Hairpins

 After making my bowtie hairpins, I was inspired to come up with another new design. I settled on these little balls of "yarn" made from narrow strips of t-shirt and little pieces of vintage ribbon.

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Our Fair Share by Sarah Marie Jette - Four kids, years long friends from their shared history at the fair, confront new challenges and face their secrets.

What did you recently finish reading?

A Fishboy Named Sashimi by Dan Santat - A fishboy tries to fit in at school while looking for other fishpeople like him.

What do you think you'll read next?

The Chismosas Only Book Club by Laekan Zea Kamp

Book review - Song of the Saltings

 

Title: Song of the Saltings

Author: Rachael King

Genre: fantasy

Age range: teen

Similar book: The Lamplighter by Crystal J Bell

Summary (provided by publisher): On the isolated island of Brack, the people live by an ancient bargain: every year, a sacrifice must be made to the Glimm, the creature that haunts the salt marshes. Once, it demanded children. Eight years ago, it should have taken Lotta. Instead, the monster spared her and claimed her pony, shattering tradition and anointing her both folk hero and object of suspicion.

Now sixteen, Lotta tends the Council’s sacrificial horses, keeping her distance from the islanders who whisper about her fate. But something is stirring. The island hums beneath her feet, and a song threads through her dreams. Is the Glimm calling Lotta back?

When she crosses paths with Moss—a boy once hidden from sacrifice—a daring bog rescue sparks a chain of events that forces them both to question the Council’s rule and the lore that binds their people. As crops and animals are blighted and uncanny weather plagues the community, Lotta and Moss must decide whether to obey the Council or risk everything to uncover the island’s deepest secrets.

Because on Brack, monsters come in many forms.

What I liked: King takes a concept that could be difficult to appreciate or engage with and makes it compelling. There's a fair amount of world building that flows naturally through the narrative rather than being dropped all in one glut of exposition.

What I didn't like: The writing here is rather dense, so it's a slow and almost plodding read. It takes a fair amount of dedication to read through this one and for some the payoff won't be satisfying enough to be worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Never Leave Me Alone by Crissa-Jean Chappell - Birdie had a kindred spirit in Micah until he died in a stunt gone wrong and Birdie wants to know why he would have taken such a risk.

What did you recently finish reading?

Most Likely to Murder by Lish McBride - Rick and Martina are happy to fly under the radar at school until someone targets them in a vicious prank and people start to die.

What do you think you'll read next?

No Way Home by Joy Feldman

Non-fiction book review - Diamond Fever

 

Diamond Fever! by Steve Sheinkin

Sheinkin has made a name for himself in the historical space, presenting young readers with off-beat moments in history. This book is a solid entry into that field, telling the tale of a little known but important scam. As the story unspools, we learn important aspects of the people involved and societal elements that contributed to the success of the scam. With key points illustrated by comic strip pages the text is engaging and entertaining. This is a book that might resonate with fans of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Systematic Theology for Teens in 21 Days

 

Systematic Theology for Teens in 21 Days by KJ Sanders

This is no simple devotional. It doesn't take a short look at a problem and provide a simplistic reassurance. Instead this is a book that encourages deep thinking and introspection. Starting with the very idea of belief and moving through elements of Christian faith, each entry is short and easily read in around 15 minutes. But it encourages a lot of reflection. The illustrations given for concepts are relatable and at times profound. With language that is accessible without talking down, this is an excellent choice for a teen beginning to question religious systems who is open to real consideration of their own beliefs.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Styx and Stones by Gary D Schmidt and Ron Koertge

Styx and Stones is no Percy Jackson clone. Yes, it is deeply rooted in Greek mythology. But it is also firmly present in the modern world. As such the conflicts are largely relatable to modern audiences. We have bullies, grief, loneliness, trauma, and much more. With so many issues feeding into the plot none of it is explored in a great deal of depth but the result is still satisfying. As we often see in Schmidt's books, there is a strong emphasis on characters deciding what kind of person they want to be, choosing kindness and empathy and strong morals even when it is difficult. We see characters struggling with jealousy and finding a way out of misery. And instead of clear villains and heroes we find that each character is complex and relatable even if they aren't always likeable. Well narrated, this is an audio book that is compelling and easy to absorb. It's also a book that will likely improve with multiple readings as each reading allows us to pick up on new aspects.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Shrew Detective

 

Title: The Shrew Detective - The Case of the Pilfered Pearls

Author: Margi Preus

Genre: mystery

Age range: upper elementary school

Similar book: Horace & Bunwinkle by PJ Gardner

Summary (provided by publisher): Mystery: Something that is difficult or impossible to understand.

With a curious mind and a vast vocabulary (thanks to her wallpaper—pages of a discarded human dictionary), tiny Minerva Shrew would love nothing more than to solve the Big Mysteries of Life and the Universe.

Instead, in The Case of the Pilfered Pearls, she’s called upon to help her cousin Tenacity solve a mystery in the most dangerous of places: a human house. When a string of pearls goes missing, the human owner is sure a “dreadful rodent” has pilfered them—and now the lives of all Minerva’s friends are at risk! Will Minerva find the true culprit before the exterminators arrive?

What I liked: The solution to the mystery is carefully threaded throughout the narrative. It's slightly subtle but still clear enough for young readers to catch on if they are paying attention. The characters are somewhat anthropomorphized, as we would expect, but largely retain their animal natures. So we learn small facts about assorted animal species as well as solving a mystery.

What I didn't like: To some extent this book relies on the novelty of having animal characters. And since it is intended for young readers it is a bit simple and repetitive. It is likely charming enough for a read aloud.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Deepa, MD by Priya Swaminathan - Everyone treats Deepa like she's fragile since her cancer diagnosis. Everyone but her uncle, who lets her help him with his medical mysteries.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Shrew Detective by Margi Preus - Minerva would like to spend her days pondering the mysteries of the universe. Instead she's called upon to find a missing necklace in the human house before her cousin and the other animals pay the price for it's disappearance.

What do you think you'll read next?

Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks

Book review - In the Blood

 

Title: In the Blood

Author: April Henry

Genre: mystery/thriller

Age range: teen

Similar book: Daughter by Kate McLaughlin

Summary (provided by publisher): Adopted as a newborn, Tessa has always wondered who her biological parents are. After turning eighteen, she takes a DNA test in hopes of finding the answers. With best friend El and lab partner Victor, Tessa uses the results to start building her family tree. But they find more dead ends than answers. Her biological mother, who was raised in a religious cult, has cut all ties with her controlling family. And her biological father remains a complete mystery, at least until the police show up. For fifteen years, they’ve been trying to identify a serial killer known as the Portland Phantom. Tessa may be the link they’ve been waiting for.

What I liked: A serial killer narrative is typically a solid choice for an engaging read. This one has the standard elements and a few unique add-ons that draw us in.

What I didn't like: This is very standard fare. While it doesn't yank us around trying to guess the identity of the killer it also fails to keep us engaged. With some notable logical issues and an ending that goes a bit off the rails this is far from Henry's best work. For a better version of this narrative try I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. And for a better April Henry book I recommend The Body in the Woods.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Edge of Forever

 

Title: The Edge of Forever

Author: Meghan P Browne

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: The Forgotten Magic of Zoe Turner by Erin Stewart

Summary (provided by publisher): Maisie is still reeling from the loss of her dad when her mom deposits her with Aunt Gertie at the start of summer in Heaven, TX. Population: tiny. Gertie is nothing but nice, but Maisie doesn’t want to be there – surrounded by cactus and tumbleweeds.

Thankfully, the Heaven Library is well air-conditioned. Here, Charlene the librarian offers Maisie much-needed solace and book recommendations. Then Maisie meets another actual kid, Walt Wise, Aunt Gertie’s nearest neighbor. As she and Walt work odd jobs together and become friends, they also stumble upon a stealth campaign to develop one of Heaven's most beloved natural resources.

As Maisie and Walt research the development plan, they also uncover a long-buried, life-changing secret about Maisie's family. This secret, along with an explosive event at the Heaven County Fair, will turn a sleepy summer into one Maisie and Walt will never forget.

What I liked: The characters here are strong. We are quickly caught up in the world that Maisie and Walt are discovering. The messaging is solid with parallels drawn between the personal issues and the larger plot that the kids uncover.

What I didn't like: The twists are, as the plot summary suggests, explosive and thus a bit extreme. They can tend to stretch the bounds of believability.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Grandpere's Ghost Swamp

 

Title: Grandpere's Ghost Swamp

Author: Rachel M Marsh

Genre: magical realism

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn

Summary (provided by publisher): Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.

But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.

Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his friends: an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.

What I liked: There are a lot of standard approaches to ghost narratives and this book successfully avoids all of them. This isn't about family secrets or uncovering conspiracies. In fact, the central messages of this book are pretty standard middle grade fare. But with strong, realistic characters, a unique voice, and a  well integrated setting it rises above the standard book. 

What I didn't like: There are some fairly standard relationship issues and easy solutions but nothing beyond what is typical of middle grade fiction.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Styx and Stones by Gary D Schmidt and Ron Koertge

I was pretty invested in the mythology trend during it's height. I read so many Percy Jackson type books that I got a bit burnt out on them and I've been avoiding them for a while. When I saw the names attached to this one, though, I knew it was time to get back into it. Let's see how Schmidt and Koertge handle Greek mythology

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

The Edge of Forever by Meghan Brown - After her father's death Maisie is sent to spend the summer with her Aunt Gertie in a small Texas town.

What did you recently finish reading?

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson - Stevie's superstar sister Blair is murdered at the start of her comeback tour and Stevie is desperate to understand what happened to her.

What do you think you'll read next?

In the Blood by April Henry

Neck pillow

In my quest to utilize craft supplies that I already own I'm also trying to focus on projects that are practical. While I love a whimsical plushie, I also don't need a lot of clutter. So when I found another fleece garment waiting for upcycling I didn't want to just make something funny. I decided that a neck pillow for travel would be practical and a good use of fleece. But I'm still me and I crave silliness. With that in mind, I designed this squid neck pillow.

The legs are individually stuffed and will wrap around the sides of my neck for support. The head is actually a big pocket with a small blanket rolled up inside of it. I've tested it out a little around the house and it's surprisingly comfortable.

Book review - Heiress of Nowhere

 

Title: Heiress of Nowhere

Author: Stacey Lee

Genre: historical fiction/mystery

Age range: teen

Similar book: Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan

Summary (provided by publisher): 1918. Orcas Island, Washington.

Lucy Nowhere has spent her eighteen years working on the vast estate of the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in after she washed ashore in a green canoe as a baby. But she has long wished for a life off the island, and in a matter of days, she is set to leave for college—and, for the first time, choose her own future.

Then she finds her employer’s severed head on the beach. Rumors swirl that a mischievous spirit and its minions, the sea wolves, have struck again. Lucy doesn’t believe in myths. She knows that a human—a human murderer—killed him. And when she is unexpectedly named heiress to the estate, she understands the next target is her.

Her closest friend, the estate’s vigilant young guard, begs her to escape while she can. But Lucy knows the only way she can discover who she is, and free the island of its curse, is to find the real killer—before she becomes the next victim.

What I liked: Lee balances character and plot nicely. We are quickly invested in Lucy and her wishes for her life, the complications of her situation. This is also a deeply atmospheric book, using its time period and geography to great effect. There are enough twists and racial tensions to keep us engaged even as the plot takes some odd directions.

What I didn't like: Some of the plot twists certainly stretch the bounds of believability and the large cast of characters can become unwieldly at times. This is a book that benefits from careful attention so it's not a good choice for the casual reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee - When her employer is murdered, Lucy races to find out what happened to him before the blame falls on her and in the process uncovers secrets about the island where they live and her own past.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall by Charis Cotter - Something is going on with a cabin of girls at their summer camp and it's up to Bee and her new friend Zippy to find out what.

What do you think you'll read next?

How Can I Help You Today by Julia L. Rule

Book review - The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall

 

Title: The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall

Author: Charis Cotter

Genre: mystery

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell

Summary (provided by publisher): Bee's mom has a job in New York City for the summer, so Bee is being sent to summer camp. She's not excited about it. Being around other people is hard for her, plus she knows nothing about campfires, she's not a good swimmer and she's never even been in a canoe.

When she first arrives, things go pretty much as she expected. The other girls either make fun of her or ignore her, and the woods surrounding the camp give her the creeps: she keeps hearing elusive music coming from somewhere in the distance, and there's something unearthly about it.

But then Zippy comes on the scene — an oddball like Bee, but with a lot more confidence and hard-won knowledge gleaned from many summers spent at this exact camp. And most importantly, Zippy has also discovered mysterious behavior going on at the camp: the older girls from the Hawks cabin are sneaking out to do . . . something. They're always exhausted, and their flashlight batteries are running out at an alarming rate. But their counselors are never woken up by girls sneaking out, no one on staff doing nightly rounds ever sees them outside the cabin, and even when they start doing a bed check at night, the girls all seem to be in their bunks.

Zippy and Bee are on the case, and with the help of an unlikely ally, they try to figure out what the Hawks are up to. But they soon discover there's more going on than just the usual summer-camp hijinks. How are the Hawks getting out at night? What is the deal with the (very cute) mysterious boy who seems to be working with the groundskeeper? Where is the distant music coming from? And what does the reclusive camp founder know about all of it?

What I liked: A mystery at a summer camp is a solid set-up for a book. After all, where do kids have more freedom to explore and investigate than at camp? Additionally, this book really captures the vibe of a 1960's story. Reading this book feels very much like reading a book written for kids at that time. 

What I didn't like: The characters are middling in their presentation. Their motivations are unclear and they aren't especially complex. This is a book driven more by action than by character so there aren't really deep explorations of themes or relationships. It's simple entertainment and not much more.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - One Word Six Letters

 

Title: One Word, Six Letters

Author: Adib Khorram    

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: teen

Similar book: Prom Babies by Kekla Magoon

Summary (provided by publisher): Freshmen Dayton and Farshid couldn’t be more different—or so it seems.

When Dayton takes a dare and shouts the f-slur at a visiting author during a school event, it sets off a chain reaction that forces both boys to face parts of themselves they’d rather ignore.

Dayton, grappling with the fallout of his actions, faces rejection from his friends, disappointment from his parents, and a growing awareness of the harm he’s caused. Meanwhile, Farshid is left to untangle his own feelings—about himself and about the quiet struggle of coming to terms with his queerness in a world steeped in heteronormativity.

As their lives unexpectedly intersect, Dayton and Farshid must reckon with what kind of men they want to become and whether they have the courage to defy toxic masculinity and societal expectations.

What I liked: This could easily have been a simplistic exploration of toxic masculinity. We could have Dayton painted as a shallow bully, not understanding the harm of his actions and Farshid as a simple victim. But Khorram does not fall into that trap. Instead we have two characters who are influenced by culture in small but important ways. Little experiences drive their behavior in extreme but believable ways. This results in characters who are not always likeable but are always realistic. The book is much stronger for it.

What I didn't like: There are moments in this book that are deeply uncomfortable. That's not something I dislike, per se, but I do feel the need to point it out. A deeply sensitive or innocent reader may struggle some but overall the plot is careful not to go to extremes.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Sprout

 

Title: Sprout

Author: Taylor Tyng

Genre: magical realism

Age range: middle grade

Similar book: Bloom by Nicola Skinner

Summary (provided by publisher): Sprout has gotten used to hiding. Having antlers growing out of your head will do that. But when she learns that another girl with wild antlers has been spotted, Sprout is determined to see if there is someone else out there who understands the strangeness she feels.

Soon she attracts the attention of E.B., a fellow oddball, who remembers everything he has ever seen, read, or heard. And he's not the only one fascinated by Sprout. A curious doctor and a set of terrifying twins are tracking Sprout's every move. But nothing could have prepared Sprout for the dark secrets that have taken root in her town. Digging up the truth might help Sprout understand her past--or it might spell the end of her town forever.

What I liked: Sprout centers on a pair of compelling characters. They are defined as people beyond the thing that makes them peculiar. While the plot is certainly odd, the characters keep us grounded.

What I didn't like: I can roll with some odd plot decisions. I'm cool with plots about kids with inexplicable antlers. But the explanation this book gives for Sprout's condition is a stretch. It attempts to explore some larger societal issues but doesn't really go deep enough. With a plot that feels like it wraps up too quickly, it doesn't quite make it onto my top tier of book choices.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley