The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frederick Fife never intended to steal Bernard's identity, but the problem with being old is that no one listens to you, and frankly sometimes it's not worth the effort, especially when it's so cold outside, and it's so very nice to have people bring you hot food three times a day. What's the harm? Until mistakes of the past create complications in the present, that is, and Fred finds himself with an ethical dilemma.

I absolutely LOVED this heartwarming tale of a kind, lonely, elderly man who tries to do a good deed and ends up being rewarded for his effort in a profoundly unexpected manner that changes not only his life but the lives of everyone with whom he comes into contact.

For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, story secondary. The only sexual content is a spicy elderly woman who chases Fred around and traps him in uncomfortable situations. No onscreen violence, and only a bit of mild swearing that I can recall. Strong themes of chosen family, grief, friendship, kindness, reparations/forgiveness, and the plight of the elderly with medical debt. Deals with dementia, cancer, and gambling addiction.

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The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I still am not sure how I made it through this achingly funny, poignant book without sobbing. Maybe because most of it really is humorous, even the tragic parts. Dark humor sometimes, true, but witty.

Hazel Grace Lancaster is sixteen years old and slowly dying of cancer when she meets the love of her life, Augustus Waters (age 17), at a Cancer Support Group. Gus had lost a leg in his own battle with cancer a year and a half earlier but comes to the support group that night because of his friend Isaac who is about to lose his remaining eye to cancer surgery.

It sounds like this would be a total downer of a book, but John Green refuses to let that happen. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For readers' advisors: character doorway primarily, story & language secondary, and there is one not-at-all-explicit sex scene.


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