The Bronze Bow by by Elizabeth George Speare

Lovely story set in Roman-controlled Galilee. It is amazing to me that a book dealing with Jesus Christ and his affect upon people of his time was chosen as a Newberry Winner. I am delighted that it happened.

The Witches' Ride and Other Tales from Costa Rica by Lupe de Osma

Fun telling of a dozen fairy tales from Costa Rica written for children. It is always so interesting to see in how many countries the same children's stories show up in different variations. There is a Cinferella tale as well as Hansel and Gretel.

The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner

Peter Orner creates such vibrant characters in this novel based in Namibia. He gives insight into the effects of war upon the people of the country. Sometimes difficult to follow...rather poetic in flow. Not much of a story with a plot. Beautifully written, nonetheless.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

I thought that this was a wonderful story. Newberry Award winner the same year that I graduated from high school, I found myself wishing I had read this book back then. The author, Mildren D. Taylor, did an amazing job of capturing the language of his characters. The novel is set at the same time in history when my parents were growing up in the south. The descriptions of what life was like for blacks in the south post-Civil War and pre-Civil Rights movement is intriguing and gripping. Powerful story!

The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy by Camara Laye

This book is the enjoyable and interesting coming of age story of Camara Laye who grew up in French Guinea. Nicely told from the viewpoint of a child experiencing becoming a man in Guinea. Lovely plays on the tensions of the old way versus modernization. The insights into culture and tradition was especially interesting to me. Quick read.

My Fathers' Daughter by Hannah Pool

My Fathers' Daughter is a very moving memoir. At the age of 6 months, Hannah Pool was adopted from an orphanage in Eritrea by a British father and American mother. Hannah tells the story of the search for her birth family. Fascinating story because of all of the cultural, political, social information about Eritrea and the countries struggles with border skirmishes, poverty, government problems, etc. The book is not necessarily well-written, but the story is touching. It really made me want to go spend a year in Eritrea simply to go to an orphanage and hold the many, many babies who have no one to care for them.
The story is also interesting because Hannah reveals a lot of what an adopted person experiences emotionally and socially. Especially when they are so far removed from their birth culture/race/nationality. Very insightful!

The Sins of the Wolf by Anne Perry

This book was given to me by a friend (Sue) upon the recommendation of another friend (Alison). I have some stress over this book, now, because I enjoyed this murder mystery by Anne Perry so much, I will have to find time to read all of the other books in the William Monk Mystery Series. Set in Victorian Great Britain, Anne Perry does an excellent job of bringing us into another era and place and engaging us with intriguing characters. The plot twists and turns. At times a bit over-the-top in description, but such an enjoyable read. For any who have not already read William Monk novels, I would not recommend this one as a starting point. I wish I had read the first book, Death of a Stranger. There are many references in the story to past cases and the personal issues William Monk, Hester Latterly, and Oliver Rathbone that were developed in earlier novels. I think that my reading experience would have been even richer if I had read at least the first novel. Agatha Christie is still my favorite mystery writer, but Anne Perry has given me a second to enjoy.