Books on screen

I Am Number Four

For the most part, the events of this movie mirror the book fairly well. We see much of the same progression of hiding to confrontation. The big difference comes with characters. While their names and relationships are largely the same, their essential beings are different. John and Henri don't have the friend/father relationship we see in the book. There's more rebellion, more antagonism. John's classmates are vastly different in character than we see in the book. Not worse, necessarily, just different.

The big question is, which version is better? To be honest, neither version is amazing. The book gives us more context for the conflict between the Loriens and the Mogadorians, more detail of Lorien culture and hints about future events. The movie, on the other hand, moves a few events around and actually provides a more logical structure for events. Both have their merits.

Book review - Chasing Helicity

Title: Chasing Helicity
Author: Ginger Zee
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
                      Hideout by Watt Key
Rating:

a little frustrating

Summary (provided by publisher): Helicity is well aware that her name is unusual - kind of like Helicity herself. The word Helicity means to spin, and for as long as she can remember, Helicity has been fascinated by the weather. The weather is Helicity's escape from her own reality - may that be school, her father's strict discipline, or her brother's imminent departure for college where he's all set to play football.
One fateful day, Helicity and her horse head out on a long ride to take a break from life at home. Even with her vast experience with weather, Helicity is unprepared for the elements she faces. The choices Helicity makes before, during, and after that storm will have a lasting effect on her family and her future.

My opinion: I have a couple of persistent complaints about this book. 
1) There's not much detail. We get brief overviews of events and then they're almost brushed aside. The town is devastated by a tornado. We get a few scenes of the aftereffects and then everyone moves on. 
2) Helicity is refered to as being from "West Michigan" rather than a specific town. Normally, I'm okay with this sort of vagueness but then we're told about her trip to Muskegon to ride the ferry. It is frustrating to get specificity in a minor detail but vagueness in the primary setting.
3)The plot is sort of arbitrary and cuts off suddenly. While this is clearly meant to leave events open for sequels, no part of the plot is resolved at the end of this book. Additionally, some of the over-arcing elements are obvious.

More information: Chasing Helicity releases April 24.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Calvin and Hobbes

My first experience with fandom was reading the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes as a child. While I couldn't have articulated it at the time, there was something about that strip that really spoke to me. I remain a fan to this day. And since there is no official merchandise, I made my own.

And what are Calvin and Hobbes without their time machine/transmogrifier/duplicator. 

Book review - The Secret Science of Magic

Title: The Secret Science of Magic
Author: Melissa Keil
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
                      Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson
Rating:

Like a John Green B-side

Summary (provided by publisher): Meet Sophia: former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind. She's been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It's a lot of pressure. So Sophia doesn't have the patience for games right now. She especially doesn't have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks. Meet Joshua: highly intelligent, cheerfully unambitious, and an amateur magician. He's Sophia's classmate, and he's admired her for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell Sophia how he feels. He doesn't know how wrong he is ...

My opinion: I was fully prepared for this to be just another teen romance. The elements are all there: closed of genius has her world expanded by a charismatic outsider. And if that's all this was I'd quickly write it off as empty entertainment. It's so much more, the romantic element becomes something of a subplot. We have two outsiders trying to find their place in the world, their purpose, their people. We have an attempt to "fix" an anxious person which, importantly, fails. Secret keeping and self-centeredness that nearly destroys long term relationships. There's a lot going on in the background which can make the narrative a bit scattered. In all, though, it's an engaging read well worth your time.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Peter & Ernesto

Peter & Ernesto: a tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

Imagine Frog and Toad or Ernie and Bert were sloths and you have decent grasp of the thrust of this book. A pair of friends who are essentially quite different, yet their differences make their friendship stronger. Not only that, but their different perspectives mean that even though they travel to the same places they have different experiences. The story is easily understood with a clear plot and accessible vocabulary. It's transparent enough for very young readers to understand but with enough subtleties for older readers to appreciate. It's not a terribly complex book but a delight to read.

More information: Peter & Ernesto releases April 10.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Trash Revolution

Trash Revolution by Erica Fyvie


 Sound bites are a great way to inform young readers. You pass a great deal of information over a wide variety of subjects without becoming overwhelming. And Fyvie achieves this goal. She presents plenty of facts about foot garbage, recyclables, e-waste, and more. We see how various kinds of trash break down in landfills, ideal methods of disposal, social and political debates, and efforts to lower environmental impacts. It can easily be read section by section or picked at in small bites of factoids. The information is well supported by cartoon style illustrations that both inform and entertain.
advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Sci-Fu

Title: Sci-Fu
Author: Yehudi Mercado
Genre: science fiction/graphic novel
Similar books: Earthling! by Mark Fearing
                      Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence
Rating:

a little weird, mostly pretty cool

Summary(provided by publisher: Set in 1980s Brooklyn, a young DJ accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia.
Hip-hop, sci-fi and kung fu all hit the turntables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado (Pantalones, TX, Rocket Salvage) sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

My opinion: I grew up in the Midwest. Hip-hop and breakdancing were never really a part of my world. Luckily, you don't really need to be hyper-familiar with hip-hop culture to understand and enjoy this story. The plot is satisfyingly complex, with a sort of Scott Pilgrim vibe. The real selling point, here, is the art. Mercado has found the perfect balance between text and illustrations, allowing both elements to tell parts of the story. A great choice for readers looking for something off the beaten path.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley