Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson

Non-fiction - 4 stars

In the irreverent Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson retells stories from her childhood with her sister, dealing with the antics of her absurd father. As she gets older, her husband, her daughter, and lots of psychiatric specialists help her uncover the surprising discovery that the most terribly human moments—the ones we want to pretend never happened—are the very same moments that make us the people we are today.

I got this book in a two-for-one sale with Craig Ferguson's, and I am so glad I did. Between Ferguson and Lawson, I laughed for two weeks straight. This book is hilarious, mainly because I can relate to many of the stories she tells, including one about a rattlesnake. I absolutely loved it.

American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson

Non-Fiction - 4.5 stars

In order to realize the American Dream, Craig Ferguson journeyed from the mean streets of Glasgow,  Scotland, to Hollywood. In American on Purpose, he recounts his stumbles through several attempts to make his mark—as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer.

Ferguson repeatedly used and abused drugs and alcohol, addictions that eventually led to an aborted suicide attempt. His success as a standup comedian eventually let to success on The Drew Carey Show and later as host of the Late Late Show. According to Ferguson, though, his greatest triumph was his decision to become a U.S. citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008.

I laughed out loud nearly the entire time I read this book. Ferguson is very matter-of-fact about his addiction, his failure, and his love, but his true talent is storytelling. I loved it, and I knew I liked him for a reason.  

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Youth Fiction - 3.5 stars

Choose to lie, or you will most certainly die. This is the introduction the reader gets to, Conner, a nobleman who devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son, Jaron, and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are less then honorable, but he must be chosen to play the prince or he will be killed. 

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's palace, treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, may prove more dangerous than all of the lies.

Megan and I read this incredible Game of Thrones for middle-schoolers for her school book club, and we were both impressed with the storyline, with the character development, and with the integrity of the main character. We both highly recommend it!