Review: New Book by YA Declares "Embark in your Popularity Journey"

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Popularity Genie in a Bottle:

Embark in your Popularity Journey

By Donatella Fragiale and
Cristina Fragiale


Donatella Fragiale started writing Popularity Genie in a Bottle when she was just 16, a sophomore in high school; she's now a freshman in college. Christina's contribution to the book is based on real events that occurred to her during her childhood and was pleased when Donatella asked her mother to partner as co-author.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. First, let me quickly say that it is excellent--well written and well-researched with a set of notes included as documentation. At the same time, it is not in the least what a potential reader might have expected when the book was purchased. I hope that good publicity will include more substantive material about the content to prevent potential readers from being turned off by the beginning.  Interesting there is another book available that was published years ago that appears to be more in line with what a potential reader might expect.

In addition, I am concerned that it seems to be written from the standpoint of the reader having a past knowledge of the Bible. If not, the "popular ancient time teen-kings will be unknown for many of today's young adults.

Having said all that, in my opinion, this is a fairly "heavy" religious book--which includes information primarily from the Old Testament, and includes comments regarding Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions. This latter is more informational as opposed to religious in content.

The thrust of the storyline is that Isabella a young teenager wants to be popular. Based upon an incident from the past, she learns that a "Holy Ghost Genie" might have come to visit her. Isabella is becoming older; she looks around her bedroom and suddenly finds it so very childish--she believes that none of her friends would find it as beautiful and precious as she once did. As she thought about her desire to be more popular, she remembered the old stories and wished for a genie to help her...she was lonely and frustrated--angry...

And, of course, she got her wish...

Genie would take Isabella back to about 3000 BC to talk with very popular teens who becme kings! She would then be taken on a trip to meet individuals who were "popular" in today's world. You will learn about how they really feel about their lives.

Isabella got to meet people like Solomon, Josiah, Uzziah, Gideon, also Martin Luther King and then individuals who were known only by names such as they might use as screen names--Hungry4Love, lilpartygirl15, etc.

When I share this book with my niece, I will be letting her known that it is a great way to provide her daughter the opportunity to consider how her life is affected by her personal beliefs. It is a wonderful teaching aid to assist teenagers and adults to consider alternatives to the lifestyles of drinking, drugs, and sexual activities that they may hear about from their friends--and provide real-life experiences for them to see that they can "be popular" with one of the most wonderful friends they may ever find. And who will never offer them a beer or anything else that could harm them!

Highly recommended for parents to read...and share with their children and their friends! Could make an interesting book for individual or group study...or, preferably, for parent-child discussions!

Review: Was Jones An Angel?

The Noticer
By Andy Andrews
Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978159555218I
167 Pages


Andy Andrews has told us part of his own story in The Noticer which is available today, April 27 and I, along with other Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers are sharing our reviews simultaneously! Cool, right?!!

Before I went back to reread the email regarding the book, I was going to say that the main character, Jones, was an angel. Perhaps he was, for he certainly spoke as if he were an angel. He seemed to appear and disappear, exactly when people needed him. And then there was the fact that different people called him by different names, including Garcia by Hispanic people and Chen by the Chinese. Others weren’t sure whether he was black or white—but it really didn’t seem to matter. So, was the old man who came to see Andy Andrews, when he was homeless, living under a pier, an angel? I like to think so, but it really isn’t important. What we do know was that he was sent by, and used by, God, to make a difference in many lives.

Jones watched people, and came to know them, know their names, their needs. He said, “I am a noticer...I notice things that other people overlook. And you know, most of them are in plain sight.” (p. 6) So when he found the young man, crying, he extended his hand and invited him out, “into the light.”

After they had shared and become more acquainted, Jones opened an old tattered suitcase and he produced three books, about great people. And then, soon, he came back with three more books. This was repeated again and again, while the young man read of the lives and sometimes despair of others, and began to look at his own life...from a different perspective.

At the same time, Jones visited other people there in the small town: the one who was considering suicide or the old lady in her 70’s who felt her life was over and she was just waiting to die. And then there was the man who ran his business with no concern for quality, ethics, his customers or even his employees. One after the other, Jones was there to talk about what he noticed about their lives and help them see them from a different perspective.

And, then, many years later, Jones was gone! All they found was the old suitcase that he had carried continuously, sitting in the road . . .

Many are saying this is the best book they have read in their lives. The Noticer can be picked up by anyone and, more than likely, will find that one or more of the life stories will speak to them in a personal way. I know I did. In many ways, the now-common question, “What Would Jesus Do?” is answered when Jones arrives, although The Noticer itself is not really written as a Christian self-help book; it will speak to anybody that just needs a “little perspective” to look closely in the mirror without guilt, regret or judgment.

Only you, having read my review, will know...is The Noticer by Andy Andrews a must-read for YOU?

G. A. Bixler