Book review - Small Favors

 

Title: Small Favors

Author: Erin A. Craig

Genre: fantasy/horror

Similar books: Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

                     House of Ash by Hope Cook

Rating: 

 

lots going on

 

Summary (provided by publisher): Ellerie Downing is waiting for something to happen. Life in isolated Amity Falls, surrounded by an impenetrable forest, has a predictable sameness. Her days are filled with tending to her family's beehives, chasing after her sisters, and dreaming of bigger things while her twin, Samuel, is free to roam as he wishes.
Early town settlers fought off monstrous creatures in the woods, and whispers that the creatures still exist keep the Downings and their neighbors from venturing too far. When some townsfolk go missing on a trip to fetch supplies, a heavy unease settles over the Falls.
Strange activities begin to plague the town, and as the seasons change, it's clear that something is terribly wrong. The creatures are real, and they're offering to fulfill the residents' deepest desires, however grand, for just a small favor. These seemingly trifling demands, however, hide sinister intentions. Soon Ellerie finds herself in a race against time to stop Amity Falls, her family, and the boy she loves from going up in flames.

My opinion: The idea that this was a re-imagining of Rumpelstiltskin (a fairy tale I've often thought needed more explanation) was certainly what drew me in. But that is really only a vague framework, a distant influence. Craig's tale stands well on it's own. We have a complex world of mythological beings. More than magic and monsters, though, this is a story of small towns and the secrets hidden by civilization. We're playing with the idea that "polite society" and the rules we all agree to follow hiding resentments and jealousies that will inevitably boil over and cause destruction. While the late chapters fall into a gruesome level of detail the slow grind of the town's decline makes for surprisingly compelling reading.

More information: Small Favors releases July 27
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: love

 Romance is definitely not my favorite genre. I try to read them occasionally just be aware of what's out there and occasionally one stands out.  Here are 6 love stories published in the last 6 months.

6 new love stories:

1. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Gaffney
2. Only the Pretty Lies by Rebekah Crane
3. Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey
4. Tremendous Things by Susin Nielsen
5. Pumpkin by Julie Murphy
6. Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck
   

Non-fiction book review - A Quick HIstory of Politics

 

A Quick History of Politics by Clive Gifford

Gifford isn't joking when he calls this a quick history. In under 70 pages we explore assorted political systems; cultural influences; voting laws; political parties, and more. While none of these topics are explored in any real depth, we get a solid overview of each, including strengths and weaknesses. Each topic has accompanying illustrations though these do little to reinforce the information. It's a solid choice to introduce political education to and upper elementary or early middle school aged kid.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Halloween Moon

 

Title: The Halloween Moon

Author: Joseph Fink

Genre: horror

Similar books: The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins

                      Spell & Spindle by Michelle Shusterman

Rating:

 

a bit of a mixed bag

Summary (provided by publisher): Esther Gold loves Halloween more than anything in the world. So she is determined to go trick-or-treating again this year despite the fact that her parents think she is officially too old. Esther has it all planned out, from her costume to her candy-collecting strategy. But when the night rolls around, something feels . . . off.
No one is answering their door. The moon is an unnatural shade of orange. Strange children wander the streets, wearing creepy costumes that might not be costumes at all. And it seems like the only people besides Esther who are awake to see it all are her best friend, her school bully, and her grown-up next-door neighbor.
Together, this unlikely crew must find a way to lift the curse that has been placed upon their small town before it’s too late. Because someone is out to make sure Halloween never comes to an end. And even Esther doesn’t want to be trapped in this night forever.

My opinion: Most horror stories are truly only scary once. A truly frightening tale needs atmosphere, a constant sense of dread and wrong in the world. That's certainly a strength in this book. Early on we see creepy ice cream trucks, kids in tattered costumes. We  are set up with a once in a lifetime Halloween, the perfect time for something scary to happen. Unfortunately, that's where things start to go off the rails. What begins as a world just a little bit off quickly veers into increasing unreality. Add in a cliche cast of characters and oft repeated details and this book becomes tiresome. It's a shame, since the overall plot was interesting. I could have accepted the unreality of the plot, this complex tale of other dimensions and magic, if only the characters had felt more realistic.

More information: The Halloween Moon releases July 27.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Sock puppet walrus

 I've been toying with the idea of selling sock puppets for a while now and I've finally decided to give it a shot. Here's my first design: a walrus.

Book Review - Margie Kelly Breaks the Dress Code

 

Title: Margie Kelly Breaks the Dress Code

Author: Bridget Farr

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills

                     The Pants Project by Cat Clarke

Rating:

 

good to get kids thinking

Summary (provided by publisher): Margie Kelly's perfect skirt was dress coded on her very first day of middle school. Upset and embarrassed, Margie spends the whole day wearing oversized gym shorts. So much for starting sixth grade with confidence!
But when Margie realizes that the dress code is only applied to the female students and not the boys, Margie gets mad. Really mad.
The dress code is keeping girls stuck in detention all day and away from learning. The boys act like they own the school. And the teachers turn a blind eye to the hypocrisies taking place in the halls, classrooms, and clubs. Something has to change! And Margie knows just how to do it. She'll plan a school-wide protest with her best friend, Daniela, and fellow classmates Jamiya and Gloria.
But as Margie moves forward with her plans, she comes to realize some hard truths about herself. Will Margie recognize her own privilege and make meaningful change for all students?

My opinion: Dress codes are an easy way to introduce the idea of unequally enforced rules to kids. Young readers can understand the shame and discomfort of a character like Margie. They can also easily grasp the unfairness of kids receiving different punishments for the same violation. That's an important point that this book makes. Not only does the school enforce dress code only for girls, race plays a role in the punishments handed out. Margie must come to understand not only that, but also the risks involved for each kid who takes part in her protest. Farr invites the reader to consider all of the consequences of unfair rules and to question why administrations are so focused on what clothes kids wear in the first place. A solid introduction to ideas that play a stronger role in teen fiction.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

The description of this book sounds strongly reminiscent of The Princess Diaries with the additional complication of culture clash. I'm hopeful that it will be less of a fairy tale story and more of a real exploration of absent parents and the cultural elements that influence the direction of our lives.