Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith - 421 pages

Alice has been best friends with Teddy and Leo for the past nine years -- ever since she came to live in Chicago after her parents' deaths.  For the past four years, she's been in love with Teddy.  She's been too scared to let anyone know about this -- not even Teddy.  Then for Teddy's 18th birthday, Alice buys him a lottery ticket that changes all of their lives.

I've liked the author Jennifer E. Smith ever since stumbling onto her first book Comeback Season several years ago.  This is her latest book.  It was just as enjoyable as her others.  In fact, it might be my favorite one so far.  I really enjoyed the rags to riches story and the effects it has on the people in Teddy's life.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

Ray & Joan

Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune and the Woman Who Gave It All Away
by Lisa Napoli (320 pages)

Lisa Napoli has written a brief bio of Ray Kroc from his lean business days until his death. Along the way Mr. Kroc had failed marriages, near bankruptcies, failures, and successes. Joan was his spouse at the time of his death and was the beneficiary of his millions. He set up the Ray Kroc Foundation and later the Ray and Joan Kroc Foundation, giving money to organizations that he saw fit. After his passing, his wife, Joan was much more philanthropic in her giving. The pages near the end of the book give an account of her charitable donations, however, there were many more that have been given anonymously, per her request.

Billy Hazelnuts, by Tony Millionaire

Billy Hazelnuts, by Tony Millionaire, 109 pages

This short work relates the adventures of Becky, a young scientist, and Billy Hazelnuts, a creature made out of treacle, suet, things found in the dumpster, and hazelnuts for eyes.  Becky and Billy set out to find where the moon goes when it sets, fight some sheep, battle on the Ark, and fight the worst villain yet- a blind robot pirate with a seeing smell skunk.  The artwork is excellent, and the language alone is awesome (think: "zounds" sort of language).  It's geared towards adults, but there's nothing that makes it not readable by children or teens, too.  Fans of Tony Millionaire's Sock Monkey would enjoy this.