A funny pair of beards

In preparation for a program this week I made these two crocheted beards. I used this free pattern from Mad Mim. It's super easy to follow and the beards work up really quickly. I can't wait to make people wear them.

Book review - Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Title: Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
Author: Kelly Jones
Genre: fantasy/comedy
Similar books: Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise
                     Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Rating: 

quirky fun

Summary: Sophie doesn't know much about farm life when her family moves from Los Angeles to an inherited farm,  but she's determined to learn. The farm doesn't look like much: broken tractor, overgrown fields, a barn full of junk. Things start looking up when Sophie finds a hen in the field - a hen that seems to have unusual abilities. More hens arrive and Sophie must learn to care for them with limited resources and protect them from someone determined to steal them.

My opinion: What fun! While this is an odd concept (super-powered chickens?!) it works better than you might expect as learning to care for the chickens helps Sophie deal with her feeling about moving and grief over her deceased grandmother. The mixed format letters, lists, and the like help as well. It is fast paced and peppered with great drawings that highlight major events.

More information: Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer releases May 12.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: dystopia

Books dealing with dystopias and the apocalypse are a fascinating exploration of human nature. Even though it seems like the dystopian trend is on the decline there are still a great deal of good novels in this genre on the market. Here are six dystopian novels published in the last six months.

6 new dystopian novels

1. Rat Runners by Oisin McGann

2. Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle

3. Breaking Sky by Cori McCarthy

4. Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill

5. Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos

6. Undertow by Michael Buckley 

Star Wars crafts

Given that Monday was Star Wars Day, I made two Star Wars crafts this week. These are quick and easy projects.

Princess Leia headphones
I've had my eye open for a good pair of headphones for a while specifically so I could do this project. All you need is: headphones, craft foam, yarn, and hot glue. Cut 2 circles of foam large enough to cover the ear part of the headphones and a long rectangle to cover the strap. Now cover these foam pieces with yarn. I glued the yarn in a spiral on the circle pieces and in rows on the rectangle. Glue the circles to the ends of the rectangle. I wanted to be able to remove the decoration  so instead of gluing it directly to the headphones I made small foam strips that wrap around the headphones and hold the Leia hair in place.

Unassembled

Lightsaber earrings
These are made out of Lite Brite pegs. I painted the rounded ends with silver model paint. After the paint dried I added the details with permanent marker and attached jump rings to the rounded ends with hot glue. 

  

Book review - Bomb

Title: Bomb
Author: Sarah Mussi
Genre: thriller
Similar books: Rat Runners by Oisin McGann
                     BZRK by Michael Grant
Rating:

Whoa!

Summary: Genesis just wants to get over her boyfriend, Naz. So she agrees to a blind date. That moment changes everything. When she wakes up, she's in a dark room and a strange vest is strapped to her body. A voice speaks to her through a device glued into her ear, telling her that she's wearing a bomb and if she doesn't do exactly as she is told it will detonate. Gen has just become and unwilling pawn of the Brightness.

My Opinion:

Just as a warning, it is very hard for me to talk about what makes this book wonderful without dipping into spoilers. If you want to skip the rest of my review, I'll understand. Zip past the next paragraph and just move on knowing I highly recommend this one.

Okay, for my complete review.

This is a very thrilling read. It has a great sense of tension and pacing. While we don't make a strong emotional connection with the characters the constant danger and fear will keep you reading. What blows me out of the water with this book is the ending. I quite literally yelled at this book when I finished it. It's very cinematic. Do you hear that Hollywood? Sarah Mussi has just written your next awesome movie. (And here comes the real spoiler. Last chance to scroll past it. You've been warned) Imagine what that would look like, the clock on the phone clicking over to 4:44 and the screen goes black. Delightfully infuriating. 

More Information: Bomb releases May 7th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

May the 4th be with you!

Normally I'd post a craft today but I wouldn't be much of a librarian (or a nerd) if I didn't acknowledge the unofficial holiday that is Star Wars Day. So, I bring you a list of books for Star Wars fans, all of which I have either read or had personally recommended to me by young readers.

Books in the Star Wars Universe
Jedi Academy series by Jeffery Brown
This series is a double whammy, hitting the Star Wars and Diary of a Wimpy kids demographics.

Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger
While set entirely in a regular school, this series is clearly influenced by Star Wars and really embraces the saga's philosophies.

Star Wars Infinities by Chris Warner and David Land
Based on the idea of "what if" scenarios, this graphic novel series explores how Star Wars would have turned out if just a few decisions had been altered.

The Clone Wars Secret Missions series by Ryder Windham
This was a short lived series but pretty well loved by a couple of young readers at my library.

LEGO Star Wars: Yoda's Secret Missions by Ace Landers
Several short stories which are pretty firmly seated in the world of Star Wars. They are funny enough to hold up to repeat reads.

William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher
Who knew Star Wars would work so well in iambic pentameter? This series currently consists of Verily, a New Hope, The Empire Striketh Back, The Jedi Doth Return, and The Phantom Menace: Star Wars Part the First. The Clone Army Attacketh is due out in July and Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge is slated for September.

 
Other books that might interest young fans
Space Penguins series by L.A. Courtenay

Flight Explorer edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Missle Mouse by Jake Parker

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Rust by Royden Lepp

The Ender Quintet by Orson Scott Card
 
The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond
 

Book review - Seriously Wicked

Title: Seriously Wicked
Author: Tina Connolly
Genre: magical realism
Similar books: Hellhole by Gina Damico
                     Little Miss Evil by Bryce Leung and Kristy Shen
Rating: 

a surprisingly practical approach to magic

Summary: Cam is sick of her mother's machinations. She's sick of chores intended to help with plans to take over the world (or at least the town). She's sick of trying to learn spells. She doesn't want to be a wicked witch. When her mother summons a demon that enters the body of the cute new boy at school Cam has just five days to save the world and Devon's soul.

My opinion: This is a great pick for fans of fairy tales. The approach to magic is surprisingly pragmatic. It's nothing mystical or amazing, doesn't come out of nowhere, but is a regular part of Cam's world and a series of chores. Cam herself is a fairly typical teen, dismissive of her mother's lifestyle and filled with zeal to save the world. Really, this is a standard quest novel: there is a set goal, distinct steps that must be taken, and a time frame to avert disaster. The resolution is solid, well set-up without becoming completely obvious. A good choice for young teens.

More information: Seriously Wicked releases May 5.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.