Home to Oblivion, Roger Whittlesey

Title:  Home to Oblivion
Author:  Roger Whittlesey
Pages:  195
Genre:  YA
Source:  Kindle
Why I picked it up:  Roger is a personal friend, and I've been waiting for his book to come out for awhile!

Prescott Fielding is a 12-year-old boy from the 18th century.  He is working on a ship when he is thrown overboard, only to wash up on the shores on a volcanic island.  He meets Caleb Thompson, a 17-year-old marine who had been serving in Vietnam before waking up on the same island.  How is it that these two young men rom different time periods find themselves stranded together?  The mystery continues when they meet up with Woodgate; a British World War I code breaker.  These three unlikely companions journey further inland in an attempt to solve the puzzles of the island only to discover the truth is more dangerous than they first anticipated.

I absolutely loved this book!

The premise of the story is fascinating - three young men from three different time periods trying to figure out why they are together and how to get home.  Each character has a personality unique to their time period, a really interesting way to give the "flavor" of different times and places.

I know Roger is a teacher, and although I have not asked him personally, I have to think that his profession influenced the book.  It's fun but it's informative too.  I can envision a young person really liking a certain character and deciding to do a little research about that time period.  The teacher in me loved seeing lots of interesting language that may prompt a kid to look up and learn new words!  I really like that Roger wasn't afraid to write a young adult novel that will make the kids think a little.  I teach music lessons to one of Roger's former students - apparently he read this book to his fifth grade class a couple of years ago when it was still a work-in-progress.  When I told her it was being published she literally started jumping up and down!  The class loved it and she had big plans to tell all her friends so they could read it again.

I think this book will appeal to everyone, but I especially think this could be a work of fiction that boys can gravitate toward.  It seems like I always hear people talking about how girls read more than boys, especially fiction.  Keeping this in mind, I appreciate that there are kind, smart, and resourceful boys as main characters in this book.

I don't typically read YA, but this is one I really enjoyed and highly recommend!  It has it all; a unique story, intelligence, humor, suspense, and enough of the fantastical to keep you on your toes!

Buy it!

The Friday Five {March 15}

Some wonderful things on this Friday afternoon...

* Dominic is sitting up on his own.  And playing on his own much more.  I walked into daycare Tuesday to the most beautiful site - he wasn't fussing, wasn't needing to be carried, he was happily playing with blocks!  So exciting!

* Showing a musical to my music appreciation class.  I need the downtime and love watching musicals!

* Beautiful start to the week - spring is right around the corner.

* One month from today our music festival (MICCA) will be over, the Junior District Festival will be over, and the band and orchestra will be flying home from Disney world - performances behind them!

The FIVE:

1.  A post that I found clever.

Have a bundt pan?  Want to see some other ways to use it?  Think beyond the cake!  Check out this post at Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity.

2.  Posts that will eventually fill my tummy box.

Budget Bytes has a great recipe for navy bean soup with sausage and spinach.  More spinach in my diet and it looks delicious.  Win, win.

3.  Posts about books - or rather, a book.

Both The Broke and The Bookish AND Tiny Library reviewed Bitter Greens this week and it has been added to my wishlist - thanks guys!!!

4.  Posts that made me rethink previous advice.

I had a single (guy) friend once talk about how he never meets women in bars.  I told him that's because he's looking for love in a bar.  I said that if I was single I'd look for my soulmate in the bookstore.  I'd hang by the classic literature and the Jodi Picoult and wait for Mr. Right to come looking for the same stuff.  Well, this post at She is too fond of books has me rethinking my advice... although to be fair my friend was single and not creepy.

5.  A post that had me laughing and nodding.

Scary Mommy has a spin on that old Jeff Foxworthy bit.  You might be a parent if...

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

The Friday Five {March 8}

Happy Friday!

Someone turned 7 months today!

And we have a snow day!

I don't have a lot reserved in the google reader for the five this week - I think it's a combination of me having a very busy week at work and lots of reviews for Irish short stories... I'm not really a fan of short stories usually, although I always check the reviews because sometimes one catches my eye!

1.  As I said, we have a beautiful snow day today.  I needed it because my mom usually babysits on Thursdays and Fridays.  She hurt her back so she can't drive and really shouldn't be picking up my cutie.  Yesterday Dennis and I each took a half day and made it work.  Today I was going to have to drive to her house to drop him off, then to work (that's two hours in the car already).  Then reverse it in the afternoon.  No fun.  So when I saw this post at Serendipitous I had to smile because although I'm so ready for spring I was really crossing my fingers for the snow!

2.  I'm a big fan of David Sedaris.  Me Talk Pretty One Day has been on my wishlist for awhile, so naturally I enjoyed reading about it over at The Literate Man.

3.  Write Meg posted about a very bookish baby shower.  I loved reading this post not only for the adorable ideas, but because it made me think of my own bookish baby shower.  Love stuff like this!

4.  My YA fans may enjoy this post over at Book Riot.  An advisor takes YA characters and makes notes in their "file".  I thought it was great!

5.  Scary Mommy - I'm so glad I found this blog.  I loved this post about what is normal.  I read it as I was literally Facebook chatting with a friend about what our kids are eating for solids, what other kids are eating, and if we're doing what's right.  Constant questioning happens over in my house!

Enjoy your Friday - happy weekend!

The Friday Five {March 1}

Can you believe it's March already???  This year is flying by faster than any previous year!

Some wonderful things.

I'm at the Massachusetts Music Educators Conference in Boston!  Having a wonderful time.  There are not many sessions dedicated to my discipline this year, but I'm having an amazing time watching the All-State orchestra rehearse.  Amazing musicians, amazing conductor.  The best part of the conference is reconnecting with colleagues from other school systems.  And listening to rehearsals.  I needed this conference this year more than in previous years.  It's been really relaxing and a great way to recharge the batteries.  Oh, and I stayed with a friend last night (sans baby), so I got 9 uninterrupted hours of sleep!  A-maz-ing.  I feel like a changed woman.  I can take on the world.

The five.

1.  Posts that made me go "Mmmmm...".

Blood orange margaritas are happening over at Smitten Kitchen.  Mom and I need to try these out this summer.  Poolside.  YES.  Annie's Eats has some lasagna-stuffed portabellos that look absolutely fantastic, and could be a great meatless option for us.  Skinny Taste has a recipe for crock pot sesame honey chicken that I'd love to try.  As I've said before, who doesn't love a crock pot meal - come home to an already made dinner?  Yes please.

2.  Posts about books.

So The House Girl made it to my list this week because I saw reviews for it everywhere!  Lots of different takes on this book check them out - Reflections of a Bookaholic, Leeswammes' Blog, Always with a Book, and The Blue Bookcase.

In addition, my wishlist got longer after reading these reviews.  Under My Apple Tree shared thoughts on The Painted Girls.  Love those paintings, used to take ballet, and I definitely don't read enough books that talk about dancers.  Kritters Ramblings reviewed Yesterday's Sun, a book that really hit her heart, and I believe it will hit mine as well.  Katie over at Book Love wrote about Titanic: Voices from the Disaster.  I don't typically read nonfiction, but this seems like the kind of nonfiction I can get into.  Excited to check it out at some point.

3.  A post that made me think winter is pretty.

I do like snow.  Although now that it's officially March I'm ready for spring.  I'll pass on the white stuff, please.  This post at Serendipitous was just so pretty I had to share.

4.  Posts that are bookish.

Loving Books shared classics she regretted reading when she was young.  I found the list to be interesting - I have a few of these myself.  The Misfortune of Knowing tackles the topic of "best sellers" and how label may not hold a lot of water these days.  Tiny Library talks about A Tale of Two Cities - a book that may be on my "classics I regret reading young" list and think I need to reconsider.  This review made me think the answer is a definite yes!  Finally, Greg made a post at Book Riot I really enjoyed.  The 10 best books he never read.  I have a handful of books I would put on a list like this as well!

5.  Posts that are mommyish.

This post at Pretty Providence had me nodding in agreement.  I wish I had read it before having Dominic.  True stuff.  On a completely different note, this post at Scary Mommy made me smile.  How to be a good friend.  I think you'll enjoy it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Friday Five {February 22}

I'm looking through the posts I "starred" to include in the Five this week, and they're mostly recipes!  Being home on vacation makes me less rushed - basically I get a week when I think I can do it all, because I'm home/out and about with this adorable little baby, I have a clean house fabulous meals on the table.  Then I go back to work and life feels like I'm standing in front of a pipe leaking from a dozen different places and I'm trying to put my hands over each leak to contain the mess.  Luckily that doesn't start to really feel that way for a few weeks after I go back to work, and because I have the best job in the world, vacation is never far around the corner!

So I have five for you.

But first some wonderful things...

*  Sunrise painting the snow dark pink, light orange and then pale yellow.
*  A hot cup of strong coffee.
*  Nap time!
*  The feeling that spring is right around the corner.
*  Crossing everything off of my vacation to-do list!!!!!


Five.  Let's get the books in there first...

1.  Posts about books I loved.

I read The Shining a couple of years ago and loved it.  Up until that point I had only seen the movie, and I just fell in love with the book.  And Stephen King.  I love him.  I think that this book hits the right spot for me in terms of "scary".  Yes, there are supernatural elements.  But mostly?  It's about someone coming unglued.  And that's some scary stuff because it happens every day.  Avid Reader's Musings touches upon this - when Jack begins to justify his evil actions.  Great review, and it made me want to read another Stephen King!

2.  Posts that lengthened my Wishlist.

Kritters Ramblings is responsible for making my wishlist just a tad longer with her review of The House Girl.  A historically based novel rooted in the 19th century south.  A parallel modern-day storyline running beside it.  It all sounds like things I'd like!  I may save this one for summer... something about summer makes me crave Civil War era literature.  Anyone else?  Anyone want to take a stab at why?  I'm all ears.  Or Eyes, since this is a blog and all.

3.  Posts that made me nod in agreement.

I recently started following Scary Mommy (thank you, Pinterest).  I really enjoyed this post about young 20-something girls talking about the gross aspects of childbirth, and the response by the author.

4.  Posts that made me dream.

Corinne at Weaving in the Ends is dreaming about many of the same things I am lately.  Mostly of spring time, and her cottage by the sea.  I'm yearning for spring like never before... but I'm saving that for a completely separate post.

5.  Posts that will fill my belly.

So many delicious-looking things.

I grabbed three recipes from Budget Bytes this week.  Taco pizza - we like to do home made pizza once a week or so, and we're always looking for ways to kind of shake things up.  Oven fajitas
- because they seem easy and healthy, and who can beat that?  Blueberry Mug Muffin - because I frequently get up at the crack of dawn and would love this delicious treat!

Who doesn't love something in a slow cooker?  You come home from work and it's like someone broke into your house and cooked dinner!  Skinny Taste posted a recipe for Slow Cooked Jerk Pork with Caribbean Salsa and it looks amazing.

Every summer I work at SYMS (Summer Youth Music School) hosted at UNH.  I really love working at the camp.  The music-making, the reconnecting, it's all wonderful.  We have meal tickets and eat at the dining hall.  UNH actually has a fabulous dining department!  There are these white chocolate macadamia nut cookies that are probably my favorite thing in the world.  I don't usually have much of a sweet tooth, and I usually avoid the dessert table, but when these cookies are out I go crazy.  Like 4 cookies crazy.  So when I saw this recipe at Annie's Eats I had to put it aside for later.  I'll see how it compares to UNH.  :)

Enjoy!