Reader: Emily Thomas, Mansfield University.
What I read: "Letters to God" by Patrick Doughtie and John Perry.
Genre: Fiction.
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Synopsis: "Letters to God" is a powerful, yet moving book based on a true story. The story follows a young boy and was diagnosed with cancer who writes letters to God, praying for his family and friends.
Stats: Published by Zondervan in 2010, 256 pages.
What I thought: Tyler Doherty, an 8-year-old boy, is suffering from cancer and it's a struggle for his mom, older brother and grandmother to watch him get worse every day.
Despite the pain, Doherty would write a letter to God praying for his family and friends so they could be happy again. The family also lost their father and husband in a car crash before the boy was diagnosed.
When the family gets a new postman, Brady McDaniels, he isn't sure what to do with the letters to God in the mailbox to be sent out. McDaniels is a divorced alcoholic and being a mailman wasn't a job he wanted.
The mail man decided to take his letters to a local church. He is told he was the one who got those letters for a reason and soon the Doherty family becomes friends with him.
Doherty changed McDaniels' entire life, and turned his life around for the better.
Doherty was starting to get healthier every day and McDaniels visited with the the family on a regular basis. Soon, the little boy's health takes a turn for a worse, and although it's a predictable ending, it is moving nonetheless.
The book not only made me cry but it gave me a feel-good feeling at the end. The change Doherty brought to so many people was astounding. I'm not much for the religious books but this is one of my favorite books.
In 2010, the book was made into a movie and I saw that, too. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Expect a good cry, but it's definitely worth the few tears shed. The book was very well-written, giving insight to the characters thoughts and feelings.
It felt like you were part of the family because the details of emotion were so strong.
This book is a definite read.
Staffer: Alexis Sykes, Mansfield University.
What I read: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky.
Genre: Young adult, fiction.
Synopsis: The book starts out with the main character, Charlie.
Charlie is an introverted high school freshman who is trying to find his place in school, at home and in life.
Charlie has a brother, who is a freshman at Penn State playing football; a sister, who is a senior in high school and is ridiculously obsessed with her boyfriend; and parents who have no idea what is really going on with their children.
Charlie begins to write letters to you, the reader. He talks about his daily life in each letter.
Most importantly, he talks about two friends he met at school named Sam and Patrick.
Sam and Patrick are both seniors who are into mayhem.
They take Charlie under their wings and help him become the person he is. We find out that Charlie begins to have feelings for Sam and Patrick is gay.
The first part of the book is really just about them hanging out and doing things they shouldn't be doing.
Another part of the book that was discussed was when Charlie's sister became pregnant.
She told Charlie that no one could find out because she was going to take matters in her own hands.
Charlie loved his sister even though he didn't always show it.
Stats: Paperback, published in 1999 by MTV Books, $14.
What I thought: After reading "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," I was disappointed. It wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't the best either.
All the instances in the book show how Charlie really is like a wallflower.
He just floats around and takes in every situation.
Everyone trusts in him because they know he would never say anything.
The book made me feel like there wasn't really a point to it and there weren't any highlights that stood out either.
The book puzzled me because it was written in letters.
It was hard to follow because there wasn't anything significant in the letters.
Would I recommend it? I would have to say probably not.
