Book Characters that Brave the Page and Write {book list}

All the cool kids talk about NaNoWriMo aka the month of November is National Novel Writing Month.  It's a fun way to look at creative writing.  To go along with the new book Brave the Page, I created a book list for you with AMAZING books that the main character writes letters, novels, poetry, or even raps.  These characters and books should definitely inspire any budding writer to give NaNoWriMo a shot, or at least start creating with the power of words now.  

Brave the Page is an awesome resource with tips, tricks, and inspiration from authors on how to start working on that goal of writing a book. 

Stephen King said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." 

If you need some writing inspiration, give these books a read.  

Characters/Books that Brave the Page

Becoming Madeleine: A biography of the author of A Wrinkle in Time by her Granddaughters by Charlotte Jones Voiklis

A beautiful and insightful look into Madeleine L'Engle's life never before seen poetry, letters, and even rejections for publications.  A fabulous biography for anyone interested in writing. 

Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes

A group of high school students build friendships and connections as they prepare for a boys vs. girls poetry slam.  This book is written in free verse. 

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

This classic children's literature book is a must read.  Leigh, a 10 year old boy, writes letters to his favorite author. The writing helps him cope with the challenges he is facing. 

Dear Sister by Alison McGhee

This illustrated novel is such a quick sweet read as a brother writes letters to his sister.  Not only is this book comical, but anyone with a sibling may feel the tugs on their heart.  

From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon

 Twinkle, a shy aspiring filmmaker is directing a movie for an upcoming festival.  Her story is told through letters as she learns about love and the challenges of directing a movie. 

House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg

Once upon a time there was a girl named Maud who adored stories.  Years later, she ended up not only owning many books, but she wrote 24 books including the Anne of Green Gables series.  

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Of course I had to include this classic; classics stand the test of time and they are definitely inspiring.  If you don't recall, Jo, the literary sister, loves to read and write.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani 

Nisha, a 12 year old living in India during the 1947 partition is forced to flee her home.  She tries to make sense of it all by writing to her deceased Muslim mother. 

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Bri, a high school student, wants to become a rapper and escape the difficult inner city life she and her family currently have.  The book and the writing is absolutely fantastic.  The  audiobook brings the book and the rapping to life; it's a must listen to.  

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara is constantly writing her frustrations, passions, and everything in between in her leather notebook.  She dreams of participating in a Poetry Slam with her own poems.  This is another must listen to as the author reads it, and she's amazing since she is a Poetry Slam Champion.  

Swing by Kwame Alexander

 A book written in free verse (aka a quick and fast read even reluctant readers will enjoy) about love, friendship, sports, and high school.  Noah decides to stop taking a backseat to his life; he decides to Swing and finally make his voice heard.

To all the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean writes letters to all the boys she has loved.  This book will have you cringing for her, and cheering her one as well.  This light romantic-ish contemporary ya lit is fun to read and there's even a Netflix movie out to watch after. 

Twelve awesome books where a main character writes and expresses him or herself.  Any books I should add to the list???

This book list consists of children's chapter books to adult classics with young adult and juvenile non-fiction biographies making strong appearances as well.  Basically, there is bound to be at least one, if not many, of these books you must read or listen too.  They are fantastic, and who knows... they may just inspire you to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. 

 

If you do participate, you must check out Brave the Page; it's an excellent resource that is fun to read.  

Thank you Penguin Random House for the Brave the Page book to read.  All thoughts on any of the books listed above are mine alone.  

Ghost Boy gets 4 Stars {nonfiction, biography, memoir, adult, inspiring}

When I began this book, I had no idea what this book was about.  I picked it up b/c it was an upcoming Book Club book; that is one reason I love Book Club.  Sure the conversation is great and the food is fun, but I love the fact that I get to read books I normally wouldn't have picked up.  

I had no idea this book was going to be so thought provoking.  I had no idea I was going to be so shocked by how people treated Martin.  I had no idea the abuse Martin went through.  I had no idea someone could go through so much and still come out on top and even happy.

Ghost Boy: My Miraculous Escape from a Life Locked Inside My Own Body by Martin Pistorius gets 4 out of 5 stars in my review of this adult memoir.  The book is inspiring. Martin's story is inspiring and eye-opening.  I had no idea a 12 year old boy that complained of a sore throat could suddenly stop moving and talking and appear in a vegetative state.  I had no idea people abused, physical and sexual, the vulnerable (aka those that can't talk or don't seem to have a high IQ).  

The abuse was disturbing, but all of the challenges Martin overcame were inspiring.  I was amazed Martin was able to communicate and even hold a job when at one point he couldn't move any part of his body.  Though, love is what I found to be most amazing.  I love that Martin overcame his fears of love; he loved and let someone love him completely for who he is.  

A couple aspects I thought could've been better were the ramblings and skipping around which made figuring out the timeline difficult.  I also felt the development of secondary characters, like his parents, lacking and it could've added to the power of the story.  

Ghost Boy is a great book, and I'm sure it'll provide a lot of great discussion at Book Club.  Though, I'm needed a lighter book to balance out all of these emotions.  

Happy Inspiring, Emotional, and Thought Provoking Book Reading!  

Ghost Boy: My Miraculous Escape from a Life Locked Inside My Own Body by Martin Pistorius
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 18+, adults  
Clean Read: No, language, sexual abuse, and physical abuse.  
Worth a Check Out: Yes, it's Inspiring and sad all at the same time.
Buy It or Not: No. 
Book Club Discussion: Would you react more like Martin's mom or dad with his diagnosis?  What part of Martin's story is most inspiring/impressive? Were you glad you read this book, or did it skew you a bit? What is Martin's most admirable quality in your opinion? Was there anything in the story that most surprised you?  What do you think motivated Martin to share his story?   


Did you read Ghost Boy?  What did you think? 

A few quotes I loved from Ghost Boy: 

“I’d been put into a box long before, after all. Each of us has. Are you the “difficult” child or the “histrionic” lover, the “argumentative” sibling or the “long-suffering” spouse? Boxes make us easier to understand, but they also imprison us because people don’t see past them.”

“God and I didn’t talk about the big things in life—we didn’t engage in philosophical debates or argue about religion—but I talked to Him endlessly because I knew we shared something important. I didn’t have proof that He existed, but I believed in Him anyway because I knew He was real. God did the same for me. Unlike people, He didn’t need proof that I existed—He knew I did.”

“Dreams can be any size you want them to be. But the important thing is that you have one that is yours.” 

“None of us knows what we can bear until we’re asked.” 

"I've lived my whole life as a burden, she makes me feel weightless." 

"Life can't be experienced at arms length, it must be lived." 

"Life is about shades of gray; it isn't black and white." 


As you can tell from the number of quotes I have that this book was inspiring and thought provoking. As always, I'd love to hear what you thought. 

Surprise Me gets 4 Stars {adult fiction, contemporary lit}

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella is fun.  It's a fun read where the main character, Sylvie, is a bit ridiculous at times.  However, she is relatable with her thoughts and feelings, but her actions are a bit more extreme than the average Jane. 

Surprise Me earns 4 out of 5 stars in my review. This novel has some great aspects, but my favorite was the fact that it wasn't predictable.  There were some aspects of the story I saw coming from a mile away, but there were a few things (like the BIG thing in the story) that surprised me.  I love being surprised in a story, and I think that is part of what makes a great author. 

If you are looking for a fun adult fiction book, with a great story you'll enjoy and want to keep turning the pages, then check this book out.  I don't think men will enjoy this story, but if they do read it they may commiserate with Dan, Sylvie's husband, a little. 😉   

Happy Fun Adult Contemporary Lit Reading with a Bit of a Twist. 

Surpise Me by Sophie Kinsella
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 18+, adult women.  
Clean Read: No, quite a bit of language.  
Worth a Check Out: Yes. Readers who like Big Little Lies or other Liane Moriarty books will like this one.
Buy It or Not: No, unless you love Sophie Kinsella. Book Club Discussion: Was Sylvie and Dan's reaction on par or exaggerated?  How did your feelings to Dan change throughout the book?  What did you think of the different relationships and friendships Sylvie had throughout the book (her best friend, the professor, her parents, boss and coworkers)? Does everyone have an ah-ha moment, like Sylvie had, in their life?  Why is communication such a big deal in this story, and in your lives? 

Did you read this new Sophie Kinsella book?  What did you think? 


A few quotes I loved from Surprise Me:

"She who conquers, conquers herself." 

"Nothing changes if nothing changes." 

"If we don't stick up for the ones we love then what are we good for." 

"Sometimes I wonder how we get anything done as a human race. There's always so many misunderstandings." 


Any favs I missed???

My Dear Hamilton gets 4.5 Stars {historical fiction, adult}

20 minutes.  That's how long I sat telling my husband about My Dear Hamilton.  It was one of those books I wanted to talk with someone about, but I didn't know anyone else that had read it.  Therefore, my poor husband becomes my sounding board.  

I shared with him the things that shocked me such as Alexander's well known scandal as well as the things Eliza found out after his death.  I was baffled that Gentlemen Duels lasted as long as they did.  I was surprised how Lafayette explained why an affair doesn't mean the husband doesn't love his wife.  I'm inspired with Eliza's dedication to serving and helping others.  I shared with him how wise her father, Philip Schulyer, was about what he chose to do with his wife's questionable actions.  I am amazed that Eliza was able to forgive and love through all that she suffered.   

Now, it took me far longer than 20 minutes to read this almost 700 page book. At times I felt like I was reading an incredibly well written US History book b/c the amount of factual history found inside these pages was impressive.  However, I do think the 637 pages was a bit excessive, and though I was anxious to turn the pages to find out what happened there were some moments that lulled and moved slower than I would've liked.  To be honest, I think that was my only qualm with the book.  

Hence the reason why My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review.  

This book is fantastic.  It's a well written historical fiction novel with a story line that shocks (and per the author note at the end, all of the shocking things are factual), inspires, and educates you all at the same time.  I felt Eliza really grew and developed as a character, and the emotions you felt for her were captivating.

My Dear Hamilton, though long, is a great novel that is definitely worth a check-out.  Though, be warned that this new release novel will usually give you a limited check-out window from the library, so you'll have to read fast.      

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: Adults
Clean Read: Yes.  Though, there is talk of affairs, drinking,  homosexuality, and violence. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: If you love Historical Fictions and US History then buy it.
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: There is an entire section in the back for book club questions; a few of my questions are: The Schuyler family's motto was Semper Fidelis- Always Faithful, Always Loyal. How does this play out in Eliza's life? Why was it important for Betsy to start going by the name Eliza? What did you think of the relationship among Eliza, Angelica, and Alexander?  How did Eliza's opinion of slavery evolve as she matured and aged? What did Eliza and her family sacrifice for the sake of the nation? What were Eliza's most important choices she made in her life?

This is an excellent, though long, historical fiction.

Just a few quotes I loved from My Dear Hamilton:  

"God put us here to make a better world." Eliza's mission her entire life. 

"The people we love are not exactly knowable. Even to themselves. But we love them anyway."

"Life, like backgammon, is a game of perseverance in which you're forced to choose the best move, even if it is only a choice between evils." 

"The only just way to judge a person is by the sum of their deeds, good and bad.  And in the balance, your father did far more good than harm.  That's all any of us can aim to do with our lives." 

Happy Interesting US History reading!  As always, I love to hear your thoughts on the book. 

The Great Alone gets 4.5 Stars {adult fiction}

I absolutely adored Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale; it earned 5 stars from me and remains one of the best books I've ever read.  When I saw that Hannah wrote another book I was anxious to check it out.  Even though it comes in at almost 450 pages, The Great Alone is a fast read; it's a page turner.  I found the story to be captivating, riveting, and pulls on your heart strings. 

The Great Alone follows the Allbrights, a family in the 1970s who move a lot and finally settle in Alaska.  Ernt, the father was a POW in Vietnam and suffers from PTSD, leads his family to Alaska to get away from most of civilization and claim some land and a cabin Ernt's war buddy gifted him.

Alaska is a place of strength, but its winters are full of dark days.  The winters are tough, and one must be prepared for them.  The Allbrights don't know how to prepare, but the small community pulls together to help them, and that same community then help them survive the many dark days of the winters there.  Cora and her 13 year old daughter Leni also strengthen one another and have a beautiful relationship.   

I had several thoughts while reading this story.  One of them was, "Wow! Alaska sounds beautiful and amazing." and the other thought was, "I wish I was tough enough to handle Alaska."  Another thought I had was that I hope we all can have a Large Marge sometime in our life, or maybe the time in our life we need the most help. I especially loved the character Large Marge; she is maybe one of my favorite characters of all time.  She is smart, tough, kind, and fighter through and through.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah gets 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I thoroughly loved this book.  I loved the depth of the story line that involves abuse, friendship, and making the tough decisions that can define and change our lives.  I loved the entire story from beginning to end.  Sure, there were times the characters with their naivety frustrated me, but their strength and growth had me cheering along with them.  I was concerned, happy, scared, and worried throughout the novel.  I loved how the story seemed realistic, but that realism also caused predictability in a climatic moment.   Overall, The Great Alone didn't leave me in WOW like Hannah's previous book, but it's a really great read. Definitely check it out.  

One thing I love about Kristin Hannah's books are the strong female characters and that every day people can be heroic.  Her books are really just fantastic, and inspire greatness!  Love. 💗 

I also loved reading the epilogue and the personal connection Hannah has with the story.  It was powerful, and maybe made me love the story a bit more.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: Adults, and 16 year old+ teens who like Picoult books.
Clean Read: Yes. There's a little language, action, spouse abuse, and sex is mentioned.  
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: It's a great book to purchase, but I won't be buying it.
Read Aloud: No, but it is a great audiobook too.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: Vietnam War and the culture in America there.  Are we ever really prepared for the harsh winters of our life?  Could you survive life in Alaska? Abuse, is it harder to get away in solitude? Alcoholism.  PTSD. How do you cope with the Dark Days?

Did you read The Great Alone? What did you think? 

Just a couple quotes and thoughts I loved from The Great Alone:

"You know what they say about finding a man in Alaska: the odds are good but the goods are odd." 

"Leni will always ache for the dad she always wanted and Matthew aches for the mom he lost." 

Secrets of a Charmed Life gets 5 Stars {adult, historical fiction}

World War II. London Blitz. Fate. Mystery. Family. Dreams.  

Secrets of  Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is a beautiful WWII historical fiction story of resilience, family, mistakes, chasing dreams, and the makings of a happy life.  This novel is fantastic; I loved every minute of it.  There was excellent character development, an unpredictable story, and powerful moments that are impactful.  

The story of Julia and Emmy set during the time of the London Blitz not only opens your eyes to how extensive the bombings in London were, but also how resilient the community was with the motto, "Keep on and carry on" spoken.  Julia and Emmy's stories have similar threads of love and acceptance.       

Susan Meissner is a wonderful author.  I loved Fall of Marigolds, but I enjoyed Secrets of a Charmed Life even more.  If you are looking for a great clean adult historical fiction read, you must check out Meissner's books. 

Happy London Blitz Historical Fiction Reading! 


Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: Adults.
Clean Read: Yes. There's action, and intensity regarding war time, but considered it clean. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes. The audiobook is a great check-out as well.
Buy It or Not: Buy, especially if you love historical fictions.
Read Aloud: The historical aspect of the London Blitz and the mystery that goes along with it would make a good read aloud with the right group/class.  It'd make a great book club book.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: How extensive the London Blitz was, Resilience, Impact of choices, Is it ever okay to lie?, People make mistakes, Fate and providence, What makes up a happy life?


Did you read Secrets of a Charmed Life? What did you think? 


Just a couple quotes and thoughts I loved from Secrets of a Charmed Life:

"Don't chase only the dream. Life is a journey not a destination."

We play the cards we've been dealt and other cards around us are impacted by the cards we play.

A happy life is not made up of what you dreamed of or achieved, but who you poured your  life into and who poured theirs into yours.  Love for others should be the motivation.

One for Sorrow gets 3 Stars {middle grade fiction, ghost/horror}

It's October.  That means ghosts stories are in order.  A lot of the time people will think a good ghost story when they hear the author, Mary Downing Hahn.  Hahn is well known for her ghost stories, and this new one is no exception. 

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn is her latest ghost story published just this year.  It's set in a small town in America during WWI when the Spanish Influenza was spreading.  This book has some interesting parts and a lot of frustrating parts as well.  

One for Sorrow gets 3 out of 5 stars in my book review.  This book was probably one of my least favorite Hahn ghost stories.  I think a ghost story is a fun read, but this one was less ghost and more evil and mean.  I liked the information on the influenza, and the feelings people had about WWI.  I found it fascinating to know that Hahn was inspired by her mother's experience of visiting homes with her friends of those that died, and then they actually came to a home of a classmate that had, unknown to them, died. 

The major issue I had with this book is the fact that I didn't like any of the characters.  Not one.  There were a lot of mean girls, girls with low self-esteem, and bullying.  The bullying wasn't resolved in a good manner, and the girls only changed after a mean ghost bothered them extensively.  The ghost was as likable as a ghost as she was in real life; which that is not saying much.  Honestly, One for Sorrow felt more like an evil mean girl book than a ghost story.  I was bothered that Annie couldn't talk to her parents, but she couldn't stand up for herself either.  I had wished for more character development in that area.  

Overall, it's not a bad ghost story, but Wait Til Helen Comes is probably my favorite Mary Downing Hahn book.  Here are some other fun ghost story chapter books if you only plan to read 1 Halloween-ish like book, and want some more options.  I'm also sharing Halloween books on my Instagram account as well. 

What is your favorite middle grade ghost story? 

If you do pick up this book, or any Hahn ghost stories...Happy Middle Grade Fiction Ghost Story reading!


One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn
Rating: 3/5 stars
Best For: 10 - 13 year olds, 5th through 8th grade
Clean Read: Yes
Worth a Check Out: Yes, if you like ghost stories
Buy It or Not: No
Read Aloud: No
Lesson Ideas: Spanish influenza. Bullying. Life in America during WWI.

The Beauty of Darkness gets 3.5 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #3}

With  Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal read I, of course, had to finish off the Remnant Chronicles by reading The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson. 

This third book in the series gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It's a good story, though it does drag a bit more than the others.  The writing of the many action parts of the story felt choppy.  Overall, the writing was good, but it wasn't Pearson's best writing for the series.  Books one and two were far more engrossing with their writing even with the incredibly predictable and sort of annoying love triangle.  

In regards to characters, I felt Lia was a different person in this last book; she was too hardcore and cruel so the change/development wasn't for the better. I was frustrated that in 3 books Lia and Rafe still couldn't communicate and express their true feelings and thoughts.  I thought Kaden made a quick jump to team Lia and it would've been nice to see more struggle.  All in all, the characters were weaker and less developed in this last book.  
There are things I liked about the book.  I liked that it was a clean read.  I  liked that the main character is a strong girl.  I liked her brother's unwavering trust in Lia.  I liked the happy ending the minor characters received, but I was frustrated by the abruptness of the ending for Lia and Rafe.  

I really did like The Beauty of Darkness, but I don't think I would've been disappointed had I not read it.  I may have enjoyed the series more if hadn't b/c the ending left me with a bitter taste in my mouth for the series.  

Did you read the series?  What were your feelings of the last book? What would you rate the entire series?  I  think I'd give the series 4 stars, but that third book may have to lower that score. 

If you do pick up this book, and the Remnant of Chronicles series, Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!


The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No, unless you really need complete series in your life and you bought Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Lia ran from her fate of an arranged marriage, but did she stay true to herself when it came to her fate with the Book of Venda? Did you like or dislike Kaden's ending?  Lia and Rafe, good or bad ending?  

The Heart of Betrayal gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #2}

The Kiss of Deception, Book 1 in the Remnant Chronicles didn't leave me, as the reader, hanging for the next book, but it did grab my attention and make me want to read the next book.  I quickly requested it from the library.  Personally, I feel it is a sign of a good book when it makes me want to read the next one in the series, or it makes you sad the book is over.  I personally think a good author doesn't need a major cliff hanger to bring readers back.  Cliff hangers are cheap to me.  

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson is Book 2 in the Remnant Chronicles series.  Overall, this book and the series is fun, and it causes the reader to not want to put their book down.  

This clean read would be best for 8th grade and up.  

4 out of 5 stars is what The Heart of Betrayal earned.  It's a fun book where Lia still grew as a character with her gifts and her confidence.  I loved that Lia did some of the really hard things, and that she was able to treat the people with love.   There were parts of the story that I truly did not see coming, especially when it came to her dealings with the Komizar. (Wow!) The writing and the story line were good, and in my opinion it was a solid 2nd book for the trilogy.  

However, not everything was fantastic for me.  There were parts of the story that were a little convenient.  The Komizar not know Rafe was the Prince was a bit too convenient for me.  Lia, able to sneak around the castle, learn the language so perfectly and become the leader and person the people of Venda adored and needed also seemed a little too perfect.  The pace of the story dragged on a bit in Venda too. To be honest, it wasn't painfully slow, but it was a touch slow in parts.    

As I mentioned above, a major cliff hanger at the end of the book seems like a cop out for the author.  Sure, it's easier and can get your readers back, but it seems sloppy to me b/c you don't tie things up.  The Heart of Betrayal has a major cliff hanger, and I was frustrated by that.  Obviously, my review for Book 3: The Beauty of Darkness will come this week.  

All in all, The Heart of Betrayal is a great book, and a good 2nd book in the series.       


Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Yes, if you bought Kiss of Deception
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Did you think the storyline was well crafted, or were there too many convenient aspects to the story?  What is the benefit for a society ran like Venda?  Do you think there are no rules when it comes to survival?  Did you like book 1 or book 2 better, and why? 

What did you think of The Heart of Betrayal?