Book review - War of the Winds

Title: War of the Wind

Author: Victoria Williamson 

Genre: mild sci-fi

Similar books: Where the Lockwood Grows by Olivia Cole

                      Song of the River by Gill Lewis

Rating:

 

decent payoff

Summary (provided by publisher): A thrilling new adventure story with delightfully diverse disability representation. Set on a remote Scottish island, War of the Wind introduces us to a cast of characters with additional support needs. It is simultaneously a page-turning eco-thriller about government testing gone wrong and a heartwarming celebration of our differences.

My opinion: This novel has a strong premise and makes a concerted effort at representation. What it lacks is nuance. Our protagonist views the world through a very narrow focus and refuses to see any other viewpoints. He's a frustrating character and can be a bit off-putting. The plot, too, lacks complexity. We can guess pretty early on that this experimental program is having a negative affect on the population. It keeps the action moving, though. The physical threat is real enough to be thrilling to young readers without becoming overly intense. There are a few scenes that sensitive readers will find upsetting, so be forewarned. The plot pays off in a satisfying way it just requires a little patience to get there.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
 

Book review - The Kill Factor

 

Title: The Kill Factor

Author: Ben Oliver

Genre: dystopia

Similar books: Teen Killers Club by Lily Sparks

                      Hardwired by Trisha Leaver

Rating:

 

decent premise, decent execution

Summary (provided by publisher): A brand-new game show that offers young criminals the chance at freedom has been greenlit. Little do they know, winning is their only chance at survival. A captivating examination of the dark truths around the criminal justice system, Ben Oliver, critically acclaimed author of The Loop trilogy, delivers an action-packed thrill ride with deadly high stakes.
Fifty contestants. Five mental and physical challenges. One winner.
In a near-future where a virtual currency of digital content fuels a fame-hungry society, a brand-new experiment that combines social media and reality TV has been greenlit.
Voted on, and contestants are sent to a maximum-security reform camp on an island where they can have no contact with the outside world. To lose means prison. But to win is to be free. The most popular young offender with the most upvotes by the end is given both a second chance in society and a cash prize.
This kind of money could mean everything to Emerson and her family who live in the Burrows, one of the subterranean villages where the government have buried affordable housing. It's more than freedom. It could mean the chance to change her family’s circumstance and finally find a place in the society they’ve never been allowed into.
But what Emerson doesn’t know, what the viewers don’t know, is that the prison on the island is empty. Those who lose, those who are voted off aren’t incarcerated. Each challenge will leave more and more contestants to die. And the only choice they have is to win over viewers before it’s too late.

My opinion: This book starts with one of the more believable premises I've encountered - a world where social media following determines your wealth and teen offenders are exploited for entertainment, promised a chance at freedom and power. But with such a clear agenda the thrust of the plot becomes pretty predictable. We can guess, pretty early on, that the promise of the game is not as it appears. And the writing supports that. The reader will join the characters in their doubt. It's action heavy and violent without becoming overly descriptive. But the characters are under developed and the twists are more manipulative than natural outcomes of plot. It's moderately entertaining but fails to explore the morals of the world in a meaningful way.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Hometown by S A Fanning - An offhand comment in the wake of a riot at a football game puts a teen at the center of controversy in his small town.

What did you recently finish reading?

Dark Parts of the Universe by Samuel Miller - An app leads a young man to uncover dark secrets in his town.

What do you think you'll read next?

The Mystery of Raspberry Hill by Eva Frantz

Non-fiction book review - The Lost Forest

 

The Lost Forest by Jennifer Swanson

This book deftly combines science and history. It takes us step by step through the discovery of an ancient forest, from the initial mapping of the site to the complications of exploring to what the scientists learned from the exploration. The text is clear and easy to understand, well supported by plenty of photos and charts. This could have been a dry topic but Swanson makes it interesting.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Hair pins

 Years ago I made headbands with a t-shirt flower attached and somewhere along the line I got out of the habit. I decided to try it again but attach them instead to bobby pins. And for an extra flourish, I've added some rhinestones to the center.

These are for sale on my Etsy shop, if you're interested.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Monkey King and the World of Myths

 

The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam

There's something appealing about a trickster. Anansi. Loki. And Monkey King. They give us the opportunity to cheer for borderline wicked behavior. We get to see them misbehave but sometimes redeem themselves and usually get their comeuppance.  This book introduces the reader to not only Monkey King but a world in which all mythologies exist simultaneously. Monkey King is on a mission to get the gods to see him, a beast, as valuable and powerful. Along the way he crosses paths with all sorts of mythological beings. His mischief both helps and harms his quest. The simplicity of the story and the art makes this easy for young readers to follow and stay engaged.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
 

Picture books for everyone - The Little Regent

 

The Little Regent by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

This is a situation that we see sometimes in fiction - a child or someone else unexpected and atypical suddenly thrown into a leadership position. Usually it's played for laughs but ultimately comes to the conclusion that the unconventional leadership style is to everyone's benefit. That is somewhat the situation here, but in larger part our protagonist is following the example of her father. She leads with compassion, recognizing problems and finding practical ways to help. That's the strongest benefit of this book. It teaches children how to lead by example, how to affect practical change. With charming, dynamic illustrations that use rich colors this is a book worth reading.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley