A Childhood Favorite Reread: Island of the Blue Dolphins



Source:  Goodreads



From the back cover...

"Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock know as San Nicholas Island.  Blue dolphins splash in the water surrounding it, sea otters play in the kelp beds, and seabirds roost in its crags.  Once, Indians also lived on the island--until one day they decided to leave and sailed to the east.

A young girl was left behind.

Karana is that girl.  Year after year, she waits for the ship to come back.  But it never does.  Finally, she realizes she must make a fateful choice:  follow her people on her own or remain alone on the island for the rest of her life."

Scott O'Dell
5/23/1898-10/16/1989
Source:  Goodreads

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I read lots of books as a little girl, but only a few stand out in my memory all these years later.  Among them are The Mona Lisa Mystery, Anne of Green Gables, and the book featured in this blog, The Island of the Blue Dolphins.

I have always known I loved The Island of the Blue Dolphins, and I've mentioned it to my daughter several times.  But I realized that I had forgotten a lot of the story having read it more than twenty years ago.  I recently purchased it for my daughter, and I was excited to reread it.  I'm so glad I did. 

It is such a wonderful story of bravery, survival, hard work, and making the best out of life no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.  It is full of beautiful scenery and animals.  Her friendships with the animals and her love she feels for them is my favorite thing about the book.  If you have a child that is an animal lover I believe she would enjoy this book.  There are some serious and sad parts in the book though nothing inappropriate.

My Thoughts On "Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller"

Source:  Goodreads

Sarah Miller
Source:  Goodreads

From the back cover...

Annie Sullivan was little more than a half blind orphan with a fiery tongue when she arrived at Ivy Green in 1887.  Desperate for work, she'd taken on a seemingly impossible job--teaching a child who was deaf, blind, and as ferocious as any wild animal.  But Helen Keller needed more than a teacher.  She needed someone daring enough to work a miracle.  And if anyone was a match for Helen, it was the girl they used to call Miss Spitfire.

For Annie, reaching Helen's mind meant losing teeth as raging fists flew.  It meant standing up when everyone else had given up.  It meant shedding tears at the frustrations and the triumphs.  By telling the inspiring story from Annie Sullivan's point of view, Sarah Miller's debut novel brings an amazing figure to sharp new life.  Annie's past, her brazen determination, and her connection to the girl who would call her Teacher have never been clearer.

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Oh how I loved this book!

I have always loved the story of Helen Keller and what she was able to overcome in her life, but I knew very little about Annie Sullivan.  So when my daughter bought this book at her last school book fair I knew I'd read it eventually.  I'm so happy I did!

Almost every day, I tell my daughter that she can do anything if she's willing to work hard, and that the most important thing is to never give up no matter how hard it gets, or how may times she fails.  If you just keep trying you will eventually succeed.  This has been true with lots of things in her life...school, softball, basketball, singing, piano...it all takes hard work and perseverance.  I hope this is something she will carry with her throughout the rest of her life, and "Miss Spitfire" is a perfect illustration of this idea.  I think all young girls should read it.

Even though I'm an adult I love to read children's books.  They just make me feel good, and with my recent illness I longed for something to make me feel good and inspire me.  I've been in a reading slump lately, so I wanted something easy to read as well.  "Miss Spitfire" was just what I needed.

In the back of the book there are pictures of Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan, and places mentioned in the book.  There is a timeline and lists of books, online sources, and videos that will give you lots more information about Helen Keller and her beloved Teacher, Annie Sullivan.  One of the books I'm particularly interested in reading is "Teacher" written by Helen Keller about Annie Sullivan.

Source:  Goodreads

Helen Keller
Source:  Wikipedia

Annie Sullivan
Source:  http://www.anniesullivan.org/

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
― Helen Keller

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”
― Helen Keller

“For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he has vouchsafed me knowledge of his works; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to--a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.”
― Helen Keller

My First Win...Thanks Callapidder Days!!!

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to Katrina at Callapidder Days for the awesome book I won during her first Fall Into Reading Giveaway.  Fall Into Reading is an awesome reading challenge Katrina hosts every year to inspire us all to finally get to those books we've been meaning to read for so long, and make some much needed progress on those ever growing "to be read" lists!


The book I won was Reclaiming Lilly by Patti Lacy.

Source:  Goodreads

Goodreads Summary...
 
Gloria's relationship with her daughter is tattered and strained, and the arrival of Kai, despite the woman's apparent good intentions, makes Gloria fearful. Gloria longs to restore her relationship with Lily, but in the wake of this potentially devastating diagnosis, is Kai an answer to prayer...or will her arrival force Gloria to sacrifice more than she ever imagined?


Thanks again Katrina!!!

I'm Still Here...

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since I've posted or even read any blogs.  Believe it or not I have hardly read anything for the month of October.  I've been really sick, so I've been spending my time taking care of my daughter and resting.  I couldn't do much else.

BUT...I'm finally starting to feel better and I'm looking forward to reading books and blogs again.  I'm going to try to start posting again this week.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This is the pumpkin my husband and daughter carved this year!
Source:  My Photo

Yay!!! It's Here...

We finally got The Son of Neptune today, and my daughter is very excited.  She was reading it before we ever made it to the check out.  It made me so happy to see her jump up and down with joy at the mere sight of the book.  She's been waiting patiently for so long.  I hope it's all she wants it to be, but I know it will be.  It's about her favorite literary character, Percy Jackson.  She gets to visit with an old friend.

Isn't reading awesome?

Source:  Goodreads

Goodreads summary
In the first pages of this standalone sequel to The Lost Hero, Percy Jackson remembers only his name and the name of Annabeth, a mysterious woman he associates somehow with the city of San Francisco. From those sparse clues, he must somehow complete a mission for the leader of the Roman camp even as he is being pursued by the two sisters of Medusa, who possess an apparently unquenchable thirst for vengeance: Even when killed, they spring back to life. Rick Riordan's second Heroes of Olympus promises even more excitement than the first.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I've been super busy!  I haven't felt all that great lately either.  I haven't had much time to read or blog.  Hoping to get back on schedule in the next day or two.

Southern Belle Reading Challenge Wrap Up...Man Was It Fun

Southern Belle Reading Challenge
Hosted by Brenda Gail at Curling Up With A Good Book 

Well September is over, and I'm sad to say so is the Southern Belle Reading Challenge.  But I'm glad to report that Brenda says she will host it again next year...Yay!  So if you missed it this year start making your list now. 

This challenge was about all things "southern"...fiction set in the south, non-fiction, cook books, magazines, food, music, festivals, and famous southerners.  Before this challenge I hadn't read all that much southern fiction, but now I have to say that I have a real love for it.  I have found so many good books and authors by participating in this challenge.  Not only did I find lots of new books...I found a new blog that I absolutely love and visit every day.  Brenda did such a great job running this challenge.  Every day she posted a southern topic on her blog, and they were all different.  I learned a lot about the south, and had fun doing it.  I also loved reading all the great comments from others doing the challenge.  I'm always interested in what others are reading.

I read 5 books in the month of September for the Southern Belle Reading Challenge.

Source:  Goodreads

The first book I read for the challenge was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

 The second book I read for the challenge was My Summer of Southern Discomfort by Stephanie Gayle.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

 The third book I read for the challenge was Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.  You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

Book number four and perhaps my favorite from the entire challenge was Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews.  I had no idea what to expect from this book, and to be honest I was expecting a shallow girly book.  Boy was i wrong!  This was a deep meaningful book, but fun at the same time.   You can read my review HERE.

Source:  Goodreads

The fifth and final book I read for the challenge was The Southern Belle of Honeysuckle Way by Linda Bruckheimer.  I haven't posted a review yet, but look for it soon!


My goal for the challenge was 4 books.  I met it plus one, so I'm very happy.  The Southern Belle Reading Challenge was lots of fun, and I will definitely be doing it again next September.  Thanks Brenda!!!