Graphic novel spotlight - The Inscrutable Dr Baer

 

The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue by Jerzy Drozd

Doctor Who (Doctor Baer even sort of resembles the Doctor as portrayed by David Tenant) meets Jackaby in this offbeat adventure. Doctor Baer is a fastidious character with a deep understanding of cursed objects who finds himself thrown into an adventure with an overly-eager pair of sidekicks. The stakes are high but the tone is light. The art is incredibly detailed but never takes itself too seriously. That makes this a great deal of fun to race-through or linger on an individual page and lends itself well to re-reading. 

Book review - Pick the Lock

 

Title: Pick the Lock

Author: A. S. King

Genre: realistic fiction-ish (it's sort of hard to define)

Similar books: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

                      Feed by M. T. Anderson

Rating: 

ultimately the good kind of weird

Summary (provided by publisher): Jane Vandermaker-Cook would like her mother back. As Jane's mother tours the world to support the family, Jane lives and goes to school in a Victorian mansion with her younger brother and their mendacious father who confines Jane’s mother to a system of pneumatic tubes whenever she’s at home. And then there's weirdly ever-present Aunt Finch, Milorad the gardener, and his rat, Brutus. For Jane, this all seems normal until she suddenly gains access to the files for a lifetime of security-camera videos—her lifetime.

My opinion: I thought I might find this book entirely too strange to enjoy. It is, after all, highly strange. There's a strong sense of unreality to every aspect of the plot. And yet it works. Not unlike watching a Jordan Peale film, we quickly accept the strange elements of the story as part of how this world works. The details are parceled out with excellent timing. Even as we get a complete plot there are plenty of questions left unanswered. This is a book that would be well suited to a book club setting.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Let's Get Festive

 

Let's Get Festive by Joanna Konczak

If you were to judge this book solely by the cover you might expect a simple list of familiar holidays. Don't be fooled. Clocking in at nearly two hundred pages, we get a relatively comprehensive exploration of holidays and festivals. Broken up by intent, rather than calendar date, each celebration gets a full treatment. We learn about the culture it comes from, how it is celebrated, and approximately when it happens during the year. This is a book you can read all at once or revisit periodically as the festivals occur. As such it's a solid choice for a child or a strong resource for adults working with children.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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 What are you currently reading?

The Hysterical Girls of St Bernadette's by Hanna Alkaf - St Bernadette's School for girls has a sterling reputation. But the girls have started screaming. Separately Khadijah and Rachel investigate the screaming and the secrets of the school

What did you recently finish reading?

Pick the Lock by A S King - Ever since the COVID lockdown Jane has not been allowed to leave the house. Her world has been narrowed to her father, brother, and household staff. Her mother is either on tour as a popular punk musician or locked into a series of pneumatic tubes in the house. Through the punk rock opera she is writing and secret access to the house security system, Jane attempts to understand the strange world of her family.

What do you think you'll read next?

Movies Showing Nowhere by Yorick Goldewijk

Book review - Ratty

 

Title: Ratty

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

                      The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling

Rating: 

better than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Ratty Barclay wasn't supposed to be born a four-foot-tall, walking, talking rodent, but thanks to the Barclay family curse, he's had to live in hiding from the rest of the world. All he wants for his thirteenth birthday is to return to his family's abandoned estate on Fairweather Island to somehow break the curse. Then he'll finally get to live his life as a four-foot-tall, walking, talking, human boy.

Edweena Gup, the granddaughter of the Barclays' groundskeeper, has dedicated her life to being a Rat-Catcher Extraordinaire like her great-great-great grandmother before her. It doesn't matter that Fairweather Island has been rat-free for over a hundred years—she's determined to make sure everyone is prepared for their imminent return. And when she spots a human-sized rat lurking on the Barclay grounds, her worst fears are confirmed.

Though it seems like Ratty and Edweena are destined to be enemies, they have a lot in common—they're both lonely and misunderstood. But will they be able to overcome their fears of each other and maybe even become . . . friends?

My opinion: The concept here sounds a bit strange and we quickly develop expectations for the direction of the plot. In some ways it matches those expectations but there are enough variations to make it surprising and pleasant. The pacing is strong, moving the action rapidly while leaving just enough space for reflection to allow the characters to have some depth. Ultimately, this is a pleasant read with enough depth to satisfy a young reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Are You Nobody Too?

 

Title: Are You Nobody Too?

Author: Tina Cane

Genre: verse novel/realistic fiction

Similar books: With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods

                      Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen

Rating:

nicely introspective

Summary (provided by publisher): After a year of distance-learning, Emily Sofer finds her world turned upside down: she has to leave the only school she's ever known to attend a public school in Chinatown. For the first time, Emily isn't the only Chinese student around...but looking like everyone else doesn't mean that understanding them will be easy--especially with an intimidating group of cool girls Emily calls The Five.

When Emily discovers that her adoptive parents have been keeping a secret, she feels even more uncertain about who she is. A chance discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry helps her finally feel seen. . . but can the words of a writer from 200 years ago help her open up again, and find common ground with the Five?

My opinion: There's a lot going on in this book. Emily feels undefined. She's changed schools and doesn't feel like she belongs. She's realizing how different she is from her parents and how her background marks here as different. And she hasn't felt "normal" since the lockdown for the pandemic. She's looking for belonging and doesn't know how to find it. Her sense of isolation rings through every word as she tries to find herself through poetry.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone - Big Bertha

 

Big Bertha by Amanda Abler

If you are dealing with a kid who loves big machines, this is a unique story to read them. Instead of the standard dump trucks and excavators, this is the story of a boring machine. Presented in a narrative style we follow the impetus for the tunnel, the engineer behind the project, the problems that arose, and the public sentiment for the project. It's an easy to follow narrative that uses accessible vocabulary. Heavily illustrated it includes back matter for more in depth information and a few photos.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Not Another Banned Book

 

Title: Not Another Banned Book

Author: Dana Alison Levy

Genre: Realistic fiction

Similar books: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

                      Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

Rating:

takes some interesting turns

Summary (provided by publisher): No matter what was going on in Molly's life at home, she always had book club at school. Whether she's dealing with a death in the family or her parent's breaking the news they want to move she is able to read a new book and escape life...even if it is just for a little bit. 

But when someone anonymously notifies school boards about a controversial book in the classroom, her favorite teacher Ms. Lewsiton is suspended...and book club is a banned for the immediate future. 

With weeks until graduation, Molly has never felt more lost. She knows she needs to do something--anything--to prove to everyone that the books they read with Ms. Lewsiton are more important than the adults may realize. 

With her group of friends, Molly will fight to save her book club from writing their favorite author to protests on the football field. Molly will discover that standing up for what you believe in is only half the battle...but will she find she is fully ready to make a change for readers just like her?

My opinion: My first reaction to the idea of this book amounted to "not another banned-books book." There are an awful lot of books out there about kids fighting book bans. And if that's all this was it would be worthy of a weary sigh. But Levy doesn't just give us kids protesting an unfair decision. This book looks at a lot of context, both within the school system and in the character's lives, for the situation. Really, it's less about the book ban and more about Molly's motivation for fighting the situation. It asks what things are worth fighting and when you look for alternatives. This is a more complex, introspective narrative and is well worth reading and discussing.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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What are you currently reading?

May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao - May loves playing chess. But when she's given a special award at a tournament her friend Ralph says something hurtful and the two find themselves in competition to prove which of them is best.

What did you recently finish reading?

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham - Delilah planned to use her Calling to break the curse on her family but her Calling is hijacked the curse on the Pelumbra twins. She dedicates herself to breaking their curse and saving her new friends. The rest of the Pelumbras, though, don't want the curse broken. And they'll stop at nothing to keep things the way they are.

What do you think you'll read next?

Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth by Mikaela Lucido

Listen with me

 

Something's About to Blow Up by Sam Blake

When you start a book with an explosion at a school and introduce the idea that the teen characters are investigating, the reader is going to expect a mystery/thriller. But that's not exactly what this book is. Instead, we get more of a slow exploration of the secrets that these kids are keeping. As the girls dig into their memories, find photos, and talk to peripheral characters, they discover just how much about what is going on they don't understand. While that means there aren't car chases or tense stand-offs, it makes for surprisingly compelling reading. Each character brings a different perspective into the mystery and the tight time frame keeps the plot moving even as most of the action takes place elsewhere. It may not be a thrilling book, but it is interesting and well worth the time to read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone - Barefoot Skateboarders

 

Barefoot Skateboarders by Rina Singh

At face value this is a very simple story of kids learning to skateboard and a sport opening up opportunities for a disadvantaged community. That is certainly an element at play here. An older child could read this book and prompt a discussion about cultural barriers and children leading the way for change. Or about not letting pride get in the way of a good experience. Being open to learning from others. The art and vocabulary are simple enough to be understood by young readers with little help and for older readers it may prompt some deeper exploration of topics.

More information: Barefoot Skateboarders releases September 17
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - All the Ways to Go

 

Title: All the Ways to Go

Author: Jessie Janowitz

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen

                      Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Rating:

compelling and unique

Summary (provided by publisher): Milo Bloom, chess prodigy, has a secret: he doesn't want to play chess anymore. If only he had the courage to tell someone. Instead, he blows a major chess tournament on purpose. If no one knows he wants to quit, no one can be disappointed in him.  

The problem is, winning that tournament was a ticket to chess camp, and the loss means his summer plans are shot. Enter Roxie, a girl he's never met, who shows up at his door uninvited to tell him all about how he and his mom will be spending the whole summer with her and her mom in the "cat room" in their New Jersey home…what?  

Surprise! Before Milo knows what's hit him, he's living at Roxie's house, where creepy cats rule, meat products are banned, and Roxie, who doesn't seem to understand the concept of personal space, won't give him a second alone.  

But when Milo and Roxie stumble across two people playing a fascinating game they've never seen before, they become determined to learn the ancient game of Go. Between late-night library adventures and creating a Go club at their summer camp, Milo and Roxie form an unexpected friendship, realizing they have a lot more to learn from each other than just the game of Go. That is, if Milo can face his fears and tell his mom how he really feels about chess so he can stop living a lie. 

My opinion: A story about a chess prodigy feels like it should have a narrow audience but that isn't the case here. Janowitz had captured a sort of universality in this narrative. Milo's story isn't one about excelling at something and losing how you define yourself. It's about losing your passion and feeling directionless. It's about fearing what people will think of you and being confronted by things that you hate on principle. Even as Milo makes choices that we know will turn out badly we root for him to find his way and we cheer as he slowly opens up to new experiences. With a small but compelling cast of characters this is a strong read for any kid who has ever felt lost and like an outsider.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Oh No They Didn't: Presidents

 

Oh No They Didn't: Presidents by Eric Huang

The construction here is a clear one - we are presented with an often repeated "fact" about a president and then the truth of the matter. Many of these corrections will be familiar but several were new to me. We don't get much beyond the correction in terms of historical context but as a quick entertainment it's a solid choice.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

This Book Kills by Ravena Kaur Guron - Jess is trying her best to survive as one of just a few scholarship students at an elite boarding school. Then a powerful student is killed using a story that Jess wrote as inspiration and her carefully constructed world falls apart.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti - A pair of siblings hunts for Al Capone's missing millions with their grandfather and friends and turn up a much bigger mystery.

What do you think you'll read next?

Not Another Banned Book by Dana Alison Levy

Book review - Mysterious Ways

 

Title: Mysterious Ways

Author: Wendy Wunder

Genre: realistic (?) fiction

Similar books: Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant

                     Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Rating: 

Well done

Summary (provided by publisher): Seventeen-year-old Maya knows everything. When she looks at someone, she instantly knows their history, their private thoughts, their secret desires, their most tragic failures. Combine these private miseries with the general state of the world, and it's easy to see why Maya's power starts to get her down…

Which is why she was sent to the Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, and also why starting at a new school is going to be such a challenge. Now, faced with Tyler, a cute guy she actually wants to know everything about, Maya realizes that maybe her power isn't so horrible after all. Maybe she can use it for good. Maybe she can even get the guy. Or maybe there really is such a thing as knowing too much.

My opinion: There is a sort of emotional distance in this narrative that normally would be a negative but which works surprisingly well in this case. It parallels the overall unreality of the narrative and keeps the tone fairly light. But don't take that to mean that this is a silly story. The light tone keeps it from becoming maudlin but allows it to address serious issues. Through her efforts to save people and the world, Maya explores ideas of responsibility. Reading this once is surprisingly fun. Reading it a second time is more reflective and digs deep into the ideas. A strong novvel well worth your time.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Ash's Cabin

 

Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang

If you are the sort of reader who loved Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain, then Ash's Cabin is the book for you. The resemblance to the latter book is stronger since Ash chooses to go off the grid and live a spare existence rather than being thrust into a survival situation. We walk through Ash's whole journey - what motivates them to leave, the preparations they make, and the difficulties they encounter. This is a deeply introspective story and that nature is reflected in the delicate illustrations and muted color palette. As a whole, it balances text and images well to tell a complete story.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: camps and camping

 Summer might be over but stories about the outdoors and the freedom of camping are always entertaining. Whether it's a spooky tale of dangerous creatures or the freedom to explore relationships, we can learn a lot from camping stories. Here are six books that feature camping published in the past six months.

6 new camping stories:

1. Continental Drifter by Kathy MacLeod
2. The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
3. Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim
4. Nightmare in the Backyard by Jeff Strand
5. It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell
6. Upstaged by Robin Easter

Listen with me

 

Something's About to Blow Up by Sam Blake

After the rather disappointing experience of our last audio, let's jump into something that promises a little more thrilling with this tale of an explosion at an Irish prep school and the secrets that the affected students uncover.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

One Last Chance to Live by Francisco X Stork - Nico is obsessed with a dream he had. In it, he was at his own funeral and his best friend's dead sister was trying to tell him something. If he is truly dying, as he believes, he doesn't have long to find out what Rosario was trying to tell him, save his mother and brother, and write a book that people will remember.

What did you recently finish reading?

Monster Tree by Sarah Allen - After his father's death, Linus and his mother move across town for a fresh start. But pets in his new neighborhood are going missing and there's something unsettling about the tree in the next yard.

What do you think you'll read next?

A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee

Book review - Night of the Living Head

 

Title: Night of the Living Head

Author: Hanna Alkaf

Genre: horror

Similar books: The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

                      Brick Dust and Bones by M.R. Fournet

Rating:

kid-friendly creepy

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Alia has always had the worst luck. Whether it’s her parents moving her all the way from Kuala Lumpur to a tiny village or her shoes constantly coming untied, Alia can’t help but feel as if the universe has it out for her.

To top it all off, her estranged older sister, Ayu, has just reappeared in their lives after years away. Alia’s parents are delighted, but Alia is not so sure. She remembers the fights, the tears, the pain her sister caused and knows this is just another case of bad luck following her around.

Then Alia’s school fills with rumors of a horrifying creature spotted flying in the night sky. And Alia realizes that perhaps it’s not just her bad luck this time—but something more sinister is lying just under the surface of her town…and it’s up to Alia to put an end to it for once and for all.

My opinion: There are plenty of scary stories in English language books about familiar monsters - vampires, werewolves, goblins, etc. So it's fascinating to get stries about monsters from other cultures. This book handles it well. We are told that Alia isn't very well-versed in the folk traditions of her culture. Thus, when she encounters a traditional monster she needs to learn about the lore and the reader shares in her research. The result is a story that is just the right level of spooky. It's a touch gross, so be forewarned of that, but overall this is exactly the sort of book I would have loved in my early middle grade years when I was deeply in my Goosebumps phase.

More information: Night of the Living Head is part of the Tales From Cabin 23 series, a collection of linked novels by assorted authors.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley