Book review - Perfected

Title: Perfected
Author: Kate Jarvik Birch
Genre: dystopia/alternate reality
Similar books: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M T Anderson
                     Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Rating:

Surprisingly good at first, but kind of a let down towards the end.

Summary: In Ella's world genetically modified humans, such as herself, are kept as pets by the rich and powerful. When Ella is purchased and brought to her opulent new home her life becomes more than she'd ever imagined. As time passes, though, the perfect mask begins to slip and Ella wonders if freedom is worth giving up the privilege that comes with her life.
My opinion: It is hard to imagine a society that would allow people to be kept as pets, making this a hard sell. We read with a healthy dose of skepticism. It accomplishes its goals fairly well. W see the dichotomy of the opulence that surrounds Ella, which is is almost a part of, with her role as a pet, sort of sub-human. Ella's self-discovery and growing longing for freedom are nicely paralleled by Penn and Ruby's own unhappiness and need for fulfillment beyond what their parents expect of them. The book isn't all perfect. Penn is highly idealized and the ending isn't particularly cohesive, but over all it's a strong read.
More information: Perfected releases July 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley. 

The TARDIS has landed

To kick off our teen summer reading program, we had an evening of Doctor Who related games and activities. I thought a lot about how I wanted to describe the program but I think I'll just let the photos speak for themselves. If you have any questions about details of what happened, just let me know.

Enter through the TARDIS door. It's bigger on the inside.

Assorted Doctor Who references. The clear box in front is the shadow box I've been working on.

The TARDIS console and book recommendations.

The snacks

Always take a banana to a party. Bananas are good.

Jelly babies (aka Sour Patch Kids) and crackers. Two hearts. Ha!

Jammie dodgers

 Actually, the Jammie dodgers do have a little story attached. I wanted to post this picture:

Nice, right?

 Then it would seem like I had made this big batch of almost perfect cookies. That picture is a lie. Only those two looked that good. Most of the cookies looked like this:

Broken, discolored, and weirdly shaped.

Tossing baby Adipose

Weeping angel red light, green light. Not really sure why he is karate chopping

Move the mini M&Ms with your plasmavore little straw

Flying the TARDIS

Stack up your Jelly Babies

The end of the monster name match-up game

We all loved these quotation speech bubble props

 

In case you can't read it, this one says "Would you like a jelly baby?"

Holding our Jello Ood brains

And, at last, me in my costume

WWW Wednesdays

What are you currently reading?
Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
Ella is a genetically engineered teenager, raised to be a pet for a rich family. When she arrives at her new home, she quickly realizes that "perfect" isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've only just started this one but am really enjoying it so far. The atmosphere and what little characterization I've encountered is fantastic.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Conversion by Katherine Howe
Colleen and her friends are completely wrapped up in their senior year at St. Joan's Academy. Their lives are wrapped up in AP classes, extracurriculars, college applications, and, occasionally, boys. Senior year seems perfect until a mysterious illness begins to strike down girls in the senior class. Characterized by tics, seizures, paralysis, baldness, or other, more bizarre, symptoms the illness causes panic throughout the school and community. As people search for an explanation, Colleen begins to suspect something sinister is happening at St. Joan's.
Interspersed with events from the Salem Witch Trials, Conversion keeps you guessing all the way to the end. A pretty compelling read.
 
What do you think you will read next?
The Dare by Hannah Jayne
 

Guest review - Noggin

This is my second guest review and the first of a book I myself have reviewed. This is part of a project that I am undertaking with Abby, the Lupine Librarian. We hope to do a handful of these throughout the year.

Noggin

What if death wasn't absolute? John Corey Whaley explores this idea in his latest novel, Noggin. Travis and his friends and family must deal with the harsh reality that his cancer is terminal, unless an experimental head transplant will miraculously save his life. Against all odds, Travis wakes up five years later. He's the same guy - with a new body. If you can wrap your head around this idea, noggin makes for a great, thought-provoking read. The main character's relationships with his best friend and girlfriend pre and post transplant are especially poignant.
I would say this book is thought-provoking.

And that's Abby's review. Check out my review of Noggin here.

Doctor Who crafts

My Doctor Who program is just two days away. Here's where we stand.

The console and photo props - Done! Photos coming Thursday in the post about the program.
 
The fob watch - Done! (sorry for the blurry photos)

Circular Gallifreyan outside

Clock face inside

The shadow box - in progress

The poodle skirt - Done!

The loopy flight path

TARDIS detail

The complete outfit with my favorite high-tops

And because I'm a glutton for punishment (apparently) this is not my outfit for the program. No, I'll be wearing this tomorrow. I'm working at putting together a different costume for Wednesday. Here's my first piece.

re-banded for the occasion

 Kudos to anyone who can tell who I will be dressing as from this photo alone.

Book review - The Shadow Hero

Title: The Shadow Hero
Author: Gene Luen Yang
Genre: Super hero/graphic novel
Similar books: The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks
                     Hero Worship by Christopher Long
Rating:

a super entertaining read

Summary: It's the 1930's in Chinatown. Hank Chu just wants to follow in his father's footsteps and run the family grocery store. His mother wants more. After being rescued by the Anchor of Justice, Mrs. Chu is determined to make her son into a superhero whether he likes it or not.
My opinion: A re-imagining of a short lived comic, The Shadow Hero really captures the essence of golden age comics. The characters are compelling and have varied motivations. The art is phenomenal and really supports the plot. There's this great sequence where Mrs. Chu tries to force super powers on Hank, going so far as to expose him to toxic waste. It's like all of those classic comics just with a little more nuance. A great addition to the world of superhero comics.
More information: The Shadow Hero releases July 15th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on Screen

Fantastic Mr. Fox

This movie was pretty similar to the book, though less funny. The movie modernized the plot a touch and added a subplot about the son and a nephew, giving the movie a much more serious tone. The book has more of Dahl's classic ridiculous humor. Still, the movie is worth watching if only for the wonder that is stop motion animation. Also, the variation in the resolution is an interesting twist on the original.