Mama Reads

I’m thinking I’m really cool about now since I was asked to contribute to the March MamaVoices column over at Today’s Mama.    The subject was “3 Books You Could Read Over and Over”.  I had a lot of fun doing it and I was surprised at how many of the other choices I was not familiar with!  Tell me, what are your favorite books to read again?

Push: A Novel – I desperately wish I had never read this book.  I keep thinking about it and not in a good way.  More in a it’s bothering my protected little life by making me think about disturbing things way.  I know that it’s good for me to step outside my comfort zone but I don’t like it! 

I’ll probably give away spoilers in this review so stop reading now if you are going to read this book – The main character Precious is having her second child by her father who started abusing her at an early age.  Her mother is also abusive not only verbally and physically but sexually as well.   She is 16 and still in junior high from being held back and now they want to kick her out because of the pregnancy.   Someone finally gets her into an alternative program where she is able to work on her literacy.  Some readers find this story inspirational as she’s working to “get out”.  I find that unlikely and my heart just breaks at the innocence lost and the thought of anyone treating a child like that.  And I can’t stop thinking about it and I really want to stop thinking about it!  I guess that means it was a good book? 

Coming home late from work, little naked girl dances into the room….
“Mama!  You’re Home!”
“Look!  I’m naked ALL over my body!”
shows me her feet
“Even on my bummy bum bum!”
shows me the cutest bum in the world then laughs uproariously.

How did I get to be this lucky?

Starting with I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You, Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls Series is fun, escapist fiction that will thrill the hearts of teen girls everywhere.  Cammie Morgan attends the prestigious Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, an all-girls private school.   What the outside world does not know is that the Gallagher Academy is really a school for spies.  With classes such as covert operations and advanced encryption and having to speak one of 14 different languages every night at dinner, the students at Gallagher are ready for anything except what to do if a boy likes you.  I personally would prefer a little more spy stuff, but your typical teen would probably find the mix just about right.  The first book is mostly a stand-alone but the author does start to develop a little deeper story arc as the series progresses.  I’m always up for some “comfort food” reading so I will be checking out book #4 when it comes out this summer!