Book review - Mechanica

Title: Mechanica
Author: Betsy Cornwell
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
                     Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rating:

An interesting twist on a familiar tale

Summary: Since her father's death, Nicolette has essentially been a servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. When she discovers her mother's secret workshop her world opens up and for the first time a future apart from the steps seems possible. With the help of some mechanical creatures (a fusion of clockworks and magic created by her mother years ago) Nicolette begins to create devices that may be the key to her independence. If only she can invent something amazing and sneak out in time for the royal exposition. All she wants is a little shop and a life of her own. Is it possible that she will discover more?

My opinion: A lot of people are comparing this book to Marissa Meyer's Cinder but the two books really couldn't be more different. Cinder is solidly sci-fi. Mechanica is high fantasy. Nicolette is not the Cinderella we all know. she may be a dreamer but she's no soft girl waiting to be rescued. She's had a hard life which has left her somewhat rough around the edges, angry and closed off. While there is a "love at first sight" element, Cornwell also suggests that such "love" is likely simple infatuation. That real love takes time. Mechanica is a slower, contemplative read with technical and political elements. That slower pace will not appeal to everyone.

More information: Mechanica releases August 25.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Upcycled buttons

If you're anything like me, you probably have half a dozen promotional buttons hanging about in a drawer or a box somewhere. We get these buttons from politicians, movie theaters, or even from work. I'm not a big button wearer so I never know what to do with them. A couple of years ago I rounded up a bunch of these buttons and restyled them for a craft fair with fabric, wire, sequins, card stock, and Mod Podge. These two are the only ones I have left. They are, ironically, my favorite of all the buttons I made.

Book review - Goodbye Stranger

Title: Goodbye Stranger
Author: Rebecca Stead
Genre: realistic  fiction
Similar books: Hold Fast by Blue Balliett
                     Blue Gold by Elizabeth Stewart
Rating:

pretty eye-opening

Summary: Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha have been best friends for years. It has always been easy for them to live by their one rule: no fighting. Now that they are starting seventh grade, though, they are developing different interests and being friends isn't so easy. Meanwhile, Sherm is trying to work through some family issues through letters to his grandfather and an anonymous high schooler is hiding out from parents and friend troubles.

My opinion: One subplot in this novel is likely to garner a great deal of attention, focusing as it does on questionable photographs and online privacy. Almost more importantly, it's about sexual politics and gender inequality even among middle schoolers. We see a situation where inappropriate photos are spread around of both a boy and a girl. The girl's reputation and self-esteem are obliterated. She sees reprisals in school and among her peers. The boy gets only sympathy and some mild disapproval. That entire sub-plot is a great topic for discussion with young readers. The other kids stories, while less controversial, are no less compelling. Speaking of all those stories, it takes a very skilled writer to juggle not only multiple plots and perspectives but also multiple formats and tenses. Stead is clearly up to the challenge, producing a complex but cohesive plot. It's not all heavy either. Light-hearted, sweet moments keep this from becoming too much of a brow-creaser. 
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Baba Yaga's Assistant

Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola

I remember reading a Baba Yaga story once as a kid in a collection of "spooky" stories for Halloween. It was the only exposure to Baba Yaga I ever had growing up, which is a shame because they really are fantastic folk tales. The heroines in these stories rely on a combination of bravery, kindness, and cleverness. Their virtues allow them to rescue themselves (plus they must be "good" as Baba Yaga eats "bad" kids). While Emily Carroll's illustration style isn't my favorite, it is well suited to this story of a young woman unhappy with her life who seeks out Baba Yaga.

Non-fiction book review - She Takes a Stand

Title: She Takes a Stand
Author: Michael Elsohn Ross

I've read a number of collections like this one, stories of women who make a difference in their communities, often at great personal risk. This is one of the better ones I've read. Some of the names are familiar. Others are new but equally inspiring. These women in this book come from a variety of time periods and locations. They fount for different rights, defied different unfair laws and policies, showing that any problem you see is worth fighting. And you don't have to be "important" to do the fighting. This would make a solid addition to any teen collection.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Con Academy

Title: Con Academy
Author: Joe Schreiber
Genre: realistic fiction/thriller
Similar books: The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson
                     Sway by Kat Spears
Rating: 

Sneaky fun

Summary: Will is tired of running low-level cons with his criminal father. At seventeen, he's ready for a better life. So, he cons his way into a place at an elite prep school where he soon meets fellow con artist Andrea. Running two scams at one school promises to be disastrous, so they make a deal: the first one to con privileged jerk Brandt Rush out of $50,000 gets to stay. The other must vanish without a trace. Will sets up a scam with his uncle, one of the great grifters. Unfortunately, he'll have to work with his father as well if he wants any chance of breaking free.

My opinion: Con artists make for great stories. The plot is inherently exciting with the antihero nearly caught on multiple occasions. The characters in this novel have a fair amount of depth. The plot moves along at a solid pace and has plenty of twists and turns without ever going too far. There was a point where I thought it might slip over the line to something ridiculous but Schreiber reigned it in in time. A great, exciting read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Meet Toaster

While at the local Goodwill this week with some friends, we found a Folkmanis wild boar puppet. It was pretty cute but had seen some hard use and the fur was getting nearly threadbare in spots. Still, at just a dollar the price was right. I figured I could make him a little outfit that would cover up a lot of that roughness. Various ideas for clothes were thrown around (cowboy boots, a tutu, that kind of thing) but after we named him Brandolph "Toaster" Marquis, I got more of a hipster vibe for the whole thing. Here are some photos of Toaster in his completed outfit.

He's really a rather jaunty fellow, especially given the way his legs arranged themselves in this photo

a facial close-up

 Toaster's hat is cut down from a stocking cap with simple holes cut for his ears. His shirt is actually a baby shirt with the neckline pulled really low so you can access the hole that makes him a puppet. His vest is a simple rounded rectangle with armholes cut from an old sweatshirt. I sewed his skinny jeans from the leg of an old pair of jeans. They feature a hole in the seat for his tail to poke through which is not visible in any of these photos. His shoes are kind of boot/loafer hybrid made from craft foam, felt, and hot glue. The scarf and pipe cleaner glasses are just placeholders, representing items I'd like to make for him in the future once I track down some better materials. None of his clothing is attached so we can update his look in future if desired.