Radio Road by Jake Henderson

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"Radio Road by Jake Henderson was just published this year. Henderson is a new author and I'm hoping he keeps this up! He had two books published at the same time. "Radio Road" and "Ryan's Crossing." I chose to read this one first.

"Marshall Maddox has just moved to Radio Road—and it sure is different than where he came from… While Marshall attempts to make friends and adjust to a new life, it is announced that there will be a community-wide carnival on Halloween night! With the event only a few weeks away, Marshall and his classmates set out to win the grand prize. As Halloween and the much-anticipated carnival approaches, Marshall experiences the holiday in a way he never has before. Jack o’ lanterns, costumes, and trick-or-treating are just some of the fun things Marshall discovers as he overcomes unanticipated obstacles and learns to embrace the spirit of the season."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am going to give it to my grands! It describes Halloween the way I remember it! Fun, trick or treating, costumes and hanging out with friends. It's the way my grands will never get to enjoy because of safety issues.

It was interesting, fun and easy to read. I have a friend who teaches Creative Writing at an eastern university and I have always told her we need more books for boys. Well, Henderson has provided a very good book for preteen boys and girls. The main character is in 6th grade and his best friend is a girl so he covers several angles. It includes the "bully's," the good kids and the adults. Adults that take a healthy and  active part in the lives of their children.

"Jake Henderson was born and raised in Enid, OK where he lived until attending college.

He graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK where he earned a BA in History Education.  He also has a Master’s Degree in History Education from SWOSU, which he earned in 2004.

He has taught US History, World History, AP Government, US Government, Geography, Oklahoma History, and Psychology at the High School level for more than ten years, and he currently lives and teaches in Woodward, OK."

You can check out his website H.E.R.E.

This is a book I highly recommend.

The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers

I picked this book up at a sale. I read the synopsis on the back and thought it sounded interesting. 

"Lulu and Merry’s childhood was never ideal, but on the day before Lulu’s tenth birthday their father drives them into a nightmare. He’s always hungered for the love of the girl’s self-obsessed mother. After she throws him out, their troubles turn deadly.

Lulu’s mother warned her to never let him in, but when he shows up, he’s impossible to ignore. He bullies his way past ten-year-old Lulu, who obeys her father’s instructions to open the door, then listens in horror as her parents struggle. She runs for help and discovers upon her return that he’s murdered her mother, stabbed her sister, and tried to kill himself.

For thirty years, the sisters try to make sense of what happened. Their imprisoned father is a specter in both their lives, shadowing every choice they make. Though one spends her life pretending he’s dead, while the other feels compelled to help him, both fear that someday their imprisoned father’s attempts to win parole may meet success.

The Murderer’s Daughters is narrated in turn by Merry and Lulu. The book follows the sisters as children, as young women, and as adults, always asking how far forgiveness can stretch, while exploring sibling loyalty, the aftermath of family violence, and the reality of redemption. "

Very well written and flows fairly quickly - partly because once you start, it's hard to put down. As you read about the lives of these young girls you struggle with them, you empathize with the one that refuses to acknowledge her father and you also empathize with the one that can't turn loose of her father. The control he has over the years and his lack of repentance or sorrow controls for years to come.  

If you want to be challenged about your feelings on forgiveness, on blame, on the raw emotion of children caught in the chaos of an action by their protectors  read "The Murderer's Daughters" by Randy Susan Meyers. It will give you much to ponder.

When asked "why" she wrote "The Murderer's Daughter" Randy Susan Meyers answered:

"When my sister was eight, my mother warned her against letting my father into our Brooklyn apartment. Perhaps she also cautioned me, but I was barely five and can’t remember. Years later, as adults, when my sister and I began exploring our childhood in the way siblings do—comparing scars and recollections, piling up wrongs and shining up the funny stories—my sister said:
“Remember when I let our father in the house and he tried to kill Mom?”

She swears I was there (where else would I be at that age?) but I didn’t remember any of it. As the years went by, and my sister fed me more details, the scene rooted in my mind and became my memory also. I heard my father sweet-talking his way in. My mother’s screams echoed."

To read more of her interesting story check out her web site  H.E.R.E.