The Education of Bet by Lauran Baratz-Logsted takes place in Victorian England. Elizabeth (Bet) and Will are best friends with a sibling-type relationship. Will's parents were extremely wealthy, and Bet's mother was their maid. Following a deadly virus that swept through the house, Will was sent to live with his only remaining relative - an uncle. He took pity on Bet the moment her saw her, and invited her to live with them as well. Bet and Will weren't treated quite the same way as they grew up, but they remained extremely close despite Bet's status. When Will was kicked out of yet another school, Bet was furious that he'd waste such a valuable opportunity that she could not have, being a girl and from a poor, servant's family. So, she hatches a plan and drags Will along! Bet cuts her hair, changes her mannerisms, and takes Will's place at his new all-boy's school while Will heads off to the military, all unbeknownst to their guardian. Bet could never have imagined everything that takes place at a school that has nothing to do with education. From bullies to roommates to dances, Bet has a lot to learn, all while trying to keep her secret.
I loved this book! I read it at the recommendation of some of my high school book club members. There were some twists and turns and some unexpected outcomes. I enjoyed the relationships between all of the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is about Ben, a young boy who grew up without a father and recently lost his mother to a car accident, and Rose, a young deaf girl growing up during the 1920's. Ben had hearing loss in one ear, but was rendered completely deaf after his house was hit by lightning while he was on the phone. Ben was on the phone that night hoping to locate his long lost father. He had gone back to the house he'd shared with his mother, just down the lake from the house he was living in with his aunt and uncle, when he saw a mysterious light inside. Finding only his cousin, Ben decided to stay awhile and look through his mother's old things. He made an amazing discovery: a bookmark with his father's name and information on it! After waking up in the hospital after the lightning strike, Ben snuck away from his Minnesota town to New York in search of the address and his father. Upon finding the bookstore from the bookmark closed, Ben heads to the museum, where he finds something startling. There is a wolf scene there that came directly out of one of Ben's recurring dreams.
Rose hated working with her tutor and snuck to New York to see her mother, a famous actress who had just married another man. After being rejected by her mother, Rose ventured to the museum in search of her brother, Walter, who eventually took her in.
To find out how the stories of Rose, Ben, and the wolves come together in this amazing tale, read Wonderstruck! This was a fabulous story. I love the way it is told through full page illustrations as well as text. I liked it so much, I finished it in only a few hours. I just couldn't put it down - I really wanted to find out what happened to Rose and Ben, and how their lives intersected.
Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull is the first book in the Beyonders Trilogy. When Jason falls into the hippo tank at the zoo where he works, he never would have imagined being swallowed and entering a new world called Lyrian. But, that's exactly what happens. Not only that, but he learns if he every wants to make it back to Beyond, he'll have to take on the evil Wizard Maldor. Rachel, who also appeared in Lyrian under mysterious circumstances, teams up with Jason on this quest. They know there is a magical word that if uttered in Maldor's presence will completely destroy him, so they set off on an incredible journey in search of all six syllables of this word. They face intense dangers and mystery along the way, including making friends with a man who can drop his limbs at will, battling a human-sized crab, traversing a lake worse than quick sand, and thwarting numerous villains who want them dead. Around every corner they meet new people, but they never know who can be trusted and who is out to get them. Will Lyrian find its hero in Jason and/or Rachel? Read to find out!
This was an amazing book! It was full of action, adventure, mystery and fantasy. I especially liked the fact that there wasn't any romance! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels - this one reads like a movie. It's not hard to visualize the action in this book! I can't wait to read the second and third!
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is about Ben, a young boy who grew up without a father and recently lost his mother to a car accident, and Rose, a young deaf girl growing up during the 1920's. Ben had hearing loss in one ear, but was rendered completely deaf after his house was hit by lightning while he was on the phone. Ben was on the phone that night hoping to locate his long lost father. He had gone back to the house he'd shared with his mother, just down the lake from the house he was living in with his aunt and uncle, when he saw a mysterious light inside. Finding only his cousin, Ben decided to stay awhile and look through his mother's old things. He made an amazing discovery: a bookmark with his father's name and information on it! After waking up in the hospital after the lightning strike, Ben snuck away from his Minnesota town to New York in search of the address and his father. Upon finding the bookstore from the bookmark closed, Ben heads to the museum, where he finds something startling. There is a wolf scene there that came directly out of one of Ben's recurring dreams. 
