In Utah, when I wasn't outside enjoying the goodness of the mountain air, my nose was buried in my Kindle overcome by a book named Wonder written by R.J. Palacio. A tale of a boy (August) who was born with a slew of facial abnormalities and who, up until the start of the book, was homeschooled by his mother as protection of sorts from the outside world. The story starts around the time August is about to enter a mainstream 5th grade classroom and the point of view shifts around every few chapters to the different players in his life. How they are all affected (and not-affected) by August in their life. The reactions of fellow students, the tough and the oh-so-beautiful-inside-and-out ones. The voice of Summer's stole my heart. From the moment she sits with August at lunch, I loved her. And my only wish was that we met her parents in the book. (I think you can tell a lot about a kid by their parents' temperment and household norms.) Thanks to Georgie Girl for the recco!
And, while I'm only 75% done(Kindle talk) with The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan...I can't help but beg everyone I know to pick up a copy. This is the nitty gritty of life and her writing is in the vein of my fav blogger Kelle Hampton, someone who faces, confronts and soaks up the everydayness of things in the most authentically beautiful ways. The heart tugging of this book, a memoir of her adolescene coupled with a specific life altering cancer diagnosis at hand, is only augmented by her amazing relationship with her father. I cried before the 2nd chapter even began. And it makes me want to snap my fingers and have a moment wiht my own Dad and well, the whole family really :)