Book review - Again Again

Title: Again Again
Author: e. lockhart
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
                      You by Charles Benoit
Rating:

"best book ever"

Summary (provided by publisher): If you could live your life again, what would you do differently?
After a near-fatal family catastrophe and an unexpected romantic upheaval, Adelaide Buchwald finds herself catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times--while finally confronting the secrets she keeps, her ideas about love, and the weird grandiosity of the human mind.
A raw, funny story that will surprise you over and over, Again Again gives us an indelible heroine grappling with the terrible and wonderful problem of loving other people.
 
My opinion: When I finished reading this book, the very first thing I wanted was to make someone else read it so I would have someone to discuss it with. I genuinely believe this is Lockhart's best, most innovative book. I reached the end and realized I didn't know which version of events had actually happened. I was expecting something like Groundhog Day, repeating events until you get it "right". The kind of story we see often.  This book, instead, gives us several versions of events, some subtly different, others vastly so. Each variation affects the rest of the narrative. And as we read the different versions we begin to see the difference between the happiest version and the one we most want, the one that feels most realistic. It's also noteworthy that most of the variations end less than perfectly There is no perfection, just experience that inform Adelaide's future choices, that open her up to other possibilities. As I finished the book I was asking which version of reality actually happened. And then I realized that it didn't matter. That the questions it prompted me to ask were the point. A must read and an excellent selection for book clubs.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Doodleville

Doodleville by Chad Sell
Doodleville is predicated on a truly clever idea. Drew loves to draw. She draws everything that inspires her without inhibition. And from the time that she is very young, her drawings travel off the page and into the real world. She doesn't see this as a problem though, as the plot progresses, she realizes that other people see her drawings differently. As she begins to experience doubt, to be influenced by other people's negativity, those emotions warp her drawing. While this general plot progression seems pretty straightforward, it's eventual resolution is far more subtle, relying not only on teamwork but the integration of free thinking and restraint. The result is a sweet and affirming story with plenty of potential to grow in future volumes.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - We the People

We the People by Aura Lewis and Edan Sargent

Most of us learn very little about the Constitution in school. Additionally, many books about foundational documents are dense and full of complex political theory. And that's where books like this one step in. It walks us through the constitution, first the base articles and then the amendments. For each point we are shown the actual text, given a brief clarification of it's meaning, and some examples of the information in practice. Even more importantly, it presents us with questions to consider. The ultimate goal is to understand our rights and the structure of our government. This is a book I'd recommend to most anyone, kids or adults.

More information: We the People releases July 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Curse of the Night Witch

Title: Curse of the Night Witch
Author: Alex Aster
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Silverworld by Diana Abu-Jaber
                      Changeling by William Ritter
Rating:

a solid introduction to a series

Summary (provided by publisher): On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it.
Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power.
The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin...the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch.
With only his village's terrifying, ancient stories as a guide, and his two friends Engle and Melda by his side, Tor must travel across unpredictable Emblem Island, filled with wicked creatures he only knows through myths, in a race against his dwindling lifeline

My opinion: At first, this seems like every other fantasy adventure. It has all of the standard elements - an unlikely group is thrust into a journey, a quest that pits them against a series of incredible odds and unimaginable dangers. In it's details, it is has many similarities to Harry Potter, Tor standing in for Harry, Engle for Ron, and Melda for Hermione. They are traveling towards a confrontation with a legendary, mysterious villain. With that framework, it had the possibility of becoming incredibly derivative. It's the final confrontation that makes this one truly stand out. The reveal of the nature of the Night Witch and her role in the structure of Emblem Island not only sets this book apart, it sets up the ongoing plot of the series and lends a sociological complexity that most middle grade fantasy lacks. And the whole plot asks the reader not only to question our own role in society but also the role of legend and story. Well worth a read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Peg dolls continued

When I started painting my famous ladies peg dolls, I thought I might be able to come up with a couple dozen figures to highlight. The more I paint, though, the longer my list grows. I'm really enjoying learning about and sharing what I've learned about some truly inspiring women. This group includes: Ada Lovelace, Bessie Coleman, Caroline Herschel, Dolores Huerta, Frances Glessner-Lee, and Hypatia.

 

Book review - The Last Tree Town

Title: The Last Tree Town

Author: Beth Turley

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Water Bears by Kim Baker

                      Where You'll Find Me by Natasha friend

Rating:

well developed

Summary (provided by publisher): Cassi has always been proud to be Puerto Rican, but when others comment on her appearance, telling her she doesn’t look like the rest of her family, Cassi begins to question everything.
At school, Cassi finds a distraction in the Math Olympics, where she is able to do what she loves and soon befriends Aaron, the new boy who tells her stories about all the tree towns he’s lived in. Just when everything seems to be getting better, a painful video goes viral and Cassi wonders if Mapleton is just another stop on Aaron’s list.
As the seasons change, Cassi must learn to solve the pieces of her life that are varied and emotional and at times, beautiful. And even when they don’t equate, reveal a rewarding answer. 

My opinion: There's a lot of complexity at play in this novel. The plot combines issues of race, mental illness (especially as it affects the entire family and how race affects our reaction to it), and grief for things we've lost. Grief for significant life changes rather than for death. Add in the base struggles that are a part of life in the preteen years, puberty and the changes in friendships and the beginning of romantic interests, and we have a very complex plot. It could easily be too much for this age group if not carefully handled. It really speaks to Turley's skill as an author that she is able to create a cohesive narrative out of all of those elements. The key is that this remains Cassi's story. The other elements are important only in that they inform Cassi's decision making. They lead her through increasingly poor decision making before she seeks outside help. It's a painfully nice book for kids coping with big changes in their lives.

 

More information: The Last Tree Town releases June 1.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: Sports

While I’m not a fan of most things athletic myself, I must admit sports and the personalities that come along with athletics have great natural drama for stories. Competition reads well on the page and can provide other natural lessons on teamwork and fair play. Here are six books with strong athletic elements published in the last six months.

6 New Sports Stories

1. Chirp by Kate Messner
2. This Train is Being Held by Ismee Williams
3. Pop Flies, Robo Pets, and Other Disasters by Suzanne Kamala
4. Micah McKinney and the Boys ofSummer by Nina Chapman
5. We are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian
6. The Summer of Impossibilities by Rachael Allen