52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 29 - When We Were Friends

For the 29th book that I'm reading this year as part of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I chose When We Were Friends by Elizabeth Joy Arnold.

I just started reading the book on Friday, and can tell it is a book that I'm going to like it. The writing style is easy to read, and the characters are well-developed and seem like "everyday" people - they could be one's friends, neighbors, or colleagues. 

The book is best described on the back cover:

Lainey Carson and Sydney Beaumont were the closest of friends -- until they reached high school and Sydney's burgeoning popularity made it easy for her to leave the contemplative, ungainly Lainey behind.


Eighteen years later, Lainey, who lives at home caring for her mother, is an artist who's never found the courage to live her dreams. When Sydney shows up on her doorstep with her infant daughter, insisting that Lainey is the only friend she can trust, Lainey reluctantly agrees to take temporary custody of the baby to protect her from an abusive father.


But that very night, Sydney appears on the evening news -- claiming that her daughter has been kidnapped. Unsure of whom she can trust, Lainey is forced to go on the run with a child who is not her own -- but whose bond with her grows stronger every day they spend together.

In search of a safe place to stay, Lainey befriends a man who, concerned for their welfare, offers them a home. But as the two grow closer she starts to realize that he may be harboring his own secrets.


An utterly riveting story that will keep you turning the pages, When We Were Friends asks how we define motherhood and family, whether we ever truly overcome our pasts, and what friendship really means.

From some of the reviews I read about the book, the plot is unrealistic and a bit far-fetched. However, if you know that going in you can adjust your expectations. For the most part, the reviews of this book are positive and it comes highly recommended.

52 Weeks of Giving - Week 25 - Write Thank You Notes

We fell a bit behind with doing a project or activity each week that involved giving of oneself, volunteering, or making a donation.

When we started this challenge at the beginning of the year, we were able to do an activity each week. At the end of June, we fell a bit behind so we are doing some "catch up" with this challenge.

For the 25th week of the 52 Weeks of Giving, the girls each wrote a note to an adult who has positively impacted their lives in some way.

Sophia writing a note to Rosanne.

Sophia wrote a note to Rosanne, a woman who was her Hidden Hero during the past school year. Rosanne was matched with Sophia in November 2010. Rosanne mailed and emailed her letters and gifts each month. This program was through the Youth Service Bureau and targets youth who may be going through a challenging time in their life.

Every time that Rosanne would write, Sophia was so excited to hear from her. The encouragement she received from an adult who was not a family member was so uplifting and made such a positive difference to Sophia. 

Olivia chose to write to Mr. Neil (Neil is is first name). He has given Olivia and Sophia a lot of guidance and encouragement through the children's choir. As the choir director, he has chosen a variety of songs that the children have been performed at church and nursing homes.

He also was the director for the first community play that Olivia did; and Neil gave Olivia an opportunity to memorize 50 lines - plus participate in a number of songs - when she was 6 years old.

She is looking forward to going back to choir in September, and wanted to let him know that.

Olivia writing a letter to Mr. Neil.

52 Weeks of Giving - Week 26 - Pick up Litter

For Week 26 of the 52 Weeks of Giving challenge, the girls cleaned along the road and in the ditch right by our home.  They found a coffee cup, pop cans, small pieces of paper and garbage, firecracker debris, and a small piece of plastic tubing.

Sophia found perhaps the largest and most unexpected piece of garbage along the road: a piece of metal siding slightly buried under the tall grass and tiger lilies.

Sophia found and uncovered this piece of siding

along the side of the road.

With the exception of the huge piece of siding, the ditch and side of the road were not as littered as anticipated which was good. We were happy that the wildlife that lives here has a clean environment in which to make their home.

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 30 - Golden Sun

For the 30th book that I read this year as part of the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I chose Golden Sun by Ruth Sanderson. This is actually a youth fiction book that I read to Olivia, but it fits the goals of the challenge (e.g., over 100 pages, has a plot).

The book is the fifth one in the Horse Diaries series, and is a wonderful story that combines history, Native American life, and horses.

Much like how the book Black Beauty is narrated by Black Beauty (the horse) himself, Golden Sun is written in a conversational tone and told from the perspective of the horse (also named Golden Sun).

Golden Sun is a chestnut snowflake Appaloosa. During the summer, he treks through the mountains with his rider, a Nez Perce boy named Little Turtle who collects healing plants. He accompanies Little Turtle on his Vision Quest where both realize their true calling.

Golden Sun intersperses words used by the Nez Perce which Olivia and I knew because we had read the Kaya books (an American Girl series about a Nez Perce girl).

The Kaya books had a translation/dictionary in the back to explain what the Nez Perce words meant which was helpful. Having read that series first, we had a greater appreciation and understanding of Golden Sun.

Golden Sun has realistic, beautiful illustrations by Ruth Sanderson. Her ability to capture the detail and beauty of horses is consistent throughout the entire Horse Diaries series.

There is a sixth book in the series that will be released (hopefully) soon. Both Olivia and Sophia are looking forward to reading it.