As Young as We Feel: The Four Lindas #1, by Melody Carlson

As Young as We Feel by Melody Carlson

The Four Lindas, #1 

Four girls, all with the first name Linda, formed the 'Four Lindas' club when they were in elementary school. Now in their fifties they reconnect at a high school reunion. Only one of them still lives in their hometown of Clifden, the others living in L.A., Seattle and New York City. Even though each has followed a different path in life they realize that original bond is yet strong. They are strong for each other through the trials faced such as helping an aging mother, changing jobs, and relocating. I enjoyed reading about Marley, Abby, Janie and Caroline in this first book of the series and look forward to the next. 

We have this book in the Adult Dept. and you can request it in the online catalog. It is also available in large print edition.

~Beth Hutcheson

Great Children's Books about Friendship

Do you remember your first friend at school? Or that best friend you have had since the second grade? On my first day of kindergarten I met a boy with a bowl hair cut, who became my best friend when I was five. As your child starts back to school, the friendships they form now are going to stay with them for the rest of their lives. The boy with the bowl hair cut, though he no longer rocks that classic hairstyle, is still my best friend. The book list below consists of several picture, chapter, and juvenile books that will help children, and maybe even a few adults, understand the value of a good friendship and how important it is to treasure these friends.


Picture and Chapter Books

Big Wolf & Little Wolf by Nadine Brun-Cosme
This new addition to our collection will certainly become a favorite in your household. Big Wolf is all alone and he likes it that way, but he slowly learns to accept Little Wolf as his friend and part of his life. This story teaches children about opening your life and heart to new friends.





Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
This level 2 chapter book and Caldecott nominee depicts the sweet and entertaining friendship of Frog and Toad through five short stories and is perfect for your beginning reader.








The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
“There once was a tree….and she loved a little boy.” This classic story has been a favorite among children for decades. It is more than a story of friendship, but also teaches the importance of selfless giving and sacrifice.






Hello My Name is Bob by Linas Alsenas
Bob is a very boring bear, especially compared to his friend Jack. This book teaches children that every bear is different and no matter how different two bears might be, they can still be friends.



Play With Me by Marie Hall Ets
This 1956 Caldecott honor book teaches children that sometimes they have to let friends come to them and to be patient. The simple illustrations really help the story come to life as a little girl tries to make friends with all the different animals in the forest.



The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill
“Mean Jean was Recess Queen and nobody said any different.” In fact Mean Jean terrorized the playground until one day a new girl, named Katie Sue, comes to school and invites Mean Jean to jump rope with her. Mean Jean, the former Recess Queen, is having too much funny playing with her new friend to bully and torment the other kids now.



Juvenile Books


Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
With the help out a stray dog she finds outside of a Winn-Dixie grocery store, ten year-old Opal is able to open her heart and let new friends in. This Newbery Honor book will definitely wiggle its way into your heart, just like a stray dog.




Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Oh, Clementine. In Pennypacker’s series, Clementine is always in and out of trouble, but she will do anything to show her best friend Margaret that she will always be there for her, even if it means cutting off all of her own hair! There are currently four books in the Clementine series, including the newly released Clementine, Friend of the Week.





The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A. Milne
Has there ever been a better friend than Winnie-the-Pooh?
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."





Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
From the moment Ivy and Bean meet, they know that they cannot be friends! But sometimes your best friend turns out to be someone you never thought it would be! There are currently six books in the series, but the seventh installment is set to be released later on this month.


The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
This was one of my favorite books growing up. 12 year-old Matt is left alone in the wilderness to defend his house during the 18th Century. Here is meets, a Native American boy named Attean. Together they realize they have a lot that they can teach each other.



If you would like more information on any of these books, please visit the Jefferson County Library Cooperative Homepage.

Miss Judith

Grace Will Lead Me Home by Katherine Valentine

Dorsetville is home to a variety of characters. It is a small town where people know one another, genuinely care about each other and help when there is need. Father James and Father Dennis are part of the community and people love them. But their housekeeper, Mrs. Norris, has had enough of their sloppy habits around the house. She quit suddenly and the search began for a new housekeeper for the rectory. The women who took the job were certainly unique and nothing like Mrs. Norris. Deputy Hill is well intentioned and wants to be a good lawman but he just has a way of making situations worse instead of better. What will he do next that the sheriff will need to fix? When an ex-convict moves into the rectory he is given another chance at life. The people in Dorsetville are much like the people in Jan Karon's Mitford. They are just folks living life as best they can while being themselves. Often things go better with God's grace.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

When Summer was told she needed a biopsy she baked cookies which helped her think. Then she made flight reservations to the Netherlands. She had never met her pen pal in person and felt this was the time for a chick adventure with Noelle. Summer's husband was supportive of the plan. For a week Summer would learn about her good friend and her husband, their culture and pieces of their history. The Ten Boom family touched lives by saving lives. Summer and Noelle visited the Ten Boom home and museum, hearing first person stories about the concentration camps. The Iconoclasts made their statement by destruction. The pen pals visited a church which had been a victim of this action. And the original paintings by Vermeer spoke to Summer about everyday things and people. During that week Summer was able to connect with Noelle in communicating their feelings and needs which each had been trying to escape. Topics they discussed included past relationships and future medical possibilities and God's Love and provisions for His children. Summer and Noelle had thought this visit had been a spontaneous plan by Summer. They learned that God knew all along what both of them needed.

The Secret (Seasons of Grace, book one) by Beverly Lewis

Judah Byler is an Amish sheep farmer. He and Lettie are the parents of Adam, Joe, Grace and Mandy. Lettie's parents live under the same roof but in their own side of the house. Each person knows their jobs and they do them which makes for harmonious living. But lately Lettie has been restless and has even been seen walking the roads and pastures during the night. She hasn't told anyone what is bothering her. Judah is busy day and night caring for the ewes and new lambs. Grace is of courting age and often attends the singings on Sunday evenings. One day Lettie talked to Grace about Henry. She just wanted Grace to think now what married life to such a quiet man would be. The next evening Henry proposed to Grace and she accepted. That very night Grace saw her mother leaving with a suitcase and she wouldn't stop when Grace called out to her. Where was she going and why? Later Grace found the letter Lettie had left her. Judah read it, too. The contents of that letter really did not help the family. As the community learned of Lettie's absence the rumors began to fly. How many people are hurt by the actions of one?

In a city far removed from Amish country lives Heather, a successful woman who has received devastating news from her doctor. Instead of following the prescribed treatment she has decided to take a lengthy vacation at an Amish bed and breakfast run by a neighbor of the Bylers. She hopes an alternative treatment will heal her and being in this peaceful setting is already helping her spirit.

Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber

Just as Susannah was completing another year of teaching she had a disturbing phone call about her mother. Since her father had died Susannah's mother had been extremely lonely, her memory had gotten worse and now she was accusing her long time housekeeper of stealing. The only thing to do was visit Vivian in her home and observe her behavior. Then decide what to do. Coleville had not changed much since her childhood so visiting was a nice change. Susannah reconnected with Carolyn, her best friend for years and enjoyed getting reacquainted. Though Vivian did not want to leave her home she agreed to move into a facility after her late husband paid her a visit. Several times he visited Susannah's mother which pleased her but worried her daughter. Susannah's daughter, Chrissie, decided to help packing in Coleville since packing up years of memories and household items was a huge task. And she felt unwanted and bored at home. Chrissie met Troy and became thrilled by his attentions. His reputation worried Susannah and Carolyn but Chrissie thought her mother would say anything against him to ruin her enjoyable relationship. As Susannah continued to pack her father's papers she learned of more disturbing decisions and actions that turned her life around. Trying to tie up loose ends just raised more questions and the answers were unsettling. If only she could just go home to her husband. But somehow she would learn the truth and keep her family together.

The Gift by Richard Paul Evans

Nathan Hurst works security for a music store chain as a house detective only not the kind that walks around watching for shoplifters. He watches the transactions in over 300 stores and catches employees stealing from the company. In so doing he travels to other cities to complete investigations and have employees arrested. Some people are surprised when arrested. Some are shocked that they would be caught. So Nathan has saved the company lots of money and even has had some merchandise returned by the thieves. It was in the airport when returning from one of his business trips that he met Addison, Collin and Elizabeth. The weather was awful with ice, snow, wind and bone chilling temperatures shutting down air travel. The prospect was time spent sleeping on the floor in the airport until flights would resume. When Nathan met Addison and saw her son, a chemo patient with surgical mask and very pale skin, he was moved to share his hotel suite with these desperate people. This was the beginning of an amazing relationship. Collin was not even ten but was wise for someone so small. Through his years of sickness and treatments for leukemia he had acquired an understanding of listening to other people and caring about them. He also was given the gift of healing. As he put it he could make life better for people. Sadly he was unable to heal himself and each time he touched someone transferring his healing energy to them he was sicker for days. Nathan continued his job of catching bad employees and travelling around the country. When the story of Collins' gift was in the newspaper, people flocked to his home, trying for a touch of his hand. Addison called Nathan and the police. Until someone broke the law the police could only keep the crowds off Addison's property. So Nathan helped them go elsewhere until the madness subsided. But it only got worse. Addison's ex husband tried to sell Collins' gift. He had approached several wealthy people who were in need of healing. Though he had been told what each episode did to Collin, he wanted the money and chose to ignore the warning. Early in the book Nathan says this is not a Christmas story. But it tells so much about the spirit of giving on several levels that I think it is a story about love and caring. And who doesn't need a good dose of both?

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Tallulah Hart was left with her grandmother by her mother when she was four years old. The next time her mother came by was six years later. Then she took Tallulah and left her in a crowd of strangers. When the grandmother died Tully had to live with her mother which wasn't a loving or supportive family situation. She didn't know who her father was or where and her mother, Dorothy, was a pothead who preferred being called Cloud.
On this street called Firefly Lane lived Kate Mularkey with her parents and eight year old brother. Kate's family was loving but she was in eighth grade and feeling alone. Then she met the new girl on the block who wanted to be called Tully. They needed each other and this was the beginning of a friendship that would last more than thirty years. Two girls from very different family beginnings promised each other to be there for the other through everything. Early on they rode bicycles together and watched the stars and listened to crickets and the popular music of the day.
Tully introduced Kate to makeup, parties and sneaking out of the house and getting arrested by the police. Kate introduced Tully to parents who cared and gave guidance and love.
Tully realized her dream was to be a news anchor and she wanted Kate to do the same. The 'Firefly Lane Girls' began their journeys. Tully was tireless working long hours and sometimes working as a volunteer when she began her broadcasting career. Being in the spotlight and on camera really made her happy.
Kate worked in broadcasting, too, writing and producing. But it just did not give her the same fulfilling feeling that Tully experienced. She wanted to fall in love and have a family of her own. So even though the 'Firefly Lane Girls' took different paths to happiness they remained 'friends forever,' in happy and sad times.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia is a really good book about a young man named Jess Aarons and his friend Leslie Burke. The only thing that Jess hopes will happen is that he will be the fastest boy in his grade. Jess lives out on a farm all alone until Leslie moves in the house beside him. They become great friends until something tragic happens. So after the incident Jess is forced to pick a new queen for his made up city. That is all I will tell you without giving the story away. I hope you will read this book!!!
~Chris S., 7th Grade, Homewood Middle School