Over the past week or so, I have been reading an awesome book called The Secret of Wellington’s Map.  Granted, this isn’t my normal reading genre (usually if I can get a few minutes away I pick up Stephen King or Dean R Koontz book), but you know what?  I enjoyed this book just as much as I do books by those authors (though I think this book would be considered in either the sci-fi or mystery genre).  I would say that The Secret of Wellington’s Map is probably geared towards the ten and up crowd.  However, as an adult, I truly enjoyed the book too.  I found the author’s style a joy to read, and she really caught the essence of teenage girls in this book.  I also enjoyed finding a book that girls are the heroines.  The other thing I liked is that even though the main characters are teenage girls, they weren’t boy crazy.  Granted, there were a few boy mentions, but their lives didn’t revolve around boys.  The author had the girls talking, acting, and dressing like teenage girls, so I found them very believable.  There is also a bit of real life history intertwined into the story.

The story centers around two girls, Jaime and Nicole, that had expected a carefree summer.  However, after they come across a magic map, they go on an adventure of a lifetime.  I hate to go into more of a synopsis of the book, because I don’t want to spoil any part of it for you.  I will tell you that the map is somewhat of a time space portal, and they do go through it and end up in 1885.  However, if you want to find out why and if they make it back, you have to go read the book!

If you haven’t seen Wall-E yet, what are you waiting for?  Yes, this movie is that good.  I highly recommend running out and seeing it as soon as you get a chance.

Wall E is about the earth in the future.  It has been abandoned due to us not taking care of it.  There are mounds of garbage (everything from refrigerators to wine racks) the size of skyscrapers.  Wall-E is a garbage collecting robot that is there to clean up the mess.  One day, Eve (another robot but one looking for life) shows up.  Wall-E is in love.  Without giving too much away, they go back to the ship where the humans are now living to let them know it is time to come home.

Now, half of the movie has no dialogue, and it is still that good.  They are definitely able to still get their point across, and we get to watch Wall-E and Eve fall in love.  It really makes you think about becoming more enviromentally friendly and making sure that there is even an Earth to hand down to our kids and grandkids.  Madison has been talking like Wall-E for a week now, so it is hit with the 4 year old year too!