WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
How (Not) to Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts
Darcy has always lived a charmed life. Her father is a successful motivational speaker. Until he isn't. When his business falls apart, Darcy's father hits the road leaving his family to deal with the aftermath. Darcy needs some place to escape from the constant stress of her changed status among her friends and her mother's new drinking habit. Her uncle's thrift store may just be that place.
While it seems like this plot might be incredibly predictable, what I've read so far has a certain charm. 

What did you recently finish reading?
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh
Her entire life, Gigi has been focused on studying instead of making friends. It's the plan laid out for her by her big sister Didi, her only living relative. Didi wants her to succeed, instead of having to be a hairdresser like Didi and their mother. Now that she's at a new school, though, Gigi wants to reinvent herself. She wants friends and fun instead of just achievement. She doesn't anticipate the conflict this will cause with Didi. Or the family secrets it will reveal.
This was an absolutely charming, wonderful story. Heartbreaking at times but gentle enough for youngish readers. Join me on Friday for my full review.

What do you think you will read next?
It's Up to Charlie Hardin by Dean Ing
This story of the adventures of a boy in his Texas town during WWII could be a blast. 

also

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson
I've been looking forward to this book for months now and my library just got a print copy in. I can't wait to start in on it.

Book review - Tear You Apart

Title: Tear You Apart
Author: Sarah Cross
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Troll Bridge by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
                     A Grimm Legacy by Janna Jennings
Rating:

frustrating

Summary: For years, Viv has known that she has a Snow White curse, that some day her stepmother will send a huntsman to kill her. She always expected that her best friend-turned-boy friend Henley would be there to protect her. No one expected that Henley would turn out to be the huntsman. When Prince Jasper, one of the princes of the Underworld, offers her a way out, Viv must decide if being around Henley is worth the risk.

My Opinion: There are some things I really like about this book: the idea of the fairy tale curses, the general rejection of the fated ending, and the blending of the fairy tales into a single world. It had all of the elements that I was looking for, which made the negatives that much more disappointing. Vivian is an incredibly selfish character. All of her concerns are about herself. When Henley is in danger, Vivian is worried because of how it will affect her. When she learns that Regina has been belittled and emotionally abused her entire life, she can't even raise a little sympathy. She's too angry at Regina to feel bad. Henley isn't really any better. He's terribly possessive, doing massive amounts of property damage if Vivian flirts with or pays attention to another guy, even when they are "broken up." Theirs is a textbook example of an unhealthy relationship. It's literally all the behaviors we warn young people to look out for. Take this line from a big "romantic" scene: "I don't want you to be happy if it means you're happy with someone else." Terrible, selfish, terrifying love. So, even though there were many things that I liked about this book, that relationship prevents me from giving it my endorsement.

More information: Tear You Apart releases January 27.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Small animals

While exploring ideas for Christmas presents to make, I came across the book Sewing Tiny Toys which has instructions for making small stuffed animals. While the animals in the book are made out of fleece or velvet, I figured they would translate well into felt. I picked out these two as being common animals in the world of Redwall, thus being well suited to my niece.

Mole

Otter

Teddy Bear Picnic!

For several years now my library has hosted and annual Teddy Bear Picnic. As they enter, kids make a craft and find a place to sit on the floor. After everyone has a chance to eat their lunch we read a story. Then we play The Teddy Bear Picnic song and have a chance to dance with our special guest, a volunteer dressed up in a teddy bear costume (thanks Zeke!). Many of the kids like to have their photo taken with the bear. After that, all that's left is a special snack. 

Bears have a snowball fight.

 

Our bear mask craft - photo by Nicholas Navarre

photo by Nicholas Navarre

Story time! - photo by Nicholas Navarre

Dancing with the bear - photo by Nicholas Navarre

Photo by Nicholas Navarre

Photo by Nicholas Navarre

Enjoying cupcakes - photo by Nicholas Navarre

Book review - Since You've Been Gone

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Mary Jennifer Payne
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Throwaway Girl by Kristine Scarrow
                     15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins
Rating:

fails to connect

Summary: Edie and her mother have been on the run for years, moving at a moment's notice. This is their most drastic move yet: from Canada to London. Edie tries to make the best of things but it isn't easy when she doesn't fit in at her new school. Bullies take a back seat, though, when her mother fails to come home from her night shift. Edie fears the past has caught up with them at last.

My opinion: From a strictly plot perspective, this is a pretty solid book. Events follow a decent level of logic and order. As characters, Edie and Jermaine could use a little more fleshing out. They have only minimal definition and very little emotional depth. A book like this, about a girl's desperate search for her missing mother, should really connect with the reader on an emotional level. We should feel Edie's fear, loneliness, and desperation vicerally. This book simply doesn't do that. Edie's search is almost meandering and haphazard. The lack of engagement makes this something of a disappointment.

More information: Since You've Been Gone releases January 24th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight: Fairy Tale Comics

Fairy Tale Comics edited by Chris Duffy

This collection gathers 17 fairy tales retold and illustrated by 18 cartoonists. Both well known and more obscure tales are recounted. Selections include: The Magic Porridge Pot, 12 Dancing Princesses, Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, The Prince and the Tortoise, Snow White, The Boy Who Drew Cats, Rumpelstiltskin, Brer Rabbit, Rapunzel, The Small Tooth Dog, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Baba Yaga, The Bremen Town Musicians, Give Me the Shudders, and The King and His Storyteller. There are a variety of artistic styles so there really is something for everyone in this book.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross
For years, Viv has known that she has a Snow White curse, that some day her stepmother will send a huntsman to kill her. She always expected that her best friend-turned-boy friend Henley would be there to protect her. No one expected that Henley would turn out to be the huntsman. When Prince Jasper, one of the princes of the Underworld, offers her a way out, Viv must decide if being around Henley is worth the risk.
I love pretty much any fairy tale retelling. While this isn't my favorite so far it has plenty of time left to turn out amazing.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz
When Simon Schwartz was born in 1982, his parents lived in East Germany. Having applied to emigrate to the west, life was not easy for the Schwartz family. They lived under a constant cloud of suspicion and disapproval and struggled to find work. This short graphic memoir recounts the years leading up to their decision to leave and the three years they were detained in the East.
While this memoir lacks the emotional impact of Maus or Persepolis, Schwartz relates a pretty interesting period in his family's life. This might be a nice supplement to a history unit.

What do you think you will read next?
The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence by Stan Lee, Stuart Moore, and Andie Tong
A book about superpowers from Stan Lee? Yes please!