How to tell your boyfriend is from the north

This is a snippet of a conversation I had with Mason, my boyfriend yesterday.

Mason: When does hunting season end?
Me: I don't know.
Mason: Is it the same as in the north?
Me: I don't know. Who do you think you're talking to?
Mason: Well when do they stop wearing camoflague?
Me: ...This is the South. They never stop.

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Year: 1982
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:
It is 1914, and Joey, a farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of World War I on the Western Front. When Joey is dragged away, his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he is forced to leave behind. In the army the beautiful red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off the battlefields. Amongst the clamoring of guns, and while plodding through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. And if it does, will he ever find Albert again?
Review:
The biggest problem I had going into this book was its length. Its shorter than any book I've read in years. Despite that I know its been adapted into a movie and has become popular so I decided to give it a chance and I am so glad that I did. I got more emotional over this book than most. Not to say its up there with an Ellen Hopkins novel but it did unexpectedly tug at my heartstrings. Then again I love animals so maybe I'm a tad biased.
The setting also appealed to me, there is no genre I love more than historical fiction and thanks to this novel I saw a side of WWI that I had never considered. In my history classes we discussed the artillery and evolution of weapons but the use of horses was never brought up.
It was throughly engaging and due to its shorter length there was never a dull moment. The plot was continously moving forward and before I knew it I had finished the book. It ended in a satisfying way for me, although with a twinge of sadness. This is one I'd recommend to anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to read and just needs a little fix. Perfect to read in a doctors office or on a lunch break. No hidden symbolism or deep meaning that makes you question everything. Just a good book.

Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publishing Year: 2005
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:
As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents act more oddly than usual. Then her father drives the entire family across several state lines-and leaves Bethany with an aunt she never knew existed. Bethany's only clue is a few words she overheard. "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." The mystery intensifies when Bethany gets a package from her father containing four different birth certificates from different state, with different last names-and thousands of dollars in cash. And when a strange man shows up asking questions, Bethany realizes she's not the only one who's desperate to unravel the secrets of her past.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. Its thought provoking and deals with difficult relationships but it doesn't go into much detail. Bethany certainly shows an emotional reaction to finding out she's a clone and anger towards her parents for deceiving her but then the story is wrapped up quickly and it's all blown over without a satisfying resolution.

It also dances around the ethics of cloning and Bethany's mother's breakdown. But because of the time frame cloning wasn't illegal when Bethany was born so her father doesn't even get a slap on the wrist. And then in the epilogue she reveals that her and her mother are in therapy. Every loose end is tied up but the conclusion was very anticlimactic.

But regardless it was still a good book, and I like where it took me. Bethany was a lovable character and her tale was certainly endearing although I wanted to slap her role models.