Book review - Spelled

Title: Spelled
Author: Betsy Schow
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Bewitched in Oz by Laura J. Burns
                     The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Rating:

Not exactly what I expected, but nice

Summary: Dorothea isn't exactly thrilled to be a princess. While being able to buy whatever she wants is nice, she's under a curse and can never leave the castle. To make matters worse, her parents have just informed her that she has been betrothed to the less-than-charming Prince Kato. In a fit of rage, Dorothea makes a wish that sends her world into chaos and puts it in danger of being taken over by a very wicked witch.

My opinion: Initially, I was somewhat annoyed by this book. There is a point where cultural and fairy tale references go from cute and clever to irritating. This book has a tendency to toe that line. It wasn't until I passed the halfway point that it began to redeem itself. I had been expecting something more along the lines of Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, that nearly effortless combination of classic stories. This book includes elements of nearly as many stories but the combination is more awkward. I like that it draws material from the original Oz book series, rather than the movie (including the hammer heads which were always my favorite). This makes for a more menacing version of Oz that fits the darker nature of this plot. The ending redeems a lot of the slow, awkward start and Dorothea ends the book far more likeable than she began.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

A frisbee story

The story of today's craft goes something like this: My nephew was visiting this weekend, so I didn't have any immediate plans to make any craft projects. As it turns out, our weather this weekend was phenomenal. Sunny, warm, the works. The sort of weather that begs for picnics and outdoor activities. I live in a second floor apartment, so I don't really have much in the way of outdoor equipment. Not even a frisbee, as it turns out. The solution? Make one.

Luckily, I have a copy of this book:

which has a pattern for a crocheted t-shirt frisbee. It was simple enough to find an old shirt and cut it into the appropriate sized strip. The crocheting itself should have been quick work. Of course, three rounds in my crochet hook broke. And I didn't have another one that size. Or even in a close size. I found a smaller hook and tried to work really loose. Which, of course, didn't work. The resulting frisbee looked more like a hat. I ended up pulling pretty much the whole thing out and making up the pattern as I went along. We ended up with a not completely round, sort of curly, frisbee. But it mostly flew straight and was easy to throw and carry. To my mind, that makes it worthwhile.

It's not much to look at, but was pretty fun to toss around.

Book review - Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave

Title: Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave
Author: Jen White
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Jacobson
                     Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
Rating:

charming, thoughtful

Summary: Liberty and Billie are supposed to be spending the summer (and hopefully the foreseeable future) with their dad, a nature photographer who travels around the country in an RV. That was the plan. Then their dad leaves them at a gas station and disappears. When she realizes that their dad is not coming back, it is up to Liberty to take care of them both and hopefully find a way to get them back to California and the friend they were staying with after their mother died. Along the way they meet a lot of interesting people.

My opinion: There's just something about survival stories - finding shelter, food, friendship, and transport in a strange place far from home, even if that strange place is a city. We find these stories highly appealing. This book is a solid representation of the genre. For most kids this isn't going to be a casual read. There are too many serious events. It might be a good selection for group discussion, though.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight: Star Wars Infinities

Star Wars Infinities by Adam Gallardo

This is a great series for anyone who has ever wondered "what if that scene had turned out differently". Each Infinities book approaches one of the original trilogy and changes a single event, one encounter that ends differently and changes the entire trajectory of the story leading to some surprising results. While the art is mediocre, the plots are fascinating. I've actually only read 3 of the 4 parts of the Return of the Jedi story but if all the rest are anything like what I've read these are well worth a look.

WWW Wednesdays

What are you currently reading?
Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn
Three teens are thrown together to stop a violent future, facing some dark secrets in the process. After been thrown out of three boarding schools, Sadie is home and facing her last chance - the local public school. There she meets back up with Emerson. Emerson isn't happy to see Sadie. While they were once friends, Emerson fears Sadie will ruin his chances with his dream girl, especially since Sadie knows things about him he'd rather forget. In the midst of it all is Emerson's brother Miles, a fragile boy with chronic health problems and a knack for seeing the future. Miles is seeing terrifying visions of violence, violence that might just involve the three of them.

Kuehn has painted a complex picture of three very damaged teens. So far, it is fascinating to see how their stories intertwine and unravel.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Never Be Younger edited by Rachel Bateman
Nine authors re-imagine works of Shakespeare, setting them in space, even a night club. The characters are historical, modern, even mutants. Some hold pretty closely to the original plays, others imagine how the story may have turned out differently. These stories may just change how you see Shakespeare.

What do you think you'll read next?
Valiant by Sarah McGuire
Pretty much, if it's a fairy tale retelling I'll read it. I'm not particularly familiar with The Brave Little Tailor, but the description of this new version sounds promising.

Book review - Because You'll Never Meet Me

Title: Because You'll Never Meet Me
Author: Leah Thomas
Genre: mild sci-fi/realistic fiction
Similar books: Noggin by John Corey Whaley
                     Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
Rating:

pretty compelling reading

Summary: Ollie and Moritz can never meet. Ollie is something of a hermit, restricted to a rustic cabin in the woods due to a severe electricity allergy. Moritz is kept alive by a pacemaker. A meeting would prove deadly for both of them. Through a series of poignant letters, Ollie and Moritz work through intense loneliness, bullying, and a dark past that connects them. 

My opinion: What stands out most for me about this book is the narrative structure. At first, it just seems like two boys writing letters. Ollie's are exuberant, filled with sidebars, enthusiastic description, and unfettered positivity. Moritz's are sparse, precise, almost dour. As we read, we realize not only do their letter styles reflect their personalities, they change. Ollie's letters lose their enthusiasm and length so gradually that we don't notice it until they nearly match the tone of Moritz's first letter. Meanwhile, Moritz's letters slowly gain enthusiasm, positivity, and detail. This juxtaposition is masterful and a delight to read. Even the names they call each other and their salutations reflect their changing mindsets. The odd nature of the plot will not appeal to all readers but if you're willing to go in with an open mind you'll find this novel well worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

It's time for Doctor Who!

This clock remake was inspired by a photo I'd seen online. If you Google "Doctor Who clock" you'll see a dozen different varieties. With 12 doctors now these characters are perfectly suited to replacing the numbers on a clock. I'd considered printing out some pictures and gluing them to the clock face. In the end, though, I settled on painting some cartoon versions of the different doctors.