The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans

#3 on my reading list this year is The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans

This is my first mixed review of a book.  Overall, I did enjoy reading it.  In fact, It took me just a few days to read it, which is a testament to how interesting and well-written it is.  Honestly, the more I think about it, the only reason I'm giving a mixed review is that it made me cry.  Multiple times.  So if you don't want to cry, this might not be the book for you.  I do cry pretty easily though, so if you're made of stronger stuff, you might make it through just fine. 

I did enjoy that the book began with a pivotal, albeit confusing, moment in the main character's life, but you don't know that it's pivotal, nor what it all meant, for a long time, because once that scene ends, you flash back to her 13th birthday.  You follow her through her life up to and beyond the opening scene.  It's interesting to see what circumstances and choices bring her to that point, and to watch to see how she manages to get through different things. 

13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson

Book #2 on my reading list is 13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson.  It's a young adult novel, but that just made it a nice easy read.  I finished it in about a day. 

It's the story of a girl named Ginny whose aunt dies, and Ginny receives 13 little blue envelopes from her aunt, each with a letter that has instructions she is to follow.  It's super unrealistic, but it's a fun story.  I look forward to reading the sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope.