Non-fiction book review - Learn to Program

Kids Get Coding: Learn to Program by Heather Lyons

The title to this one might be a touch misleading as the reader who completes this book won't actually be able to do any programming to speak of. This is more an introduction to the concept of programming, the ideas behind it, than any sort of practical manual. 
That being said, it is quite accessible. Concepts are presented in an easy to understand manner with clear examples. And I was impressed by the scope of programming languages mentioned and the section on picking the right language for the job. Given it's brief length, it is a solid introduction.

Book review - Olivia Decoded

Title: Olivia Decoded
Author: Vivi Barnes
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Second Star by Alyssa Sheinmel
                     Defending Taylor by Miranda Keneally
Rating:

a solid sequel

Summary (provided by publisher): This isn’t my Jack, who once looked at me like I was his world. The guy who’s occupied the better part of my mind for eight months.
This is Z, criminal hacker with a twisted agenda and an arsenal full of anger.
I’ve spent the past year trying to get my life on track. New school. New friends. New attitude. But old flames die hard, and one look at Jack—the hacker who enlisted me into his life and his hacking ring, stole my heart, and then left me—and every memory, every moment, every feeling comes rushing back. But Jack’s not the only one who’s resurfaced in my life. And if I can’t break through Z’s defenses and reach the old Jack, someone will get hurt…or worse.

My opinion: The first book in this series, Olivia Twisted, was a modernized retelling of Oliver Twist, adding in elements of cyber crime and romance. While the plot followed the original in a general way, the new elements added enough to maintain interest. This book acknowledges that plot, of course. There are frequent references to their history of cyber crime and the final events of the first book. There are enough references to get a sense of what happened in that volume without having actually read it. What's missing in this one is the appeal. If you haven't read Olivia Twisted you don't know these characters. Without the connection, seeing their relationships develop and watching them grow as individuals, this book looses some of it's impact. The plot is largely logical but would have benefited from a little more background to the major plot points. A decent effort if you've read the first book, though that one stand pretty well on its own.

Advance Reader Copy provided by Entangled Publishing.

Mooooo

This spring I made some wooden spoon puppets for a craft fair but I wasn't overly fond of the way they turned out. I decided to play some more with the concept and this is what I came up with.

Something about a cow lends itself to this form.

Book review - A Long Pitch Home

Title: A Long Pitch Home
Author: Natalie Dias Lorenzi
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard
                     The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Rating:

even better than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Ten-year-old Bilal liked his life back home in Pakistan. He was a star on his cricket team. But when his father suddenly sends the family to live with their aunt and uncle in America, nothing is familiar. While Bilal tries to keep up with his cousin Jalaal by joining a baseball league and practicing his English, he wonders when his father will join the family in Virginia. Maybe if Bilal can prove himself on the pitcher's mound, his father will make it to see him play. But playing baseball means navigating relation-ships with the guys, and with Jordan, the only girl on the team—the player no one but Bilal wants to be friends with. A sensitive and endearing contemporary novel about family, friends, and assimilation.

My opinion: I really enjoyed the narration in this book. Bilal's voice really shines. His confidence in Pakistan, his uncertainty and depression during his early weeks in Virginia, is sense of loss and feeling out of place, all of this comes through in his dialogue and narration. More than most characters we can understand why he makes poor choices regarding Jordan. At first he genuinely doesn't understand what is going on. Later, he doesn't want to lose his small group of tenuous (and admittedly fairweather) friends. 
All in all, this is a quick and compelling read. It highlights sports, politics, and the need for interpersonal understanding and patience. A solid choice for nearly any middle grade reader.

More Information: A Long Pitch Home releases September 6.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Bone

Bone by Jeff Smith

If you've spent much time around middle graders, you probably have some passing familiarity with this graphic novel series. Originally published as black and white comics in the 90s, they've been collected and published in graphic novels, first in black and white and more recently (by Scholastic) in full color. These adventures, populated by a curious blend of humans, rat monsters, dragons, talking animals, and whatever the Bone cousins are meant to be, have continuing appeal for young readers. And to older readers too. I picked up Out From Boneville somewhat reluctantly, thinking I'd just flip through it and see what the fuss was all about. I chuckled through my first rat creatures scene, grew curious about the cast of characters, and before I knew it I had joined the lengthy hold-list at my local library for the next volume.
Some have objected to the series given references to smoking, drinking, and gambling (many of which have been removed or softened in the Scholastic editions). Honestly, though, the average kid is not going to notice these things. They are so immersed in the complex adventure, in the complex characters and the overt humor, that subtle questionable references escape them. This is a series that kids come back to time and again. They pour over the minutiae of the illustrations, absorb all peripheral material (which now includes at least one collection of short cartoon stories and three prequel novels). Bone is a great gateway to more traditional fantasy novels too. I've seen kids graduate from Bone to The Lord of the Rings.

Book review - Ellie Ultra: An Extra-Ordinary Girl

Title: An Extra-Ordinary Girl
Author: Gina Bellisario
Genre: superhero
Similar books: Kung Pow Chicken by Cyndi Marko
                     The Gumazing Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny by Rhode Montijo
Rating:

Super cute

Summary (provided by publisher): Ellie is super excited for first day at Winkopolis Elementary School. After spending her whole life being homeschooled by super-genius inventor parents, she can't wait to hang out with normal kids and learn normal things. But Ellie soon learns that her super powers make her stand out in a not-so-super way. Can she save the world and fit in with her new friends? Or is blending in the one thing this superhero can't do?
For ages 6-8. From the new Ellie Ultra series.

My opinion: This is a cute story with substance behind it. Ellie goes through the full cycle of fitting in with her peers: liking everything about herself, realizing that things she saw as positives may be viewed as negatives by others, changing herself in order to be accepted, and eventually fully embracing herself once more. It's a simple story, given the target age group, but the writing is strong. The plot and limited illustrations are appealing.

More Information: Ellie Ultra: An Extra-Ordinary Girl releases September 1.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Ornaments already (sigh)

It's still August and temperatures around here are still topping out in the 80s but craft fair season is just weeks away. So I find myself working on Christmas ornaments lately. Here are a few new designs I've been trying out.