Non-fiction book review - Engineered!

Engineered! by Shannon Hunt

While each section of this book is brief, its packed with information. We're given a brief overview of each type of engineering and examples of how they are used in our daily lives. It's a great choice for young readers with any interest in math and science.

Book review - Mighty Jack and the Goblin King

Title: Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
Author: Ben Hatke
Genre: graphic novel/fantasy
Similar books: Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
                      The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks
Rating:

delightful

Summary (provided by publisher): Like a bolt from the blue, Jack's little sister Maddy is gone—carried into another realm by an ogre.
When Jack and Lilly follow Maddy’s captor through the portal, they are ready for anything . . . except what they find waiting for them in the floating crossroads between worlds. Even the power of their magic plants may not be enough to get them back to earth alive.
Alone and injured, Jack and Lilly must each face their own monsters—as well as giants who grind the bones of human children to feed their “beast” and a fearsome goblin king in the sewers down below.
But when Jack finds himself in a tough spot, help comes from the most unlikely person: the goblin king!

My opinion: Hatke never disappoints. This is a great follow-up to what begain as an exiting series. Now, Mighty Jack has a slightly more mature look and feel than Zita the Spacegirl and as such it may not resonate with the same readers. Zita was more of an elementary series. Jack skews more towards middle grade. I was a little unsure of this series at first, in part because I so dearly loved Zita, but it has grown on me over time especially as I began to notice the thematic parallels. In this series, Hatke uses familiar stories as a broad framework but truly makes the plot his own. If you have even a slight interest in fantasy and fairy tales, give this series a look.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

A Fanstastic peg

In my continuing effort to celebrate female superheroes in peg doll form, I've created this Sue Storm peg. She provides a nice visual counterpoint to my other peg dolls.

 

Book review - Shadow Warrior

Title: Shadow Warrior
Author: Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Genre: historical fiction/creative non-fiction
Similar books: What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein
                      Arcady's Goal by Anton Yelchin
Rating:

educational

Summary (provided by publisher): It’s 1558, and warlords across Japan are battling for territory and control. Into this setting, award-winning author Tanya Lloyd Kyi weaves the stories of three people: Mochizuki Chiyome, a young woman determined to become a ninja whose plans are thwarted by an arranged marriage; Takeda Shingen (The Tiger), a fierce warlord seeking a new weapon to outsmart his enemies; and Aki, an orphaned tavern girl whose destiny is changed by a mysterious woman. As their stories intersect, the three characters become key players in an elaborate network of undercover female ninjas who will eventually shift the balance of power in Japan. Based on the true story of Mochizuki Chiyome and her all-female spy network, Shadow Warrior takes readers on a journey through feudal Japan, from villages to castles to battlefields. Stunning illustrations by Celia Krampien, interspersed with archival Japanese art, vividly depict the rigors of ninja training, the struggles of village life, the intensity of battle, and the thrill of accomplishing a secret mission.

My opinion: A quick, highly readable book with a compelling story. It has two major selling points: girl power and spies. Yes, it's an historical setting and is told with more formal language. In fact, stylistically it comes closer to creative non-fiction than a true novel. These might be significant barriers for young readers. But, its a relatively short and compelling read if you're willing to put in a little effort and could spark some good non-fiction reading as well.

More information: Shadow Warrior release September 12.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

Polly and Her Duck Costume by Leanne Louricelle

At first glance, this is a fairly niche book. It's a sweet little story with soft, almost pastel illustrations, about a goat who overcomes fear. In other words, a book for little kids. What makes it multi-age is the last few pages, which detail the true story of Polly and the other rescue goats.  

More information: Polly and Her Duck Costume releases September 12.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Science Comics: Plagues

Science Comics: Plagues by Falynn Koch

This volume of the Science Comics series is a particularly good one. It uses a plot to convey scientific information but doesn't push that storyline too hard. It knows that it's intended to inform more than entertain. The plot is only intended to make the information easier to digest. Yet it is entertaining. The illustrations are fantastic - nuanced and entertaining. Readers will learn not only about plagues but also about a variety of infections, vectors, and the innerworkings of the immune system. A solid choice for fans of biology (but good for non-scientists too!).

Advanced Reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Genuine Fraud

Title: Genuine Fraud
Author: E. Lockhart
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
                      One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
Rating:

good, though not what I'd anticipated

Summary (provided by publisher): From the author of the unforgettable New York Times bestseller We Were Liars comes a masterful new psychological suspense novel—the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.
Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

My opinion: I remember being blown away by We Were Liars. Lockhart was experimenting, pushing the boundaries of what can be done in teen fiction. And when I realized that this book, too, played with nontraditional formatting I got excited. Here's an author doing new and exciting things, I thought. The reality is less thrilling than I'd hoped. Yes, the story is told in reverse. And its easy enough to follow. In spite of knowing how it will ultimately end, there is interest and intrigue along the way, a few surprising twists. All of which tells me just how masterful a writer Lockhart truly is. I just didn't love this book the way I did Liars. It's clever and worth a read, just didn't connect with me in that real, visceral way.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.