Book review - Go With the Flow

Title: Go With the Flow
Author: Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Moxie by Jennifer Matthieu
                      Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Good friends help you go with the flow.
Best friends help you start a revolution.
Sophomores Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha are fed up. Hazelton High never has enough tampons. Or pads. Or adults who will listen.
Sick of an administration that puts football before female health, the girls confront a world that shrugs—or worse, squirms—at the thought of a menstruation revolution. They band together to make a change. It’s no easy task, especially while grappling with everything from crushes to trig to JV track but they have each other’s backs. That is, until one of the girls goes rogue, testing the limits of their friendship and pushing the friends to question the power of their own voices.
Now they must learn to work together to raise each other up. But how to you stand your ground while raising bloody hell?

My opinion: I'm all in favor of the message of this book. The sheer cost and lack of availability of feminine hygiene products is frustrating. And then when you tack on the associated shame ... infuriating. As females we're made to feel like we can't talk about menstruation. The marketing for period products tends to be more about discretion than empowerment or hygiene. So I get what Williams and Schneeman are going for. The lack of conversation and the dismissal of female issues is a real problem and one that we can help to correct with small achievable steps. We can make strides just by refusing to be quiet. So, on messaging alone this book is worth the read. I found the plot sort of scattered. Side plots are introduced but never resolved.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

All of a Sudden and Forever by Chris Barton

The Oklahoma City Bombing was such a formative event in my childhood that it interests me to see how it is presented as an historical event. Especially how it's done in a way appropriate for even young children. The key here is that Barton doesn't go into details and doesn't put the central focus on the bombing itself. The bombing is presented as a life changing event. A single moment that changed everything. We get a very brief summary to the effect of "a bomb exploded and many people died". The main focus of the text is on the trauma experienced by people and the efforts made to recover. And on the element I'd never heard of: the tree. The tree that became a symbol of resilience. The tree that they cultivate seedlings from to hand out at the memorial and transport to sites of other disasters. Barton's narrative is gentle enough for young children and could be of great benefit to any young person experiencing grief or loss.

More information: All of a Sudden and Forever releases February 4.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Fights

Fights by Joel Christian Gill

Gill's story is one of violence and the way that it becomes an intrinsic part of a person's life. Even a person who is naturally gentle. It is circumstance and fear that leads a young Joel to violent action. And once it finds entry into his life he comes to rely on in more and it becomes harder to separate. This memoir invites the reader to consider the background of people involved in fights and riots that we hear about on the news, to see them as a whole person rather than the action we've heard about. It's a thoughtful journey that doesn't hold back when it comes to harsh realities.  
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Nessie Quest

Title: Nessie Quest
Author: Melissa Savage
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
                      Little Green Men at the Mercury Inn by Greg Leitich Smith
Rating:

a sweet story

Summary (provided by publisher): Ada Ru finally thought her parents were going to agree to a Fitzhugh family vacation in Disney World the summer before sixth grade, until her father announces he's taking a teaching position in Scotland, and moving the family there for the entire summer.
Ada Ru is anything but happy. She doesn't like their new home, she hates haggis, and she certainly doesn't like the idea that she will be away from her best friend all summer. To top it all off, there is said to be a monster in the lake near their house!
That's when she meets Hamish Bean Timmy, Hammy Bean for short, captain of the Nessie Quest Monster Chaser boat tour. He knows everything there is to know about the fabled Loch Ness Monster and Scotland. But as the two unlikely friends embark on an epic adventure to spot the lake monster, they end up discovering more than they ever could have imagined. 

My opinion: Aliens and cryptids are, invariably, a metaphor for social or personal issues. They represent a character's isolation. This book deviates from the standard by lowering the stakes. Ada doesn't really have a lot of concern here. She's spending a summer away from home. The isolation is Hammy Bean's. Ada's involvement in the plot is entirely through Hammy Bean. She isn't even directly involved in the biggest dramatic scene. This means that the reader is somewhat emotionally isolated from the plot. It's a nice exploration of friendship and how we interact with each other but not an especially deep one.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Weekend hodgepodge

Ever have a weekend where you can't settle on a project? I definitely had one of those this weekend. I couldn't seem to get y act together enough to focus on a big project. I did assemble a kit: a solar powered plant monitor.

And after binging The Mandalorian, I couldn't help but draw the Child. 

 

Book review - Race to the Sun

Title: Race to the Sun
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Genre: fantasy adventure
Similar books: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
                      The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Rating:

a solidly pleasant read

Summary (provided by publisher): Lately, seventh grader Nizhoni Begay has been able to detect monsters, like that man in the fancy suit who was in the bleachers at her basketball game. Turns out he's Mr. Charles, her dad's new boss at the oil and gas company, and he's alarmingly interested in Nizhoni and her brother, Mac, their Navajo heritage, and the legend of the Hero Twins. Nizhoni knows he's a threat, but her father won't believe her. When Dad disappears the next day, leaving behind a message that says "Run!", the siblings and Nizhoni's best friend, Davery, are thrust into a rescue mission that can only be accomplished with the help of Diné Holy People, all disguised as quirky characters. Their aid will come at a price: the kids must pass a series of trials in which it seems like nature itself is out to kill them. If Nizhoni, Mac, and Davery can reach the House of the Sun, they will be outfitted with what they need to defeat the ancient monsters Mr. Charles has unleashed. But it will take more than weapons for Nizhoni to become the hero she was destined to be . . . Timeless themes such as the importance of family and respect for the land resonate in this funny, fast-paced, and exciting quest adventure set in the American Southwest. 

My opinion: At first glance, this is little more than a Percy Jackson clone. This is another writer following Riordan's formula with a different culture's mythology. It follows a standard hero journey: seeking an object that will allow them to defeat the villain, traveling with companions, confronting your personality flaws along the way. The over all plot is, thus, fairly predictable. But Roanhorse does a pretty good job of putting interesting flesh onto those standard bones. The characters have reasonable complexity. And Nizhoni's personal journey is a compelling one. As always, books like this one encourage the reader to learn more about a culture and it's mythology.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

Now that we're nearly a month into the new year, I feel like it's time to try something new. For a couple of years now I've been listening to audio books, usually while I run. But I've never had a good place to discuss them here on the blog. That changes now.

Here's the plan: I'll post about audio books as I start listening to them. This first post will be about what drew me to the book and my thoughts going into it. Once I finish the audio, I'll post again about my opinions. Feel free to listen along with me and share your impressions as well. It should be fun!

Our inaugural audio:

 Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I've been looking forward to this one since I watched the first episode of the Amazon series and was utterly enchanted. And I've never read a Neil Gaiman book that wasn't good, so I have high hopes for the humor and entertainment value of this book so long as it is well read.

Full disclosure: I started listening to this one on Monday so I'm about and hour and a half in as of this post.

Non-fiction book review - Normal

Normal by Magdalena and Nathaniel Newman

Medical memoirs have an obvious appeal to adult audiences. This tends to be less the case for young readers. The tie to Wonder, though, makes a significant difference in this case. Because it's one thing to read a novel and receive the author's message through the lens of a character's life. It's something else entirely to read a real person's story, to have those same lessons grounded in reality. Nathaniel's medical challenges are more the focus of this book than in the novel. Auggie's challenges were more social. We are able to see Nathaniel as a regular kid, just one with a complicated health history. While it's not an especially intense read it adds some interesting context to what can be a very intense middle grade novel. It serves as a great companion to Palacio's novel.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Runaway Princess

Title: The Runaway Princess
Author: Johan Troianowski
Genre: humor/graphic novel
Similar books: Sardine in Outer Space by Emmanuel Guibert
                      HIlda and the Troll by Luke Pearson
Rating:

makes some interesting choices

Summary (provided by publisher): Robin? Robin? Robin?! Where are you?
She couldn't have gone far. . . .Princesses don't run away to have their own adventures. Right? No, no, no. Princesses stay quietly and obediently at home. They would never want to see mermaids and swamps and pirates and possibly get kidnapped.
Not this princess!
Adventures awaits when Robin (bored of princess-ing all the time) embarks on the best adventure of her life—meeting friends along the way as she travels through the magical landscape of her country. But her parents aren't so pleased, and they're coming to find her and bring her back to the castle, no matter how she feels about it!

My opinion: The plot of this book starts with a simple idea - Princess Robin has run away to have an adventure - and sort of meanders its way to an ending. It is in no way a linear plot. This isn't about the story, its about the experience. We have this wild fantasy moments, magical crowd scenes, and fantastic creatures. Even more interesting, though, are the points where the reader is invited to interact with the story. Mazes, hidden pictures, word puzzles, or even just an invitation to yell. It encourages the reader to fully engage with the book. While it's not terribly complex it is appealing. And I suspect it will grow on the reader with repetition.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by publisher

Dinosaur Kit

I was pretty excited to get this color-your-own dinosaur kit for Christmas.

It came with three markers but I never even took them out of the package. Not only was I uncertain of the color choices, I feared the color would smear everywhere. Instead I used Sharpies. The result is pretty cool, I think. 

 

Book review - Saving Savannah

Title: Saving Savannah
Author: Tonya Bolden
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: The Long Ride by Marina Budhos
                      The Ballad of Yaya by Jean-Marie Omont
Rating:

leaves you with things to consider

Summary (provided by publisher): Savannah Riddle is lucky. As a daughter of an upper class African American family in Washington D.C., she attends one of the most rigorous public schools in the nation--black or white--and has her pick among the young men in her set. But lately the structure of her society--the fancy parties, the Sunday teas, the pretentious men, and shallow young women--has started to suffocate her.
Then Savannah meets Lloyd, a young West Indian man from the working class who opens Savannah's eyes to how the other half lives. Inspired to fight for change, Savannah starts attending suffragist lectures and socialist meetings, finding herself drawn more and more to Lloyd's world.
Set against the backdrop of the press for women's rights, the Red Summer, and anarchist bombings, Saving Savannah is the story of a girl and the risks she must take to be the change in a world on the brink of dramatic transformation.

My opinion: The plot of this book is not especially complex. The central conflict - a privileged girl who expresses displeasure with her life and searches for meaning - follows an expected path. Her world is opened up, her awareness expanded, by her interactions with a domestic worker and a rough but handsome young man. Bolden attempts to add complexity with side plots - the rebellious older brother, the mother's secret history, the conflict with the best friend. The first two are little more than elements contributing to the character, not true side plots. The conflict with the friends is shallow and quickly resolved, never really explored in depth and not resolved with any true effort on either character's part. Even with those criticisms I find it worth reading. Largely because its a time and perspective that get little attention in fiction or in schools. Firstly, we have suffrage from the black perspective. There is inevitably exploration of racism but also internal to their community based on skin  tone and place of origin. And even more, there's the exploration of class divides and the ways it's inexorably entwined with race. The conclusions we're meant to draw are pretty clear so it doesn't have much value in terms of literary evaluation. The real value here is in the discussions one could have as a result, probably with an upper middle school aged group.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Diana: Princess of the Amazons

Diana Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

A couple of years ago, Free Comic Book Day found me frustrated with the lack of superhero comics for young readers, prompting me to write this open letter.  Not long afterwards, DC began to prove me wrong. First with the DC Superhero girls , then Clark Kent, and now this book. And unlike some stories, this is a genuine superhero story. Sure, Diana has regular kid worries: feeling ignored, difficulty making friends, that sort of thing. But she also fights monsters. This is a solidly entertaining read. Exciting without becoming too dark for a young reader. And the characters have a reasonable degree of depth. If the big comic companies stay on this path we could be looking at a real renaissance of the superhero genre.

Non-fiction book review - The Vegetarian Cookbook

The Vegetarian Cookbook

In my opinion, too many people dismiss cookbooks aimed at children. The good ones, like this book, are just as focused on "real" foods as books aimed at adults. These recipes require peeling, slicing, and actual cooking. These recipes are good if you're just getting started cooking. They don't assume you know how to do anything. Each step is carefully explained. There's a nice glossary of cooking terms and a solid section on kitchen safety and basics. If you've always thought that going vegetarian would be too much work, involve too much fuss, this is the book that will prove you wrong.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Keystone

Title: Keystone
Author: Katie Delaharty
Genre: dystopia
Similar books: The Future Will Be BS-Free by Will McIntosh
                      The Hive by Barry Lyga
Rating:

a return to what we liked about dystopian fiction

Summary (provided by publisher): When Ella Karman debuts on the Social Stock Exchange, she finds out life as a high-profile "Influencer" isn't what she expected. Everyone around her is consumed by their rankings, in creating the smoke and mirrors that make them the envy of the world.
But then Ella’s best friend betrays her, her rankings tank, and she loses—everything.
Leaving her old life behind, she joins Keystone, a secret school for thieves, where students are being trained to steal everything analog and original because something—or someone—is changing history to suit their needs.
Partnered with the annoyingly hot—and utterly impossible—Garrett Alexander, who has plenty of his own secrets, Ella is forced to return to the Influencer world, while unraveling a conspiracy that began decades ago.
One wrong move and she could lose everything—again.

My opinion: After the big dystopian boom, we all got kind of burnt out on the genre and they largely disappeared from the landscape. Now they're starting to make a slow return with far more focus on quality writing and innovative ideas. The new focus, thematically, is on the negative influences of social media and complacency. How we allow ourselves to e oppressed in the name of convenience or social power. Delaharty points some blame at social media, saying that people are inclined to sell their souls in the name of influence. It's not an especially unique take though the approach has a unique spin. It takes some extreme views but uses those extremes to open our eyes to the dark sides of our own society.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Punch needle

I was given a 'learn to punch needle' book for Christmas, so I've been practicing the necessary skills. This is the first picture I completed.

 

Book review - Clean Getaway

Title: Clean Getaway
Author: Nic Stone
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
                      Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson
Rating:

a bit disappointing

Summary (provided by publisher): How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
  •  Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
  •  Fasten Your Seatbelt: G'ma's never conventional, so this trip won't be either.
  •  Use the Green Book: G'ma's most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and most important, the way home.
What Not to Bring:
  •  A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G'ma starts acting stranger than usual.
Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with New York Times bestselling Nic Stone and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover that the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren't always what they seem--his G'ma included. 

My opinion: There are certainly things I like about this book. I especially like the parallels between G'ma's experience with racism and societal expectations and Scoob's. It makes it clear both how much the world has changed and yet racism remains. There are ways life is easier for Scoob yet he must be more mindful of his actions. By highlighting the differences it points out how truly unfair our current reality is. That makes this book worth a read. But I didn't love many of the plot elements. I found several plot twists entirely too predictable. And I'm concerned that the subtlety of the final chapters will be lost on many readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: Comedy

There are a lot of ways to refocus your life at the start of a new year. You can read something super meaningful. Sometimes, though, it's nice to lighten things up. To start 2020 on a positive note, here are 6 funny books published in the past 6 months.

6 new comedies:

1. AstroNuts by Jon Scieszka
2. The Secret of Shadow Lake by Joe McGee
3. Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy: Time Trout by Doug Savage
4. Seafoam: A Friend for Madison by Jorry Keith
5. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Missing Adults by Scott bryan Wilson
6. Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes by Greg James

Non-fiction book review - Mamie on the Mound

Mamie on the Mound by Leah Henderson

We don't get enough stories of women and people of color in the early years of sports. Mamie on the Mound aims to help remedy that. This is a truly remarkable story, one of women facing racial and gender discrimination, having to constantly prove themselves in ways that their male counterparts never need to do. We see Mamie taking inspiration from other innovators. We see the change she affected and the ways she responded to criticism with dignity. It's well illustrated and has a simple vocabulary making it quite accessible. Small children will appreciate it at face value. For older kids it could park a more complex conversation about continued biases in modern sports. For sports fans and indoor types alike.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Me and Banksy

Title: Me and Banksy
Author: Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake
                      Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills
Rating:

good conversation starter

Summary (provided by publisher): Dominica's private school is covered in cameras, and someone is hacking into them and posting embarrassing moments for the whole school to see. Like Ana picking her nose. When Dominica quickly changes her shirt from inside out in what she thinks is the privacy of a quiet corner in the library, she's shocked -- and embarrassed -- to discover a video has captured this and is currently circulating amongst her schoolmates. So mortifying, especially since over the past three years, they've had a half-dozen school talks about social media safety.
Who has access to the school security cameras and why are they doing this? Dominica and her best friends, Holden and Saanvi, are determined to find out, and in the process start an art-based student campaign against cameras in the classroom.

My opinion: Taken on the whole, I had some problems with this book. The plot was taken to extremes that really challenged my willing suspension of disbelief. Kyi has pushed too many elements to the extreme. I would still recommend middle graders read this book. I liked the example it presents. These kids see an injustice. They try to report it and are dismissed. When the adults in their lives fail to set things straight they have to matters into their own hands. They put together an act of protest intended to get people talking. Kyi is showing the reader the power of the individual and of conversation to effect change.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Shelf marker

Ages ago, when I first got some good art markers, I drew some llamas on cardstock. I've been using them to mark where the graphic novel I'm currently reading belongs on the book shelf ever since. They're starting to show their age, though, mostly missing their legs and ears. So I decided to replace them with something a little bit sturdier. I made a tentacle out of a cereal box and kind of love how it looks peeking out between the books.

 

Book review - Broken Strings

Title: Broken Strings
Author: Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Dara Palmer's Major Drama by Emma Shevah
                      The Marvels by Brian Selznick
Rating:

A genuinely compelling read

Summary (provided by publisher): It's 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers -- and the death of her beloved grandmother -- Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she's been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school.
Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather's attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner -- strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.

My opinion: There's a lot to like about this book. When Shirli doesn't get the part she wants in the play, she learns embrace and appreciate her new role. But that doesn't stop her wishing. While she's happy to play the mother she still longs to play the daughter. A new appreciation doesn't wipe away the old desire.
The book takes us somewhat back in time here, to a world just post 9/11. A world with a much smaller cell phone presence and where kids don't yet feel constantly unsafe. Where we weren't yet at war but islamaphobia was beginning to rear it's ugly head. And we view all these elements through the lens of the Holocaust. The parallels aren't explicitly drawn but a savvy reader will make that connection.
While some plot points are a bit too random, overall it's a joy to read and leaves the reader with elements to reflect upon. It might be well suited to a book club discussion.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

Edwina: The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems

Most people who spend any time reading to small children are familiar with the work of Mo Willems, either through the Pigeon or Elephant and Piggie. My favorite of his books, though, is Edwina. Edwina is a dinosaur well loved by her community. She's friendly and helpful. She also shouldn't exist, a source of consternation for a little boy named Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie. The plot is simple - Reginald tries to convince people that Edwina should be extinct and he is constantly thwarted. It's silly and utterly charming. Very young children will enjoy this book at a surface level. Reginald's name alone never fails to elicit giggles. Older children are entertained by the nonsense of the plot. It never fails to entertain and holds up to repeat reads.