Cuca's Choices #2: Lene Kaaberbol's The Shamer's Daughter

The Shamer's Daughter is the first book in the Shamer's Chronicles. There are four books in total, even though I have not read them all this book was one of my favorites. This series is about a girl named Dina. Her mother is a shamer and Dina is also becoming one. The shamer's eye is that if a shamer looks in the eyes they can know your deepest and darkest secrets. When Dina's mom is sentenced against her will to find out what happened in a triple murder, Dina must learn to control her shamer eye in order to save her mother. There is adventure and mystery in this book. Will Dina rescue her mom? Will everything go back to normal?

Cuca's Choices #1: Victor Villaseñor's Rain of Gold

This book tells the true story of two Mexican Americans named Lupe Gomez and Juan Salvador. Lupe grows up in La Lluvia de Oro, which means "Rain of Gold," in Mexico. Juan grows up in a different part of Mexico called Jalisco. During the beginning of the book it shows how Lupe is surrounded by all the American men who work in a mine that is very near to their home. She has never wanted to marry any white man because she has seen if you marry a white man they just get a Mexican girl pregnant then go back to America and are never seen or heard from again. As Lupe grows up she realizes that the only way to survive is to get married and have children. Juan is also growing up but his family is moving to the United States to live a better life. This is the time when the revolution is happening in Mexico. Lupe's family also decides to move to the United States to escape the war. Juan and hi family have a hard time crossing the border because they have no money to get across. One day Juan sees his mother begging for food on the streets, which reduces him to crying. But later on, Lupe and Juan both get across the border and into America. Will Lupe and Juan ever meet? What will they think of each other when they do? Believe me, this is one of the best books I have ever read. There is drama, romance, comedy, but also truth.

Cuca's Book Reviews!

Tiger Reviews proudly presents Cuca's Choices, book reviews written by our very own Cuca! Like Isis, Cuca is an 8th grade student assistant from the IWE (Independent Work Experience) program! Look for her reviews throughout the year by checking out the posts labeled with Cuca's Choices.

Here's more about Cuca:

To start out, my name is Cuca. I am an 8th grader here at Longfellow Middle School. If you ask my brother, sister or any of my friends they will tell you that I love to read. I read mostly fiction, but one book that I really enjoyed reading this year was Rain of Gold. I have learned from this book and other like it that non-fiction can also be exciting. I love to recommend books to anyone who says they need a book to read, even if it's not fiction. Reading is something that can help you in the future believe me--so read!

Isis' Picks #2: Nikki Grimes's The Road to Paris

Nikki Grimes's Road to Paris is about a young girl named Paris and her little brother who live in the world of foster care, which in anyone's case isn't quite exciting since you travel from family to family. When Paris goes to live with the Lincolns, she is unfortunately separated from her brother. What will happen to Paris in the Lincoln home? Will it be just another family or something more? Will Paris find her brother? How are the Lincolns going to feel when Paris shows who she really is?