Non-fiction book review - Monster Science

Monster Science by Helaine Becker

I'll be honest - the cover of this book is a bit of a turn off. But it belies a fantastic interior. The approach is great. Using a monster as a starting point to introduce a variety of historical, scientific, cultural, and ethic issues is genius. While none of these concepts are explored in any depth, its a great way to pique a child's interest. I don't love the illustrations but the content is good enough to give the design flaws a pass.

Book review - The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes

Title: The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes
Author: Wade Albert White
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayres
                     The Goblin's Puzzle by Andrew S. Chilton
Rating:

clever, quirky fun

Summary (provided by publisher): A thrilling debut novel where fantasy and science fiction meet, dragons aren't as innocent as they look, and nothing is quite what it seems.
Anne has spent most of her thirteen years dreaming of the day she and her best friend Penelope will finally leave Saint Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. When the big day arrives, a series of very curious happenings lead to Anne being charged with an epic quest. Anne, Penelope, and new questing partner Hiro have only days to travel to strange new locales, solve myriad riddles, and triumph over monstrous foes--or face the horrible consequences.

My opinion: I didn't have particularly high expectations going into this one so I was pleasantly surprised by the execution. On the surface it's a fairly standard fantasy adventure. An unlikely team thrown together by circumstance. A menacing villain, a series of enigmatic tasks. Its somewhat predictable. What makes it shine is that White know and acknowledges this predictability and he plays with it. The characters must draw role cards for their quest, roles that include betrayer. Its all very tongue in cheek, keeping it light and entertaining. It helps that he characters are well-presented, complex and dynamic. I like the sci-fi elements as well. A great first volume. I'll be interested to see how the series progresses.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Not quite Jaws

I've been toying with the idea of a shark puppet for a while. When I found this blue sock among my puppet supplies everything seemed to come together. He turned out a little more silly than menacing but I think I like it. He's got character.

 

Pick 6: Pirates

Who doesn't love pirates? They're a great subject for kids books. Pirate picture books abound but they feature in novels as well. Here are six new kids novels published in the past six months that feature pirates in some way.

6 new pirate novels

1. The Ghastly McNastys: Fright in the Night by Lyn Garnder

2. The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers

3. The Treasure of Maria Mamoun by Michelle Chalfoun

4. Skeleton Island by Angie Sage

5. The Jolley-Rogers and the Ghostly Galleon by Jonny Duddle

6. Doodle Adventures: The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate by Mike Lowrey

Non-fiction book review - Inside Your Insides

Inside Your Insides by Claire Eamer

An excellent volume of non-fiction. Loads of information in language that is accessible without being oversimplified. Each fact is supported with a brief explanation/exploration. We learn not just what microbes are in and on the human body but what purpose they serve, how our microbe levels can change, and what effect such changes have on one's health. Eamer doesn't shy away from details either. Some of these facts might make your skin crawl but that doesn't make it any less fascinating. Cartoon style illustrations add to the appeal. A great choice for young readers with even a passing interest in science.

Book review - Watched

Title: Watched
Author: Marina Budhos
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond
                     Borderline by Allan Stratton
Rating:

an interesting approach

Summary (provided by publisher): Marina Budhos's extraordinary and timely novel examines what it's like to grow up under surveillance, something many Americans experience and most Muslim Americans know.
Naeem is far from the “model teen.” Moving fast in his immigrant neighborhood in Queens is the only way he can outrun the eyes of his hardworking Bangladeshi parents and their gossipy neighbors. Even worse, they're not the only ones watching. Cameras on poles. Mosques infiltrated. Everyone knows: Be careful what you say and who you say it to. Anyone might be a watcher.
Naeem thinks he can charm his way through anything, until his mistakes catch up with him and the cops offer a dark deal. Naeem sees a way to be a hero—a protector—like the guys in his brother's comic books. Yet what is a hero? What is a traitor? And where does Naeem belong?
Acclaimed author Marina Budhos delivers a riveting story that's as vivid and involving as today's headlines.

My opinion: Given the cover and the description I was expecting something in the realm of a thriller - governmental conspiracy and profiling. Free citizens who are anything but. These elements are present but to a much smaller degree than I had anticipated. It makes a difference that the protagonist is the one doing the watching. He's been intimidated into informing but he finds that he likes it. the real focus of this novel is on loyalty - to country, to family, to culture. It raises some concerning issues about our government's hunt for terrorists but doesn't dig into them very deeply. I wasn't thrilled by the ending which sort of petered out instead of anything sharp or dramatic. It raises some fascinating points but isn't overly compelling.
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Birthday cards

It was my brother's birthday this week, so of course I had to draw him a card. This was my first effort which started as a doodle on my notes at work.

In the end, though, I couldn't think of anything to write for it. I came up with this instead.

Inside: "Al thinks it's perfect"