Book review - It's Up to Charlie Hardin

Title: It's Up to Charlie Hardin
Author: Dean Ing
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald
                     Soup by Robert Newton Peck
Rating:

Charming

Summary: When Charlie and his pals get together it always seems to end in trouble. Whether they're playing war, scraping together money for a movie, exploring the forbidden culvert, or any number of other schemes, Jackie, Roy, and especially Aaron know that sometimes it's up to Charlie Hardin to get things done.

My opinion: Charlie's Austin Texas is delightfully described from the perspective of a young boy. Instead of the majesty of night skies and chirping birds we get trees that are perfectly positioned to serve as a pathway over away, pipes that echo with what might just be a ghost cat, and both the grossness and the promise of a pond. Styled after Tom Sawyer, It's Up to Charlie Hardin carries the same sort of tone and atmosphere. While that makes for a rather charming read, that slower pacing and the length may make it something of a hard sell for the average young reader.

More information: It's Up to Charlie Hardin releases February 3rd.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black

This book is filled with a sort of dry wit. I chuckle my way through it with every read. The concept is, of course, absurd but the narration takes on a faux-serious tone that just adds to the hilarity. Michael Ian Black is a master of using a few words to evoke a strong, ridiculous, image. Like pigs wearing majorette uniforms. You read that and you can't help but laugh at the mental image that results. And illustrator Kevin Hawkes provides excellent illustrations. Children and parents alike will enjoy the extremes of this picture book.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Dinosaur Boy by Cory Oakes
Years ago, Sawyer's grandfather was infected with a virus containing dinosaur DNA. As a result, Grandpa became part stegosaurus. The summer before fifth grade, Sawyer sprouted a tail and spikes too. Being a fifth grader is hard enough. Being part dinosaur is bound to make him stick out, and not in a good way. When the kids that bully him start to disappear, it's up to Sawyer and the few friends he has left to figure out what is going on.

I've never read a concept like this one so I'm really looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the novel.

What did you recently finish reading?
Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue by Paige Braddock
Cecil and his friends are pretty happy with their simple lives. They have splash contests in the pond and visit with Jeff the free-range hamster. Their only worry, usually, is the local hawk who'd like to eat most of them. Things just got more complicated, though. The humans are building a highway that will go right through their pond. Can Cecil and his friends find a way to stop the highway?

This was a really cute graphic novel. It is simple enough to appeal to young readers.

What do you think you will read next?
Soulprint by Megan Miranda
A sci-fi thriller about souls and secrets, this one has a lot of promise.

Book Review - How (Not) to Fall in Love

Title: How (Not) to Fall in Love
Author: Lisa Brown Roberts
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
                     The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle
Rating:

Better than I expected

Summary: 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.

My Opinion: I am chagrined. I really thought that this was going to be your standard "rich kid turns poor and learns how to truly live" type story. I should not have judged it prematurely. Don't get me wrong. That element is certainly present. There is just a lot more going on too. There are issues of self-reliance, forgiveness, mental illness, and much more. There is so much more to this book than just falling in love with a "good guy." I could imagine giving this book even to teens who aren't fans of love stories.

More Information: How (Not) to Fall in Love releases February 3rd.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Assorted clay projects

There are always a handful of really small projects I end up making that don't seem to be enough to make up a post. Here are a few things I've made in the last couple of months, all out of polymer clay.

The Wizard of Oz ruby slippers bookmark
I've seen versions of this bookmark online, usually with a wire base. I find wire to be too thick, possibly enough to damage a book, so I used ribbon instead. 

Hobbit feet bookmark
This bookmark is made much like the other. I do enjoy the little toes and hair on this one.

 

Sting key chain
This little sword key chain is based on Frodo Baggins' sword, Sting. You can't tell from this photo but the blade is made from glow-in-the dark clay.

Puppets!

Yesterday was our monthly puppet class. As part of our ongoing effort to use mostly everyday materials (making every puppet easy replicated at home) we used paper cups as a puppet base. These are some of the puppets that the kids made.

This dude has a spectacular mustache.

This puppet maker said, "I was going for a sort of demented jester look."

Baby Abraham Lincoln, complete with beard and pacifier.

A pair of pirates

 

Book review - The Truth About Twinkie Pie

Title: The Truth About Twinkie Pie
Author: Kat Yeh
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
                     Steering Toward Normal by Rebecca Petruck
Rating:

Lovely. Simply lovely.

Summary: 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.

My Opinion: It's hard to believe this is Yeh's first novel. So many positives. The characters, especially Didi and Gigi are so realistic: nuanced, flawed, and having distinctive voices. Even secondary and tertiary characters have depth and growth. The setting is wonderful as well. Yeh really provides a sense of place, perfectly described with little details like the creaking step and the overly perfect store fronts without bogging us down with description, so each reader can imagine the town for himself, making it his own. It's introspective without becoming 300 pages of navel-gazing. Then there's the recipes. These fantastic recipes for "real people" foods written in a friendly, conversational voice. Plus Gigi and Didi's story really takes us through an emotional wringer. Fabulous.

More information: The Truth About Twinkie Pie releases January 24th. 
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.