The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education
by Maya Frost
An approach that is not for the weak of heart (11/13/2009)
I wanted to really love this book, but for me it came up a bit short. I have a daughter in her junior year attending a Waldorf High School who would like to study abroad as a full-fledge university student in another country. While I found some of the stories encouraging, I felt that most of the students (and especially the author's daughters) were over-achievers. They make my daughter seem meek in comparison.
Ms. Frost does give some good practical tips on how to look for colleges abroad and some skills you will need to be successful in a foreign university. I especially liked the frank talk she gives parents. There are also good tips that can serve high school students well even if they do not choose to study abroad.
This book is defiantly not for mainstream America, but if you are thinking about college choices outside the standard American university, I recommend it.
Valley of the Lost
by Vicki Delany
Valley of the Lost (12/27/2008)
Funky characters, beautiful setting and interesting plot turns made this an OK mystery. I liked the flowery and very descriptive writing in the beginning, but it got to be a little too much by the end. I read the first two thirds of the book easily, but it took much longer to read the last third.
Although this was a second book in a series, and I have not read the first book, I did not feel that I was missing too much information that it hindered my enjoyment of this book.
Satisfying, but not spectacular. Would most likely appeal to those who already love mysteries.
How to Build a House
by Dana Reinhardt
Interesting, but not exceptional (3/26/2008)
The book had an interesting and easy to follow plot with many unique characters. I would only recommend this book to someone in High School (or older) because the mature themes would not be relevant or appropriate for younger readers. I am a few years younger then the main character who is a senior in high school, but the book still has relevance to me. At first the book is a bit confusing because it takes place in both the past and present, but in the end the effect is great, giving you a puzzle to solve about the main character and her life. The book includes some romance which I enjoyed. The only reason I did not rate it a 5 is because it seemed like a common teen novel with nothing in particular setting it apart. That said, it is still a good book to read; I enjoyed it and would recommend it to my friends.
Life Class: A Novel
by Pat Barker
Life Class (1/10/2008)
I had great hope for this book given Pat Barker had won the Booker Prize and I quite enjoy works that deal with WWI. What a let down! I found Part One extremely hard to get through (and not very interesting) and the end very disappointing. The only decent part was the small middle section actually dealing with the war and it's impact on the character Paul. I did enjoy the letter writing and thought that it gave the story most of it's guts. Most of the characters were unappealing and uninteresting and the brutality of WWI and its affect on people was only delved into. I had expected so much more. I'm afraid I cannot recommend this book.
Mozart's Sister
by Rita Charbonnier
Mozart's Sister - Lacking in depth (10/12/2007)
The book was generally well written, but got a bit boorish. Because I knew nothing of Nannerl Mozart when I started the book (I didn't even know Wolfgang had a sister), I found the first half quite appealing. I like the way Charbonnier moved between the narrative and the letters. However, about midway through I tired of her constant repeating that poor Nannerl was gypped out of her own life and success by an overly chauvinistic father who forced her to give up her dreams and ambitions to help secure her brother’s rightful place in the musical world. I was hoping for more real depth into Nannerl’s life, not just a sob story.
 (1).gif)
