Book review - Desmond Pucket 1&2

Title: Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic
         Desmond Pucket and the Mountain Full of Monsters
Author: Mark Tatulli
Genre: humor
Similar books: The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
                     The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
Rating: 

wicked fun

Summary: In book one, we find Desmond trying to get through the sixth grade without getting expelled. It would be easier if he could stop pulling pranks, a vice he can't seem to resist. If he can't stay out of trouble for the rest of the year he'll be banned from the class trip to Crab Shell Pier. And he must ride the Mountain Full of Monsters!
In book two, Desmond has made it to Crab Shell Pier at last. He has a plan to go on his favorite ride with the girl of his dreams. If only he could get away from Mr. Needles. Matters are complicated when he gets bad news about his favorite ride.

My opinion: Because Tatulli is primarily a comic strip artist (he's the creator of the largely wordless surreal strip "Lio") he has an excellent sense of visual timing. Thus, Tatulli uses the illustrations in these books to full effect. While Desmond is a prankster with a fondness for the macabre, his pranks come from a sense of fun and pleasant fear rather than anything truly malicious (excepting those he plays on his older sister), making him a likable, if somewhat odd, character. I liked the emphasis on planning and design before Desmond pulls any stunt, encouraging the same process thinking from readers .The plots are a little silly but in an entertaining way. Desmond Puckett is a solid choice fore young, fun-loving mischief makers.

More information: Currently available in hardcover, both of these books will be released in paperback August 25.
Advanced Reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Icebreaker

Title: Icebreaker
Author: Lian Tanner
Genre: sci-fi/distopia
Similar books: The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
                     The Lost Prince by Matt Myklusch
Rating:

rather unique

Summary: Ever since her parents committed a serious crime and were cast overboard, Petrel has had to fend for herself aboard the Oyster. None of the three warring tribes aboard ship will accept her. She spends her days hiding from bullies, stealing food, and speaking only to two intelligent grey rats. When a boy is found out on the ice, it upsets the balance of the shipboard culture and might just reveal a secret that has been concealed for three hundred years.

My opinion: This may well be the first dystopian novel I've seen aimed at middle grade readers. The focus is a little different than your standard dystopia. While it does delve somewhat into the way the society works and Petrel's place (or lack thereof) in it, the larger focus is on Petrel and her sense of self and value, her desire to belong somewhere. Like many preteens, she wants just one friend and sees the mysterious boy as her chance. That exploration of value and acceptance is far more typical of middle grade fiction than any other dystopia. The portrayal of the characters is somewhat simplistic but with the complexity of the world that's understandable. Overall, its a solid read for 5th-8th graders.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

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.