Book review - What We Found in the Corn Maze and How it Saved a Dragon

Title: What We Found in the Corn Maze and How it Saved a Dragon
Author: Henry Clark
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: The Wonder of Wildflowers by Anna Staniszewski
                      The Magic of Melwick Orchard by Rebecca Caprara
Rating:

not sure it's the good kind of weird

Summary (provided by publisher): When three kids discover a book of magic spells that can only be cast during a few short minutes a day, they'll need all the time they can get to save a dying magical world, its last dragon, and themselves.
An ordinary day turns extraordinary when twelve-year-old Cal witnesses his neighbor Modesty summon a slew of lost coins without lifting a finger. Turns out she has a secret manual of magic spells . . . but they only work sometimes. And they're the most boring spells ever: To Change the Color of a Room, To Repair a Chimney, To Walk With Stilts, To Untangle Yarn. Useless!
But when Cal, his friend Drew, and Modesty are suddenly transported to the world the spells come from -- a world that's about to lose its last dragon -- they'll have to find a way to use the oddly specific incantations to save the day, if only they can figure out when magic works.
From the inventive mind of Henry Clark comes a hilariously wacky adventure about magic, friendship, a lookout tower come to life, a maze in the shape of a dragon, an actual dragon named Phlogiston, and lots and lots of popcorn.

My opinion: My rather fraught relationship with this book begins with the introduction of the technology called the Davytron. This struck me as an absolutely ridiculous name, and not in a good way. Every time it was mentioned, it pushed me out of the world of the story. And it strikes me as a symptom of a larger issue. It doesn't take itself seriously enough. The plot makes jokes at it's own expense. Most of the humor comes from absurd turns and pun names. The pun names are fine, though I'm not sure they'll all land with young readers, based as they are in library terminology. And the absurd turns aren't so much funny as just odd or happenstance. Only a narrow group of kids is going to truly enjoy this book.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

Jackaby by William Ritter

When I initially read this book a couple of years ago I was utterly charmed. Charmed enough, in fact, that I was a little hesitant to listen to this audio. There's that fear that it won't live up to memory. I needn't have worried about this one. It holds up well. Ritter has taken a standard historical mystery and threaded it through with elements of magic and folk tales. Jackaby is a combination of Sherlock Holmes and the Doctor, a quirky and mysterious figure who sees what others cannot and often acts in ways people don't understand. He is paired with Abigail Rook, a regular young woman chaffing agains the standards of society, sick of being seen as less because of her gender and looking for adventure. There's also a ghost. And a duck who used to be human. As you might guess, there's a touch of humor in what might otherwise be a dark murder mystery.

Nicola Barber gives life to the character of Abigail Rook, who serves as our narrator. Her British accent is soothing but she lends an air of urgency and excitement. She reads in a dynamic way that keeps us engaged with the text.

Book review - Fox and Rabbit

Title: Fox & Rabbit
Author: Beth Ferry
Genre: early chapter book/graphic novel
Similar books: Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton
                      Peter and Ernesto by Graham Annable
Rating:

cute

Summary (provided by publisher): Easygoing Fox and anxious Rabbit seem like total opposites. But, somehow, they make the perfect pair! Whether searching for hidden treasure or planting a garden in their own backyard, Fox and Rabbit find everyday magic at every turn. On this first adventure, the pair will discover some new favorite things like sunsets, dandelions, and cotton candy. And they’ll face new fears like heights, swimming, and (poisonous!) frogs. Thankfully, there’s nothing Fox and Rabbit can’t do together!

My opinion: In my opinion, we don't have enough easy reader graphic novels. They're great for kids learning to read and reluctant readers alike. They use simple vocabulary and supplement the understanding of the text with dynamic illustrations. If Henry and Mudge or Frog and Toad had been comics it would probably look a lot like Fox and Rabbit as they share not only format but themes. This is a story of friends having simple adventures. Easy to understand and relatable.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Happy Star Wars Day

This Star Wars Day I decided to finally make a project I've been contemplating since I watched The Mandalorian - a plush Baby Yoda. I happen to have an old t-shirt that is the perfect Yoda color

 While I designed a rough pattern, for the most part I sort of just built this toy as a I went so the end result is a touch haphazard. I'm still pretty happy with the finished project.

 

Picture books for everyone

Z is for Zoom by Ashley Parlett Malec

Most alphabet books are geared exclusively to the very young. Some authors, though, have started to make them multi age. These books do more than just introduce a word. They teach us about a concept. This particular alphabet book looks at the details of how a car works. We see different parts of the engine: the alternator, the drive shaft, spark plugs, and more. Due to the limits of the format (a single word per letter) the reader won't walk away with a complete understanding of a car engine but it's surely a far cry from "a is for apple". At the very least, it goes a long way towards demystifying mechanics.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Running Wild

Running Wild by Galadriel Watson

I've read my share of books about the amazing things animals can do. This is the first I've read, though, that really broke down how they can achieve those feats. More than just telling us about claws and muscles, Watson really breaks down the biomechanics of different movements. The language is very accessible, largely limited to a two syllable vocabulary and providing clear definitions for any unusual words. There are also comparisons to common objects and simple machine to assist the reader in understanding the concepts at play. I'd easily recommend this one to children and adults alike.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - This is My Brain in Love

Title: This is My Brain in Love
Author: I. W. Gregorio
Genre:teen romance
Similar books: I Hate You Fuller James by Kelly Anne Blount
                      This Train is Being Held by Ismee Amiel Williams
Rating:

kinda nice

Summary (provided by publisher): Jocelyn Wu has just three wishes for her junior year: To make it through without dying of boredom, to direct a short film with her BFF Priya Venkatram, and to get at least two months into the year without being compared to or confused with Peggy Chang, the only other Chinese girl in her grade.
Will Domenici has two goals: to find a paying summer internship, and to prove he has what it takes to become an editor on his school paper.
Then Jocelyn's father tells her their family restaurant may be going under, and all wishes are off. Because her dad has the marketing skills of a dumpling, it's up to Jocelyn and her unlikely new employee, Will, to bring A-Plus Chinese Garden into the 21st century (or, at least, to Facebook).
What starts off as a rocky partnership soon grows into something more. But family prejudices and the uncertain future of A-Plus threaten to keep Will and Jocelyn apart. It will take everything they have and more, to save the family restaurant and their budding romance.

My opinion: Teen romance is not really my genre of choice, so when one gains my respect like this one did, it's noteworthy. At first, the plot of this book was entirely predictable. But after the first third, it takes some interesting variations. Starting with the contract with Jocelyn's father and the early acknowledgment of their mutual attraction. And then we have the frank conversation about mental illness and it's stigma within certain populations, especially among certain ethnic groups. We see the shame associated with their condition in both families,  the shame with medication tempered with real medical concern surround it's use. The mental illness element then becomes a true conversation, not just a lecture. And there are no magic cures, no sudden fix via therapy or medication either one. It's learning coping mechanisms but acknowledging that it's not always enough, that sometimes we need chemical assistance. That conversation alone makes this book worth reading.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley