In May of 2011 Matt and I began to dabble with blogging. We were shored up by our technology pal, Mrs. Wyman who walked us through every step of the way. We met in her computer lab weekly. She shared in our giggles about books post ideas, reading quotes and fond memories of reading and books. Matt was in 5th grade when we actually launched Kid’s Books 101. He has graduated 8th grade now and is ready to move on. I am sorry to lose my book partner, but I think it is time to consider new possibilities – maybe a reading and review club would be the way to go. But for now – I’ve got some books to recommend for summer reading. Some are new, some are old favorites and some have finally find their way to the top of my TBR pile.
Romeo Blue by Phoebe Stone has been waiting for a year to be read. Sequel to the Romeo and Juliet Code, this book continues the story of Flissy Budwig Bathburn in Bottlebay, Maine. She’s been there for two years. The Bathburn home is truly her own but she still does not fully understand her family’s role World War II. She knows they are part of the Resistance and she knows they are working from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but are they safe and will she ever understand why they have made the choices they have made? Will she ever understand why she feels so alone?
The Bathburn family is pretty amazing: strong and independent, able and willing, caring and courageous. They live in a small coastal Maine town. It might seem as though they must be far removed from everything, but they are not. They are totally involved in the war effort. You’ll have to read to find out how much they are willing to risk to do the right thing. Romeo Blue (another name for the Marazine Blue butterfly) is full of interesting twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages right to the end. You won’t want to miss a word. Intermediate and middle grade readers will enjoy the adventure and the characters as they live through the ups and downs of life in wartime.