockingly, no one saves the world, however, they do have a few jolly good family sing-alongs.

I like these books. Once in a while, it's nice to read something where the world doesn't get saved, nor in fact does it need saving, at least not in the immediate future. Still, if I had to choose, the dualistic Wrinkle in Time series is a lot better than the Austins series. Both series, however, showcase L'Engle's excellent, friendly characters. Normal people, and what is more, decent people. I like that, because they are easy to empathize with. 
Anyhow, the story is about Vicky Austin and her family. One day they receive the terrible news that their Uncle Hal and his copilot were killed when their experimental aircraft exploded. The copilot's now-orphaned daughter Maggy is sent to live with the Austins while her upper-class grandfather comes to a decision on her future. 12-year-old Vicky tells the story of her family and how Maggy comes to fit in with them despite problems encountered upon the way.
Sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, always honest. 
A good book. Not a spectacular one. For that, read A Wrinkle In Time.

for: older children on up
Content rating: 5/5
My enjoyment: 3/5

by Pam Munoz Ryan

This is a good book. It's one of those childrens-books-that-adults-can-enjoy-too. A very admirable kind of book. In fact, my only problem with this book is the problem that I have with nearly all award-winning children's books, or at least the ones with female protagonists.

The Lists.

Why the lists? 
Why does every children's author seem to think that every "strong, female protagonist" must carry with her a notebook full of, nothing useful like short stories or doodles, but lists? 
I suppose it is to make them more endearing. I suppose that audiences like to think of quiet little girls as sweet and sensitive and organized. Because heaven forbid anyone go on a life-changing journey to learn about themselves (always what the little girl learns) without a notebook.
Still it boggles my mind.
I can understand a sketchbook, or a notebook full of witty retorts, but this..this penchant for unimaginative rows of words...I just...
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE BOOK REVIEW.

So, I was saying, this is a good book. About a sweet, sensitive, quiet, organized little girl named Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw who lives happily in a trailer park with her little brother Owen and their Gram, who is actually their great-grandmother. 
They get along just great until one day the children's mother shows up out of the blue and disrupts everything. In, as Naomi would probably say, a sweet-and-sour kind of way. 
Skyla comes bearing gifts, history, and an unfortunate taste in boyfriends. She carries on over Naomi, but largely ignores Owen because he is partially crippled from birth. Neither child, however, trusts Skyla for long.
Is Skyla a loving mother? Probably. An unstable mother? Yes. A responsible mother? Doubtful.
But since Skyla still has full parental rights and shows every indication of wanting Naomi back, Gram flees with the children to Mexico on a "Christmas vacation" to find their father. There, Naomi enters a holiday festival and puts her talent for soap carving to the test. She discovers her Mexican heritage, a part of herself that she barely knew was there, and that might hold the key to unlocking her real voice--the voice of un leon.

Okay, there is one other teeny little thing that bugs me. Can I mention this real quick? What's with the...the Handy-Manny and Dora-the-Explorer-esque way of communicating? "Como esta, how are you?" "Buenas noches, good night!" "It will be maravilloso, wonderful!"
Please. I think we can all figure out that maravilloso means something along the lines of marvelous. Don't translate everything.
Anyway, that's...that's all I had to say. Yeah. Happy reading.

for: anyone
Content rating: 5/5
My enjoyment: 4/5