Short Review of Many Books

I don't like doing this because I feel I owe a full review to those who sent me books to review but I read these all months ago and got behind on reviews and I just don't remember enough about them to write full length reviews. That's part of why it's taken me so long to get to them. If I don't write some short reviews, I'll never catch up.

Understand that just because I'm putting a bunch of short reviews in one post, doesn't mean these books weren't good or weren't memorable.

Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist's Memoir by Daniel J. Tomasulo
Stars: ****

This book is exactly what it sounds like, a memoir of a therapist's life from thinking eating seeds will make him pregnant to accidentally locking himself in a psych ward rubber room. Hilarious!

You can read a small excerpt of the book at the author's website.


Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Stars: ****

I think most people have heard of this book by now. You can read all about the most famous library cat and all his adventures in the book. You can also check out the webpage. I really enjoyed the book although I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would because it's not only about Dewey but about the library and the people who run the library too and I guess I felt it should be only about the cat.

Not Remembered Never Forgotten: An adoptee's search for his birth family by Robert Hafetz
Stars: ****

This is a true story, not too long at only about 130 pages. I enjoyed reading it though. The idea behind the title is that although he doesn't remember his birth parents, he's never forgotten them. I think it's quite a poignant title.
A quote from the introduction about why he wrote the book:

"One pictures the smiling baby held by his adopted mother, hugged, nurtured, cherished and kept safe from harm. My adopted family loved me as their own. I coudln't have asked for better parents. What more could a human being ever want? Their love and affection sustains me, and gives me what I need to grow and survive but it doesn't replace what has been lost. I want what others have; a name given at birth, a heritage, and a memory of my mother's face. " - pg. 8

I've read quite a few adoption books, from all different points of view (the adopter, the adoptee, the birth parents) but this is the first one that really made it clear why an adoptee may not be content with not knowing his or her birth parents, no matter how much he or she loves the adopted parents.


Outside the Lavender Closet by Martha A. Taylor
Stars: ***1/2

This is a collection of stories about homosexual women (I don't really like that term but not sure what is the preferred term, hope I haven't offended anyone.) It's really more than that though. The author wanted to get some answers to the age old questions such as "What is it that makes us straight or gay? and Are relationships between two women really all that different than heterosexual ones?"

The stories were mostly quite interesting. One was a bit too long but for the most part, I learned a lot about women to women relationships and it was very interesting. I realize this book is not for everyone but I feel like it helped me to understand these women more.

GIVEAWAY: The 3 books in The Coping Series by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

All this week I've been reviewing the books in The Coping Series, great picture books for children with learning disabilities or for kids wanting to learn more about them, either in schoolrooms or by themselves. These would make great additions to a school or public library.

I'm giving away all three of the books, to three different winners. (North America only, sorry) All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with an email address and you're entered. You can read all about the books via the links below. If you are only interested in one or two of them, please mention that in your comment.

The Don't-give-Up Kid
Eagle Eyes
Houdini's Gift

Winners will be contacted by me for your mailing address which I'll forward to Verbal Images Press, the publisher. Your address will not be saved after they've sent your book. All non-winners will receive a one-time encouraging message via email. Your email addresses will not be saved and you will not receive any more correspondence from that after that.

Giveaway CLOSED

Houdini's Gift by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

Stars: ***1/2

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept. 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-2-3
32 pages Ages 7-9

Summary: Animal-loving Ben feels sad and guilty when he loses his beloved hamster. Knowing that he is not quite ready to care for a new pet, his parents help him develop responsibility by using a reward chart. Observant readers will enjoy sharing the secret that Mom keeps from Ben through the whole process of selecting and preparing for the new pet. Families living with ADD will take heart from seeing how to fine-tune desired behaviours through setting and pursuing goals. Fans of Eagle Eyes will be happy to have a chance to re-visit Ben.

This is one of three books in The Coping Series, all about learning disabilities.

I think this book would be good for any child who needs to show responsibility before getting a (new) pet, whether they have ADD or not. If your child is not very responsible, this book could show what might happen if the child without enough responsibility got a pet and a way to work towards more responsibility.

I think all three books in the series, including this one would be perfect for either families with children with ADD/ADHD or other learning disabilities or for teachers who work with children with special learning needs.

The author did a good job of of tying in this book with the other story about Ben, Eagle Eyes. It's not just that it's about Ben again but the author tied in his love for nature.

Oh yes and at the end of the book are Discussion Starters which you could do as a parent or teacher or as a class if everyone is learning together.

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the chance to read this book.

Eagle Eyes: A Child's Guide to Paying Attention by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

Stars: ****

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept. 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-1-6
32 pages Ages 7-9

Summary: Ben is fascinated with nature, but his ADD causes trouble at home and at school. The hallmarks of ADD - impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity - as well as difficulties sleeping, are clearly shown, not told, in this story. Several commonly-used treatments are touched on, including relaxation techniques, medication, and a song to help get ready for school. Shortly after Ben's father compares the boy to his favorite bird, a mishap gives Ben a chance to show his concentration on nature as a strength. This edition revised from the 1996 one includes new 4-color illustrations, updated text and streamlining.

This is one of three books in The Coping Series, all about learning disabilities.

This one was really good at showing more than telling what was going on. It especially showed how a child can have trouble concentrating on one task but have no problem staying focused on something else (in this case, nature.)

Although the illustrator is the same for all the books in the series (Michael LaDuca) I think this book's illustrations are a bit better. I'm not sure exactly why but this book and its illustrations kept my attention better.

I think this would be a great book for a child just recently diagnosed with ADD or ADHD to have read to him/her.

An interesting fact:

"The setting for Eagle Eyes is Mendon Ponds Park near Rochester, NY, where chickadees feed from people's hands. The author's family frequently fed birds there."

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the opportunity to read this book.

The Don't-Give-Up Kid and Learning Disabilities by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

Stars: ***1/2

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-0-9
32 pages Children 7-9

Summary: Alex wants a cookie. If he could just read the directions on his mother's grabber device, he could adapt it for his own use! School difficulties and a session with a psychologist help identify Alex's learning disability. His teacher and parents help him use his admiration for Thomas Edison (who had a learning disability) to keep trying new ways to loearn and to successfully invent a Cookie Snatcher. Revisions from the 1996 edition include new 4-color illustrations, updated text to reflect current education practices and the hero's invention differs from the original one.

This book is one of three in The Coping Series by Jeanne Gehret, M.A. Alex's disability is more of Dyslexia than ADD/ADHD but that topic is covered in the two books whose reviews are coming in the next two days.

I'd like to share a fact regarding this book:

"In 1989, educational consultants informed Jeanne Gehret and her husband that their learning-disabled son, then 6, might never learn to read. The first book in The Coping Series, The Don't-Give-Up Kid was written just after diagnosis to portray the best possible outcome for him, and was the first book that he ever read on his own. In 2000, he graduated cum laude from college."

In this book Alex is frustrated at not being able to read but once he is diagnosed (they never actually say Dyslexia although that seems to be the problem) he is placed in a special class where a teacher plays games with him and two other students to help them. He has trouble reading, one can read but has trouble writing and the other has trouble speaking. I like how this shows the different varieties of learning disabilities so a child doesn't say well my problem isn't like that and think the book doesn't apply to him/her.

The illustrations by Michael LaDuca are kind of cute, both realistic and cartoonish at the same time if that's possible.

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the opportunity to read this book.

GUEST POST: Back to School with ADHD

Note from Callista: The three books mentioned below will be reviewed here at SMS Book Reviews this week.

Back to School with ADHD by Jeanne Gehret, M.A. September 13-20 is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week. When I mentioned this to the mother of a child with attention problems, she laughed. "I wish I only had to think about ADHD one week a year," she said. "For us, it's a year-round concern. I guess this refers to when it's uppermost in our minds because of starting school." I agreed. More than any other time, September's when we parents of kids with ADHD establish the accommodations necessary for our children to survive and thrive in school. In truth, however, our efforts continue all year long. As the parent of a child with ADHD, you can help your youngster transition comfortably and successfully into a new school year by asking yourself these four questions: What new people or routines will my child encounter this year? How can I prepare my child to do well in each setting? How can I help the adults in each setting deal effectively with my child? What can I do at home to support my child's educational goals? In answering these questions, here are some suggestions.

Ten ways to help make school great this year for your ADHD child: 1. Meet the teacher(s) as early in the school year as possible. Establish yourself as the child's advocate who has your youngster's interests at heart and is willing to cooperate for the best academic experience. Mention previous classroom accommodations and techniques that worked. Even if your youngster has an individualized education plan or 504 plan, don't hesitate to mention the highlights. This helps teachers use effective strategies from day one, even if they haven't had time yet to sort through documentation. 2. Exchange email addresses and phone numbers with the teacher, and establish preferred contact times. Whether your contact is daily, weekly, or monthly, it is best to check in regularly, even when things seem to be going well. This allows you to smooth out bumps on the path before they become roadblocks. 3. Give your child something to boost his confidence such as a popular new item of clothing, encouraging notes from home in his lunch, or a worry stone. For older kids, a motivational bookmark or a special photo may prompt a smile. 4. Know your school's processes for getting help for children who are having difficulties in school. Does the teacher or school do academic screening? When the screening process identifies children as having difficulties, who provides the services? Once interventions are in place, how long before the child's progress is re-checked? What methods are used for monitoring progress? 5. If your child takes medication for ADHD, notify the teacher and the nurse. Make sure that your child knows when and where to go for his daily dosage. When starting meds or changing doses, be sure to let the school know. Have a clear conversation with your youngster about if and how to explain to others why he takes meds. 6. If you have after-school childcare, make sure your child knows how to get there and is familiar with the surroundings. Visit the childcare facility with your youngster before his first official day there and let the staff know of ADHD issues and any medications. 7. Think of ways to form bonds with classmates -- parties, trips to a playground, or walking to the bus stop. Make your home inviting to other children. When your youngster socializes at home, you can monitor any ADHD problems and help when needed. 8. Minimize distractions at home so that you can focus on your child's adjustment to school. Be pro-active about scheduling physicals, buying school supplies, and getting prescriptions refilled. For the first few weeks of school, cut down on non-academic disruptions like visiting relatives, shopping, major cleaning projects, remodeling, and visits to the vet. 9. Establish a school-year routine. Make a list of no more than five things that your child must do each day after school, such as reviewing with you what's in his backpack, doing his homework, and returning his completed homework to the backpack. When kids are prepared, they become confident and free to focus their attention on doing their best. 10. Make sure that your child gets enough sleep. If she takes stimulant medication, you may need to adjust the timing of the dosage so that she can relax at night. Other helpful bedtime routines may include story time, relaxing music, a foot rub, and special blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals. If you suspect your child has ADHD, or other learning difficulties, make sure to address it immediately. See #4 above and be proactive.

I'm not making any promises. But if you attend to these ten issues by the end of ADHD Awareness Week, you may enjoy a day, even a season, when ADHD is not front and center on the refrigerator of your mind. ~ ~ ~ ~

Jeanne Gehret is the parent of a child with ADHD and learning disabilities and is the author of three picture books that comprise The Coping Series from Verbal Images Press. Eagle Eyes includes a song for getting ready for school and other coping mechanisms that Ben uses after he's diagnosed with ADHD. Houdini's Gift shows Ben using a reward chart as motivation to complete his daily responsibilities. The Don't-give-up Kid describes the invention devised by very creative boy while he discovers and copes with his dyslexia. For more on these books, see www.ksblinks.com. To learn about ADHD Awareness Week, see www.chadd.org.

Guest Post: Indigo Testing by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

Indigo Testing

As the Indigo adults begin to identify themselves based on lists of characteristics found on the Internet and in some printed texts, where can they go to get validation for their suppositions? Who can they ask? How can they verify beyond a reasonable doubt if in fact they qualify to fit in this very narrow classification? Most have felt so ostracized by societal norms, how dare they actually consider they might finally fit into a recognized category. And most importantly, where can they go to find others of the same persuasion?

Finding a test to verify my supposition that I was an Indigo person became both my passion and biggest frustration when I came to suspect that I might be one of these people. How could I truly know for certain? In the metaphysical literature many were repeating a statement that was originally made by Drunvalo Melchizedek that people of this persuasion had upgraded DNA that explained their supernatural traits and abilities. He said these new beings had 26 base pairs of the DNA in the “on” position versus the usual 24 of normal people. As a physician I took his statement to heart but need to scientifically verify it before I could repeat it and perhaps find a simple blood test to test for it. I followed this lead all the way to the Human Genome Project that has been researching DNA characteristics since 1990 in an attempt to identify the 20,000 to 25,000 genes in human DNA but also to determine the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs that make it up. If anyone could verify these statements, they certainly seem capable I thought. I spoke to three different geneticists who had no idea what I was referring to. They needed to know which specific gene I was describing. Not having that specific information my only lead crumbled.

It wasn’t until I met Dr. Richard Boylan who has been researching what he calls the Star Kids and Star Seeds for nearly 25 years when I found my conformational tests. He developed a 54 question questionnaire along with a technique using dowsing rods that measures the individual’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field. Both combined give a high correlation of accuracy. The technology of dowsing for underground water or buried electrical lines is well accepted. Using the dowsing rods to measure the size and distance of the body’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field is not so well known, but very accurate with if performed by a skilled dowser. The questionnaire can be found either on his website; under “star kids questionnaire” at drboylan.com, or in my recently published book Indigo Awakening; A Doctor’s Memoir Of Forging An Authentic Life In A Turbulent World.

Dowsing can be easily learned by taking either two pieces of metal wire from a coat hanger or copper wire bent at a 90 degree angle, holding them lightly between your bent index finger and thumb pointed at the individual and simply ask the rods to show you a “yes” (they will separate out laterally) or a “no” (they will come together and cross). Concentration with intension is imperative for this exercise. If your grip is too tight they will not be free to move so it is always more accurate to place the portion of the wire you are holding in drinking straws so they move more freely. Once you have become proficient at communicating with your rods, stand at least 30 feet from the person you are attempting to measure and walk slowly toward them all the while asking the rods to show you the outermost margin of the person’s electromagnetic field. When the rods separate to the outside is where you begin your counting the distance away from the individual.

According to Dr. Boylan, a “regular USDA human’s” electromagnetic field can be measured 18” – 20” off the body. A Star Kid or Star Seed (Indigo; Blue Ray) is three meters (6 feet) and above. The largest field he has ever measured was an Italian young man at 54 feet. In my practice of physically “derailed” Indigo adults, I commonly find 15 to 22 feet.

Janine Talty, D.O., M.P.H.
Author of Indigo Awakening

Indigo Awakening; A Doctors Memoir of Forging an Authentic Life in a Turbulent World by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

This review is part of a book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Tomorrow SMS Book Reviews will be featuring a Guest Post by the author!

Stars: ****

Summary: Dr. Janine Talty, today a successful osteopathic physician, as a child found herself bewildered by a world full of challenges that she could not understand. She felt isolated, unable to cope with the regular life issues that other children managed easily. She could not comprehend math or spelling—yet she could see energies that others could not see, and had levels of awareness than no-one around her possessed. She exhibited unusual artistic and healing talent. She spontaneously remembered and drew pictures from “old memories” of places her family had never visited. Only as she grew into adulthood, painfully learning to cope with her challenges, did she realize she was an "indigo," one of a generation of people with unusual talents and abilities, yet who rarely fit neatly into societal roles.

This book is the inspiring story of how she overcomes these challenges, finds her voice and identity, and discovers a channel for her healing abilities as an osteopathic physician. She speaks directly to the experience of fellow indigos, and shows them that some of their biggest challenges can be their most powerful gifts. She reveals that much of our personal physical suffering is actually clearing the way for human transformation, and that there is meaning and purpose to the events in our lives—even when we can't see this. Indigo Awakening is one of the first books to be written by an adult indigo, telling the experience of indigos from the inside out, and showing how their puzzling and painful experiences are paving the way for the emergence of a new way of being, in harmony with self, other, the world and the universe.

I don't normally give such a detailed summary but I wasn't sure how to shorten it and still make sure it would be understood. I had heard about Indigos in the 90s although I haven't heard much about them lately. The idea of being different for a good reason was appealing and I wished I were an Indigo. This book however has shown me that being an Indigo is NOT easy and although reading Janine's life story has helped me understand a little bit better, I still cannot imagine most of what she is talking about. She does a good job of trying to explain it though.

At the beginning of each chapter is paragraph about Indigos and then follows a chapter in the life of Dr. Janine Talty, DO. Some were more interesting than others but from reading the book we see that she has accomplished a LOT in a short time. It was eye opening (good choice of book cover) but took some concentration to understand and follow the book. This isn't a bad thing, it's just some books need more concentration than others.

Honestly I'm not sure what to say. This is the first published book written BY an Indigo. If you don't understand what they are, want to know more about them or think you may be one, read this book. There is a quiz at the back of the book to see if you or someone you know exhibits signs of being and Indigo. I know that some people will not believe there is such a thing as and Indigo, who will not be open minded enough to believe but those people just shouldn't read the book, it's a simple as that.

Bran Hambric: The Fairfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

Stars: ***1/2

This review is a part of the Bran Hambric Book Blog Tour.

Summary:
Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old in a city where magic is banned, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind -- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.

Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot that started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete.

Here's the book trailer:


I decided I wanted to read this book because I like books about magic and it sounded interesting. I read the first chapter for free online and was hooked so I asked for a copy. I must say it wasn't as good as I was expecting. I think my problem with it was the names of some of the characters were just ridiculous (ie. Balder and Baldretta) and there is even a sentence that include "balder dashed".

Also the beginning of the book seems a lot like Harry Potter (the first one.) A magic boy lives with non magic folk, (in BH, they know of magic but it's illegal and don't speak of it while in HP they don't know of magic at all,) and is treated poorly. The people he is living with are not his blood relatives and he doesn't remember his mother. The boy doesn't know he's magical until he's older (age 14 in BH and 11 in HP.) Doesn't this all sound familiar? I'm not saying the ideas were copied. I don't know if Kaleb Nation has ever read or seen Harry Potter but it is similar. Shortly after Bran finds out he's magical though the book becomes very different from Harry Potter. As mentioned above, magic is illegal in the city of Dunce, no mages allowed.

I liked the second half of the book the best. After the first few chapters, before the second half of the book, I found it a bit slow going, with too much of annoying Sewey and his family and not enough Bran. It's nice to see a different take on a fantasy book for kids that includes magic though. In this one, magic is still all around but it can't be shown freely around either.

You can read the first FOUR chapters for FREE!

Kaleb Nation will be doing an in person tour around the USA starting Sept 19. See dates and places on his website.

The Bran Hambric Online Tour is taking place Aug 30-Sept 19 at the following locations:

Sunday, August 30th Jenn’s Bookshelf Homespun Light Monday, August 31st StevenTill.com Dolce Bellezza Bobbi’s Book Nook Tuesday, September 1st The Looking Glass Review Edward-Cullen.net Beth Fish Reads SMS Book Reviews James Holder’s YouTube Channel Wednesday, September 2nd Bookalicio.us Reading Rumpus Katie’s Literature Lounge Ultimate Bookhound Thursday, September 3rd Brimful Curiosities Charlotte’s Library Friday, September 4th BriMeetsBooks.com Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation Saturday, September 5th Library Lounge Lizard Sarah’s Random Musings Saulchichas GreenFyr.com Sunday, September 6th Cindy’s Love of Books Monday, September 7th Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf Grasping for the Wind Life After Twilight vlog channel Tuesday, September 8th Shooting Stars Magazine Mrs. Magoo ReadsLori Calabrese Writes Wednesday, September 9th The Brain Lair Dulemba.com The Children’s Book Review TV Watch Online Thursday, September 10th The Friendly Book Nook Book Journey Stephanie’s Written Word Home School Buzz Spidurmunkey.com Friday, September 11th The Inside Scoop With Chandelle Booking Mama Saturday, September 12th Zoe’s Book Reviews Lit for Kids Sunday, September 13th Never Jam Today A Bibliophile’s Reverie Monday, September 14th Café of Dreams Marta’s Meanderings Galleysmith.com A Book Blogger’s Diary The Reader’s Quill Tuesday, September 15th a book in hand MistiSchindele.com Not Just for Kids Wednesday, September 16th Write for a Reader CumpulsiveReader.com Thursday, September 17th Howling Good Books The Written World Friday, September 18th Always Riddikulus YA Books Central Saturday, September 19th Ms. Bookish Into the Wardrobe