Book Review: Best Friends

Best Friends by Ann M. Martin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book in many respects is excellent, but there are several things that are left to be desired. It has characters that I will remember and a story I believe the intended audience will enjoy. It addresses many of the issues that girls in 5th and 6th grade face in their friendships and other relationships. Working at an international school where students are constantly faced with transition I believe that my students will relate to having to make new friends in a new situation.

I found the over all flow of the book confusing in regards to the interviews that Flora did with her neighbors. At first I wasn't sure why she was doing them; once I did find out why she was doing them I wished there had been a little bit more of mystery. They could have been integrated into the story better or left out all together. This is why I am rating the book a 4 instead of a 5.



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Picture Saturday: Wedding Season

We are quickly approaching Wedding Season and last Saturday I had the honour to attend my friend's bridal shower.  Since she loves aprons I decided to make matching his and her aprons with my sewing machine:

My Hungarian friend gave her beautiful Hungarian embroidery and a two cook books:

Picture Saturday: Sewing with friends

In February a friend of mine had a baby in India and another friend when to help her with the baby.  Here is a picture of my friend with the present she made on my sewing machine to take to India.  It was going to be a wall hanging, but turned into a nursing pillow named "elephanté"

I love ice cream!

Within the last two weeks the temperature in Hungary has gone from 10 degrees Celsius to over 30 degrees Celsius.   It feels like July, but it is only April.  I have had my share of ice cream the last few days.  My favorite ice cream shop in Budapest is Dr. Gelato and my favorite flavor is 'After 8'.   This post is dedicated to ice cream lovers everywhere!  What is your favorite flavor?

Picture Saturday + Video: Spring break fun!

Last Tuesday a friend and I visited an open air museum near Budapest.  I discovered this beautiful spinning wheel:

Also in Hungary it is the tradition of men to sprinkle women with water on Easter Monday.  I was walking to the bus stop on a major road last Monday and saw a horse and wagon driving up the road.  This is what happened:

Picture Saturday: Happy (late) Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Earlier this month on March 2nd was Dr. Seuss's birthday, so we celebrated with reading Dr. Seuss books in grade 1 library.  My  grade 6 helpers made this bulletin board in Dr. Seuss's honour:

Picture Saturday: the Nagycsarnok

Occasionally on Saturdays I go downtown Budapest to the Nagycsarnok (translated at the great hall and better known in our the English speaking community as the Covered Market.  Although there are many 'covered markets' in Budapest).  At the Naygcsarnok shoppers can find many fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese and souvenirs.   Last week I bought 'medve hagyma' translated as bears onion which after a little bit of research I discover is a called wild garlic or ramsons in English.  While I was out shopping I also took a photo from the top of the market hall: