A Land of Permanent Goodbyes, by Atia Abawi

Another historical fiction book, my second in a row, and I don't really know what to say about this book. The story follows a teen and his family as they try to escape modern-day Syria, which is a mess - a word that doesn't begin to do the situation justice. This book tells the story of being a refugee in today's world, and there are many. The terror, pain, heartache, hope, and several near-death experiences are nothing any of us would wish on anyone. But it is happening, now, in many places in the world. This book is important and difficult, and not for everyone. The details are at times explicit. I'm not sure what middle school student I would recommend this to. Maybe a high school student? Maybe? A few of the mainstream reviewers claim this book is for middle school and above...I agree the message and story are those young people should hear and think hard about, but I'm not sure the details are appropriate for the students I know.

If you like historical fiction, if you follow current events - here in the United States or abroad - and you want a exceptional first-hand feel for what being a refugee is like, read this. Otherwise, wait a few years for this one. 4 paws (not 5, only because it is very harsh in places).

The Button War, by Avi

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an Avi book, but this one came out late last year, I believe, and a few kids have checked it out and liked it, and the reviews for it have been good, so I thought I'd take a break from reading OBOB books and dive back into a good Avi story. Avi has been writing books for teens and young adults for a very long time. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak once at an event in Portland, and although he was perhaps the least engaging author I have ever listened to, it was clear that he is incredibly smart, and if you've ever read his books, talented as well.

The Button War takes place in Poland at the start of World War 1. A small group of small village boys decide they are going to compete against one another collecting buttons from the uniforms of the occupying officers in their village. The soldiers change throughout the story, from German to Russian to English to French. This contest is the surface of the story. The depth of this story comes from the deep, and I'll say dark, undercurrent of the realities of war on everyday people, kids and adults, and how brutal is really is, how destructive and painful. I know this all sounds very heavy, and this book, even though it's short and quick to read, is one of the darkest and heaviest books I've ever read. One back cover review compares it to Slaughterhouse Five, an adult book by author Kurt Vonnegut, and to Lord of the Flies, a teen book but equally dark and disturbing.

Avi is an exceptional writer, and The Button War is really, really good. But not in the way other good books are good...this one is deep, heavy, and will stay in your heart and brain for a long time after you've finished reading. You've been warned. 4.5 paws!

York, Book 1: The Shadow Cipher, by Paura Ruby

Today's lesson (for me, as much as for you) is that life is too short to read a bad book! The Shadow Cipher isn't a bad book, but as a dog, my life is even shorter than yours, and this book, while being okay, just never got going. It made me want to do two things; One, re-read Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet, a really good, smart mystery with an art element! And two, read any of a number of books from my growing book list, including some of the other OBOB books! I can count on one paw the number of books I have started and not finished in my life, and now I have not finished two in a row...it feels weird, but I just can't keep going with this one.

Not a bad story, taking place in a futuristic New York City. A brother and sister and friend trying to solve a family mystery that people have been trying to solve for many decades. But they manage to find a new strand of clues and are racing against time to solve the puzzle before their building is taken over by greedy businessmen, who seem to have an alternate motive...although we don't really know what that is.

I can't quite put my tail on it, but this story just never flows...some good books I simply can't put down, but this one, 300 pages in, never makes me care - about the storyline or the characters. Maybe the cold weather is starting to make me cranky...hopefully you will like this book much more than I did! Let me know if you do...I'd love to love it more!