Book review - Optimists Die First

Title: Optimists Die First
Author: Susin Nielsen
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner
                     When We Collided by Emery Lord
Rating:

A pleasant, though predictable, read

Summary (provided by publisher): Beware: Life ahead.
Sixteen-year-old Petula de Wilde is anything but wild. A former crafting fiend with a happy life, Petula shut herself off from the world after a family tragedy. She sees danger in all the ordinary things, like crossing the street, a bug bite, or a germy handshake. She knows: life is out to get you.
The worst part of her week is her comically lame mandatory art therapy class with a small group of fellow misfits. Then a new boy, Jacob, appears at school and in her therapy group. He seems so normal and confident, though he has a prosthetic arm; and soon he teams up with Petula on a hilarious project, gradually inspiring her to let go of some of her fears. But as the two grow closer, a hidden truth behind why he’s in the group could derail them, unless Petula takes a huge risk. . .

My opinion: We count on Nielsen to take a close look at grief and mental illness with heart and a surprising level of humor. Blame, especially self-blame, is a fairly standard element of grief, as is the collapse of the family unit. Add in the love interest and the obvious secrets between them and this could easily have become a predictable, cliched mess. What saves it is the charm of the characters. We have a delightful cast of damaged teens doing  their best to survive high school. While they, too, tend towards tropes, they have just enough individualism to make them compelling. It's eminently readable if not particularly unique.

More Information: Optimists Die First releases February 21.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: classics

Retellings seem to be a perennial feature in youth lit. It's a trend that I wholeheartedly support. I read every one I can get my hands on. Here are six books published in the last six months that are either direct retellings or in some way directly influenced by classical literature.


6 new classically influenced novels

1. Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

2. The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg

3. Snow White by Matt Phelan

4. Return to the Secret Garden by Holly Webb

5. Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King

6. The Spell Thief by Tom Percival

One can never have enough hats

I have a pretty well known fondness for winter hats. And not just plain hats. We're talking owls, sharks, jesters, bright colors, pompoms, jingle bells. Even though I already have enough hats to wear a different one every day for over a week, I couldn't resist making another. Especially since I had a ball of bulky weight yarn hanging around. This was a simple pattern, just a long rectangle folded in half and seemed up the sides, but I'm pretty pleased with the result. It's brightly colored and super warm, just right for brightening up a Michigan winter day.

Book review - The Time Museum

Title: The Time Museum
Author: Matthew Loux
Genre: graphic novel/sci-fi
Similar books: The Accidental Keyhand by Jen Swann Downey
                     Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Rating:

a pretty exciting adventure

Summary (provided by publisher): The internship program at the Time Museum is a little unusual. For one thing, kids as young as twelve get to apply for these prestigious summer jobs. And as for the applicant pool . . . well, these kids come from all over history.
When Delia finds herself working at the Time Museum, the last thing she expects is to be sent on time-traveling adventures with an unlikely gang of kids from across the eons. From a cave-boy to a girl from the distant future, Delia's team represents nearly all of human history! They're going to need all their skills for the challenge they've got in store . . . defending the Time Museum itself!

My opinion: At face value, this is a pretty standard team adventure story. Differing personalities come together to accomplish something difficult. Their differences are what make them work as a tea,, etc. If it weren't for the charm and subtle humor of the illustrations it would be largely forgettable. The facial expressions are particularly excellent. There's a great sense of flow and movement both within and between panels. This is a solid choice for middle grade fans of adventure and graphic novels.

More Information: The Time Museum releases February 21.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Nowhere Near You

Title: Nowhere Near You
Author: Leah Thomas
Genre: mild sci-fi
Similar books: Learning to Swear in America by Katie Kennedy
                     The Other Way Around by Sashi Kaufman
Rating:

I liked it, though not the way I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Ollie and Moritz might never meet, but their friendship knows no bounds. Their letters carry on as Ollie embarks on his first road trip away from the woods—no easy feat for a boy allergic to electricity—and Moritz decides which new school would best suit an eyeless boy who prefers to be alone.
Along the way they meet other teens like them, other products of strange science who lead seemingly normal lives in ways Ollie and Moritz never imagined possible: A boy who jokes about his atypical skeleton; an aspiring actress who hides a strange deformity; a track star whose abnormal heart propels her to victory. Suddenly the future feels wide open for two former hermits. But even as Ollie and Moritz dare to enjoy life, they can't escape their past, which threatens to destroy any progress they've made. Can these boys ever find their place in a world that might never understand them?

My opinion: When I finished reading Because You'll Never Meet Me, I was fully satisfied. The open ending was one of the things I liked about it. We didn't get pat answers, just two damaged boys determined to give really living a shot. I was more than a bit apprehensive going into this new book. It's too easy to ruin a wonderful world by revisiting it. Thomas does a solid job with this one. We take the idea that Ollie and Moritz were moving towards their own "happily ever after"s and complicate it. At first they get a semblance of what they wanted: love, acceptance, real life. And it's far more complicated than they realized. Attraction fades. People aren't perfect. We grow and change and hurt people. And it's all necessary. I loved seeing them dealing with new people, facing demons they'd have preferred kept hidden. My first reaction was to say that I didn't like this one as much as the first but on further reflection I think that I do. It's just a different, more complex, kind of like.

More Information: Nowhere Near You releases February 7.
See my review of Because You'll Never Meet Me here .
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

A Computer mouse

I have a tendency to doodle, particularly when I'm reading something hard to understand or when I'm on hold. Usually this takes the form of little scribbles of animals and fruits among notes about phone numbers and usernames. Occasionally, though, I manage to produce something nice.

I got a new computer the other day at work and the monitor is noticeably larger than my old when. It felt like it was looming over me, which lead to this little sketch. While I've adjusted to the new size and no longer feel like a mouse beside it, I still like this drawing. It holds a place of honor on my bulletin board.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso

Even the harshest critics of graphic novels must see the educational value of books like this one. What better way to introduce an historical figure to a young reader than in a format that they already enjoy? Baseball is well suited to the graphic novel format. Action and dramatic shots abound. While the art is less refined than in some books it works well in this instance. A good choice for both sports and history fans.