Graphic Novel Spotlight - Witchy

Witchy by Ariel Slamet Ries

Explorations of magic aren't unusual in fiction, both traditional and graphic novels. Ries has taken a fascinating approach with this story, tying the characters' magic to their hair.  The length of their hair is a representation fo the strength of their magic as well as their respect for the spirits that provide their magic. Magic doesn't have rules, per se, but does have a direct tie to another aspect of the world. They don't fully understand their magic because they don't understand the spirit world. It's a complex mythology but Ries does not shy away from explanations and explorations. The progression of the plot only adds to the complexity of the world. The art is charming, cartoony and unafraid to take risks.

More information: Witchy releases September 17.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Explorers

Explorers by Nellie Huang

Books about explorers are inherently appealing to a young audience. By their very nature they have danger, science, and sociology. The key to a book like this one is to consume it in small amounts. Reading the whole thing in a single sitting can be a bit dull. Instead, visit on occasion to learn about someone new and interesting. Huang keeps it interesting by stretching the definition to include boundary pushers: women, people of color, the young, the aging. People who were told by society they were incapable of a goal and who attempted it anyway. A great book to have on your shelf for occasional reference.

More information: Explorers releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl

Title: Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl
Author: Ben Hatke
Genre: sci-fi/graphic novel
Similar books: Foiled by Jane Yolen
                      Estranged by Ethan M Aldridge
Rating:

what a delight

Summary (provided by publisher): Jack and Lilly are no strangers to heroics. They’ve befriended dragons, battled giants, and even earned the loyalty of a goblin army. So when they meet Zita the Spacegirl, fresh from her interplanetary travels and seeking their help to face a new threat, they’re more than ready for another adventure.
But the danger growing just outside the door to their world is greater than anything the new friends could have imagined. An army of giants and screeds stands ready to lay siege to Earth, determined to put the age of humans to an end.
With the gate between worlds growing weaker and time running out, can the heroes come together to save their world from their greatest enemy yet?

My opinion: No joke, I've been eagerly awaiting this book for 2 years, from the moment I finished Mighty Jack and the Goblin King and realized that Hatke was bringing Zita into Jack's world. Because the only thing better than getting a resolution to Jack's story would be reading more about Zita. And this is more than just a continuation of the Zita we knew in the original trilogy. This is an older Zita, a Zita who still feels like an outsider on Earth but is starting to gain some distance from her adventures. Jack and his crew, on the other hand, are in the midst of their adventures and have literally, physically been changed. Goblin blood, magic seeds, psychic links. They are noticeably abnormal at odds with Jack's determination to return to the status quo. Zita feels different but appears like any other kid. These ideas and petty jealousies crash together with an intersection of fairy tales, Norse mythology, and sci-fi adventure. It's a grand, sweeping story with constant action and a fair dose of social complexity. Hatke invites the reader to consider the giants in life, both literal and metaphorical. Well worth the wait.

More information: Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: history

I'm a fan of historical fiction for all ages, but especially for middle grade readers. I've always found historical fiction to be a good way to make a personal connection with a history lesson. It personalizes dry facts. Here are six historical fiction books, mostly for middle grade readers, published in the last six months.

6 New Historical novels

1. Voices by David Elliot
2. Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt
3. Julius Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians by Gary Northfield
4. The Ballad of Yaya by Jean-Marie Omont
5. Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
6. Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

Non fiction book review - Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine

Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine by Zoe Tucker

Picture book biographies can sometimes oversimplify a person's life, especially glossing over the more negative aspects. Tucker certainly doesn't take that route. We're told how Ada inherited negative personality traits from both her parents. She's described as moody and short tempered. But we also see how her determination and mathematical mind lead her to take a vague description for a calculating machine and develop a programing language to achieve that goal, drawing up designs and figuring out logistics. A great choice for a young reader needing a little inspiration.

More information: Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Art of Taxidermy

Title: The Art of Taxidermy
Author: Sharon Kernot
Genre: historical fiction/verse novel
Similar books: Voices by David Elliot
                      Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith
Rating:

artistic, but not for everyone

Summary (provided by publisher): A heartbreaking verse novel about love and death, grief and beauty, and the very individual ways we make sense of it all.
Lottie, the daughter of German migrants, develops a fascination for death after losing her mother at a young age. When Lottie begins collecting dead animals, her aunt tries to redirect her energies into more 'feminine' activities. But her father encourages her interest, recognizing a scientist's curiosity.

My Opinion: I'm a big fan of verse novels, especially when the bulk of the plot focus on a character's inner journey or self exploration. When the author is good at imagery, making us feel along with the character it transcends story to become art. And that's certainly the case here. Even when I wasn't clear on the context of a moment, when I was confused about he actual plot, I was sharing Lottie's experience. A little more context for the setting and events in the world at large would have been nice. But this is a book to read more for how it's being told than what is being told. That style won't work for everyone but I enjoyed it.

More Information: The Art of Taxidermy releases August 23.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Other Half of Happy

Title: The Other Half of Happy 
Author: Rebecca Balcarcel
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
                      Beyond the Green by Sharlee Mullins Glenn
Rating:

lots to think about here

Summary (provided by publisher): Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American : When Quijana's Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy : When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she's found true friends. But she can't help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up : Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.
In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. This lyrical debut from Rebecca Balcarcel is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

My opinion: In our culture, there's this push for imigrants to assimilate. This can leave them and their children in a cultural limbo, not really fitting in with the general public but clearly isolated from their own family. Add in general struggles to fit in when you're in your middle school years, family with health problems, the worries that can come along with having a neuro-atypical sibling and you have a fair amount to explore in this book. Perhaps, one might argue, too much, especially when you add in first crushes and increasingly complex lies. This is not a comfortable read and doesn't resolve in neat and tidy ways. But it has a ring of truth that will resonate with middle graders.

More information: The Other Half of Happy releases August 20
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.