Statistics Fun

 So the announcements last night were rather hit-and-run, were they not? I apologize for that. But now you get to read a very long ramble to make up for it! I think some of you may get a grin out of at least ONE of our fill-in responses.

Overall, the Verve Lit 2012 poll ended with 48 votes. I am very blessed with this, because I had been praying for about 50. Thanks to all those people!

First I'll start with the Series category. Most people skipped the other categories and voted in Independent. Only 17 people voted in Series, two votes each for Benjamin Pratt and The Red Blazer Girls. The other thirteen were filled in, and is where we got our winner!

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet - Goodreads describes this as a series about monsters and witches. One of the obviously-not-Christian reviewers couldn't get over how glad she was it had no inclination to Christian values.

Dragons in Our Midst by Bryan Davis - ... a series about a boy who finds out he was a dragon in a past life, and learns how to have faith. Whatever that means. Take what you wish from that synopsis.

Swipe by Evan Angler - A person must receive the mark in their wrist or they-don't-get-that-job-at-McDonalds. Yep. It got a lot of good reviews on Goodreads.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Peter's Angel by Aubrey Hansen - This book releases next month from the winner of the Independent category. It's historical fiction.

Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan - Self explanatory. I think everyone has heard about this book, which is probably why someone voted for it. It's about wizards and menacing cloaks, apparently.

Pirates and Faith by Molly Evangeline (received 3 votes) - Winner of Series. I plan on reading the first book soon.

Provost's Dog by Tamora Pierce - Not really sure what this book is about. Wikipedia says it's a fantasy.

The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis - ...

The Destiny Trilogy (by Sarah Holman) - The independents took over ever category, didn't they?

Firmament by J. Grace Pennington

Then there was the Realism category. I was sad because the only book that didn't receive a vote was in the line up: The Running Dream. This is such a great book!
The Penderwicks - 4 votes ; Okay For Now - 3 votes ; Wonder Struck - 1 vote ; fill-in 8 votes...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Swipe by Evan Angler
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
1984 by Geore Orwell (could some one explain to me how this is a children's book...? Anyways, in 1984 they spelled George without the second G.)
The Pirate Daughter's Promise by Molly Evangeline (2 votes)
Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
The Destiny Of a Galaxy

Independent - only 7 skips.

Red Rain by Aubrey Hansen - 29 votes
The Destiny Trilogy by Sarah Holman - 8 votes
Fill-in: Johnny Vic by Ann Rich Duncan (Historical Fantasy) ; The Pirate Daughter's Promise by Molly Evangeline (3 votes)

Reader's Choice - 7 skips as well. I think people are sending me a message that they prefer Indie novels.

Firmament: Radialloy by J. Grace Pennington  - 26 votes
The Pirate Daughter's Promise by Molly Evangeline - 14 votes
The Charity's Diary Series by Elisabeth Allen - 1 vote -- Aw, come on! I feel rather bad that she only got one vote, her series looked utterly delightful. :-)

I plan on reading all three Reader's Choice books in this next year.



 And there are your stats! I don't know about anyone else, but I got a giggle out of George Orwell being voted for... I mean his work sounds very interesting... but I'm not sure how he fits our niche. Haha.

Yay! *updates*

 For some reason, I was terrified to ever post something that wasn't a book review on here, but now I see that was ridiculous and ya'll need updates!

 First off, I'd like to welcome LeAnne to the Committee! You can check out her bio on the committee page. I am looking forward to her review of The Destiny Trilogy by Sarah Holman. It is such a blessing that someone volunteered to review a self-published book because I was about to completely freak over how much I was going to have to do by myself in the next month. LeAnne, you rock. :-D







 Secondly, I just found out my library got in Ruby Redfort and Cheesie Mack, which have been sitting on my Bucket List for a long time. Although I'm nervous, because someone said that Ruby Redfort has some big deal about a Budha, and Cheesie Mack is crude. We shall see. At least I'm not going to have to buy them!

 Picking books has been really difficult. Anyone taking a gander at my Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge will see that I've read a lot a books, and mostly it's because I wanted to find a wide variety for Verve Lit Awards. Okay, there was some personal reading fun going on there too. The problem is, most awesome books are too inappropriate for the theme of VLA. Whereas books like Dream of Night and The Wednesday Wars are super awesome, but published before 2011. I know that the Committee voted unanimously that books from the last decade (2002-2012) should be open for nomination, but I was holding out for books this year. Oh well, I guess Dream of Night, The Wednesday Wars, The Penderwicks, and Melanie Dickerson it is! Tomorrow I'll be posting a poll for you all to decide which Melanie Dickerson book we pick to nominate! Then, I'll finally get around to nominating the awesome and completely reading-worthy Wonder Struck.






I think next year, we're going to make this less difficult. Promise.


 Blessings,

Jess Verve

The Running Dream [nomination]

 You know how some books start out utterly depressing and just get worse by The End? This wasn't one of those books. Jessica Carlisle thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a bus accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?  This book had so many good point, where do I start? Running Dream made me think of Soul Surfers [the movie], only more upbeat (!) and more conclusive. I know it's not fair to compare a true-life story with fiction, but that's just what this book made me think of: a girl loses a limb, and it stinks, but she's going to keep going forward. Only this wasn't tainted by Hollywood drama.

 Writing style: amazing. Just enough inner dialogue, just enough emotion without being too much, and you know exactly what is happening, because the style is very clear. Many times I get a headache from trying to figure out what the heck the character is trying to say. Especially when the main character is a high school student--yikes.

 Characters: diverse personalities, and can't be classified as 'all good' or 'all bad'.  Though everything is pretty straightforward with the people around her, it's not like they are some plastic robots from Mainstream Fictionville. For instance, Jessica's little sister is a moody junior high student (weren't we all), but she actually shows a range of emotions aside from angsty snarls. And for once, here is a story that isn't SUFFOCATED with boy drama! I don't know about you, but boy drama gets a little old after a while (*gives guy friends a look*). There was a smidgen of it, mind, you, but I think if you read this book you'll be satisfied with how everything turns out. ;-D (and not in a total cliche way, either)


 There was something small, almost nonexistent that I wanted to mention because it meant a lot to me personally. Yes, I do believe wholeheartedly in God the Creator. Yes, I love to read books with Christian views, as long as they aren't tainted with depressing, wishy-washy, inconclusive Contemporary Christian philosophy. However, this book doesn't really mention God, except once.
 Jessica, at one point in the book, says "I don't blame God for this."
 Wow. I almost started crying.
 This says more than many Christian books do today. 

 As she struggles to cope with crutches and a first cyborg-like prosthetic, Jessica feels oddly both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don't know what to say, act like she's not there. Which she could handle better if she weren't now keenly aware that she'd done the same thing herself to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she's missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.

With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that's not enough for her now. She doesn't just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her.
  
 The best part of this book? It felt refreshing. There were some bad times, good times, hilarious jokes, prom avoidance, and it told the story perfectly. I loved the ending.

 How is this different than all of the other books I gush about? Well... I don't just gush about a book to get on someones good side or to be perky. I do it because the novel says something, something unique. This isn't just a feel-good story (though it is in many ways). I can't describe it, because you really have to read it for yourself to understand that this isn't just a 'generic' hope story.
 I think this line from Ms. Van Draanen's website says it well:
  "There are certain things I believe we need to keep in our emotional arsenal as we navigate through life. Hope is a big one." 

 Hope is everything. It gets you to a point of positive believing.

  

Have you read this book? Post your thoughts and discuss the books by making a comment.


 NOMINATED BY: Jessie V.


The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Ember Books, 2011, Length 332 pages, Age range 12/13+ (accident and related issues not described at length)

(Young Adult/Teen Fiction)

Benjamin Pratt & The Keepers of the School [Series; Nomination]

  The Keepers of the School series is the latest from Andrew Clements. Aside from the Things Trilogy, he usually doesn't delve into series books, or mysteries for that matter (though his book Room One was a Edgar Allen Poe winner). But this is by far some of his best middle grade fic work.
 Benjamin Pratt goes to Oakes School, at least for the next month. Once school lets out for summer vacation, the historic location is being torn down so that an investment company can build a sea-side amusement park. Ben is fine about this, glad even. Until the janitor bestows upon him the great and mysterious honor of Keeper of the School. Now it's his responsibility to save Captain Duncan Oakes School from being condemned, but can he do it in one short month?

   Each book in this series takes place in a few days or a week, which would seem to be very rushed. However, I thought that We the Children and Fear Itself (the first two books) were interesting and very well paced. At first I was a little confused by the plot, and thought it was completely unbelievable. Kids are in charge of school? But it's a little more complicated than you would think. As a late teen, I was thoroughly impressed by the deep characters, plot, and suspense, even though it's geared towards ten year olds. Can I see the events in this series happening? Yes. Do I have any clue how the series is going to end? Nope. Is the main villain totally creepy and worthy of a mystery movie? YOU BET!

  One thing that I truly appreciate about this series is the high involvement of adults. They aren't the main characters, but they certainly aren't stupid or put in as an afterthought. Many authors stay away from adult characters in children's novels because they 'meddle' too much, but I think it is unrealistic to say that a kid can go about something monumental without the help (and hindrance) of their elders.

  What mystery lovers can enjoy while reading this series is the classic elements of a treasure hunting that takes place in each book as well as the good-old sleuthing adventures that we all loved as a kid. Nautical elements are also woven through, with sailboat races and compass roses and bells. I learned more boating terms from these books than any other I've read before!

   Above all, Keepers has everything you could want in a middle grade fiction series. The right level of suspense, good characters, and secret compartments. Don't forget the sailboats!

Have you read these books? Post your thoughts and discuss the books by making a comment.



NOMINATED BY: Jessie V.

BENJAMIN PRATT & THE KEEPERS OF THE SCHOOL series by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Adam Stower
Antheneum Books, April 2011-Present, Length Approx 175-200 pages, age range 7-10 [recommended to older readers as well]
 Mystery (YA)

#1 We the Children
#2 Fear Itself
#3 Whites of Their Eyes

Red Rain by Aubrey Hansen [nomination]

Red Rain is the premier novel from Aubrey Hansen. The book is a Science Fiction/Mystery set in the year 2148, after the one world government has successfully piled all of the Christian families into internment camps. Anyone with a religion or faith in God was sent to live in one, unless they signed a document of agreement that they will never talk about it again. The story is in the point of view of a seventeen year old Christian girl, Philadelphia. Her father is a scientist.

At first it seemed like this was an average end-times/dystopian plot, but there was something about the way that Ms. Hansen wrote this book... I couldn't stop reading the sample chapter, and then I found out there was an audio book, and listened to the whole thing until three in the morning. Every time you think you know where it's going to go, you don't. And then you get to the middle of the book, and you get blown away. And then you get to the next chapter, and it happens again. She just has a way of putting it that sounds new and gets you trembling near the end, and you love every minute of it. Some complain that the ending was too rushed (probably to leave openings for sequels), but it seemed alright, and the last paragraph was so brilliant, I didn't get it until thirty seconds after I finished reading. The characters develop through to the last page!

Some of you may know I'm the last person to read science fiction. So when I kept hearing about the book, I shrugged it off. WARNING: If you are one of those genre snots like me, do NOT pass up this book because of it. And if you think you're too good for the book because it doesn't have a Lucy Maud Montgomery or Charles Dickens writing style (I.E. flowery), then you are a stick in the mud and I need to give you a frowny face sticker (and you're probably the only person on Amazon that voted it one star). Because the simplistic writing style actually COMPLIMENTS the setting, and the whole thing. You'll be smacking your head.

What I really appreciate about this book is that for the first time in years, even though I thought the plot was predictable, I couldn't guess a single thing that was going to happen. That was more shocking than anything else. Haha. Also, Philly relies on God to get her through hard times in a way that is more satisfying than most Christian fiction books.

And in case your wondering, there ARE a few nit picks or minor plot snags, but they weren't significant enough to remember.

In September of 2011 she self-published the novella, made a snazzy audio book narrated by Grace Pennington (I cannot recommend that ENOUGH, it was so amazing), and has successfully made it big--big enough that many of the blogs I went on had a promotional button for it since it came out. I finally caved in January and 'read' it, and it was totally worth it.

Have you read this book? Post your thoughts and discuss by making a comment.

NOMINATED BY: Jessie V.

Red Rain by Aubrey Hansen

CreateSpace, 2011, Length 94 pages, Age Range 12+ "mild thematic elements and some action-violence" (but I didn't think it was that bad)

Science Fiction (YA/Teen)

The Red Blazer Girls [Series; Nomination]

The Red Blazer Girls is a mystery series following four best friends that go to Catholic school together (hence the red blazer uniforms) in New York City. The each is always narrated by Sophie St. Pierre, the ring leader of the group that is funny, funky, engaging, and pretty believable.

 Mysteries in this series include the occasional interactive puzzle (and a math lesson) that the reader must solve before Sophie  will ‘let’ you read the next chapter. If you’re 12+ and give it a bit of thought and scribbling, you can figure out a puzzle without pulling all of your hair out, unless the puzzle is one of the reoccurring  ‘Literature Riddles’ and you are not acquainted with some of the Classics and their main characters.

This series may sound like it’s about a bunch of goody-goody Manhattan girls that run around solving mysteries for the heck of it, but many of the plots have a tie-in to one of the MCs, and they each have a fair amount of ‘Nancy Drewisms’– they do less than legal things; however, they have to suffer the consequences that the old sleuth legend wouldn’t have.

 There are some complaints that there is a lot of swearing in these books... in my personal opinion, I was slightly annoyed at how overused 'ohmygod' was when I read through the second book, but after that I didn't notice it. There are a few other non-desirables, but not enough to keep me from hating it or feeling like I was compromising my morals to read it. This is why I put a 12+ rating, because aside from personal preference it is totally safe and a twelve year old is going to be mature enough to read it and deal with it.

Above all, if you’re a well-read stick in the mud adult, you would wave this series off as too random and easy. However, even an 18 year old can enjoy this as an intriguing and well thought out series by a new mystery genius: Micheal D. Beil.

Have you read these books? Post your thoughts and discuss the books by making a comment.

NOMINATED BY: Jessie V.

THE RED BLAZER GIRLS series by Micheal D. Beil
Yearling, 2009-Present, Length Approx 298-330 pages, Age Range: 12+ [for minor language]
Mystery (YA)

#1 The Red Blazer Girls (and The Ring of Rocamadour)
#2 The Vanishing Violin
#3 The Mistaken Masterpiece
#4 The Secret Cellar [December 2012]