A great fast read for your Space Boy.

I had another daddy daughter date night at the local library this last week. I'm finding that one of the best ways for me to connect with my kids is through the books they read. For parents that want a little advice...go to the library with your kids. You'll learn as much about them from the books they want to read as you do from anything that they say to you. Anyway...that's not the purpose of this blog post. While I was at the library I took the opportunity to grab a book for myself. I picked up another Orson Scott Card book. This one was actually a novella titled Space Boy. This book was a VERY fast read...which means it's perfect for your ADD/ADHD boy  about the age of twelve who has a book report due on Monday and it's Saturday and he hasn't read a book yet. This book was full of the juvenile type of things that boys love and at the same time it captured some of the real world drama that many boys go through at some point in their life. It was smart, crude, heart-felt, callous, and most of all short. The characters are not really developed in any meaningful way but at the same time you find yourself identifying with all of them even the hapless dad. Science fiction in the most real sense this novella plays with the ideas of time and space travel. It also deals with aliens and pseudo-science like worm holes and stuff. The real essence of the story comes down to family and the way we protect and love each other. Most of the boys reading this aren't likely to see that so glaringly as I did but they will see that the main character Todd selflessly does what he can to reunite his family. I encourage you to get this book for your boy and see if he doesn't like it. I'd put my money on them enjoying it. While you're at it read it your self and enjoy. Then post your book report as a comment.

Sarah: Women of Genesis Series

Many readers may wonder exactly why a man would be interested in this series.  They may even wonder specifically why I would be reading this book.  The honest answer is that despite the overtly feminine themes and the clearly female demographic that Sarah was written for I am a consummate fan of Orson Scott Card and having read some of his novels with strong female characters I felt like this would be another opportunity to see how a man writes for/like women.  Yup.  I said that men and women do in fact write differently.  It's not a matter of content.  It's not even a matter of the characters and themes, although those do in fact make a difference.  When it comes right down to it when asked I think that most women and men could tell whether an author was male or female simply by reading a book.  Women have used pseudonyms to enter the literature market as men.  Some have done so very successfully.  Rarely have men done something similar.  Why?  I would contend that Orson Scott Card could have successfully done so with this series.  I have read Rachel and Leah before reading this and when I read it again (this time in the proper order) I will review it as well.  That book was so enthralling and classic Card that I was anxious to get time and my hands on the rest of the series.  After reading Sarah I can say proudly that I understand women better as a result.
This book is really an opportunity to see how women's intuition is experienced and more specifically it also helped me understand a little better how to sense the whisperings of the Spirit in my life.  Sarai (her pre-Covenant name) is strong, smart and spiritual.  Abram may have been a holy man from the beginning but the reality is that (at least in the context of this fictional book) the saying that behind every great man there is a greater woman is indeed true.  I found myself admiring Sarai (and by extension all women) for her weaknesses and strengths, her self doubt and confidence.  Orson Scott Card makes the culture of the middle east come to life and pours on modern interactions, which really aren't modern at all, to make this a really entertaining book.  I'm now about half way through Rebekah and while very different from Sarah is, so far, a very good companion to Sarah.  Look for my next review early next week or sooner depending on my ability to finish the book.  Read this book and let me know what you think.

Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder

This is the end of the series and easily the best of the five books.  Leven's character is evident, the narrator becomes an unnamed character, and the ending is at once complete and purposefully incomplete.
Leven's adventure takes a very interesting turn as he battles against unfinished business and eventually fulfills the meaning of his name (you really need to read this book if for no other reason than to learn why he is called Leven).
The greatest part of this story as a whole and this book in particular is that when things are at their darkest there is always hope.  If you learn nothing from this book you should learn that hope is always present.  The unseen character, Fate, really takes Leven, Winter, Geth, Ezra, Dennis, and even Clover for a real ride.  Geth and Winter find themselves without Leven or Clover and the tension rises as they are joined by the Longing, Phoebe, and some other relatively minor characters trying to escape Foo with the Dearth and the rest of the Foovians.  Meanwhile, Leven and Clover, are mysteriously transported to the ancient island of Alder for an even more mysterious task.  For drama, humor, and a happy ending you really need to pick this book up and remember Foo.