Nonfiction book review - Faster, Higher, Smarter

Faster, Higher, Smarter by Simon Shapiro

This book works on two fronts. First, it appeals to sports-minded kids. As they are reading about feats of athleticism, they are seeing real life applications of science. Secondly, it appeals to science-minded kids, showing them that sports are more than just brute force. Books like this one bridge the divide between "brains" and "brawn" and everything in between. An admirable intent and the dynamic writing style in this one really succeeds. Even I, being inclined to neither science nor sports, enjoyed this one. Nicely done.

Book review - Far Out Fairy Tales

Title: Far Out Fairy Tales
Author: Joey Comeau, Louise Simonson, Sean Tulien, Otis Frampton
Genre: fantasy/sci-fi/graphic novel
Similar books: Fairy-Tale Comics edited by Chris Duffy
                     Babymouse by Jennifer Holm
Rating:

cute

Summary (provided by publisher): What do you get when classic fairy tales are twisted about, turned inside out, and reworked for the graphic novel format? Far Out Fairy Tales! Discover what Snow White would be like if she were raised by robots. Find out how Cinderella's story plays out when she walks the path of the ninja. Play along when three billy goats named Gruff get stuck inside a video game. Chase down the Big Bad Wolf with the help of a superpowered Red Riding Hood! Each fairy tale revision holds true to the spirit of the original while adding a modern twist to the classic tales we know and love. Experience fairy tales like never before in this innovative series of full-color comic books for kids!

My opinion: There is certainly no shortage of fairy tale retellings these days. This collection appeals to a rather young audience, mostly those just beginning to read independently. The settings in each story are unique, though the plots themselves are relatively standard. Motivations change slightly as well as resolutions, but at heart readers will recognize the pathways of these stories. The art is detailed and dynamic. It's a novelty but nothing groundbreaking. Very young readers will enjoy this, as plot familiarity will lend confidence. Older readers will be entertained by it once or twice and move on.

More information: Far Out Fairy Tales releases April 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGaley.

A quick skirt

Last week I set myself a goal to make a new skirt for Easter Sunday. Ideally, I wanted to buy a plain skirt at the thrift store that I would then embellish. Unfortunately, I didn't find such a skirt. What I did find was this sundress.

I'm not really a sundress sort of person and this dress is rather on the short side. But, with the sleeves removed just above the smocking, it became the perfect length for a skirt. I added an iron-on rhinestone embellishment. The skirt had two small stains but those were easily covered with some decorations. I figured birds fit in nicely with the tree I had already added.

The best way to add these birds would have been to embroider them. But this skirt is a jersey knit and you really need a stabilizer to embroider on a knit and I had no stabilizer on hand. These birds were drawn with fabric markers. In future, I'll probably redo them with embroidery.

Book review - The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl

Title: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl
Author: Melissa Keil
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer
                     You Were Here by Cori McCarthy
Rating:

nice, a little slow

Summary (provided by publisher): Alba loves her life just as it is. She loves living behind the bakery and waking up in a cloud of sugar and cinnamon. She loves drawing comics and watching bad TV with her friends. The only problem is shes overlooked a few teeny details. Like, the guy she thought long gone has unexpectedly reappeared. And the boy who has been her best friend since forever has suddenly gone off the rails. Even her latest comic book creation is misbehaving. Also, the world might be ending-- which is proving to be awkward. As doomsday enthusiasts flock to idyllic Eden Valley, Albas life is thrown into chaos. Whatever happens next, its the end of the world as she knows it. But when it comes to figuring out her heart, Armageddon might turn out to be the least of her problems. 

My opinion: There are some things I really like about this book. Alba is very comfortable with her body and her personality. She and her friends don't worry about what people think of them. In fact, they might be a little too self-assured and Keil asserts their individuality a bit too strongly. And they are preternaturally talented as a group. In spite of these mildly unrealistic elements, they have very real concerns. They struggle with future planning. They want more but don't always know how to get it. Or, in Alba's case, don't even know what they want. And they don't necessarily come to any real conclusions. The plot is somewhat predictable and moves a little slowly. Given that it centers around a potential apocalypse (which is a nice parallel to the major life change that is looming for the characters) there isn't a great deal of drama. Not a good choice if you're looking for a thrilling read but nicely introspective.

More information: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl releases to the American market April 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: New Kids

Moving to a new town or a new school is a classic set-up for a youth novel, and with good reason. Finding yourself in a new situation, adjusting to new schedules and a new peer group; these are a solid framework for addressing personal and family issues. Here are six books published in the last six months that feature kids who recently moved to new towns as a primary character.

6 New books with kids new to town:

1. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

2. Evie Brooks is Marooned in Manhattan by Sheila Agnew

3. Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

4. Crystal Cadets by Anne Toole and Katie O'Neil

5. Sanctuary Bay by Laura J Burns and Melinda Metz

6. The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers

Non-fiction book review - Last of the Giants

Last of the Giants by Jeff Campbell

An absolutely fascinating read. Campbell explains the science of extinction and population development as well as the affects of human society on animal populations. Threats, preservation efforts, historical context, it's all here wrapped up in a  personable and engaging narrative. The subject and language are somewhat complex at times so this book won't appeal to everyone. A little bit of reading diligence pays off though with this book.

Book review - The Wooden Prince

Title: Out of Abaton: The Wooden Prince
Author: John Claude Bemis
Genre: fantasy/retelling
Similar books: The Peddler's Road by Matthew Cody
                     Stravaganza by Mary Hoffman
Rating:

Interesting but not my favorite

Summary (provided by publisher): The automa Pinocchio has always been duty-bound to serve in the floating palace of Venice's emperor. So when Pinocchio finds himself locked in a trunk and delivered to a new master-a wanted criminal and alchemist named Geppetto-he is curious about everything around him. But most curious is the way Pinocchio seems to be changing from a wooden servant into a living, human boy. Before Geppetto and Pinocchio can uncover the mystery surrounding the automa's transformation, Pinocchio is stolen away. Determined to find Geppetto again, Pinocchio begins a harrowing journey across the Empire, where danger in the form of half-beast outlaws and winged airmen abounds for a lost automa.
Meanwhile, Princess Lazuli, the daughter of the ruler of a magical kingdom called Abaton, is also on a quest through the emperor's territory. Her father, Prester John, has been captured by the Venetian Empire, and Lazuli is desperate to rescue him. With the emperor's airmen closing in fast, Lazuli learns the only hope for saving her father-and her beloved home-lies in Pinocchio and Geppetto. In a masterful reimagining of Pinocchio, John Claude Bemis weaves an enchanting, thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers in the first installment in the Out of Abaton duology.

My Opinion: This is an intriguing twist on the Pinocchio story. If one is familiar with the original book rather than the Disney movie, one will recognize many of the individual elements in this book. Not ho  they are put together, though. Not their purposes or motivations. Mostly just the characters and general locations. Pinocchio does end up a part of a puppet show,  though even this serves an entirely different purpose in this novel. Even Pinocchio has different motivations. In the original story Pinocchio is learning what it  means to be real, to be human. Both good and bad. He learns selfishness, pleasure, and self-sacrifice. This is the point of the original book. Bemis' Pinocchio is naturally virtuous. He always makes the right choice, or at least the wrong choice for the right reason. 
Out of Abaton features a fascinatingly complex world but a less pleasing plot. Not a book for the casual reader.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.