Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks

Sixteen year old Sally is involved in a car accident in which she is the only survivor. This accident sets into motion a chain of events and secrets that eventually haunt her own daughter, Odella.

Odella is left to wonder about many things - why doesn't her Great Aunt Gloria visit her family any longer? Why has her mother, Sally, abandoned her and her sisters and her father and moved far away? Only after her mother's death and meeting the grandson of her Aunt Gloria's long-ago boyfriend do the secrets begin to unravel. I was able to guess a few of the secrets, but there were some surprise twists in the story.

The story is told through three generations of women and how these secrets overshadowed their lives. Many families have secrets, and in some cases, it seems that the keeping of these secrets is more harmful than the truth.

Reviewed by Mrs. Dunaski

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman

I could tell you that Whirligig by Paul Fleischman is the story of a teen boy who kills a girl because he is driving drunk, and that would be true. You'd wonder about the curious title and its connection to the boy. You'd notice that it's a short book, only 133 pages, and might be enticed to read it as you could finish it in a day or two. I will tell you - this book is a must read!

Brent has killed Lea while he was driving drunk but he was also trying to kill himself. He never intended to hurt someone else. His heart is heavy knowing what his irresponsible actions have caused. How can he ever atone this? Lea's mother asks Brent to set her daughter's spirit free by building four whirligigs, one for each corner of the country. We follow Brent as he sets out toward Washington, California, Florida and Maine. His journey brings him closer to peace and an understanding of what is important in life.

Don't be confused by the chapters of this book. Interspersed with Brent's story are short story chapters of the lives of individuals who encounter the completed whirligigs. Each whirligig brings meaning to others lives as well. Could Lea's mother have known the impact each whirligig would have on so many lives? Did she realize how Brent would grow and heal as he traveled, designed, and built each one? Perhaps you will feel, as I did, that Brent may be able to feel a sense of atonement having been on this personal, self-reflective journey.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares.

15 year olds Carmen, Lena, Bridget and Tibby have been life-long friends, and it's the first summer they are all going in separate directions. Through one pair of "mystical" blue jeans they stay connected for the months they are separated (they make up rules to go with the pants!)

There are three more books in this series:
*The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
*Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
*Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

Throughout the four summers of the series, each of the girls learn a lot about themselves and about life, while always staying loyal to each other.

I laughed and cried and completely enjoyed all four of these books. There have been movies made from the first and second books - they were good but the stories were changed. I liked the books better!

Reviewed by Mrs. Dunaski