Money Savvy Kids: The Best Ways to Teach Your Children about Money for a Strong Financial Future by Gordon Pape and Deborah Kerbel

Published by Portfolio an imprint of Penguin Group Canada

How much did you learn about finance while growing up? It's hardly surprising that this is the most indebted generation in Canadian History and that the pattern is set to continue as it has over many generations before us. What to do? A great starting point is to read Money Savvy Kids which was written by Gordon Pape and his daughter Deborah Kerbel. Inside the approximately 220 pages of this book you will find a wealth of information that is shared in a way that makes it easy to comprehend whether you are a financial wiz or absolutely clueless, but do keep in mind that Money Savvy Kids: The Best Ways to Teach Your Children about Money for a Strong Financial Future (as the full title states), is primarily geared towards suggesting  methods to engage your children in this subject, and at which ages the various techniques should be applied. 

The back states: Money Savvy Kids features timely information on:

• how to teach the "value" of money
• whether allowances are a good idea and, if so, how much?
• saving, spending, and sharing
• teaching your kids to shop smart
• coping with children-directed advertising
• games that teach money skills
• great websites and apps - some reviewed by the kids themselves
• money-smart books for young readers
• finding that first job
• saving for college

As a woman in my late thirties, with children who are all adults now, I wouldn't fit into the targeted audience for this title. The blurb states that this is a must-read for all parents with children between the ages of five and seventeen and while I do agree that it will be most useful to that portion of society, I have to say that I highly recommend it regardless of age. 

Early in the book we are treated to one of the many little personal experiences that are sprinkled through the pages of this highly informative and entertaining book. In one particular tale, Deborah ventures into a store with her daughter and warns the child ahead of time that this shopping trip will be for one purpose only, a gift for a family member. What happens in that store next was somewhat shocking and prompted a discussion with my hubby on the questionable actions that took place. Further stories in the book made it clear that while this is geared towards money management,  it also guides us into how to use those lessons and skills to encourage selflessness, compassion, and a strong set of morals, values, and ethics. That is what really gave this a 5/5 score for me and caused me to look at this book as a must-read for everyone.  

The layout of the book is wonderfully practical in that many of the chapters are geared towards a set age range and include info and activities for that age. So many of the ideas are ones that wouldn't have occurred to me and they are brilliant. What I love about the suggestions and hints, is that the authors share not just the ideas that worked well for them, but other ideas that totally flopped. Many of those shared experiences result in outbreaks of laughter. I loved too that the authors share their own views on how to deal with allowances, setting a level of tasks that is appropriate for each age, and additionally why connecting allowances and tasks/chores is problematic.

Like when I read The Stop, this book ended up with a myriad of post-it tabs throughout. Some for the parental pearls of wisdom, some for resources that can be found online (and look fantastic, I might add!), and an impossible number of them for further reading material. I need more hours in my day.  I will also add that I now have a better understanding of hyperinflation and that if you're like me, you'll be using Google to learn more about that too by the end of the book.

If all books on finance were this much fun, I'd read so many more of them. 

Author website for Gordon Pape: http://www.buildingwealth.ca
Author website for Deborah Kerbel: http://www.deborahkerbel.com

Stony RIver by Tricia Dower

Published by Penguin Group Canada

It was a day like many others. Linda and Tereza had hung out by the river, trying to find some comfort on such a hot and sticky afternoon. While walking home they witness the arrival of a police car at a local house. They're both caught by surprise when they see a girl approximately their own age, along with a baby, leaving the home. As far as anyone in Stony River knew, James Haggerty - or Crazy Haggerty as he was known by many - had lived alone. Of course, not many people ventured close enough to find out. I know that in my own neighbourhood growing up, there was a house that we all stayed away from and I think that is a universally shared experience.

So begins the story of Stony River in an era that many view as safer and filled with innocence. As we follow the lives of the residents we are shown that even then, in the fifties, families were dysfunctional and for young girls coming of age, these were dangerous times.

This book really captivates the reader from the very start and one could be forgiven for thinking that Stony River is going to be a light and breezy read, especially when connecting the first few pages with the enticingly idyllic cover. It isn't long though before the writing creates a different, darker picture and I found myself filled with a lot more questions than I had answers. That’s always a risk in a book as it’s a fine line between holding the reader’s attention and ultimately losing the reader due to frustration at the seemingly unending mystery. Tricia Dower pulls it off wonderfully though and I personally enjoyed it as even when I put the book down to tend to life; my mind was still active, trying to predict where the story was headed, without success I might add.

That is always a sign of great storytelling as the author skilfully weaves a story that totally engages the reader. Ultimately when all was brought to light, I found myself stunned. Not so much at the twists (though they were great too!) but because the book had clues sprinkled throughout that I really ought to have been able to put together but hadn’t. That, to me, is another sign that the book was brilliantly crafted.

One aspect I especially loved is the inclusion of alternative belief systems. In this case a pagan-based religion of Irish origin. I personally found myself fascinated by the natural, herbal healing mixtures and the creation of a garden that would hold a great deal of the ingredients needed. I also found myself enthralled by the religious conflict one of the characters experienced.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the abusive behaviours that sometimes arise within the pages, most specifically the subject of violence towards girls/women that is touched upon briefly throughout.  For those of you who, like me, have experienced it first hand, it may cause brief discomfort or even mild triggering. In my own case it was strictly brief discomfort. The author tackled these subjects wonderfully and I highly recommend it. It’s easily one of my favourite reads this year so far.

Author's website: http://www.triciadower.com
Author's blog: http://tricia-dower.blogspot.ca/

The Poisoned Pawn by Peggy Blair

Published by Penguin Group Canada

Some of you will already be familiar with Cuban Inspector Ricardo Ramirez from his debut appearance in The Beggar's Opera. If you missed that title, don't worry as one lucky reader will win a copy of The Poisoned Pawn as well as a copy of The Beggar's Opera so you can read them both! 

Inspector Ramirez has quite the challenge in this novel. When a priest is found in possession of pornography featuring Cuban children, Ramirez is sent to Canada in order to bring the priest back home where he'll face the consequences of his actions. To further complicate issues while he is in Ottawa trying to navigate the legal and political minefield that will allow him to take custody of the priest, women back home in Havana have begun to drop dead from what is believed to be some form of toxin. When it's further revealed that two of the victims were tourists, Ramirez needs to act fast before a travel advisory is issued, and Cuban tourism grinds to a halt. 

It's not often that I find myself drawn to books of the murder mystery type but when I was asked if I would like to participate in The Poisoned Pawn blog tour, I knew I couldn't or shouldn't say no. I was highly curious to see if the second instalment of this series lived up to my expectations and I was definitely not disappointed. Once again Peggy Blair provides a strong cast of characters, along with a brilliantly executed plot that certainly lacked the transparency that can occur with some mystery and thriller novels. I can't comment on the detail and/or accuracy of the Cuban setting, having never been there, but Ottawa was captured perfectly. I always get a little more enjoyment out of a book when it speaks of places that are familiar to me. One of the strongest impressions this book has left with me, is that the writing has a wonderfully fluid style that makes it impossible to avoid being caught up in this fast-paced adventure. So much so that I picked up the novel this afternoon knowing I could get an hour or so of reading time and then found myself at the end of the book, realizing it had been close to 5 hours and the light is fading fast.  

It's all of these things combined that makes The Poisoned Pawn a novel that you should check out. Even if, like me, murder mysteries are not something that usually appeal, you might just be surprised. If you'd like to see more reviews of this title, you can check out the links below and find out what the other blog tour participants think of this title too.

• Feb 25 - The Literary Word (You are here!)
• Feb 26 - Curled Up with a Good Book and a Cup of Tea
• Feb 28 - Just a Lil Lost
• Mar 04 - A Bookworm's World
• Mar 05 - Serendipitous Readings
• Mar 06 - Literary Treats
• Mar 07 - Thrifty Momma's Brainfood

If you'd like to try and win a copy of each of the Inspector Ramirez titles, it's your lucky day thanks to the wonderful folks over at Penguin Canada.

All you have to do is check out Peggy's website (listed below) and then let me know via e-mail what is so special about the martini shaker that is featured there. This contest is open to Canadians only.

Author's website: http://www.peggyblair.com/.

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

Published by Penguin Group Canada

London, 1900. Home to three powerful men and the talented, strong, young women who assist them. Cora, lab assistant, loves to invent new and wonderful gadgets when she isn't busy rescuing Lord White from himself. Nellie, magician's assisstant with such flexibility that a pretzel would be envious, loves working with the Great Raheem, who is almost like a father to her. Lastly, Michiko, who is skilled in the art of fighting, and uses those skills to assist Callum, a toad of a man who treats her despicably.

A series of events, finds the three women thrown together, and a gruesome discovery encourages them to join forces and solve the murder, without drawing unwanted attention to themselves, and those they assist. Sounds easy, right?

I have to admit, writing about this book without spilling any of the info, is a challenge. It's one of those books that you cannot stop raving about, once you have finished reading it. (At least, that's how it affected me.) The characters are well written, the storyline is also well thought out and encourages the reader to try and guess ahead as to what will occur next. Even during the times when I found myself putting the book down (reluctantly), my mind lingered with the characters, to the point where I even imagined a movie version and cast the appropriate actors/characters.

My cast - Michiko: Lucy Liu/Chiaki Kuriyama. Nellie: Christina Applegate/Chloë Grace Moretz. Cora: Rachel Weisz/Alexis Bledel. 

I went with a mature choice, and a younger choice, for each character. I would honestly watch both versions. Movies rarely live up to the books, but for me, I want to see what the special effects would be like. Frequently in the book we are witness to the genius creations that will make this book a favourite with the steampunk communities, but even to those, like me, who aren't that knowledgable with the steampunk genre, it's a fun read. I did experience bittersweet moments though, as I truly relished and devoured this book and found myself feeling somewhat saddened towards the end.  I knew I would be saying goodbye to the characters, at least for a little while. I can't wait to see what the next installment brings.

This is a fun series that I believe will become classic. It brought to mind the Famous Five, and Secret Seven series, except that this series is girl power to the nth degree.

Author's website: http://www.adriennekress.com/

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group and Penguin Group Canada

The internet is still being discovered by most people in 1996 and two young students, Emma and Josh, are about to embark on their own adventure online. Equipped with Emma's new computer and Josh's AOL disk that his parents don't want to use, they have no idea what they are in for. What they find is Facebook in 2011 and the profiles of people who look like them, just older and different. It doesn't take them long to discover that decisions they make in the present, affect their future selves in enormous ways and none of the outcomes are what the two desire.

I found this book to be a very quick read, and an addictive one at that. The concept was fascinating and unique so it's safe to say this book had my interest before I even opened the cover. It was almost surreal reading about characters trying to navigate through Facebook and discover what it was, when it's an every day part of my life. I found this book to be imaginative, thought-provoking, inspirational and entertaining. The two main characters are often scrambling to try and change their current lives in order to bring about a desired future and it never quite seems to work out how they anticipate. The ending was quite predictable which stifled my enjoyment a little but in spite of that, I still consider it a good reading experience and I would have no problem recommending it but I think adults aren't going to enjoy it as much as their young readers will. Personally my favourite aspect of this book is that it teaches about the consequences of our actions which I think is an invaluable lesson.

Authors' websites - http://jayasher.blogspot.com/
and

http://carolynmackler.com/Carolyn-Mackler-Home-Page.asp

There's Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon

Published by Penguin Group Canada

Each morning we spritz, soak, and slather ourselves in 127 different chemicals, many of which are toxic. Each time we draw a bubble bath for a child, lather foaming cream for a shave, or deodorize our underarms, we expose our bodies to innumerable chemicals with limited research on their long-term health effects. The cosmetics industry is not required to prove an ingredient is safe for human health before it is used in a consumer product. Shocking, but true.

Gillian Deacon is a breast cancer survivor who decided to write this book when learning about the many toxins that are placed into so many of our beauty products and I am so glad she did. Gillian shares with the readers that she was reading Stacy Malkan's 'Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of Beauty' while waiting to have an ultrasound to help diagnose her possible breast cancer. That book inspired this brilliantly researched, informative and invaluable resource that literally shocked me to hell.

Never have I been so relieved that I am not a person who likes to wear make-up. More shocking though are the amount of products that seem to contain ingredients that are known, or suspected to cause breast cancer. In one chapter that really grabbed my attention, Gill Deacon shares the following facts:

• More American women have died of breast cancer in the last 20 years than the number of Americans killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined.
• Many of the big cosmetics corporations that position themselves as leaders in the struggle to eradicate breast cancer - holding annual fundraisers and pink-ribbon campaigns - are in fact, makers and marketers of products that contain many ingredients known or suspected to cause breast cancer.
  

More shocking still, in other chapters, was the sheer volume of baby products - products we believe we can trust to use with our precious young, that contain crazy amounts of toxins. Baby powder for example.

• Talc is still found in some baby powders and as a moistureabsorbing ingredient in products like eyeshadow, blush, and deodorant. Talc is similar to asbestos in its chemical composition. It is linked to ovarian cancer and is also a probable respiratory toxin. Watch for ingredients listed as talc, French talc, or cosmetic talc.

What also concerned me, was info about baby shampoos from a brand that I had long trusted when my children were babies. Shampoos that contained ingredients that cause developmental issues, among other things. I was horrified. The news isn't all bad though. In addition to sharing a great deal of information along with the encouragement to make your own well-informed choices, Gill Deacon provides countless sources for truly natural and safe products that we can use without concern. Or at least, with the knowledge we are harming ourselves less. I especially liked that recipes for making your own products were included. One of my favourites is:

Make It Yourself: Moisturizing Mask

Greek yogourt is also very moisturizing and can be used as a base for this mask.

1/2 medium to large avocado
1 to 2 tbsp honey 5 to 15 mL

Puree ingredients together in a blender or whip by hand.
For dry, sensitive skin, add one tablespoon of oatmeal and one tablespoon of water.
Mix together into a smooth paste and apply to the face and neck area, leaving on for about ten minutes.

From There’s Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon (Penguin Canada). Copyright © Backbone Inc. FSO Gillian Deacon, 2011

One of the resources spoken of in the book, was EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. I rushed to check it and was astounded at how many of my usual products are in the higher hazard range. To be honest, this book troubled me a great deal. So much so that when reading about shampoo and body wash, I sprinted out of bed and checked the bottles in my bathroom for the dreaded ingredients and was dismayed to see so many of them present. This book is a definite wake-up call and I have decided because of it, that our home is going to be a more natural environment and not just with personal hygiene products, but with general household cleaners and more.

I can't recommend this book enough. Please read it. In order to help people to transition to healthier products, the author has also created a wallet-sized tip sheet with important things to remember. You can find it by clicking on the image below.

I'm also happy to announce that as part of this blog tour, a prize is being offered. The prize contains a copy of There’s Lead In Your Lipstick and an Eco Kiss kit from the folks at Saffron Rouge (combined value of approx. CDN $48.95.)

It's open to Canadian residents only. Simply drop me an e-mail at: theliteraryword [at] gmail [dot] com with the answer to the following question (answer can be found at Gillian Deacon's site):

What is the title of Gillian Deacon's other bestselling book that is a friendly how-to guide to making simple changes in your day-to-day life for a cleaner, healthier world?

The first person to e-mail me with the correct answer will win the goody pack!

To check out other reviews from fellow blog tour participants, visit the links below:

April 11 Rayment’s Readings, Rants and Ramblings

April 12 My Ever Expanding Library

April 13 Jacob’s Beloved

April 14 Bella’s Bookshelves
April 15 Cindy’s Love of Books
April 18 Rowangarth Farm
April 19 Lost for Words
April 20 Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea
April 21 A Bookworm’s World

April 22 KimWerker.com
April 25 A Mom After God’ Own Heart

April 26 The Literary Word (You are already here!)
April 27 Just a Lil Lost
April 28 In the Next Room

Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner

Published by Hamish Hamilton an imprint of Penguin Group Canada

Better Living Through Plastic Explosives offers the reader a glimpse into numerous lives. Slowly peeling back the layers of each existence until a sometimes brutal, sometimes funny, often quirky and always riveting story forms within the pages. A wartime photographer, angel-possessed teens, rebellious adopted children, terrorist turned housewife, and movie industry folk are just some of the colourful characters that Zsuzsi Gartner skillfully writes into being.

I love short story collections so I was thrilled to see this title land in my mailbox. The title piqued my curiosity almost immediately but I waited until I was certain I could read this with little interruption. I am so glad I did. Once I picked this book up, it was difficult to put down and everything around me ceased to exist as I dived into the pages. The writing style is truly eloquent and painted such vivid imagery in my mind as I explored each piece. What I really found unique about this book is that each story has a quality that never fails to tease and stimulate the intellect. Once upon a time, I would likely have considered these stories to be lacking, to be needing a little more 'fleshing out' so to speak, but today I find myself truly appreciating that they inspire me to give more thought to the characters and their experiences.

I was asked at one point, which story was my favourite and I had selected the story 'Once, We Were Swedes' in which a wife mourns the loss of intimacy within her marriage. I had also answered that I suspected I would have problems choosing favourite tales by the end of the book and I was not disappointed. There are so many and each is brilliant in its own way though I definitely place 'Summer of the Flesh Eater', 'The Adopted Chinese Daughters' Rebellion', 'We Come in Peace', and of course 'Better Living Through Plastic Explosives' a little higher above the rest. What I loved a great deal about this book too, is the stories strike me as being able to stand up to repeated reading. I can't help but feel that due to the previously mentioned inspirational quality, I could read this book time and again, and not suffer any loss of enjoyment.

I hadn't heard of this British Columbia based author until now but I was thrilled to see that Zsuzsi Gartner also wrote a collection of stories titled 'All the Anxious Girls on Earth'. A collection that I know will be a welcome addition to my bookcases in the near future. Not since Norman Levine have I felt so drawn to a story collection. It's simply dynamite (Yes, I can hear the groans from here! *laughs*)

I haven't checked out other reviews of this book yet (I always avoid looking until my own is written) but I am looking forward to checking out what other people think and will be most curious to see what my fellow blog tour participants think. I know that Bibliomania reviewed this on the 18th April and you can find that review here. Other stops on the tour are In The Next Room - April 21st here, and Bella's Bookshelves - April 26 here.

Additional reviews can be found at Reading for the Joy of it and Pickle Me This

Don't forget to check out the author's website at http://www.zsuzsigartner.com/

The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer

Published by Riverhead Books an imprint of Penguin Group Canada

Eleanor Roosevelt High School has a new drama teacher, Fran Heller. Fran and her son Eli are new to Stellar Plains, New Jersey but with their newly painted colourful house and Fran's equally colourful personality, they are quickly making their mark. When Fran chooses the school play for the year, Lysistrata (in which women stop having sex with men in order to stop a war), strange things start to happen around the town. As if touched by magic, the women and girls in town are turning away from their partners with no idea as to why. Formerly healthy relationships turn sour as the women worry about this new development, the men feeling unwanted and equally as confused. Will life ever return to normal?

I wasn't expecting this book to be such a deep read. While the book blurb piqued my interest, the story line seemed pretty transparent and as such, I imagined I would breeze through this book in no time. Instead, I found myself reading a well developed tale, filled with characters I became quickly invested in, and enjoying the experience a great deal. Meg Wolitzer takes a serious and sensitive subject, blends it brilliantly with a dash of humour, a great deal of compassion, infinite honesty, and a sprinkle of surprise in order to bring us this wonderfully written novel.

I loved following the developments in each relationship, stealing a glimpse during their most intimate, turbulent, and vulnerable moments. It's impossible to read this book and not feel an empathy with one, if not many of the characters within. The author teases and tugs at the full range of emotions in the reader which I found quite exhilarating. That said, I still, weeks after reading this, have trouble trying to express fully what I thought of it. It's a book that is difficult to really describe as it's pretty different from anything else I have read but I did enjoy reading it and found myself mulling over the content in-between reading sessions. It's also a book that I feel would be great to re-read. I plan on reading it again this summer, without my reviewing cap on, so that I may savour it more completely. I also plan on obtaining a copy of Lysistrata and other works by Aristophanes.

It's definitely worth a look and you can see an excerpt here

Author's website: http://megwolitzer.com/

My Best Frenemy by Julie Bowe.

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).
Distributed in Canada by Penguin Group Canada

Ida May is excited about returning to school so that she may spend time with her best friend Stacey. When the first day arrives, finally, she finds that lots of things have changed and she doesn't quite know where she belongs. At a time when she feels most alone, a hand of friendship is extended from the most surprising of places. Maybe life isn't quite so bad after all!

I love this series of books known as 'Friends for Keeps'. When I read the first book My Last Best Friend I just knew this was going to be something special. My original love of this series was that it dealt with making new friends following a move. Being a military wife, I see so many children affected by this problem and I instantly began telling people about this great book that would maybe help their children to see that they aren't alone in this.

In this third installment, I am in love with this series for a whole different reason. I love that this book shares positive messages such as it's okay to not fit in, it's okay to not surrender to peer pressure, and that friendship can come from the most unlikely of places if you just open yourself up to it. The storyline keeps the ínterest of the reader and the characters are colourful, memorable and easy to identify with. This is truly a heartwarming series of books that I believe belongs on the shelf of any young girl. Read with a parent I could see this series providing great opportunities for talking with children about the scenarios and their own feelings and experiences.

You can visit the author's website here and it even includes a step-by-step guide to making your own BFF bracelet!

Temping Fate by Esther Friesner

Published by Dutton Children's Books an imprint of Penguin Group Canada

Ilana Newhouse is sick of weddings - or more specifically - the wedding between her sister Dyllin and her partner Ras. Okay, so Ilana can see why her sister would freak out at the freshly drawn skull that Ilana is sporting on her cheek but in all fairness, it's not like Ilana knew that it was a permanent marker! To get away from the wedding craziness and to silence her parents' non-stop speeches about responsibility and colleges, she looks for a summer job but no one seems interested in hiring her. That is until she finds a business card in Dyllin's room - a card for D. R. Temps. She is hired on the spot (well, after a little breaking and entering...) and is very eager to begin her new job. It doesn't take long for her to realize that this job is a little different and she is surprised to learn that she is temping for the fates. What follows is a comical look into the world of the many Greek Deities and more importantly, the many temps who help to keep the world running smoothly while the Gods and Goddesses are busy slacking off at the beach, dealing with their children’s hectic after school activity schedules, and so on.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It was funny, dripping with sarcasm - always a winner with me -, and very creative in general. It was a great mix of adventure, love, and of course - the old battle between good and evil. Throw in a few Deities with frayed nerves and short fuses, along with a temp-gone-wild and you can just imagine the chaos that follows.

It was a quick, easy read and though I enjoyed it a great deal I couldn't help but feel like it got a little rushed towards the end. I think also that because I previously read Gods Behaving Badly - written by Marie Phillips and also based on Greek Deities in the modern world - and loved it, this book was always going to come off second best for me. That said, I think Temping Fate is the better choice for younger teens. I will definitely be exploring other works by Esther Friesner in the future.

Author's website: http://www.sff.net/people/e.friesner/