Review:Ghost in the Key of A

I rarely review books for Ascot Media... the titles rarely resonate with me, but  Ghost in the Key of A intrigued me.    AND I was right to be intrigued, T. Katz wrote a book that immediately grabbed my interest and had me saying "I want to read this book with my boy!"

Book Synopsis:
Ghost in the Key of A: Pythagoras follows Pricilla, a budding young pianist whose piano is plagued by a quirky ghost after she discovers a sticky "A” key. The ghost teaches her some of the most fascinating things about music history.  She soon finds synergies in these lessons and her own life.  Readers will find Ghost in the Key of A: Pythagoras engaging and inspirational.    

My Thoughts: 
What a neat book.  I loved it.   Priscilla, living in a family where a mom encourages artistic expression and a father who well.... just doesn't get it.   Priscilla is floundering, not knowing how to fit in with her father, how to do her music when she wants to play with friends, and how to show her dad she can study the subjects important to him as well.

It's just so hard for her to focus on her music at times, it all seems like such a drudgery. Enter Pythagoras.  He's the ghost who lives in the Key of A. Pythagoras brings a new air of interest to Priscilla as she practices her music. He teaches her various aspects of music and musical terms, and her confidence increases.    

This book could easily be used for a beginning music theory class.  :)

It's an interesting book with small illustrations scattered throughout that expand the knowledge base of the reader.     Good book.  

Product Details:
Received: Softcover Book
Title: Ghost in the Key of A
Author: T. Katz
Pages: 79
Publisher: LuLu.com    
Price: $3.98 (ebook), $9.25 (book)
Reviewed for: Ascot Media 

One Dress, One Year, a Review

 One Dress, One Year is a book written by Susanna Foth Aughtmon about a 16 year old girl with a desire to make a difference.   Her heart lies with those caught up in human trafficking.  Her goal: wear the same dress for one year to raise money to fight human trafficking.   This is her story.

Book Synopsis:
When sixteen-year-old Bethany Winz learned about the millions of men, women, and children around the world trapped in slavery, her stomach churned. How can anyone do that to another human being? she wondered. And why aren't we doing something?

This is the story of Bethany's "something."

Journey with her as she wears the same black dress every day for a year to focus attention on the lack of choices people in modern-day slavery face and raise money to help end human trafficking. As Bethany works to bring freedom to people worldwide, she'll discover how much she too needs freedom. You'll be inspired not only to change the world in your own way but also to experience the life-changing freedom of God's irrepressible love.

My Thoughts: 
I find this a challenging book to review.   

I felt this girls heart.  Her strong desire to be of use by the Lord for something bigger than herself.   I so felt her heart.    It brings me back to when I was 16 and went on a mission trip because I wanted to make a difference, to be used of the Lord for something beyond myself.

At the same time I found myself skipping sections, looking for something to draw me into the world of those who struggled with human trafficking.  To see the people involved.    I kept running into "this is what I was going through, and this is what I struggled with".

I saw the statistics that she posted, the money raised, the struggles she went through, but I didn't see the stories.  I didn't see websites to help me learn more about human trafficking.

So I left this book thinking well.. she learned a lot.   She influenced some people.   She did what God called her to.   BUT... "I" don't feel called to it.  I sit here thinking.. Good for her but that's as far as it goes and I want a book like this to draw me into her focus, into her dream and life and desires for change and feel none of that.

In essence, I'm wanting more than her story, I am wanting the stories of those she is fighting for.

Is it worth reading?  Yes.
Is it worth putting into a church library?   Yes.
Is it a great book that I'll be recommending others read?   That I am not so sure of.   Just left me wanting more.. depth, stories, call to action, more something.

Product Details: 
Received: Softcover Book
Title: One Dress, One Year
Author: Bethany Winz with Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Publisher: BakerBooks 
Pages: 149
Reviewed for: Nuts About Books