Graphic Novel Spotlight - Tamamo the Fox Maiden

Tamamo the Fox Maiden and other Asian Stories by Kel McDonald et al

We get explorations of European folk tales far more often than we do of eastern cultures. Probably because the religions and culture differ so much from what is familiar to an American audience. Demons, gods, and yokai, as presented in these stories are far different from the beings as we know them. There's less good and evil , more complexity and negative traits. Bad behavior rather than bad characters. These stories represent a wide variety of characters and styles, so there's something for everyone.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Wild and Crooked

Title: Wild and Crooked
Author: Lean Thomas
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Nick and June Were Here by Shalanda Stanley
                      More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell

As good as I'd hoped

Summary (provided by publisher): In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Spence's name is inseparable from the brutal murder her father committed when he was a teenager. Forced to return to town, Kalyn must attend school under a pseudonym . . . or face the lingering anger of Samsboro's citizens, who refuse to forget the crime.
Gus Peake has never had the luxury of redefining himself. A Samsboro native, he's either known as the "disabled kid" because of his cerebral palsy, or as the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus just wants to be known as himself.
When Gus meets Kalyn, her frankness is refreshing, and they form a deep friendship. Until their families' pasts emerge. And when the accepted version of the truth is questioned, Kalyn and Gus are caught in the center of a national uproar. Can they break free from a legacy of inherited lies and chart their own paths forward?

My opinion: There's a lot going on in this book. We have the obvious exploration of the roles we play in life - roles we find for ourselves and those others place upon us. Thomas has three different approaches in her characters. Kalyn despises the role thrust upon her and is determined to be her own person regardless of expectations. Gus is frustrated by his societal role but can't see a way out of it. His friend has fully embraced his role to the point that he's loathe to depart from it's guidelines. He see this role as a way to guide his behavior. Each character either finds ways his roles don't fit or failings in what society has laid out for them At the same time, they also come to realize the ways they have put others into boxes that perhaps don't fit them as neatly as originally supposed. Now the idea that people are more than one thing is certainly not new. And the central plot has some logical failings, some elements that are thin. But the characters are compelling and their interplay charming.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Peg dolls completed

I made enough historical women peg dolls to take to my craft fair over the weekend. I included a fact card with each peg. As a result I had long conversation with one customer about the role of Eleanor Roosevelt in the development of American politics. Totally worth it.

 

Book review - Princess Ninjas

Title: Princess Ninjas
Author: Dave Franchini
Genre: fantasy graphic novel
Similar books: Crystal Cadets by Anne Toole
                      Gillbert the Little Merman by Art Baltazar
Rating:

not what I'd hoped it would be

Summary (provided by publisher): When the kingdom is under attack who do we turn to? The king and his guards? A knight of myth and legend? Or the prophesized, chosen Princess Ninjas who battle evil and will save the day? I think we all know who!
Working together to protect their home, adopted sisters Bridget, Megan, and Elyce along with their sidekick Turtle-Bear, will find out that being a ninja isn't all about sticking to shadows, magic, and cool karate moves. Sometimes it's about honor, loyalty, and finding out what being a family truly means.

My opinion: I like the concept here, girls being able to be princesses and warriors at the same time. That liking something "girly" doesn't have to mean that you're soft and fragile and useless. It also makes the point that they're all princess warriors but still have different interests, that people are complex. The plot, though, is fairly contrived. We have the leaders of a country raising the orphaned children of warring factions in the name of peace, not to mention magic and a dark sorcerer lurking in swamps and dungeons out to take all of the magic for himself. Add in stiff dialogue and indistinct character voices and it simply isn't a compelling read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: New kids

Moving to a new town or a new school is a classic set-up for a youth novel, and with good reason. Finding yourself in a new situation, adjusting to new schedules and a new peer group; these are a solid framework for addressing personal and family issues. Here are six books published in the last six months that feature kids who recently moved to new towns as a primary character.

 6 New books with characters new to town:

1. 29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz
2. Sincerely Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle
3. Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton
4. Skateboard Sibby by Clare O'Connor
5. The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
6. Belly Up  by Eva Darrows 

Book review - Milo's World

Title: Milo's World
Author: Richard Marazano
Genre: fantasy, graphic novel
Similar books: Pilu of the Woods by Mai K Nguyen
                      Timo the Adventurer by Jonathan Garnier
Rating:

a decent stepstone to manga

Summary (provided by publisher): Milo leads a lonely childhood marked by the absence of his mother, about whom he knows next to nothing. His father has gone to work in the city, leaving him in the care of his three elderly aunts, who give him his freedom to distract himself by the lake where he lives.
In this lake, Milo discovers a fish egg of unusual size, and when it hatches, a magnificent golden fish is born. Milo is only half surprised when strange creatures, including a toad man, become interested in his secret discovery.
He soon meets and frees a fiery young girl named Valia, who was held prisoner by the toad man, and the two are forced to flee, guided by the golden fish, to "the other side" of the lake . . . the flip side underneath, one of many parallel worlds that are connected through the lakes, rivers, and oceans.
In this parallel universe, an evil wizard wields power, driven by blind vengeance, with the toad man does his bidding. Milo finds himself the subject of fascination, fear, and excitement by the elf-like population, who aren't sure what to do with him, until he sets out on an adventure to protect them from the evil wizard.
Along the way, he finally encounters his mother, who turns out to be a sorceress from this world, and the polar opposite power of the evil wizard. He's the lost scion of a new generation and wizards, and he never knew it (even though his three aunts and the golden fish did).
Milo is the key in this battle; if the wizard manages to capture him, there will be no more opponents in the world on this side of the lake, meaning he could extend his domination and carry it even further, leading the conquest of the multiple parallel universes . . .

My opinion: While Milo's World is designed in the western style (meaning it reads left to right) it has a strong manga vibe, both stylistically and thematically. There's a fair dose of mysticism but nothing too complex.We have a magic fish, a dark wizard, and an interdimensional portal. The plot jumps around a bit and has a few notable holes. Very atmospheric. It's not especially complex so it's a good entry point for manga.

More information: Milo's World releases June 11.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Solving for M

Title: Solving for M
Author: Jennifer Senden
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
                      The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Rating:

the perfect amount of complexity

Summary (provided by publisher): When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who's ever heard of such a thing?
But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.
Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika's journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

My opinion: This book tells two stories: life upended by a parent's illness and social changes that come with adolescence. The interplay between these elements, especially the affects of a non-traditional teacher on the way a young person develops, is well plotted. It's a compelling if somewhat predictable story about finding new friends and looking at problems from a new perspective. I liked that the approach to the math journals was more than just "math is everywhere". Through her journal, Mika learns new approaches to all of her problems. Conversely, addressing life problems teaches her new ways of looking at math. There were some plot elements that felt unnecessary and over-wrought, but overall the plot and characters are strong.

More information: Solving for M releases May 28.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.