Picture books for everyone

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

It's interesting enough to read that a giant squid's eye can be 12 inches in diameter. We don't realize the full implication of that fact until we're looking at it and realize that said eye is larger than our heads. And that's what gives this book such broad appeal. Little ones will enjoy comparing the size of their heads, hands, and more to the animals in this book. for older readers each page has a few animal facts. Jenkins has also written a similar book for dinosaur fans: Prehistoric Actual Size. I've used both of these books with my preschool storytime and they are always a hit, even drawing older siblings who usually ignore what we are doing into the conversation.

Non-fiction Book Review

Title: Terrible Typhoid Mary
Author: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

I'm familiar with the phrase "Typhoid Mary" of course and I knew that she was a real person, an uninfected carrier. I knew what we learned about disease from Mary. I had never before considered what this experience was like for her. That's what this book was about more than anything else: the dehumanization of Mary Mallon. We're used to having rights, medically. Rights to our own information, to refuse treatment, to keep our medical history private. These rights didn't exist for Mary. She was treated more as a lab specimen than a person. I was expecting more about Typhoid itself. If you're interested in medical history or social justice, this book is likely fascinating. I found it a little too clinical and distant at times. I'd have preferred something a little more personable. Still, well researched and solidly written.

Book review - The Marvels

Title: The Marvels
Author: Brian Selznick
Genre: historical fiction (if you count the early 90s as historical)
Similar books: Hold Fast by Blue Balliet
                     The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg
Rating:

So different, but so nice

Summary: Following an accidental fire, Joseph runs away from his boarding school in search of his uncle's house in London and his missing friend, Blink. The house, when he finds it, is a fascinating mystery, seemingly frozen in a moment in time. With the help of Frankie, the kid next door, Joseph will ferret out the truth about the Marvels and their connection to his own family history.

My opinion: It is fascination to me how with each of Selznick's books he uses full page  illustrations as a storytelling element but they serve a different purpose in each book. In my opinion, this book is the most innovative of the three, especially with it's use of images which serve two purposes. The plot is strong and delicately written. The characters are realistic and likeable. While I'd have preferred a little more resolution in the ending what Selznick provides is largely satisfying. Without dabbling in spoilers, know that this book is a gentle exploration of the dissolution of the nuclear family in the late eighties and the damage done to kids by wealth, privilege, and Yuppie culture.

More information: The Marvels releases September 15.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Not your grandfather's vest

Today's craft is something I finished a couple of years ago. I'm rather fond of sweater vests and I had a pattern for a classic cabled vest and I wanted to do a unique twist on it. I found a variegated yarn that seemed to fit the bill. This is a worsted weight yarn from Hobby Lobby (their yarn brand is called "I Love this Yarn"). The colors remind me of Fruit Stripe gum. In every way but color it's a standard fit sweater vest. The armholes and neckline are a little off but I'm pretty pleased for this first vest attempt. The pattern came from an old knitting book and I bet there are some other vest patterns I could play with...

Book review - The Boy Most Likely To

Title: The Boy Most Likely To
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi
                     The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Rating: 

a pleasant read

Summary: Tim used to be a major partier. In fact, his friends declared him the boy most likely to find the liquor cabinet, drive his car into a house, and drink himself to death. After getting kicked out of his prep school, he vowed to turn himself around. He's two months sober, living in a garage apartment, and working towards his GED. And he might just be falling in love with his best friend's sister, Alice. His chance at a better life is endangered, though, when his partying comes back to haunt him in a big way. 

My opinion: The Boy Most Likely To is actually a sequel (first book entitled My Life Next Door) but you don't really need to read the first one to understand this one. There were a few moments where I got the sense that Fitzpatrick was referencing something from the first novel but for the most part they didn't impede my understanding of the plot. While the general plot is familiar territory (former wild child finds out he has a baby with a kid he barely knows) the conclusion is fresh. The characters are solidly developed and likeable. While the plot arc is rather predictable, it's pleasant. This is a good book for an afternoon, light and entertaining.

More information: The Boy Most Likely To releases August 18.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on screen

Holes

A young Shia LaBeouf stars in this story of the seemingly cursed Stanley Yelnats who's sent to a work camp for a theft he did not commit. To my mind, this is Shia's heyday, fresh from relative success in the Disney channel series Even Stevens. The plot of the movie follows that of the novel fairly closely, even matching may of the small details (apart from the novel's description of Stanley as overweight). More importantly, the tone is spot on. While the details of the plot are rather ridiculous, the intent is fantastic and the way the stories of different generations weave together and meet up in the final scenes is marvelous. It's masterfully written by Sachar and solidly portrayed on the screen. In addition to LaBeouf's well-acted Stanley, this movie also features Sigourney Weaver as the menacing warden, John Voight as the blustering and cruel Mr. Sir, and Tim Blake Nelson and the bumbling "Mom". This movie doesn't get much attention anymore which is really a shame. It's one of the better film adaptations I've seen and well worth the viewing time.

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.