Title: Terror at Bottle Creek
Author: Watt Key
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick
Never Say Die by Will Hobbs
Rating:
 |
| interesting |
Summary (provided by publisher): In this gritty, realistic wilderness adventure, thirteen-year-old Cort
is caught in a battle against a Gulf Coast hurricane. Cort's father is a
local expert on hunting and swamp lore in lower Alabama who has been
teaching his son everything he knows. But when a deadly Category 3 storm
makes landfall, Cort must unexpectedly put his all skills-and
bravery-to the test. One catastrophe seems to lead to another, leaving
Cort and two neighbor girls to face the storm as best they can. Amid
miles of storm-thrashed wetlands filled with dangerous, desperate wild
animals, it's up to Cort to win-or lose-the fight for their lives.
My opinion: I liked the information about swamp animals in this book. It gives a great deal of interesting facts without becoming overwhelming or too much like a text book. There is one passage where Cort and his father compare the nature of mammals and reptiles, how domesticated mammals can revert to a feral state without the influence of humans but no amount of human influence seems to fully domesticate a reptile. These are really cool concepts to consider. Apart from that its actually a fairly standard survival story. The parts about Cort’s issues with his parents are well integrated into the immediacy of the survival story. Over all, it is fairly well written and worth a read.
More information: Terror at Bottle Creek releases January 5.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Eloise at Christmastime
Let's be frank: the book and movie here bear little plot resemblance. The book chronicles the everyday doings of an excitable, mischievous child at Christmas. She eats treats, decorates, sings, and exchanges gifts. The made for tv movie adds two dramatic plots: the romance between Bill and Rachel Peabody and Mrs. Thornton's pending eviction. The original illustrations supply the inspiration for at least the second of these plots (Eloise includes a drawing of a sour-faced woman with a poodle scowling at Eloise and Skipperdee). Most importantly, though, the movie truly captures the spirit of Eloise. Sofia Vassilieva not only resembles Eloise, she mimics her facial expressions and postures. And Julie Andrews is delightful as Nanny. This movie is a great one to add to your holiday rotation.
Susan B. Anderson’s Kids Knitting Workshop
For the most part, the instructions in this book are very clear. Anderson provides plenty of simple, clear steps. A kid could almost teach himself/herself to knit with this book alone. The single exception is the cast-on instructions which I, a somewhat experienced knitter, found needlessly complicated and terribly confusing . I struggled to make those instructions work. Once I moved beyond that point, though, I found the bulk of the instructions very helpful and I liked that most of the projects were useful, practical projects. With guidance from an experienced knitter, this is a very helpful guide for the young crafter.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
Title: Shadows of Sherwood
Author: Kekla Magoon
Genre: retelling/sci-fi
Similar books: Valiant by Sarah McGuire
Jack by Liesl Shurtliff
Rating:
 |
| Fun, but not my favorite |
Summary (provided by publisher): For fans of Percy Jackson comes a high-adventure retelling of the
classic Robin Hood tale featuring a kick-butt heroine ... Robyn Hoodlum.
The
night her parents disappear, twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley must learn to
fend for herself. Her home, Nott City, has been taken over by a harsh
governor, Ignomus Crown. After fleeing for her life, Robyn has no choice
but to join a band of strangers-misfit kids, each with their own
special talent for mischief. Setting out to right the wrongs of Crown's
merciless government, they take their outlaw status in stride. But Robyn
can't rest until she finds her parents. As she pieces together clues
from the night they disappeared, Robyn learns that her destiny is tied
to the future of Nott City in ways she never expected.
Kicking
off a new series with an unforgettable heroine, readers will be treated
to feats of courage and daring deeds as Robyn and her band find their
way in this cruel, new world.
My opinion: On one hand, I liked the idea of this: a quasi modern gender bent Robin Hood. And I do mean quasi modern. They might have mopeds, holograms, and fully wireless tech, but the feel was more medieval. I kept expecting horses, armor, and cook fires. And while the base concept was sound, the execution has so much prophecy, near magic, and moon religion that it didn’t feel as much like Robin Hood. Clearly the first in series and not one I’d bother to continue reading.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Title: Not If I See You First
Author: Eric Lindstrom
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Painless by S.A. Harazin
Song of Summer by Laura Lee Anderson
Rating:
 |
| compelling |
Summary (provided by publisher): Everyone has secrets. Everyone is a secret.
Parker
Grant is a junior in high school who loves to run, has great friends,
and isn't afraid to speak her mind--especially when it comes to how
stupid some people can be around a blind person like her. The only topic
to avoid is how Parker feels about the boy who broke her heart in
eighth grade... who has just transferred to her school. And as long as
she can keep giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried
since her dad's death three months ago, she'll be just fine. Right?
Combining a fiercely engaging voice with true heart, debut author Eric Lindstrom's Not If I See You First sheds light on the metaphorical blind spots that are a part of life, whether you're visually impaired or not.
My opinion: Some Excellent stuff here. Seriously, excellent. So first of all we have Parker, a head-strong protagonist caught up in her grief and her own view of the world. We have the boy who wronged her and years of hurt between them. You have friends who keep secrets and are more than we or Parker suspect. The ending won’t suit everyone but it’s realistic and right up my alley. This is different than some of the teen fiction you’ll read this year but its certainly worth a look.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Brain Camp by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
This is a very atmospheric book. The muted color palate suits the story’s tone, as does Faith Erin Hicks’ illustration style. Make no bones about it, this is an odd story, something along the lines of mild horror. It is a bit graphic in a few scenes with mild blood, but not terribly so. It’s solidly plotted and characterized with a nice, slightly open ending.
