Non-fiction book review - 13 Ways to Eat a Fly

 

13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich

Like many kid's books about science, this one relies a bit on the gross out factor for it's appeal. We get reference to fly guts, to rot, oozing and beheading. But that's not the central focus and doesn't go over the top. Instead, we get a baker's dozen creatures that consume flies and the methods by which they capture their prey. Additionally, each page features a different species of fly. It's a picture book format, so we get the additional appeal of dynamic illustrations. This does mean, though, that the information is limited. Don't read this book expecting to fully understand creatures that eat flies but it's a decent introduction to the concept. 

More information: 13 Ways to Eat a Fly releases February 16. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Million Dollar Race

 

Title: The Million Dollar Race

Author: Matthew Ross Smith

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Peak by Roland Smith

                      Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan

Rating:

 

mostly standard, with a little kookiness

Summary (provided by publisher): Grant Falloon isn’t just good at track; he’s close to breaking the world record 100-meter time for his age group. So when the mega-rich Babblemoney sneaker company announces an international competition to find the fastest kid in the world, he’s desperate to sign up.
But not so fast. Nothing’s ever that easy with the eccentric Falloon family. Turns out, his non-conformist parents never got him a legal birth certificate. He can’t race for the United States, so now if he wants to compete, he may just have to invent his own country.
And even if that crazy plan works, winning gold will mean knocking his best friend—and biggest competitor—Jay, out of the competition. As unexpected hurdles arise, Grant will have to ask not only if winning is possible, but what he’s willing to sacrifice for it.

My opinion: This book combines a couple of standard elements that we don't often see together: sports (and the prospect of competing against your best friend) and navigating your unusual family when you want to be "normal". Kids in middle school tend to feel like outsiders to begin with. Add in a family that actively rejects societal norms and that's the perfect set-up for a lesson in finding your place in the world. Smith goes beyond the expected lessons though. We see Grant's relationship with Jay stretched to the breaking point by competition, secrets, and fame. There's the pressures of that fame and discovering motivations of big companies. And an element of what the future looks like for modern kids, redefining success in the social media era. Add in some quirky details and I can see where this will appeal to a young reader.

Winter hats are the best

 I've wanted for a while now to make a hat from this book:

It's meant to have boning in it so it will stand up but since I didn't plan to use black yarn the boning seemed unnecessary. Instead, I used a variegated yarn. That makes it more of a traditional winter hat but I like the subtle nerdiness.

 

Book review - Just Like That

 

Title: Just Like That

Author: Gary D. Schmidt

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: Red Menace by Lois Ruby

                      Like Nothing Amazing Every Happens by Emily Blejwas

Rating:

 

how I loved it

 

Summary (provided by publisher): In this poignant, perceptive, witty novel, Gary D. Schmidt brings authenticity and emotion to multiple plot strands, weaving in themes of grief, loss, redemption, achievement, and love. Following the death of her closest friend in summer 1968, Meryl Lee Kowalski goes off to St. Elene's Preparatory Academy for Girls, where she struggles to navigate the venerable boarding school's traditions and a social structure heavily weighted toward students from wealthy backgrounds. In a parallel story, Matt Coffin has wound up on the Maine coast near St. Elene's with a pillowcase full of money lifted from the leader of a criminal gang, fearing the gang's relentless, destructive pursuit. Both young people gradually dispel their loneliness, finding a way to be hopeful and also finding each other.

My opinion: Two pages. That's how far I made it into this book before I wanted to cry. Schmidt has this ability to break my heart in the best possible way. This is the third book in a loosely linked trio (absolutely no need to read the other two in order to understand this one). The first, The Wednesday Wars, introduced us to a cast of characters with the central focus on Holling Hoodhood. Okay For Now follows Holling's friend Doug after he moves away. And this volume digs deep into Meryl, Holling's almost girlfriend after her parents send her to boarding school. The inciting incident for Meryl's move happens before the book's opening, "off screen", and finds her overwhelmed with grief, living in a fog. That fog follows her through much of the plot, so the early chapters have a sort of emotional disconnect. As Meryl begins to re-engage with the world, so too do we build more connection with characters and events. We of course meet a variety of new characters, some of whom are lovable and others who are classic school villains: harsh teachers, snobby roommates, that sort of thing. But they don't stay flat villains. Through the course of the novel we see some of the things that influence their behaviors. Meryl sees the complexity in the people around her and begins to see a way forward through her grief. All of this with the tumultuous background of a small conservative village in the 60s, addressing Vietnam and classism in equal measure. The focus of the plot isn't on "fixing" things. Grief and big societal issues are not easily fixed. They simply take steps forward, which has to be enough. This is the most action oriented of Schmidt's plots, with gangsters and literal rooftop fights. This makes it a bit sensational, but not too over the top.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks

There's been a trend recently of including STEM elements in teen romances. Most of these books, though, count having a girl who's "into math" or something as STEM. Science and math seldom play a role in the actual plot. The title of this one intrigues me, though, so I'll be interested to see how it measures up.

Non-fiction book review - Whose Right Is It?

 

Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns by Hana Bajramovic

I think we all know that interpretation of the second amendment is a pretty hot button issue right now. With that being the case, it's important for the individual to understand not only what the amendment says but also how it has been interpreted throughout history. This book does a great job of explaining that context. It takes us through the history of firearms in general and pre-American rules governing guns. All of this context informs how firearms were managed in the early days of our country. Each chapter takes us through a phase of history, at times focusing on a particular theme - race, economy, westward expansion. That specialized focus means we get a little bit of repetition but usually this includes new context so it's understandable. We learn how public perception of guns and gun control have changed over time and due to different influences. The content is clear enough to be understood by young teens but not so simplistic as to be condescending. The text on a whole has a bit of a pro gun control vibe but the arguments are clear and logic based. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Animal Rescue Agency: Case File Little Claws

 

Title: Case File Little Claws

Author: Eliot Schrefer

Genre: adventure

Similar books: Astro Nuts by Jon Scieszka

                      Mr. Penguin series by Alex T Smith 

Rating:

 

a solid investigation with a social message

Summary (provided by publisher): When an animal is in trouble, there’s only one place to turn: the Animal Rescue Agency!
Dashing Esquire Fox used to organize the world’s most elaborate chicken raids until the day she encountered Mr. Pepper. Meeting the blustery old rooster changed her heart, convincing her to turn from a life of crime and instead form the Animal Rescue Agency, which masterminds rescue operations across the globe.
Esquire and her unlikely chicken business manager coordinate their far-flung agents to get them to the Arctic. In that frozen land they learn that what happened to the polar bear cub was no accident—and that saving him will pit them against the scariest predator in the world: a human.

My opinion: This is an excellent concept for a series. We have all the benefits of both real world and invented world settings, with a hidden society of animals going on below human notice. The animals are largely true to their nature, with just a few more human attributes and habits. Much like in The Rescuers there's a large element of investigation, finding the distressed creature and figuring out a way to help. This takes logic and creativity. There's also a strong ecological and social justice message, fitting for a modern audience. With colorful characters and some quirky humor, there's a lot to like. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.