Title: Quintessence
Author: Jess Redman
Genre: magical realism
Similar books: The Magic of Melwick Orchard by Rebecca Caprara
What We Found in the Corn Maze and How it Saved a Dragon by Henry Clark
Rating:
 |
| pleasant and empowering |
Summary (provided by publisher): Find the Elements. Grow the Light. Save the Starling.
Three months ago, twelve-year-old Alma moved to the town of Four Points. Her panic attacks started a week later, and they haven’t stopped—even though she’s told her parents that they have. She’s homesick and friendless and every day she feels less and less like herself.
But one day she finds a telescope in the town’s junk shop, and through its lens, she watches a star—a star that looks like a child—fall from the sky and into her backyard. Alma knows what it’s like to be lost and afraid, to long for home, and she knows that it’s up to her to save the star. And so, with the help of some unlikely new friends from Astronomy Club, she sets out on a quest that will take a little bit of science, a little bit of magic, and her whole self.
My opinion: A lot of book explore the idea that we all have something that makes us special, something that only we can contribute. What makes this book stand out is that the thing that makes each of these kids special, their elemental power, can also be detrimental. It makes them prideful, impulsive, leads them to make truly disastrous decisions that have long reaching consequences. Additionally, while they are forced to address their interpersonal issues and they gain more understanding of each other, that understand doesn't automatically mean that they get along. It merely starts them on a path. The plot, the exploration of starlings and quintessence, is an odd combination of magic and fringe science. It may be a bit too weird for mainstream readers but will be a compelling read for a small group of kids.
I had one of these Hotel Transylvania blind bag trunks. It was fun but I knew right away that it had the potential to be more.
A little acrylic paint gives it a more traditional look and by painting only the "H" of the logo, it's ready for Hogwarts. Since I'm a Ravenclaw, I painted the inside blue and gray.
Title: Girl from Nowhere
Author: Tiffany Rosenhan
Genre: thriller
Similar books: SilverFin by Charlie Higson
Damage Done by Amanda Panitch
Rating:
 |
| entertaining enough |
Summary (provided by publisher): Ninety-four countries. Thirty-one schools. Two bullets. Now it's over . . . or so she thinks.
Sophia Hepworth has spent her life all over the world--moving quickly, never staying in one place for too long. She knows to always look over her shoulder, to be able to fight to survive at a moment's notice. She has trained to be ready for anything.
Except this. Suddenly it's over. Now Sophia is expected to attend high school in a sleepy Montana town. She is told to forget the past, but she's haunted by it. As hard as she tries to be like her new friends and live a normal life, she can't shake the feeling that this new normal won't last.
Then comes strong and silent Aksel, whose skills match Sophia's, and who seems to know more about her than he's letting on . . .
What if everything Sophia thought she knew about her past is a lie?
My opinion: In large part, this is a pretty standard thriller. Think of it like an entire family of Jason Bourne. While it starts out as a fish out of water story, a girl used to political intrigue and globe trotting learning to adjust to "normal life" in the United States while coping with trauma in her past. When their past interferes in their present, the plot abandons all of those early themes. In fact, the idea that she needs to learn to relax, to not be constantly on her guard, is what puts the family in danger. What we learn from it, then, is that one can never truly relax. It takes a sharp turn from contemplative to standard thriller, with a central focus on physical threats and old feuds. The characters, while interesting, are not convincing as real teens. A solid beach read, but I don't imagine it would hold up to close scrutiny.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Billy Johnson and His Duck are Explorers by Mathew New
As you might expect based solely on the title, this is kind of a silly book. But it's silly in the good way. It doesn't take itself too seriously. Instead, New is having fun with the plot. The adventures go to ridiculous extremes but are never truly dangerous. Billy and the duck encounter ghosts, monsters, magic, and shadowy figures. And by pushing these ideas well past the sensible point, we primarily humor with just a hint of heart behind it. There are suggestions of a larger plot at play: references to Billy's parents and a hooded villain. For the most part, though, each adventure is a complete story on it's own and can be enjoyed in isolation. The cartoon style adds to the lighthearted approach. A fun romp that can be appreciated even with repeat readings.
More information: Billy Johnson and His Duck are Explorers releases August 1.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
Corpse Talk: Groundbreaking Scientists by Adam & Lisa Murphy
At heart, this is a fairly standard collection of profiles, centering on scientists and their discoveries. There is little exploration of their lives outside of the field of science, only as necessary to explain an influence on their research. The framework is what sets this book apart. Firstly, it's a graphic novel, so there's a strong visual element. And since the narrator is interviewing the undead, there's a bit of a gross-out humor element. Even without corpse jokes, the tone is certainly humorous. Now, the subjects are all well-known figures. No surprises here. An entertaining approach to stories we may already know.
More information: Corpse Talk releases August 4.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Title: Beach Nightmare
Author: Steve Foxe
Genre: horror graphic novel
Similar books: Curse of the Dead Eyed Doll by Thomas Kingsley Troupe
Fraternity by Juan Diaz Canales
Rating:
 |
| less than I wanted |
Summary (provided by publisher): Emma can't believe her luck when her phone mysteriously reappears after she dropped it in the ocean. She thought she'd lost her vacation pictures forever! But when Emma returns home, her phone starts flashing strange underwater images and receiving calls with no sound but crashing waves. Turns out Emma didn't just bring back souvenirs from the beach, but a spirit who is tired of swimming alone . . . In this Scary Graphics tale, easy-to-read text and eerie, full-color art combine to deliver just-right scares for kids who crave chills and thrills.
My opinion: I can't say as I found this book especially frightening. It fails to create a spooky atmosphere and the choice of moments doesn't really lend itself to jump scares. The progression of the haunting doesn't work especially well either. We don't get a good explanation of how or why the ghost is haunting this particular girl. Without that explanation and with no real character development, there's not much to sell me on this book. If you're looking for a child friendly scary story, I recommend looking elsewhere.
More information: Beach Nightmare releases August 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Title: Being Toffee
Author: Sarah Crossan
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Hello? by Lisa M. Weimer
Solo by Kwame Alexander
Rating:
 |
| its got heart |
Summary (provided by publisher): I am not who I say I am,
and Marla isn't who she thinks she is.
I am a girl trying to forget.
She is a woman trying to remember.
Allison has run away from home and with nowhere to live finds herself hiding out in the shed of what she thinks is an abandoned house. But the house isn't empty. An elderly woman named Marla, with dementia, lives there – and she mistakes Allison for an old friend from her past named Toffee.
Allison is used to hiding who she really is, and trying to be what other people want her to be. And so, Toffee is who she becomes. After all, it means she has a place to stay. There are worse places she could be.
But as their bond grows, and Allison discovers how much Marla needs a real friend, she begins to ask herself - where is home? What is a family? And most importantly, who is she, really?
My opinion: For the most part, this is a pretty standard verse novel. It doesn't break any new ground, doesn't especially experiment with form or structure. We don't even get a lot of detail about events. This is entirely an emotional exploration. Both Allison and Marla are hiding from truths. Truths that will eventually catch up with them and force them to face reality. We see the subtle change in their relationship from one of mildly guilty convenience to real emotional connection and concern. It's not always a comfortable read but the conversation it prompts is a valuable one and well suited to the verse novel format.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
