I like how he lays out the story of what each child is doing when the tornado hits.  Then he delves into the chaotic world of the adults who are stumped on how to overcome the despair that comes with the responsibility of rebuilding a town which has seen disaster more than once.  As the adults are brainstorming ideas on how to go about financing the rebirth of their town and their personal lives…one adult has a crazy idea. 

       That idea just happens to be putting together a talent show.  When that crazy idea is compared to the other crazy idea…well, let’s just say that the crazy idea of a tallent show…suddenly becomes very popular.  Not only that, but kids become empowered and energized and so do the adults.  Everyone pitches in to make it a success.  Each child discovers things about themselves and their friends that they never knew.

        Of course, as the town gets behind the talent show and it’s efforts to raise money for the school library, that’s lost all of it’s books in the tornado, trouble brews behind the scenes.  Characters and personal integrity are revealed and friendships are strengthened and lost in the process.  What I like about Dan’s book is that if one pays attention; lessons on positive personal development can be put to good use.  Discovering our own strengths and weaknesses and learning how to encourage positive self- growth and diminish the negative qualities we possess, can be very enlightening. 

        If you want to learn more about the writer Dan Gutman or his books check out his website here:  http://www.dangutman.com .   This book, The Talent Show was published in 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.   I would say that this book is ideal for kids 7-12 years old.

         Hannah realizes that she needs to reconnect with herself and her life before the life of a popstar, and that includes her horse Blue Jeans, her grandmother, her town and her other friends and family. 

         There are some really great pictures from the movie.  The  story reminds Miley/Hannah of who she is and that her friends, family and new boyfriend are what is really important to her as a person.  It is a good value to instill in the young tween and pre-teen readers who will find this book appealing.  The book was published in 2009 by Disney Press.   It was adapted by Kate Egan and based on the screenplay written by Dan Berendsen.

        Cassie Bernall is probably most remembered for her last spoken word.  That word was a simple, Yes.  It was in answer to the question, “Do you believe in God?”  There is so much more to who Cassie was; and, how she came to be the person she was…and this mother’s quest to understand the journey Cassie was on, is very enlightening.  It has alot to teach both parents and children.

         From a typical teenager’s angst…to a world of occult, peer pressure, self- image struggles, drugs, cutting, and anger….the struggles that Cassie endured attest to the power of a parent’s love and intervention when it comes to fighting for a positive relationship with your child in the face of all that the world throws between parents/children.  This is a must read! 

       This book was written by Paul Zenon and it was published in 2008 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.    Simple Sleight-Of-Hand is one of the books in a series of books on magic.   There are three other titles in the series, Gimmicks and Card Tricks (Illusions for Intermediate Magicians), Cool Card Tricks (Techniques for those Advanced Magicians), Magic of The Mind ( Tricks For The Master Magician).

       The book has word descriptions, hints and techniques as well as photo illustrations to help a student of magic learn both verbally and visually.  This book will teach simple “tricks” that will impress the young magician’s friends and family, with it’s “Wow, how did you do that; factor!” 

        The author has alot of television experience with his magic and has even had his own show.  There are loads of websites that are referred to in this book including:  http://www.magiccastle.com, http://www.magic.org, http://www.magictimes.com, http://www.magictricks.com, as well as the publishers referral link:  http://www.rosenlinks.com/am/ssha.  

         This book is about a 12 year old girl who is Waiting For Normal.  She is living with her mother, Denise; her biological father died when she was a  three year old girl.

         Her biological grandfather (whom Denise hates) and her ex- step-father Dwight, bind together to protect Addie from her mother’s inability to parent in a healthy way.  Dwight  became a huge part of her life.  Dwight and her mother had two other young girls together; but, when their marriage came apart he took the young girls to live with him.

           He wanted Addie as well…but, he had no legal rights to her.  He wasn’t her father in the eyes of the law.  Addie’s mother has some real problems.  She caused them to loose their home by mismanaging their money; she didn’t pay her mortgage or many of her other bills.  She spends tons of money for office supplies when she doesn’t have an office job.

            Denise puts too much responsibility on Addie.  She teaches Addie to hide their circumstances from those in a position to help her. She doesn’t keep enough food in the trailer.  She is obsessive about chatting on the computer; and she is obsessed with a television show.  Denise keeps her three children a secret from her new boyfriend.  She also is newly pregnant.  Addie keeps all of  her mother’s secrets from those who need to know to help Addie; much to her own detriment.

          Dwight comes to the rescue and allows them to live in a small trailer in a broken down part of town.  He comes to check up on Addie as often as he can; he lives quite a distance out of town due to his job in construction.  He loves her as deeply as he loves his biological girls.  He tries to put up safety nets as best he can; for when her mother fails her again.  Denise fails Addie often.

          Addie’s mother Denise is not a very consistent parent; she is all or nothing in everything she does.  Addie loves her mother; but, she is often left alone while her mother is out making a business plan.  It never amounts to much except that Addie is left alone to feed and clothe herself.  Addie develops friendships with a couple of people who run a local convience store across the city lot.

           Addie becomes their hero as the lady owner, her name is Soula , is sick with cancer.  She takes Addie under her wing when she is able and is a surrogate aunty.  She entertains Addie, and encourages her as well as keeps an eye on her.

            Addie fears the protective services workers as her mother has failed her before.  Addie’s mother very much sounds like someone with a personality disorder or maybe someone afflicted with bi-polar/manic/depressive disorder.  She isn’t able to meet the needs of any of her children; yet she finds ways to meet her own needs without burdening herself with day to day care of her 12 yr old child who she treats as an adult equal.

           It all blows up in the end…twisting and turning…this family drama.  By the end of the book…i am weeping with sorrow, and joy.  I am truly moved, as Addie’s story touches the parts of my heart that allowed me to foster parent many children like Addie for over 19 years of my own life. 

            My heart hurts for the brokeness of the family that Addie longed for and needed.  My mind tried to find ways to comfort and fix her life circumstances and in the end… I resigned myself to read the pages before me, until Addie’s life was resolved in a way i could live with.     She is a survivor and an overcomer in all the ways that count; and she does those things without loosing her ability to love. 

             Waiting for Normal is a very good book for a young person to read no matter their own family circumstances!  This book was published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.  It was copyrighted in 2008. The author is :  Leslie Connor