Mary Poppins

by P.L. Travers
published: Peter Davies, 1956 (originally 1934)
pages 206

Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way and her skills as a nanny prove just that to the Banks children: Jane, Michael, John and Barbara.  She is kind but stern and never sees anything out of the ordinary.  As a matter of fact, every time the children try to explain to her that she might be, she doesn't know what they are talking about. Mary Poppins and the Banks children go on many adventures and meet some interesting people, this book is one of those stories.

The world might be smitten with Mary Poppins, but I can't seem to completely wrap my head around this original version of her.  Sure she is memorizing and adventurous, but she also seem uncharacteristically harsh.  When I imagined Mary Poppins, I remembered her being incredibly kind and sweet, but I might just be confusing that idea with not having a backbone.  I do know that Jane and Michael Banks needed a rather firm nanny, what with all the running away and everything.  Still, I'm a little disappointed that the Mary Poppins in my head does not match the original make.

Other the other hand, the adventures had were quite entertaining and very intriguing.  I loved that some of the adventures did not center around Jane and Michael at all.  A couple happened on Mary Poppin's off day and one occurred with a dog.  There's a story of a dancing cow and one of the stars in the sky.  I think they were all creatively crafted and enjoyable to read.

One thing I did find interesting was the fact that Jane and Michael Banks have younger siblings, twins: John and Barbara.  While most of the book revolved around Mary and the eldest Banks children, the twins get their own chapter.  This story was one of my favorite.  I thought it was quite funny and adorable to see what kind of mischief the twins get up to and to whom they talk.

It'll be some time before I get to another Mary Poppins book, but I might just pick another one up.

Stars: 3/5

Praise:

"When Mary Poppins is about, her young charges never tell where the real world merges into make-believe.  Neither can the reader, and that is one of the hallmarks of good fantasy."
     -- The New York Times

There is an extraordinary charm about these books...They are whimsical, sentimental [and] also funny, imaginative, poetical and genuinely creative."
     --The New York Evening Post

Notable Quotable: P.L. Travers (#29)

"Don't you know that everybody's got a Fairyland of their own?'"
     --Mary Poppins

Top Ten Tuesday: Things On My Reading Wishlist

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1. I would like to read books set during the Industrial Revolution, either in London or New York.  I find that time period fascinating and would love to read more about characters during this time.

2. I would like to read a book with a teenage sleuth.  I love Nancy Drew, but I think there is potential for more in this genre.

3. I think I would like to read a story where the protagonist doesn't win, or at least the protagonist isn't who the reader thinks it is.  I think that would be very interesting because in some ways the protagonist always wins.

4. A book in which one of the characters discovers a new world or a new way to look at the world they know would be really cool. Think Narnia or Mortal Instruments.

5.  I would love to see a book that takes an important historical event and tell it differently, whether it was completely skewed by society or there were factors that didn't make it to the public.  I want to see an alternate side to that event.

6. I would like to read more novels where the main character is a nerd, in what ever capacity they want to be a nerd: television, books, manga, cosplay, comic books... I don't care but I don't think there are enough books out there that proudly display the habits of being a nerd.

7.  I'd like to see more books with sibling relationships.  I enjoy the romance in most books I read, but I don't see enough sibling relationships that are the crux of the story.

8.  I've always loved the idea of a gap year, but since I never had one, I'd like to read about one.  The character could join the peace corp or go traveling across Europe or get a job at the local 7-11, I don't care but I'd love to read about it.

9. More history!  I want to read a book set during the Civil War.  I loved studying this war in school, I find it utterly fascinating and would love to read a book that is set during this time period.

10. I want to read a book that is set in a different country, but not from the perspective of an American or set in America but from the perspective of someone who isn't an American.  Either of these would be so interesting.

Notable Quotable: Lewis Carroll (#28)

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?'"
     --Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead
published: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009
pages: 199

Miranda knows the streets of her Manhattan neighborhood even though she's only in sixth grade.  Her world is full of safe places and people to avoid, like the laughing man on the corner.  She has it all figured out, until one day her life starts to unravel.  Her best friend gets punched by a stranger and begins to shut her out.  She discovers a note written on a tiny piece of paper warning her and asking her for help.  The notes keep coming and Miranda starts to realize that whoever is leaving them knows all about her and actually needs her help.  She has to make a decision whether or not to help the mysterious letter writer, but what will she choose and will she make her choice too late.

Even though I guessed the plot-twist early on in the story, I enjoyed it no less than I would have otherwise.  I thought it was cute and interesting and very creative.  The fact that Miranda is narrating the letter she won't write to a mysterious person is also incredibly intriguing.  I really liked that everything about this story kept me wanting to know more, to understand where the story was going and why Miranda was telling the story in the first place and to who she was or wasn't telling the story.  I had all these questions and more, and they were all answered, but I had to wait patiently for the answers.

I also really enjoyed that the titles of each chapter were categories that could have shown up in Pyramid, the game show.  I thought it was a creative way to tie in a couple unlikely aspects of this book.

I loved learning about the characters from Miranda's point of view. She had a very clever way of describing people and explaining what thought was weird. For example, why Sal wouldn't talk to her anymore and why Colin started hanging out with her and another friend a lot.  All of her thoughts and feelings were very reminiscent of a twelve year old.  The aging of the characters was excellent, I really thought a twelve year old was talking to me.

It's no wonder that Rebecca Stead received the 2010 Newberry award for this book.  She knocked it out of the park.  I look forward to checking out more of her work, that's for sure.

Stars: 5/5

Praise:

"When all the side walk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, "Wow...cool."
     -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed."
      --The Horn Book magazine, starred review

"This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers."
     --School Library Journal, starred review

This is an Eclectic Reader 2014 Challenge book!

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Debuts I'm Excited for

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

It is always hard to do a list like this because I don't read synopses so these picks are purely on the cover and/or title since all of these are new authors.

1. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
2. Gilded by Christina L. Farley
3. The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings

4. The Islands at the End of The World by Austin Aslan
5. Hexed by Michelle Krys
6. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

7. Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones
8. Wordless by Adrianne Strickland
9. The Break-up Artist by Phillip Siegal 

10. Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

11. Something Real by Heather Demetrios
12. My Faire Lady by Laura Wettersten 

Notable Quotable: Henrik Ibsen (#27)

"If I'm ever to reach any understanding of myself and the things around me, I must learn to stand alone."
     --A Doll's House