Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley

 Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley-161 pages

"Displacement" is the story of the author going on a cruise with her aging grandparents. Her grandma and grandpa live in an assisted living facility in Connecticut. Both are dealing with dementia and old age. The family decides that they should send someone to accompany Knisley's grandparents on the cruise and Lucy volunteers. This is the story of that cruise. Knisley recounts being her grandparents' caretaker for the duration of the cruise and during travel to and from. It seems like it must be tough to care for people we love who're dealing with dementia (or Alzheimer's or other such diseases). A nurse on the cruise tells the author that it's tough to care for the elderly, but one could be doing the last kind thing for someone who's dying and that makes it worth it. Knisley's grandpa says that they had a great time with her on the cruise when they get home. Reading this book is a reminder that life is worth it and we should appreciate the time we get to spend with family. I liked reading this book.

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

 

                                       The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs-355 pages

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the building which is in need of constant fixing.  But Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

I enjoyed this book very much.  There is also some romance and surprise twists and turns.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - 337 pages

This is a memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson of her childhood from being born in Ohio, living with her grandparents in South Carolina, and moving to New York City with her mother.  The memoir is written in verse.

This is a wonderful book that is very well done.  It's been on my list to read since it came out.  I picked up yesterday to read during lunch since I had forgotten my book at home.  I am so glad I did.  The poems are emotional while being sparse.  They convey so much description and feeling in 1-2 pages.  Her experiences growing up without her father, dealing with racial issues, and living as a Jehovah's Witness are expressed with honesty.  This is a book that I think most kids would benefit from reading. However, I also think that it is a book that will require a fair amount of hand-selling to get into the hands of kids.

2015 Coretta Scott King Medal - Author
2015 Newbery Honor Book
2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Mermaid Mary Margaret by Lynn E. Hazen

Mermaid Mary Margaret by Lynn E Hazen, 87 pages

When Mary's grandfather dies suddenly, she travels with her grandmother on a cruise for the elderly her grandparents had booked to Greece for their 50th wedding anniversary. Mary is selected to go with her grandmother on the cruise as she is the youngest and her single mother was unable to travel.  Mary keeps a journal of the daily activities and it's through her eyes that we experience everything she sees. She truly wishes to be a mermaid and each of the entries brings us closer to why that is. At the close of the book is a lesson about longitude and latitude. The journal entries are short though some words may be hard for young readers to understand.