summer reads

Sadly, summer is over and I only got through two, count 'em TWO, books since June: Sky of Stone by Homer Hickam and The Ring by Bobbie Pyron.When I told one of my sisters how little I'd read she said, "Wow. That's not like you, at all."

Anyway. So, Sky of Stone is a sequel to October Sky and I really enjoyed it! Not quite stay-up-until-3am liking, but I did stay up until about 12:30am reading. In this book, Homer is away at college and comes home for the summer at his mom's request to help his dad through an investigation at the mine. Homer ends up working in the mine and joins the Union, to the chagrin of his dad. He learns about mining and the town in ways he never expected.

The Ring is another recommendation-- I finished it in just a couple of days once I finally started reading it. It's about a teenage girl who's having a lot of problems (i.e. stealing, getting caught at drinking parties) and ends up getting involved in a boxing club. It's pretty predictable and the main characters are all pretty flawed, but it's a good read and good reminder that you have to find your own happiness in the face of challenges.