Book review - When

Title: When
Author: Victoria Laurie
Genre: mystery
Similar books: Numbers by Rachel Ward
                     Vision by Lisa Amowitz
Rating:

A pretty solid read

Summary: For as long as she can remember, Maddie has seen the numbers: a date that hovers over each person's forehead. The date of their death. In an effort to save a boy, she tells his mother of his approaching deathdate. When Tevon vanishes that same day, all eyes are on Maddie.

My Opinion: For the most part, this is a pretty entertaining book. Maddie, at least, is a relatively rounded character. The plot resolution does come as something of a surprise. In fact, I'd have liked a little more foreshadowing for the killer's identity. There were plenty of suspects but no real direction. Some of the evidence and "cop talk" was a little stiff, clinical, or just plain hard to believe. Still, a nice level of tension kept the pacing at a near ideal level.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Another Puppet

This fall I posted a puppet I had made with my nephew (it's here if you missed it). At the time that we made Burt the Cow, we talked about possibilities for Burt’s goat assistant Fred. We wanted his eyebrows to be the only part of him that moved. So, here he is. Fred, the detective assistant. As planned, his brows quirk up and relax back down. Fred is made out of craft foam (for flexibility and resilience), fuzzy fleece, pipe cleaners, and some small black decorative bits. His eyebrow mechanism is made from floral wire and a piece of a broken plastic hanger.

 

Book review - Rat Runners

Title: Rat Runners
Author: Oisin McGann
Genre: dystopia/sci-fi
Similar books: Data Runner by Sam Patel
                     The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
Rating:

Pretty captivating

Summary: Scope, Manikin, Nimmo, and FX have been given a task that should be simple for thieves like themselves - collect a black leather box belonging to a murdered scientist. It's not so simple when the streets are patrolled by agents with x-ray vision and several different groups are after the box. It will take all their skills, wits, and a lot of luck to complete their mission and escape alive.

My Opinion: This book has a great undercurrent of tension through the bulk of the plot. The action is pretty much non-stop. I did feel like the end was somewhat abrupt and we don't particularly connect with the story on an emotional level. It is a great source of entertainment, if not particularly deep or thought-provoking.
More Information: Rat Runners releases January 13th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6 - comedies

Who doesn’t love a good laugh? Especially in winter with the weather kind of dreary. Here are 6 funny books published in the last 6 months, covering everything from beginning chapter books to teen novels.

6 new comedies
1. Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Scieszka
2. LEGO Star Wars: Yoda’s Secret Missions by Ace Landers
3. The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents MacBeth by Ian Lendler
4. Playing with Matches by Suri Rosen
5. King Dork Approximately by Frank Portman
6. Hissy Fitz by Patrick Jennings

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
When by Victoria Laurie
For as long as she can remember, Maddie has seen the numbers: a date that hovers over each person's forehead. The date of their death. In an effort to save a boy, she tells his mother of his approaching deathdate. When Tevon vanishes that same day, all eyes are on Maddie.
This isn’t the first novel I’ve read based on this same idea but what I’ve read so far holds a lot of promise.

What did you recently finish reading?
Rat Runners by Oisin McGann
Scope, Manikin, Nimmo, and FX have been given a task that should be simple for thieves like themselves - collect a black leather box belonging to a murdered scientist. It's not so simple when the streets are patrolled by agents with x-ray vision and several different groups are after the box. It will take all their skills, wits, and a lot of luck to complete their mission and escape alive.
Pretty much nonstop action, this one will keep you turning pages right up to the end.

What do you think you will read next?
Inked by Eric Smith
A tale of magic, fate, and rebellion. This one has potential.

Book review - The Ghosts of Heaven

Title: The Ghosts of Heaven
Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Genre: hard to define
Similar books: She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
                     Relativity by Cristin Bishara
Rating:

Can't say I loved it, can't say I hated it

Summary:  In four loosely linked stories, Sedgwick explores creation, betrayal, ambition, madness, obsession, grief, hope, and more. Journey though time with a young cave dweller, a girl accused of witchcraft in the wake of her mother’s death, a young doctor and the poet he is trying to help, and a space explorer carrying the hope of all mankind.
 
My opinion: When I recommended Sedgwick’s She is not Invisible, I heard complaints that it focused too much on math theory. While theoretical math plays a less direct role in the plot of this novel, spirals and their role in life are the center of the whole novel. The last two stories in particular take an in depth look at spirals and theoretical science. It’s not a particularly difficult book to read, though I personally found the last story rather trying. And it was interesting to read about the different time periods, especially when Sedgwick would include little nods to the previous stories. It’s just going to be a hard sell for most readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

As you wish

My sister is a big fan of The Princess Bride. So, this year for Christmas I  painted some her some peg dolls based on the main characters. I used basic acrylic paint and a seal coat of Mod Podge.