This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Sometimes I read a book review, decide it sounds interesting, put it on my wish list, and when I see it's available at the library or on sale at Amazon, I grab it.... but totally forget what it's even about. That's what happened with This is How it Always Is. (BTW, this is a totally forgettable title. I can not seem to remember it.)

The book is about a lovable family... a mother, father, and 5 sons. Quite soon into the novel, the youngest son, Claude, decides he prefers to wear dresses. The remainder of the book deals with how the family handles Claude as he eventually becomes Poppy. And how their extended family and friends respond. You can't help but ask yourself, "What would I do" - as a parent, as a friend.

I thought this book was fascinating, and even more fascinating when I read at the end that the author has a daughter who was born male. The author handles a difficult subject with love. - Highly recommend. - June

Us Against You by Richard Bachman

"People we love will die. We will bury our children beneath our most beautiful trees."

The sequel to Beartown, Us Against You, does not disappoint. I still prefer the original, but this is another fabulous read by a very talented author. The book picks up where Beartown left off, but even if you haven't read the first book, you will enjoy the second.

If I'm picky (and I am), I think there's too much time spend summarizing Beartown in the sequel. I understand that we need to be reminded about what happened and there may be new readers who need to catch up, but it seemed a large part of Us Against You was spend filling in the facts. My other complaint is that the author is a master of foreshadowing... to the point where I was going crazy with it! He continually teases the reader with what's to come. Get on with it!!

All that being said, his characters are beautifully developed and the writing is superb. Highly recommend. - June