Title: The Dress
Author: Kate Kerrigan
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Date of Publication: August 1, 2015
Length: 390 Pages
Kindle Copy - "The Party Dress"
This book review was written by guest blogger Cindy Phelps Thomas.
About The Author
Kate Kerrigan is the author of City of Hope, Ellis Island, and Land of Dreams.
Turning Back the Years
Lily Fitzpatrick is a well-known fashion blogger whose specialty is vintage. She spends her time rummaging through piles of vintage clothing looking for the perfect piece with its unknown history.
After her grandfather suddenly passes away, Lily wonders about his mysterious background and family. She has heard little of his heritage, and the need to know becomes an obsession. She learns that the woman wearing a beautiful dress in an old clipping she found may indeed be a relative of hers. Lily longs to know this woman’s story and the story behind “the dress”. The idea plays on Lily’s mind to recreate the dress in the clipping.
These three women: Lily Fitzpatrick, Joy Fitzpatrick, and Honor Conlon, are all so different, yet bound together for eternity by the dress.
- Lily Fitzpatrick is in the present-day attempting to recreate the dress, in a highly publicized dual of fashion designers.
- Joy Fitzpatrick is having this one-of-a-kind dress made to rekindle the romance with her husband.
- Honor Conlon is trying to make a name for herself in the world of fashion as an immigrant in New York 1950’s.
Each woman’s life is changed forever.
My Thoughts
"The Dress" was a wonderfully written book that allowed the reader to travel through time to learn about the history of the mysterious dress. The characters were so well developed that I felt a connection to them all. The descriptions of the vintage dresses were so wonderfully written, I could almost see them for myself. I have even taken an interest in vintage dresses myself since reading it. I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 5 Stars Of 5
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ONE WORD BOOK REVIEW: ROCK (MUSIC)
Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly
Author: Anne Bustard
Illustrator: Kurt Cyrus
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Children
Publication Date: February 1, 2005
About The Author
Anne Bustard holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
A Texas Music Legend
This picture book provides a delightful glimpse into the life of Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly.
The author uses colorful "Texas-talk" to describe Buddy's family and early life. Buddy was raised in a musical family so it was only natural for him to take to the guitar when he was in the sixth grade.
Just past Buddy's seventeenth birthday, he and his friend Jack were asked to sing and play on a weekly local radio show.
"Faster than greased lightnin', louder than a thunderstorm, more powerful than a Texas twister, and plumb full of gumption. Buddy and his friends wrote and played hip-hoppin' tunes. No foolin'. That music blasted them into out-of-this-world places".
The author includes an "Afterword" that gives biographical information about Buddy Holly's life and death.
My Thoughts
I was thrilled to find this book (1st ed., signed by author) at a local thrift shop. It is not a new book, but it is perfect for the Texas history/music niche for children ages 6 - 10. I am a Buddy Holly fan and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The text is lively and the color illustrations are superb. This book is excellent for a unit in Texas history or music history in the elementary grades. I would share a Buddy Holly song with my listener and then read the book.
I once was a substitute teacher in an elementary music classroom. The teacher had a large bin of picture books about famous musicians. Kudos to this teacher for including biography books in her lessons. This book is a perfect fit for a teacher or parent who wants to introduce students to a time when rock ruled.
MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5
FYI - I purchased this hardcover book with my own funds.
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