Skip to main content

Kindred Souls

Image
By Lauren
Kindred Souls
By Patricia MacLachlan
Katherine Tegen Books, c2012. 119 pages. Fiction.

Jake is not your typical ten year old boy. He lives with his family on a quiet farm, and his best friend is his aging grandfather, Billy. When a stray dog, Lucy, appears on the farm one day, she brings with her a sense of change and comfort. The three pals grow close, with Lucy never leaving Billy's side even when he takes ill. As his health (but not his spirit) deteriorates, Billy expresses his wish for Jake to build a sod house for him like the one he had as a child. The family pulls together to recreate his happy childhood home, and Billy spends his last days there in total contentment. This story is a nice telling of the twilight of one's life, and the passing on of memories to the next generation. Billy is loveable and lively, and Jake is a respectful and friendly child. The book is less about dying and more about treasuring the past while living in the present. MacLachlan's signature graceful language makes for a soothing, sunshiny read.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: New Dragon Chapter Books for Middle Grade

By
As a kid I was OBSESSED (all caps!) with dragons.  Dragons can be scary, majestic, loyal, greedy, but what they all have in common is how fun they are to read about!  Check out the dragon books below for some fun new reads! Dad Rock Dragon Quest Written by Joan Reardon New York : Aladdin, 2025. Fiction. 342 pgs. Dad Rock Dragon Quest follows 12-year-old aspiring rockstar Zadie Drake, whose summer plans to bond with her super cool, if sometimes absent, daredevil park ranger dad get complicated when her mom’s boring new boyfriend tags along. After they arrive at her dad’s cabin, a poacher kidnaps her dad’s ice-breathing dragon, revealing her dad's secret role protecting magical creatures and thrusting the family into a high-stakes rescue mission. Along the way, Zadie begins to rethink her relationships with both her father and her mom’s boyfriend.  Dragonborn Written by Struan Murrya New York, NY : Dutton Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 320 pgs. Dragonborn  follows 1...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Just Shine!

By
Just Shine! Written by Sonia Sotomayor Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara New York, NY : Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2025. Picture Book. At the beginning of each new year, a lot of people like to set goals for themselves. Often, these tend to be number-oriented: a specified number of minutes reading, a certain number of steps walked each day, or even goals related to saving money. I have often felt very intimidated by number-oriented goals, and shy away from making them. In recent conversations with friends and family, we have talked about goals that are more skill-related or focused on bringing joy into the world and our personal lives. In line with that way of thinking, I am recommending this book to everyone! This book would be amazing for discussing goals with people who prefer to have goals that are different from traditional "number-oriented" ones. The cover and the artwork left me feeling happy and very invested in the story the author wanted to ...
Post a Comment
Read more