tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71715828192331812922024-03-15T16:00:35.938-04:00The One and Only MarfalfaOnly Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.comBlogger2285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-1176663153277108792024-03-15T16:00:00.000-04:002024-03-15T16:00:00.259-04:00Book review - Finally Heard<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgirPTOqfW36mdPDQH9wHN8YsobOmyi05OgjKAT09g2Naq-HG-fxIWdUKVxrShNgAKB01IXvd58AFU6wCgbIGmm5usgd9DbiyVENuJeh74s-VOBss6__4pQ-EEZ57Ub0VzxXfRSB7fI6b1AhjX50xh3Vvc6OLOo4i9tJrcYfy4np2zXHmzZxlbMdXlUW75/s385/cover304527-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgirPTOqfW36mdPDQH9wHN8YsobOmyi05OgjKAT09g2Naq-HG-fxIWdUKVxrShNgAKB01IXvd58AFU6wCgbIGmm5usgd9DbiyVENuJeh74s-VOBss6__4pQ-EEZ57Ub0VzxXfRSB7fI6b1AhjX50xh3Vvc6OLOo4i9tJrcYfy4np2zXHmzZxlbMdXlUW75/s320/cover304527-medium.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Finally Heard</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Kelly Yang</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: No Talking by Andrew Clements</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Daisy Wormwood Changes the World by Melissa Hart<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW0rbvOBku3i2EGhDMIvljQafGTHvAEYQ5t3nsiHbxJi222FGbYldu6JywLLHRRvPc26OwYl_kIV1UgB6u2dtcyAmfKhXv8_nPNk7B0Disvu5CuRgFCqp074pmBOM3O3Pwi3WzKLgkAWP-SVunDIL27DsVE-I_zUrFs5xYQu4zYT9xL7wzoDYGAmuyxlr/s2048/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOW0rbvOBku3i2EGhDMIvljQafGTHvAEYQ5t3nsiHbxJi222FGbYldu6JywLLHRRvPc26OwYl_kIV1UgB6u2dtcyAmfKhXv8_nPNk7B0Disvu5CuRgFCqp074pmBOM3O3Pwi3WzKLgkAWP-SVunDIL27DsVE-I_zUrFs5xYQu4zYT9xL7wzoDYGAmuyxlr/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a nice read <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): When ten-year-old Lina Gao sees her mom’s video on social media take off, she’s captivated by the potential to be seen and heard! Maybe online she can finally find the confidence she craves. Whereas in real life she’s growing so fast, she feels like microwave popcorn, bursting out of her skin!<br />With the help of her two best friends, Carla and Finn, and her little sister, Millie, Lina sets off to go viral. Except there’s a lot more to social media than Lina ever imagined, like:<br />1. Seeing inside her classmates’ lives! Is she really the only person on the planet who doesn’t have a walk-in closet?<br />2. Group chats! Disappearing videos! What is everyone talking about in the secret chats? And how can she join?<br />3. A bazillion stories about what to eat, wear, and put on her face. Could they all be telling the truth? Everyone sounds so sure of what they’re saying!<br />As Lina descends deeper and deeper into social media, it will take all her strength to break free from the likes and find the courage to be her authentic self in this fast-paced world. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: Unsurprisingly, when a book addresses social media it's going to be a negative portrayal. Lina quickly descends into the dangers of living her life online. We aren't going to be especially surprised by the directions this book takes. But it certainly has some positives. For instance, there are several points in the book that discuss what is going on in our brains when we use social media and rely on our devices. Lina doesn't just fall victim to cyber-bullying - she sees how easy it is to engage in those behaviors from behind a screen. And it isn't just the kids. We see multiple adults engaging in unhealthy online behaviors as well as modeling better interactions both online and in person. While the ultimate conclusions are a bit idealized, overall this is a pleasant read that might encourage some deeper conversations with young readers.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-17104300294152968682024-03-14T16:00:00.001-04:002024-03-14T16:00:00.251-04:00Happy Pi day!<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">For some reason, Pi day is one of those weird holidays that I find more amusing than annoying. And casting about this morning for something quick to work on, I decided to try a new design for catnip toys - a pie. This is the result.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2VcE_NcVPrx-G8W7ZOtwZLq0OONXuNS3cYlXrOoQM2_-WHhgjpUOonzsi-6bdt5yzvf1075HY8fXYC2F4nJee7HePhB-eepNel58ywXa7kAcb2VC8g-H3mc-BsbL1bBUURrXPYcha8YjH1paQM9tmm4QvAHix1uCl8YyipwyyKedM56jiRlevLqZun1d/s4000/IMG_20240314_112146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2VcE_NcVPrx-G8W7ZOtwZLq0OONXuNS3cYlXrOoQM2_-WHhgjpUOonzsi-6bdt5yzvf1075HY8fXYC2F4nJee7HePhB-eepNel58ywXa7kAcb2VC8g-H3mc-BsbL1bBUURrXPYcha8YjH1paQM9tmm4QvAHix1uCl8YyipwyyKedM56jiRlevLqZun1d/s320/IMG_20240314_112146.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0OZzIb4IRVphhVn7Kay9yibNGO0_wy0IqkYdJjgJuGuyLMEZk0rnPQdeme31m3i7OUKgoZ0pu2qTXoubWFFnnn1X0r38bZHVgtAT2B6eBzSlohx2Hk5w3YXok6d3Vp9DKaPm4qZTcl7x6cV7B22V9Tl_w4oguzJDPYETDjsWRKdl2beXyz5uU83sAnOl/s4000/IMG_20240314_112151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0OZzIb4IRVphhVn7Kay9yibNGO0_wy0IqkYdJjgJuGuyLMEZk0rnPQdeme31m3i7OUKgoZ0pu2qTXoubWFFnnn1X0r38bZHVgtAT2B6eBzSlohx2Hk5w3YXok6d3Vp9DKaPm4qZTcl7x6cV7B22V9Tl_w4oguzJDPYETDjsWRKdl2beXyz5uU83sAnOl/s320/IMG_20240314_112151.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-71738389257005442782024-03-13T16:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T16:00:00.315-04:00WWW Wednesday<p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What are you currently reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
Underdogs of Upson Downs by Craig Silvey - the tale of a girl and a dog and their effort to save the family farm. I've just started this one and it holds a lot of promise.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What did you recently finish reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These Bodies Between Us by Sarah Van Name - a slightly odd magical realism book about girls who learn to make themselves invisible.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What do you think you'll read next?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-57608620244643997512024-03-12T16:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T10:45:43.097-04:00Book review - The Curse of Eelgrass Bog<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZY6WUwQLSFdNOgFbrT4OT5Ua9bGvuccMmArbTWOrwLAglr7K5S-oDKz3XcPPdHyk6lthrJaKnyYSASkuS6Z0JL208X7fuynkH83cGvsTP8K81kzqHJEuLFJuqUQ4QTpl_emVwPjV8VZX7zKa_OwUAW0UqBHfXG8mqCt6c0rB5XUkr1-pmUyWbZSrFmSl/s383/cover290085-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZY6WUwQLSFdNOgFbrT4OT5Ua9bGvuccMmArbTWOrwLAglr7K5S-oDKz3XcPPdHyk6lthrJaKnyYSASkuS6Z0JL208X7fuynkH83cGvsTP8K81kzqHJEuLFJuqUQ4QTpl_emVwPjV8VZX7zKa_OwUAW0UqBHfXG8mqCt6c0rB5XUkr1-pmUyWbZSrFmSl/s320/cover290085-medium.png" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: The Curse of Eelgrass Bog</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Mary Averling</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: fantasy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray by E. Latimer<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gfTjJ_DpbdPQDLt74VS0-Pw5xl6mBCSrxAxg3pJkfn9F0USq7ElL0FKNrBm9pLNKPVfkkxwzaupu8H8ndoj3lW_rKwlTB9ZOYOtPUkHzrcl10_WiwQP5cIWgeaqRBalRsVU_G_-0rc60TMyfr-jmGbP_27vmwAkT0cwWaiiR12R_x6itnx7G_NCSYQSU/s2048/013%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gfTjJ_DpbdPQDLt74VS0-Pw5xl6mBCSrxAxg3pJkfn9F0USq7ElL0FKNrBm9pLNKPVfkkxwzaupu8H8ndoj3lW_rKwlTB9ZOYOtPUkHzrcl10_WiwQP5cIWgeaqRBalRsVU_G_-0rc60TMyfr-jmGbP_27vmwAkT0cwWaiiR12R_x6itnx7G_NCSYQSU/s320/013%20(2).JPG" width="263" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a fun magical plot <br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Nothing about Kess Pedrock’s life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family’s Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon’s head in a jar named Shrunken Jim).<br />But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse—and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog.<br />Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she’d ever expected, and she’ll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it’s too late. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: The description of this book certainly sounds strange. And it is, if you only focus on the details. Somehow, though Averling manages to make shrunken heads and skeletons made of gold sound standard and common place. The descriptions of characters and settings are straightforward and have an air of normalcy. We get simple explanations for the existence of witches and curses and that simplicity makes them easy to accept. With a rapid pace and reveal of hidden plot elements, this is a quick and enjoyable read.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-32409010853493967462024-03-11T16:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T10:30:06.486-04:00Book review - Call Me Al<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUNtjl08i3acbWDvxlDr0b2F-MV1yHXZBh7tOcABH_oYbLWXuRp_FArH9NcdJzzafZZvA63LFwPwaMptX_ijgDu8zGwGvlXRcViu7GpLsO4ayNHlHTpaWyzeSQyOIkQ8iRMk6oVFXFGmUgiigx1btS-PbHiURoHjTZE3VZ5s2rCON2d86nOdogh_h1Ffx/s382/cover304675-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUNtjl08i3acbWDvxlDr0b2F-MV1yHXZBh7tOcABH_oYbLWXuRp_FArH9NcdJzzafZZvA63LFwPwaMptX_ijgDu8zGwGvlXRcViu7GpLsO4ayNHlHTpaWyzeSQyOIkQ8iRMk6oVFXFGmUgiigx1btS-PbHiURoHjTZE3VZ5s2rCON2d86nOdogh_h1Ffx/s320/cover304675-medium.png" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Call Me Al</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Wali Shah and Eric Walters</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Wishing Upon the Same Stars by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEr7lI5Rcl2zVdroRVWdgPcAhqHhssoDiSEmS3LsAtOQGahNczADBEU70sxms0bklChRL3_ZzHuUFyAeEXrL6AhlhCkvllZtJlhk_CahgOXS5xDVCj2Gi4ddXI8SuQqhAesPjgVBgeijsihGU37zq8KUsYwEd2G2XByNd6T4dmuSxUgTPKHwlHZFotwtZT/s1766/003%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEr7lI5Rcl2zVdroRVWdgPcAhqHhssoDiSEmS3LsAtOQGahNczADBEU70sxms0bklChRL3_ZzHuUFyAeEXrL6AhlhCkvllZtJlhk_CahgOXS5xDVCj2Gi4ddXI8SuQqhAesPjgVBgeijsihGU37zq8KUsYwEd2G2XByNd6T4dmuSxUgTPKHwlHZFotwtZT/s320/003%20(3).JPG" width="299" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a decent balance of elements <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Between the pressure from his immigrant parents to ace every class, his crush on Melissa, who lives in the rich area of town while he and his family live in a shabby apartment complex, and trying his best to fit in with his friends, he feels like he’s being pulled in too many different directions.<br />But harder still, Ali is becoming increasingly aware of the racism around him. Comments from his friends about Pakistani food or his skin color are passed off as jokes, but he doesn’t find them funny. And when Ramadan starts, Ali doesn’t tell anyone he’s fasting because it just seems easier. Luckily he finds solace in putting his feelings into words—and poems. But his father is dead set against him using art as a distraction when he’s got schoolwork and a future career as a doctor to focus on.<br />Ali’s world changes when he, his mom and his little brother are assaulted by some racist teens. Ali must come to terms with his roiling feelings about his place in the world, as a Pakistani immigrant, a Muslim and a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. With help from his grandfather, an inspiring teacher and his friend, Ali leans on his words for strength. And eventually he finds his true voice.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: The intent of this book is pretty straightforward, even from the beginning. It could easily become over-simplified and trite. But Shah and Walters do a solid job of blending in other elements to keep this from becoming just an exploration of casual racism. We look at both blatant racism and microaggressions, and all of the avenues they can come from. Blend in parental pressures and the impact of trauma and we have a more complex narrative at play. This is a quick and clear read that should facilitate some conversation with young readers.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Call Me Al releases March 12</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-31292708673938907512024-03-08T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-13T09:26:05.196-04:00Picture books for everyone<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxFQuzqCq3LY9XZ3iOrwdlMacCOtaVqR5oY0UJ-oVdt6MKa2etBnq8zqIWb-WW_u5IoNUw7eGcH5enssy931vPEy01R8kuaPNlDfYY6RhMT-IyKJTbsJYsAkCyaD3ogm1D_3SV_Tj8h0MwWGpkCZW4AXnEOpZNWQCxcEog6IXAYytjTdgbiUxdRgbFg_G/s312/cover285658-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="255" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxFQuzqCq3LY9XZ3iOrwdlMacCOtaVqR5oY0UJ-oVdt6MKa2etBnq8zqIWb-WW_u5IoNUw7eGcH5enssy931vPEy01R8kuaPNlDfYY6RhMT-IyKJTbsJYsAkCyaD3ogm1D_3SV_Tj8h0MwWGpkCZW4AXnEOpZNWQCxcEog6IXAYytjTdgbiUxdRgbFg_G/s1600/cover285658-medium.png" width="255" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This Book is Banned by Raj Haldar</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you're looking for a way to discuss book banning with kids, this fun picture book is a solid starting point. The reasons for banning content explored in this book are silly, of course. Elementary aged kids will giggle along as the book bans all sorts of innocuous things, leaving very little to talk about. This allows you to talk about access to information and who gets to decide what's allowed in books in a relaxed and playful manner. While the messaging won't land with very small children, they'll still enjoy the playful illustrations and interactions with the text.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-64339854594386028292024-03-07T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-07T16:00:00.258-05:00Cowl<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">My stash-busting continues. I had a skein of sock yarn that I bought super-cheap somewhere. I actually have a ton of knitted socks so I decided to do something different with this one. I found <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sockhead-cowl">this pattern</a> for a sock yarn cowl/hood which can easily be used with any brand of sock yarn. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGZYG3kQfN644OVnCfYmqwV04CgNQ8VfoNpZhuOiW0SUeDqCr2XZXWOD2luSyF0YkOtUdycAoL-UVLTU_PSSUz6WO_-0E4Gr6lyUf4PHsISiiBuGR71Kqzv1sKX6n9t1afNS6t1fdVsQsXH3mbUPe3TNNJhT-mB8NWVpScWPIn2jlQpNyU09ddBhrYqUc/s4000/IMG_20240306_104508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGZYG3kQfN644OVnCfYmqwV04CgNQ8VfoNpZhuOiW0SUeDqCr2XZXWOD2luSyF0YkOtUdycAoL-UVLTU_PSSUz6WO_-0E4Gr6lyUf4PHsISiiBuGR71Kqzv1sKX6n9t1afNS6t1fdVsQsXH3mbUPe3TNNJhT-mB8NWVpScWPIn2jlQpNyU09ddBhrYqUc/s320/IMG_20240306_104508.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">long enough to pull up over the top of my head but not too bulky to leave around my neck <br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, I finished it up as the weather is warming, but this might be nice for those spring days that still have a cold edge.<br /></span></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-75443950617203063522024-03-06T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T16:00:00.214-05:00WWW Wednesdays return<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">My recent blogiversary had me looking back and I rediscovered a prompt I gave up back in 2015: WWW Wednesdays. The idea here is to take a snapshot of your reading life by answering these three questions.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What are you currently reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Mysterious Life of Dr. Barry by Lisa Williamson - a fictionalized account of the life of James Barry who was born Margaret Buckley and lived as a man in order to become a renowned surgeon in Great Britain in the 1800s</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What did you recently finish reading?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Call Me Al by Wali Shah - the story of a Pakistani youth in Canada coming face to face with prejudice and learning how to respond to it without hatred </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;">What do you think you'll read next?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strong Like You by T.L. Simpson</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-62108101874909390602024-03-05T16:00:00.019-05:002024-03-06T10:50:10.636-05:00Book review - Kyra, Just for Today<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8wcovJfRK3Y6MEoru_bfSdErfxXPK-qwmNJobbhzs-YmucPxg1PY9YSv7yh8mPivC7b5IHkfl-3CjG_BV7go87yePeGIZuU7IGOlpgh7ePsCsbHHwvLZqDGRotx4_gm6n3PaQPdtvoE3-XZH48CeEeGrbDmxFfTYlT1dFcusRi85ftcJhUEyqKnAnSq7/s385/cover294811-medium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8wcovJfRK3Y6MEoru_bfSdErfxXPK-qwmNJobbhzs-YmucPxg1PY9YSv7yh8mPivC7b5IHkfl-3CjG_BV7go87yePeGIZuU7IGOlpgh7ePsCsbHHwvLZqDGRotx4_gm6n3PaQPdtvoE3-XZH48CeEeGrbDmxFfTYlT1dFcusRi85ftcJhUEyqKnAnSq7/s320/cover294811-medium.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Kyra, Just for Today</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Sara Zarr</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Violets are Blue by Barbara Dee<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa9k5XLAQGA1r9RuIdSDdtVQP2Omg26C2YMCtNecLxGKblAwHw_oVuvHq9Nq8De7wOWzI-7OpYZrM35vlCn5OUDRfgqsK5ibeSHfdauetXXXaDXKzXpowfO5pmHuM_kOy19nUsMdzwRWoSX6QtV6RnAHGsFdoD8IBQ2hIM5RDUMJzePYDGV9gK5ZmQNBl/s1766/003%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa9k5XLAQGA1r9RuIdSDdtVQP2Omg26C2YMCtNecLxGKblAwHw_oVuvHq9Nq8De7wOWzI-7OpYZrM35vlCn5OUDRfgqsK5ibeSHfdauetXXXaDXKzXpowfO5pmHuM_kOy19nUsMdzwRWoSX6QtV6RnAHGsFdoD8IBQ2hIM5RDUMJzePYDGV9gK5ZmQNBl/s320/003%20(3).JPG" width="299" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a sensitive, honest portrayal <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Krya has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough.<br />Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say “relapse." But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: There are some books out there about kids dealing with the realization that their parent has a problem with addiction. This may be the first I've read where the parent is an acknowledged addict in recovery. It takes the standard narrative of a single mother and child struggling to get by on their own, the tight budget and extra responsibility on the child, and adds a new element. Kyra is a strong character and a realistic one. She's a middle grade kid. She takes on responsibilities and craves independence but remains desperate for approval and love. She has fears that she doesn't know how to articulate. This all comes together in a narrative that is at times uncomfortable but ultimately affirming.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-83277799296918922682024-03-04T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T10:01:47.355-05:00Listen with me<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBew1YBCwZ-wsmKphPcVF5c64Mh0Sl9aNjE_MH1kJWJa3T3oYyxv-9khZLgquOgS3W70v62YOmFNqteLcTgX8T4lutdh0-iiawIr3YcHXybC0aS1T-L9PPaUu6tlCg7tnzD5ERmBCDBppunaFaXD4dbyP14tL8xk4IVkIc6uiT25GRDOXO_pf4BZFSJhw-/s2550/39280558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBew1YBCwZ-wsmKphPcVF5c64Mh0Sl9aNjE_MH1kJWJa3T3oYyxv-9khZLgquOgS3W70v62YOmFNqteLcTgX8T4lutdh0-iiawIr3YcHXybC0aS1T-L9PPaUu6tlCg7tnzD5ERmBCDBppunaFaXD4dbyP14tL8xk4IVkIc6uiT25GRDOXO_pf4BZFSJhw-/s320/39280558.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A joyous, heart-breaking story. This book could have been an absolute disaster. It is filled with all kinds of weird events, happy accidents, wild coincidences. Basically, the plot is nearly impossible. But we swallow it easily because the characters are what matter. There is a strong cast of complex, believable characters. Each major character has some degree of growth, some truth they have to face. The pacing is strong with enough action to keep the reader engaged and enough emotion and reflection for it to matter. It reminded me somewhat of the book Big Rig by Louise Hawes. They share a lot of the same bones. It was well narrated with a pleasant voice. Overall, two thumbs up from me.</span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-6642319434289388372024-03-01T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T09:40:23.436-05:00Pick 6: mental illness<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">We are seeing an increasing number of books for young readers that include mental illness to some degree. Sometimes it directly affects the protagonist; others we see the impact that a family member's illness has on a character. Sometimes the diagnosis is central to the plot; others it merely informs how characters respond. All of these books affect how we think about mental illness in our own lives and facilitate conversation. Here are six books published in the past six months that include mental illness as a plot element.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">6 books that feature mental illness:</span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Underdog City by Chris Negron</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Swarm by Jennifer Lyle</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">You Owe Me One Universe by Chad Lucas</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Drawing Deena by Hena Kahn <br /></span></li></ol>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-85234065254428609552024-02-29T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T14:10:25.746-05:00Happy Blogiversary, I guess<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mMnAjadibYQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="mMnAjadibYQ"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was pointed out to me that this months 10 years that I've been on this 10 platform. 10 years of reviewing books, making crafts, and finding my voice. 10 years during which I was a librarian, an IT technician, and now a freelance consultant and homesteader. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are a few of my favorite posts from the past 10 years:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-snicker-of-magic.html" target="_blank">A Snicker of Magic</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-because-youll-never-meet-me.html" target="_blank">Because You'll Never Meet Me </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2014/10/graphic-novel-spotlight-zita-spacegirl.html" target="_blank">Zita the Spacegirl</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2023/01/possum.html" target="_blank">Possum puppet</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2018/08/this-weeks-project-is-happy-combination.html" target="_blank">K-9 </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://onlymarfalfa.blogspot.com/2015/08/upcycled-buttons.html" target="_blank">Buttons</a> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's to 10 more years</span><br /></p><p></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-26879200873673803552024-02-28T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:03:55.008-05:00Graphic novel spotlight - Wildful<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpyPWQ4tF4L1OoimUARVbpKx-me1VjKoydpYOXWRzvank5-3h-e7TsM3AJMsaz89FZ63CaFKL-Ldr8XPywGLOruO0P2f8rYwqfJDrXDNqamljVppYIkyxCv__Jv9DpVdi29jjnD8n3yYlnIzEi8LH5xs32l3emjzpdEEUq-8yt5NNOia-uItrUfvW4eVq/s255/cover312619-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="255" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpyPWQ4tF4L1OoimUARVbpKx-me1VjKoydpYOXWRzvank5-3h-e7TsM3AJMsaz89FZ63CaFKL-Ldr8XPywGLOruO0P2f8rYwqfJDrXDNqamljVppYIkyxCv__Jv9DpVdi29jjnD8n3yYlnIzEi8LH5xs32l3emjzpdEEUq-8yt5NNOia-uItrUfvW4eVq/s1600/cover312619-medium.png" width="255" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wildful is a story of the healing power of nature, how wonder and beauty draw people together. There is a plot here, though a very simple one. And it hardly matters. We're not caught up in these characters and their interactions with one another. It's all about the visuals. Kurimoto's art captures both facial expressions and the details of the natural world with equal detail. The color is sparse but used to great effect. This is a book you can read very quickly but don't. Do yourself a favor and linger over each page, each panel, and experience the wonder along with the characters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-39194000216245652392024-02-27T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T13:52:54.842-05:00Book review - Force of Nature<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOZDky7xZDgG5BBZiS2tpY4fPw5b_xFiJeQdrD6La3y6yhFqmVYyuVTsy8VbRmpxNU2b5Qu92at-qMe7x9M48uzO_aOpyc7Im2NbbMin-ryhZxoXj_GIdT1RE4fjl43ClEKGRYssOLLpdxFjnDgPOuUyM8bNn01Yb35b11JfHLaBqn-zx5-0rTVZBTw4x/s413/cover301466-medium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOZDky7xZDgG5BBZiS2tpY4fPw5b_xFiJeQdrD6La3y6yhFqmVYyuVTsy8VbRmpxNU2b5Qu92at-qMe7x9M48uzO_aOpyc7Im2NbbMin-ryhZxoXj_GIdT1RE4fjl43ClEKGRYssOLLpdxFjnDgPOuUyM8bNn01Yb35b11JfHLaBqn-zx5-0rTVZBTw4x/s320/cover301466-medium.png" width="198" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Force of Nature</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Ann E Burg</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: creative non-fiction/verse novel<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Beauty Mark by Carole Boston Weatherford</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round by Kathlyn Kirkwood<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3XfCYirnFrBeh7t6xwEE_zipmJoQXfZc8ZijyKBWgT3AjCRuqOXf9y7lSgnUO6uaPJ5sDr1gXdk2jMjBI1eCcAJsU5ihqzoMktEcwFOqNOCkNEg3AHFITNm5HCokF6qJKT1cS7xAKzuKM0ukJXBJQ8sw80l1Fhk6PjLHXW4aDzKP0NWZucgaxbjS8kmg/s2048/013%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3XfCYirnFrBeh7t6xwEE_zipmJoQXfZc8ZijyKBWgT3AjCRuqOXf9y7lSgnUO6uaPJ5sDr1gXdk2jMjBI1eCcAJsU5ihqzoMktEcwFOqNOCkNEg3AHFITNm5HCokF6qJKT1cS7xAKzuKM0ukJXBJQ8sw80l1Fhk6PjLHXW4aDzKP0NWZucgaxbjS8kmg/s320/013%20(2).JPG" width="263" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">lovely <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rachel was a girl who loved<br />science and the sea,<br />books and writing<br />and all the creatures of the world.<br />Rachel was quiet,<br />a listener by nature.<br />But when she saw problems,<br />she could not remain silent.<br />Some people thought girls<br />shouldn’t be scientists.<br />They thought girls<br />shouldn’t use their voices<br />to question or challenge,<br />even to protect<br />all the creatures of the world.<br />Luckily Rachel didn’t listen<br />to them.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: I think all that I knew about Rachel Carson before this book was that she wrote Silent Spring. So I learned a lot from this novel, stripped down as it was to the barest impressions. I hadn't realized her importance in the development of science communication as a field, more than just the importance of ecology. This is a quick read. Being a verse novel, it's more about impressions than details. Still, it's a solid way to supplement more factual education.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Force of Nature releases March 5<br /></span></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-61716903262337367622024-02-23T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T12:01:31.141-05:00Cheese<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">For a while now I've wanted to make a peculiar plushie. The idea was to make a plush version of some food item that could wear little outfits, mostly doll clothes and accessories. Something about that struck me a hilarious. I'd thought about a pickle but couldn't quite work out how to construct it. Sorting through some t-shirt scraps I found the perfect shade of light yellow and knew I needed to make a cheese. I cut a few pieces of foam mattress pad and covered them with the t-shirt, then sewed the whole mess together.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5j7uFTi1g2mQzSwnNz7IylNQHXgTpfgykZMTm5lPeq-AIQ-CmX6KDvya4RCJCcOWx9LfP8NuyZpejm9wAK0XzgM5U5P9eRxSIA0dU0q3FJpAqCn5zzps-2Fd2K-wzQBt3BlTy7hQ_eIk8lZWwc8lyf8SusOW60K9gAWo0XP2bLV2GxWa1HbImHNi5TIw/s4000/IMG_20231224_091355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5j7uFTi1g2mQzSwnNz7IylNQHXgTpfgykZMTm5lPeq-AIQ-CmX6KDvya4RCJCcOWx9LfP8NuyZpejm9wAK0XzgM5U5P9eRxSIA0dU0q3FJpAqCn5zzps-2Fd2K-wzQBt3BlTy7hQ_eIk8lZWwc8lyf8SusOW60K9gAWo0XP2bLV2GxWa1HbImHNi5TIw/s320/IMG_20231224_091355.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqavBHSm0I8sX2jV6Tb5ETUesNWhTT1680nbAvUXkhb7j_k52QLc2f85RqzrN28uRNE3jHbrjEsaFWHxwRUYPgF5L_bkwpuyddVuq5H3IQKbkMCKVkTcix90tb8t2QpIJOowF1bpIp6Z6GGyXu_byJTO8fRtYiKy-tIUjEooph9nHjZFaacjmdLsEMrxio/s4000/IMG_20240301_115825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqavBHSm0I8sX2jV6Tb5ETUesNWhTT1680nbAvUXkhb7j_k52QLc2f85RqzrN28uRNE3jHbrjEsaFWHxwRUYPgF5L_bkwpuyddVuq5H3IQKbkMCKVkTcix90tb8t2QpIJOowF1bpIp6Z6GGyXu_byJTO8fRtYiKy-tIUjEooph9nHjZFaacjmdLsEMrxio/s320/IMG_20240301_115825.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It might not fit the accessories quite as well as a pickle, but something about a cheese wearing scuba gear makes me very happy.</span><br />Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-25907969491762297892024-02-22T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T11:35:04.489-05:00Book review - Shark Teeth<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyhwPZQcDEETmpjHOPZPlWCqhjXqnjg4fvymq7rqq-4hY-KsPgYxv2FcowzdcIYdk1CEizdMKsTgLPc5i-IZajxv7mM5lyQh0E_XNAE3VmdmG8CD08nVVwadhA75_Fq60prkNJL4-8oofC9PY7-BekRgpVMsAd6RiS2yvDRqEey8YNICAeWHnHmiyxhji/s385/cover290785-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyhwPZQcDEETmpjHOPZPlWCqhjXqnjg4fvymq7rqq-4hY-KsPgYxv2FcowzdcIYdk1CEizdMKsTgLPc5i-IZajxv7mM5lyQh0E_XNAE3VmdmG8CD08nVVwadhA75_Fq60prkNJL4-8oofC9PY7-BekRgpVMsAd6RiS2yvDRqEey8YNICAeWHnHmiyxhji/s320/cover290785-medium.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Shark Teeth</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Sherri Winston</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oc1YYkkD6OG0WYnmsJUMg-B5YtYZwU7bRKo3aND7bFBdwzMqtqeSCzINQHeaKa867_j-oPQpV1i3zW6WhWDRcJA167yCJXtf_ttVOymxtCAwsGanp3goJ0JTpQhWUS5BFemDpxyOuOC5jvXtYwIuErrPuHe362lbMmQ-LPvxqlyz-Sp69bAH_6k0ybEJ/s2048/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="2048" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oc1YYkkD6OG0WYnmsJUMg-B5YtYZwU7bRKo3aND7bFBdwzMqtqeSCzINQHeaKa867_j-oPQpV1i3zW6WhWDRcJA167yCJXtf_ttVOymxtCAwsGanp3goJ0JTpQhWUS5BFemDpxyOuOC5jvXtYwIuErrPuHe362lbMmQ-LPvxqlyz-Sp69bAH_6k0ybEJ/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">mostly solid <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Sharkita “Kita” Hayes is always waiting.<br />Waiting for her mama to mess up.<br />Waiting for social services to be called again.<br />Waiting for her and her siblings to be separated.<br />Waiting for her worst fear to come true.<br />But Mama promises things are different now. She's got a good job, she's stopped drinking, stopped going out every night-it's almost enough to make Kita believe her this time. But even as Kita's life is going good, she can't shake the feeling that everything could go up in flames at any moment. When her assistant principal and trusted dance coach starts asking questions about her home life, Kita is more determined than ever to keep up appearances and make sure her family stays together-even if it means falling apart herself.<br />As the threat of her family being separated again circles like a shark in the water, the pressure starts to get to Kita. But could it be that Kita's worst fear is actually the best thing that could happen to her family . . . and to her?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: We know, from the start, that things are not going to end the way that Kita want them to. Her situation is too unstable. So we can largely predict where this book is headed. That's okay. It's more about the path than the end point. We have a plot with strong characters who are realistically portrayed. They make mistakes, keep secrets. While the ending has some idealized moments, it isn't too unrealistic for a middle grade audience. While the scenario may be too intense for some kids, for most this will be a solid read.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-56748091265253254052024-02-21T16:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T11:02:02.516-05:00Book review - The Partition Project<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwAVc5Fn1RIbl9-1luDVtvLVh1KiETQFLZOGOugA4qwig_wUCdaHKW51XeAwER5Ww5iIneP057RwohHbBzNQ38x8byVaF4mHIYute-hA_T37zTmlT1nkbVEG0TUncSSMnCUpJz1zF2zC_MQnra8BnNAb18DtGTwxcUzx9x5047OH1Rgf0lTqHW4yPJP5r/s386/cover301462-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwAVc5Fn1RIbl9-1luDVtvLVh1KiETQFLZOGOugA4qwig_wUCdaHKW51XeAwER5Ww5iIneP057RwohHbBzNQ38x8byVaF4mHIYute-hA_T37zTmlT1nkbVEG0TUncSSMnCUpJz1zF2zC_MQnra8BnNAb18DtGTwxcUzx9x5047OH1Rgf0lTqHW4yPJP5r/s320/cover301462-medium.png" width="211" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: The Partition Project</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Saadia Faruqi</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Wishing Upon the Same Star by Jacquetta Nammar Feldman</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KI60zZePFwgiob-nf43sbGdLsBJM3m9AvvgVBfsqO3OgFSGKd7HupjiGZGco7Yr9Rq7Z9uxReTw8kCo_rk9Ul7YvCKKToERk7_mp5E1iiKIhutZGvrgb3ctjHXHoZv3tWuQe1j8dW3ef_NCGlX6VJ2YL4lNRdku4bI5ykjAG0m-GMwrmLY4v1ib323nU/s2048/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="2048" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KI60zZePFwgiob-nf43sbGdLsBJM3m9AvvgVBfsqO3OgFSGKd7HupjiGZGco7Yr9Rq7Z9uxReTw8kCo_rk9Ul7YvCKKToERk7_mp5E1iiKIhutZGvrgb3ctjHXHoZv3tWuQe1j8dW3ef_NCGlX6VJ2YL4lNRdku4bI5ykjAG0m-GMwrmLY4v1ib323nU/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">compelling <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): When her grandmother comes off the airplane in Houston from Pakistan, Mahnoor knows that having Dadi move in is going to disrupt everything about her life. She doesn’t have time to be Dadi’s unofficial babysitter—her journalism teacher has announced that their big assignment will be to film a documentary, which feels more like storytelling than what Maha would call “journalism.”<br />As Dadi starts to settle into life in Houston and Maha scrambles for a subject for her documentary, the two of them start talking. About Dadi’s childhood in northern India—and about the Partition that forced her to leave her home and relocate to the newly created Pakistan.<br />As details of Dadi’s life are revealed, Dadi’s personal story feels a lot more like the breaking news that Maha loves so much. And before she knows it, she has the subject of her documentary.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: Partition was something I hadn't even heard of until fairly recently, so I was riveted by this story. I like that it does more than just reveal a lesser known part of history. It really digs into the importance of cultural history and includes some messaging about responsible and sensitive journalism. With complex, relatable characters, this is a book well worth reading for young and old alike.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: The Partition Project releases February 27.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-58001923798414028002024-02-20T16:00:00.000-05:002024-03-01T10:05:23.698-05:00Book review - Hope Ablaze<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-v_e3jQa6P0G7N2_YrgIqZ373ihQLfOVI09L96ZClQg8B8ie-S6ZRjwr6NYHF1EUrC9kSQG2Q4AN1y1V7PWm20P1JqMG1luDovnUxNQwvuvV3R0brxeVYZeT6t-gggD5Gf0e80Sabd7X7I2Ehe7mc4pIoPlSaAuH8qyUv47BA1J3gCXBs5Ag3gL9JnwLs/s394/cover296677-medium.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-v_e3jQa6P0G7N2_YrgIqZ373ihQLfOVI09L96ZClQg8B8ie-S6ZRjwr6NYHF1EUrC9kSQG2Q4AN1y1V7PWm20P1JqMG1luDovnUxNQwvuvV3R0brxeVYZeT6t-gggD5Gf0e80Sabd7X7I2Ehe7mc4pIoPlSaAuH8qyUv47BA1J3gCXBs5Ag3gL9JnwLs/s320/cover296677-medium.png" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Hope Ablaze</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Sarah Mughal Rana</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: realistic fiction/magical realism</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: House of Yesterday by Deeba Zargarpur</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating: </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqX3OWV9va8ylWVXpdW8hcGut6oj7AgFZLAgBh8FU__ZtQvaYTfmmOdI_U0HFIg-7E9kKvkNBIfbwzr7jtZ-CcwEon1-lhbtCBtfYU5ZAfGFFQjpU6L3n6e0-B7HBxJ2t2ARG8FTE6kimTykghRUsUEGL1yA75YnNlNjgmtrVgzfnWeivDOCuwcZn2E75/s1766/003%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqX3OWV9va8ylWVXpdW8hcGut6oj7AgFZLAgBh8FU__ZtQvaYTfmmOdI_U0HFIg-7E9kKvkNBIfbwzr7jtZ-CcwEon1-lhbtCBtfYU5ZAfGFFQjpU6L3n6e0-B7HBxJ2t2ARG8FTE6kimTykghRUsUEGL1yA75YnNlNjgmtrVgzfnWeivDOCuwcZn2E75/s320/003%20(3).JPG" width="299" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a good one to get you thinking <br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Nida has always been known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece - the poet who will fill her uncle’s shoes after he was wrongfully incarcerated during the war on terror. But for Nida, her poetry letters are her heart and sharing so much of herself with a world that stereotypes her faith and her hijab is not an option.<br />When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally, she writes a scathing poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks before Election Day. Nida discovers her poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she never entered, and her quiet life is toppled. But worst of all, Nida loses her ability to write poetry. In the aftermath of her win, Nida struggles to balance the expectations of her mother, her uncle, and her vibrant Muslim community with the person she truly wants to be.<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: We expect this book to be about rights violations. The inciting incident is an illegal frisking, after all. But it's much more than that. The question of rights is almost incidental. Instead Nida's story is a question of voices. When we speak up. Who influences and controls when we speak. And the dilemma of standing up versus fitting in. These are complex questions with no clear answers which can make for a challenging read. If you're someone who likes a clear-cut plot, maybe look elsewhere. But if you want to weigh opinions and discuss choices, give this one a read.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Hope Ablaze releases February 27.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-14577839180085967762024-02-19T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T11:59:30.124-05:00Listen with me<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkWDCWZdr4-SOTnuukbFciURky_IM0KavOiWnC-EvUMHOBualHZwhALEBJsiRHXYfB3LfEr-5o7G5tzxBzOy5p3BsV-6O77Lc_v7oBnTaLQsQSYdXTAmWxq_ICwB68FikGh0jpJ9LoHEYuxM4QmUugqeZn5ANcNQOGOqCWuzP8ZKARN-XUqtJm4QeB3L9/s2550/39280558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkWDCWZdr4-SOTnuukbFciURky_IM0KavOiWnC-EvUMHOBualHZwhALEBJsiRHXYfB3LfEr-5o7G5tzxBzOy5p3BsV-6O77Lc_v7oBnTaLQsQSYdXTAmWxq_ICwB68FikGh0jpJ9LoHEYuxM4QmUugqeZn5ANcNQOGOqCWuzP8ZKARN-XUqtJm4QeB3L9/s320/39280558.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A girl and her father living on a school bus is a unique set-up. This road trip journey holds a lot of promise, provided the characters are compelling. Let's listen and find out together. </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-7075985876281333592024-02-16T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T11:56:13.438-05:00Book review - Till Human Voices Wake Us<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pmZwu7l-fCwLAzLJsnVLabNlxUPbQgz3nMsmKR8Cc1YC4rDGe9qG1MnJEfNP7zwHxQ4U-cOiGioC-Mo5CJucZopPu4xAVdBmxXFqigrTtvU68znWkR0npMFp951Tvq5mbCXQmpaMO6MK_v2OANfo-LzyS5AbAGF8TS1STpPbCbHnTubQ2MOOIlJo5Mkp/s408/cover297429-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pmZwu7l-fCwLAzLJsnVLabNlxUPbQgz3nMsmKR8Cc1YC4rDGe9qG1MnJEfNP7zwHxQ4U-cOiGioC-Mo5CJucZopPu4xAVdBmxXFqigrTtvU68znWkR0npMFp951Tvq5mbCXQmpaMO6MK_v2OANfo-LzyS5AbAGF8TS1STpPbCbHnTubQ2MOOIlJo5Mkp/s320/cover297429-medium.png" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Till Human Voices Wake Us</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Rebecca Roque</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: thriller</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: The Good Girls by Claire Eliza Bartlett</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA2B-4lBuAdjX71up_nnke8ZAUMeHvINWr_iDiEUwQq0eGqJNaubzOceUGx_GCl8IedNLtPkjv5_2qErm7U4lq-oGgkhiLn-y9DXPbkobIzslfEqmagqHVJ9dwV-hEKl4NKbV9FwvSpZx8jpXBSt_DuL0moC1eYbLwE_vMo7rWnn7gSbiQ97wf3HUppTd/s1766/003%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA2B-4lBuAdjX71up_nnke8ZAUMeHvINWr_iDiEUwQq0eGqJNaubzOceUGx_GCl8IedNLtPkjv5_2qErm7U4lq-oGgkhiLn-y9DXPbkobIzslfEqmagqHVJ9dwV-hEKl4NKbV9FwvSpZx8jpXBSt_DuL0moC1eYbLwE_vMo7rWnn7gSbiQ97wf3HUppTd/s320/003%20(3).JPG" width="299" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">initially thrilling, though it may go too far <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Seventeen-year-old Cia lived in a house of secrets until she was five, when her father literally burned it all down. The price of his clandestine operation? Cia’s entire family, and her leg. So, when her best friend Alice says she has a secret too, Cia wants nothing to do with it—even if it could shed light on her family’s dark past. But Alice doesn’t let go so easily, especially when her search for answers might help find Noah, the boy who broke her heart before going missing two months ago.<br />But then the police find Alice’s body floating in the quarry.<br />Now Cia would give anything to know Alice’s secrets. Because Alice would never have jumped, no matter what the cops think. Desperate to figure out what happened to her friend, Cia picks up the threads of Alice’s investigation, plunging deep into a shadow world of augmented reality. As she untangles one web of lies after another, Cia finds herself pursued by an enemy that will pay any price to keep their secrets buried. But the girl who already lost everything isn’t about to back down now. Her only chance to avenge Alice lies in exposing an underground society preying on those they think no one will miss—but danger lies closer to home than she imagined.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: The set up here is a solid one. A girl rescued from a dark past finds that her history is tied up in a larger town secret. We've got murdered teens and a company involved with street kids. Cia is a strong character surrounded by interesting figures. We're never quite sure who can be trusted as evidence continually points in myriad directions. With a plot that is constantly twisting it's a compelling read. That plot, though, goes is some awfully strange directions and ultimately stretches the bounds of believability perhaps beyond the breaking point.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Till Human Voices Wake Us releases February 27.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-76040009447529180822024-02-15T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T11:25:34.728-05:00Book review - Bumps in the Night<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewlJbgUDsfqAZg8kLl91BD2irsV9SWC1UGlo37KFmDc1nXd94jhsOzViRBXNKw49GkW-iNZkTsoY34EAwNU5LTWBuZO09NJP2w0006HKWN9isvnvDHBs5bDporZh_r_PAZX0WDBFZkmv_0VMIt4h4_djrVXPXwGWv6eLzMk0u0sS-Px_NCtWevaEvBqWd/s383/cover296888-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewlJbgUDsfqAZg8kLl91BD2irsV9SWC1UGlo37KFmDc1nXd94jhsOzViRBXNKw49GkW-iNZkTsoY34EAwNU5LTWBuZO09NJP2w0006HKWN9isvnvDHBs5bDporZh_r_PAZX0WDBFZkmv_0VMIt4h4_djrVXPXwGWv6eLzMk0u0sS-Px_NCtWevaEvBqWd/s320/cover296888-medium.png" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Bumps in the Night</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Amalie Howard</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: fantasy</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_Em1LDVE55-uqNCPZbANjh9S4rRXeQkmnK0IJE549m4rABX4ANeV-ykfM6ScZ6c7skpJU0-86brSHR0Sfa8NQRW0TAHc66hZdqNAJ_VvqpXsptDuolEdNLXfFBrLkwOQ3Rq-zUGatbcS07BkKwQb4myY4VNOmn0ZKwEpklcyf0AI5KjNxfI38dG2Uxv4/s2048/013%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_Em1LDVE55-uqNCPZbANjh9S4rRXeQkmnK0IJE549m4rABX4ANeV-ykfM6ScZ6c7skpJU0-86brSHR0Sfa8NQRW0TAHc66hZdqNAJ_VvqpXsptDuolEdNLXfFBrLkwOQ3Rq-zUGatbcS07BkKwQb4myY4VNOmn0ZKwEpklcyf0AI5KjNxfI38dG2Uxv4/s320/013%20(2).JPG" width="263" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">a solid read <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): Darika “Rika” Lovelace is in trouble. The kind of trouble that sends her to her grandmother’s estate in Trinidad for the whole summer. But something about the island feels…different. As soon as she steps off the plane, strange things start happening!<br />Rika meets a group of kids called Minders, who seem to have elemental powers. Even worse, she can sense jumbies lurking in the shadows. Needless to say, she wants a ticket home. But when the Minders let slip that her long-lost mom is in danger, she knows she can’t leave.<br />Thrust into a magical adventure involving bloodcurdling monsters, a supernatural silk cotton tree, and an endless maze, Rika must defeat the fearsome jumbie king to save her family and new friends. But unless she learns to believe in herself, she’ll never beat him or escape his twisted maze. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: Its a familiar construct - a girl gets caught up in magic and has to save the world. And maybe if you read a lot of these books this one will fail to thrill. But if you judge it on it's own merits, it's a solid read. It captures the setting and folk lore well. The characters are decently complex for a middle grade audience. It's action oriented with just a hint of spookiness for horror fans. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Bumps in the Night releases February 20.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-19085709158173821072024-02-14T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-23T10:32:38.058-05:00Graphic novel spotlight - Zips Eeloo Make Hummus<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOdXDh4CyjfaGD8kJ76Tt0M25WXYB7x218tsHKw7ZxUYr7FDcZbrttff2zwbqNoiFOLlu8izQ6BArUY0dF_DDxAc_a_v1uiFLRIgFeVvno9_lCw0AZQuSW-YtvSja4P17EJu0OZXEmopoKfaKbgPp8g1_qyCAW90C4V213BDtmQPTik5dUUy0Yz3hQvwd/s383/cover300109-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOdXDh4CyjfaGD8kJ76Tt0M25WXYB7x218tsHKw7ZxUYr7FDcZbrttff2zwbqNoiFOLlu8izQ6BArUY0dF_DDxAc_a_v1uiFLRIgFeVvno9_lCw0AZQuSW-YtvSja4P17EJu0OZXEmopoKfaKbgPp8g1_qyCAW90C4V213BDtmQPTik5dUUy0Yz3hQvwd/s320/cover300109-medium.png" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zips and Eeloo Make Hummus by Leila Boukarim</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might not think that making a batch of hummus would make an interesting topic for a book but this one works surprisingly well. It's pretty basic - the characters stand at a counter and make hummus, detailing each step. There's a heavy dose of humor and the illustrations are quite expressive. It's a book that will be appealing for kids just starting to read independently.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadwnUjS49wlaUM8eiTFG0tOB8gby6GN7Of0awDB1Sz9Rl40C-KXchuBhmMky6OgjnnMKDDjTp9kmhY1MSM2G-C6Uz9s1HElnn0TAQeyIGG-2r2AZmY9eNBChIhjxALz7kNkmERcnoKZoE2Mj-QUUqZem8OJArqan2GrVEu2EhLyKgwwqMk8qXGkIpsRdP/s768/9781524884352_insidepage_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadwnUjS49wlaUM8eiTFG0tOB8gby6GN7Of0awDB1Sz9Rl40C-KXchuBhmMky6OgjnnMKDDjTp9kmhY1MSM2G-C6Uz9s1HElnn0TAQeyIGG-2r2AZmY9eNBChIhjxALz7kNkmERcnoKZoE2Mj-QUUqZem8OJArqan2GrVEu2EhLyKgwwqMk8qXGkIpsRdP/s320/9781524884352_insidepage_2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span></span><br /><p></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-72894047455408796462024-02-13T16:00:00.000-05:002024-02-23T10:10:55.596-05:00Picture books for everyone - Rumi Poet of Joy and Love<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfTMB57MEKHt0Az8trjOPJ5yn6LB3-oqCvohXZ8yAqYB0yFC0zcd3fSDxiAmNJcprytV1_YMfcxg9Z5WS1hVwaSYbaD9Xtm2Rzgh3NXlmLPNlX2W9ejVAMnvj80mOt9kZRI0T-JPb2JcflSPpW0-KPv_320ZLi1GYQzqtLGScA00T8yZGUzltbKn249ky/s331/cover303522-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfTMB57MEKHt0Az8trjOPJ5yn6LB3-oqCvohXZ8yAqYB0yFC0zcd3fSDxiAmNJcprytV1_YMfcxg9Z5WS1hVwaSYbaD9Xtm2Rzgh3NXlmLPNlX2W9ejVAMnvj80mOt9kZRI0T-JPb2JcflSPpW0-KPv_320ZLi1GYQzqtLGScA00T8yZGUzltbKn249ky/s320/cover303522-medium.png" width="247" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rumi Poet of Joy and Love by Rashin Kheiriyeh</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rumi is a relatively new figure to me. While I was familiar with the name and could perhaps have told you he was a poet, I didn't know much beyond that so this was an excellent introduction. While the text is aimed at a young audience, it remains informative. With charming illustrations reflecting the text, filled with patterns and details, its as lovely to look at as it is to read. It stands well on it's own but could also be used as a lead-in to reading some of the poetry in a group setting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Rumi Poet of Joy and Love releases March 5.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-26245973920081630202024-02-12T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T13:00:29.823-05:00Non-fiction book review - Sick!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL0JEuOSmAcrL_fsSAJKMF_9uduB_eYHds0p0i14TLk9idEsxwzyUtaafGU4b7f_OV1QTiZm6f6bl0s-49qdU0frZnfmOOW3WFCny1VktaVLmklExZOLLJodz14657gV7B5xZArYe0aIhZK-74iKwIrd5_LUzHugWpmdvaHvj1QEV4WHKpg78Ebvxh1_V/s377/cover295788-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL0JEuOSmAcrL_fsSAJKMF_9uduB_eYHds0p0i14TLk9idEsxwzyUtaafGU4b7f_OV1QTiZm6f6bl0s-49qdU0frZnfmOOW3WFCny1VktaVLmklExZOLLJodz14657gV7B5xZArYe0aIhZK-74iKwIrd5_LUzHugWpmdvaHvj1QEV4WHKpg78Ebvxh1_V/s320/cover295788-medium.png" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sick by Heather L. Montgomery</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This book is going to be visually appealing to a certain kind of young reader. You look at the cover and it exudes "gross". This is no collection of stomach turning factoids, though. Montgomery digs into the details of animal diseases, how they affect humans, and what scientists have learned from them. The tone and vocabulary remain accessible for kids while not shying away from science. Parents and kids alike will learn from this text. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Sick! releases February 20.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171582819233181292.post-90093170331362445602024-02-09T16:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T12:04:11.133-05:00Book review - Dread Detention<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii332HpRR0mMjr_8-H3Z5kmdI7yu4c0j2iMe7osfNc3pjzaQHd4Umyd8O81dyhD5sxjv4EYDYoIIQoTg1ASfN6k1vJjAlu02GhUjE2FQT4cemGH-3UH-lO0bi8YhpNhg-UGDzxGCVn7cQjHGAhheSBm5ZJ1a-9bhJ_64U7jZ15voJ4Y5AwfCsvPMRuApYF/s386/cover294914-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii332HpRR0mMjr_8-H3Z5kmdI7yu4c0j2iMe7osfNc3pjzaQHd4Umyd8O81dyhD5sxjv4EYDYoIIQoTg1ASfN6k1vJjAlu02GhUjE2FQT4cemGH-3UH-lO0bi8YhpNhg-UGDzxGCVn7cQjHGAhheSBm5ZJ1a-9bhJ_64U7jZ15voJ4Y5AwfCsvPMRuApYF/s320/cover294914-medium.png" width="211" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Title: Dread Detention</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Author: Jennifer Killick</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Genre: horror</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similar books: Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Finch House by Ciera Burch<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rating:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8qmU4rB4M2kCi67M5IN4MyTAoW5RGbcTl-kX8mVgr9yogKbiTT13Asczt_MtfNRZpL-2Y6t1CAL7LdAIVnepXe_6IXWjKL3yW7HgLCbps6-uzUZSfOTZQFQ4gTslfKDxxQsbJ87nODA0Ub1aCRNQO_PRQJdgZxcBveDcL6IX6p7eWGRwVZ4-_p1vw4zP/s2048/013%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8qmU4rB4M2kCi67M5IN4MyTAoW5RGbcTl-kX8mVgr9yogKbiTT13Asczt_MtfNRZpL-2Y6t1CAL7LdAIVnepXe_6IXWjKL3yW7HgLCbps6-uzUZSfOTZQFQ4gTslfKDxxQsbJ87nODA0Ub1aCRNQO_PRQJdgZxcBveDcL6IX6p7eWGRwVZ4-_p1vw4zP/s320/013%20(2).JPG" width="263" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">the right level of scary <br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summary (provided by publisher): When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.<br />What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they're all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My opinion: Giant spiders are, of course, a bit of a believability stretch. Killick does a good job of explaining their existence without over-doing it. We get just enough to accept their existence and to keep the plot moving. There's a decent balance between action and character development for a middle grade novel. None of it goes very deep but it maintains the reader's interest. It's exciting and creepy without going over the top, so it's well suited to the average middle grade reader.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More information: Dread Detention releases February 13</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley</span> </span><br /></p>Only Marfalfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13741023814552012772noreply@blogger.com1