I've had this tote bag for a while, intending to decorate it. Every time I sit down to work on it though, I've been seized by doubts. Does that ever happen to you?
At long last, though, I picked a design. I decided to put Totoro on one side and the Moomins on the other.
Making a video rental store the hook for a modern teen novel is a risky move, since that is something most teens have never experienced. In this case, though, I think it pays off. Because Posthuma works to create the world. We get a solid physical description of the store as well as the culture of the people who work there. They all have secrets that affect the way they interact with one another. Astute readers will guess Joel's secrets pretty early on but that works in the novel's favor as we question how his desire to keep them hidden will play out with other characters. While not always comfortable to read, the characters are compelling and keep us engaged.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Goblins, elves, unicorns. Is there anything more fun to speculate about than mythological creatures? I mean, Harry Potter got a whole school subject about them. Authors often incorporate them into their stories, even when they don't really explore magic. Here are six books featuring mythological beings published in the past six months.
Six new books with mythological beings
Author: Rob Buyea
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington
Things You Can't Say by Jenn Bishop
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Thea and her family are moving to a new town for a fresh start--her parents' bright idea. To Thea, it feels like running away. She lost her best friend, Charlie, in a tragic accident, and in the painful aftermath, she has gone mute. Her two younger sisters, however, are excited about moving, especially after their dad promises that the family will get a rescue puppy. This doesn't change Thea's mind, though, until Jack-Jack bounds into her life and makes it clear that he is no ordinary dog. As she bonds with Jack-Jack, and as the dog's mischievous ways steer her toward someone she can confide in, Thea opens up to the possibility of new friendships and forgiveness, and comes to believe in what cannot be fully explained.
My opinion: There's this method that authors use to parcel out information, where they hint at something, talk around it, for multiple chapters before finally telling us in a clear way what happened. That can be effective in the short term but when it is the main source of tension in the plot it can feel manipulative. A dog as a device for dealing with grief is a solid plot element but that dog having almost mystical abilities didn't really do much for me.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
I have one of those dads who is really difficult to shop for. He has very plain tastes, doesn't really collect anything. His current hobby is watching his bee hive. That's right - sitting in a chair and watching the bees fly in and out of their hive. I can't explain what interests him, but it led me to make him this custom t-shirt.
Of course, a t-shirt isn't much of of a gift but that was really more of a token. His real gift was a project we'd talked about a couple of weeks ago. My parents have a spring horse that they keep for the kids they babysit. It gets a lot of use and thus has been looking a bit worn recently.
I gave it a good scrub to clear of the mud, moss, and any loose paint. For the new paint, I used Rust-oleum multi-surface spray paint. Once the paint has cured for a full 24 hours, it will get a layer of clear coat spray.
Title: Ham Helsing Vampire Hunger
Author: Rich Moyer
Genre: fantasy/comedy/graphic novel
Similar books: Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess
Cucumber Quest by D.G. Gigi
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Ham Helsing is the descendant of a long line of adventurers and monster hunters--who don't often live to rest on their laurels. Ham has always been the odd pig out, preferring to paint or write poetry instead of inventing dangerous (dumb) new ways to catch dangerous creatures.
His brother Chad was the daredevil carrying on the family legacy of leaping before looking, but after his death, it's down to Ham. Reluctantly, he sets out on his first assignment, to hunt a vampire. But Ham soon learns that people aren't always what they seem and that you need a good team around you to help save your bacon!
My opinion: The plot of this book is fairly predictable, but that's honestly not much of a problem. Even if we know where the book is headed the journey is pretty fun. The jokes are usually based on the lowest common denominator, but that makes it pretty accessible for a middle grade audience. And you don't need much beyond a basic understanding of vampire lore to understand the ideas on which the book is based. A quick glance at the illustrations will make it clear that this is not intended to be taken seriously. The large heads and small limbs of the characters are indicative of the humorous nature of the plot. And it is pretty silly. There is some simple messaging about the assumptions we make about others based on stories we hear growing up and the destructive nature of pride. Mostly just a lot of fun with an entertaining cast of characters.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
This book promises personal secrets (the summary includes the phrases "The Bad Thing That Happened" and "What Was Wrong With Him" in capitals like that for emphasis) and the backdrop of small town life in the 90s. I expect good things from this one.
