Read, Write, Repeat.

The book featured on today’s blog has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen since the original cover of Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix.

And, happily, the story inside Nowhere Girl (Walker Books, 2011) by A.J. Paquette is just as lovely.

It tells the story of 13-year-old Luchi Ann, who knows nothing of her American heritage and has spent her entire life in a Thai women’s prison with her mother. But, after her mother’s death, Luchi Ann must set off on an uncertain journey to find her place in the outside world.

Publishers Weekly said, “The highly atmospheric setting and thoughtful, determined narrator create a memorable thriller about identity and belonging.”

But don’t take our word for it.

Listen to today’s guest reviewer.

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Our reviewer: Rebekah

Age: 12.5

Things I like to do: Read just about anything. I can only think of two books that I have ever read that I didn’t like.

What I thought of this book: Nowhere Girl is about Luchi Ann Finn, an American born in a woman’s prison in Thailand. Her mother was secretive, and so Luchi Ann only knew a few things about her life: her name, which she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, and that her mother, Helena Finn, was the only family that she had.

But when Luchi’s mother dies, the warden of the prison decides it’s not healthy for a girl to grow up in a cell and sends her away to learn about the world that, so far, she had only read about. The only item that she keeps is a strange letter that she is given by one of the women that she grew up with. It’s addressed to Helena Finn and from someone called Regina Finn — Luchi’s grandmother who lives in America.

Suddenly, Luchi’s journey has a purpose — to find the grandmother that she never knew, and also find the monster of a man who made her mother so afraid and secretive. It will be a hard journey, but Luchi is determined to unravel the tangled web of secrets that make up her life.

I got this book on Christmas Eve from my aunt. I started reading it that evening and had finished it by Christmas morning (probably staying up too late in the process.) From the very beginning, this book had me hooked. Luchi Ann’s story is a mystery that wraps you up in it and isn’t solved until the very end, so I found Nowhere Girl impossible to put down.

I would recommend this book to: Everyone, including adults, because it is such a real and touching story. I felt as if I’d known Luchi forever by the end of the book because of how much personality and life she had. Nowhere Girl is an amazingly powerful book, and I think anyone wanting to curl up with a good book should read it.

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Thanks, Rebekah!

If you’d like to learn more about the author, you can:

• Visit her website.
• Read this interview on Kissing the Earth.
• Read this interview on Cynsations.

No one ever said surviving middle school was easy.

But in The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Amulet Books, 2010) by Tom Angleberger, a group of students find it a little easier once the class misfit creates a paper finger puppet that looks like Yoda and dispenses strangely helpful advice. The only question is, “Is Yoda really wise, or is his successful advice just a coincidence?”

This book also has one of the most compelling covers I’ve seen in a while, although today’s guest reviewer, Rebekah, seems to be holding it upside-down. (Although she maintains the book is right-side up, and SHE is upside-down.)

Anway, here’s what she has to say.

Today’s reviewer: Rebekah

Age:11

I like: Books, music, Pokemon, books, my puppy, books, and using my imagination. (Oh, and did I mention books?)

This book was about: A boy named Tommy trying to figure out whether this origami Yoda can really give good advice when the boy who made him (Dwight) can barely function.

The best part was when:  Dwight jumped from behind a trash can at Zach Martin, a seventh grader, with origami Yoda on his finger and shouted, “I know karate!!!”

I laughed when: Dwight was sent to get a dodge ball for P.E and  didn’t come back. The teacher sent Tommy to get him, and he was in the equipment locker, beating the door and shouting, “Squirrels!! Come save me!!!”

I was worried when: Cassie accidentally broke a little statue of Shakespeare.

I was surprised when: Yoda told everybody about a pop quiz in science that the teacher had only decided to do right when class started

This book taught me: Not to rush into things.

Some words that describe this book are: “Weird.” “Yoda.” “Believe.”

My favorite line or phrase: “Oh, yes! I believe in paperwad Yoda! Woo-hoo! I believe he is an actual, genuine piece of paper stuck on the end of Dwight’s actual, genuine, finger! And, I believe Dwight is the actual, genuine, biggest nut since Mr. Peanut.”

Other kids reading this book should watch out for: Harvey’s comment at the end of every case file.

You should read this book because: It is really funny.

Thanks, Rebekah!

To learn more about the book — and how to fold your own origami Yoda – visit this website. If you need more help, watch this video tutorial narrated by the author.

And if you’d like to learn more about how this book came to be, see these two author interviews:

• With blogger Cynthia Leitich Smith.
• With blogger Madelyn Rosenberg.

Today’s guest reviewer:  Rebekah, 10½

Rebekah likes: Books, singing, animals, books, playing her cello (Bernice) and books.

Book reviewed:  Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009).

This book was about:  A boy, Bobby, who is best friends with a girl, but he doesn’t want anyone to know.  Bobby’s female friend, Holly, starts wearing dresses and straightening her hair. He finds out that she is becoming friends with his worst enemy, Jillian Zarr!

The best part was when: Bobby finds out that his pet fish (even though it’s “just a fish”) can do really cool tricks like push a soccer ball into a net with its nose.

I laughed when:  Holly walked in on Bobby when he had pink curlers in his hair.

I was worried when:  During the class election, Holly and Bobby were running against each other and Holly had really good speeches.

I was surprised when:  Bobby hugged a really stinky tree and got stuck to it.

This book taught me:  To be happy with what you have.  Bobby wanted to have a dog, but he got a fish named Rover instead.  At first he was disappointed, but then he realized that Rover was a really cool fish after all.

Other kids reading this book should:  Read more of Lisa Yee’s books.

Some words that best describe this book are:  Funny, a bit sad, and enjoyable

My favorite line or phrase in the book is:  “Bobby sat down and looked at his breakfast — burnt bacon, or maybe it was sausage, and scrambled eggs, or maybe they were potatoes. It was hard to tell.”

AND

“At recess, Jillian Zarr tapped Bobby on the shoulder.  ‘I had a lovebird named Rosalie who died last year,’ she said softly. ‘That was a really good poem.’  ‘Thank you,’ Bobby started to say. But Jillian cut him off. ‘Your shirt’s on backward and inside out again, Bobby. Are you so dumb you don’t know how to dress yourself?’”

You should read this book because:   Lisa Yee is a great writer. 

Thanks for visiting Read, Write, Repeat, Rebekah!

Lisa Yee has lots of great books. She’s has a series of middle-grade books featuring Millicent Min, Stanford Wong and Emily Ebers and a brand-new young adult novel called Absolutely Maybe. What’s your favorite Lisa Yee book?

Want to learn more? Visit Lisa’s Web site. It’s full of fun information about her books and the adventures she has with her small yellow friend, Peepy.

Lisa and Peepy were in Wisconsin recently, speaking to writers and illustrators and lots of school children. See where they went.

Come back often. More kid reviews are in the works.