Book review - Tips for Magicians

 

Title: Tips for Magicians

Author: Celesta Rimington

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: Savvy by Ingrid Law

                     A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Rating:

 

a solid exploration

Summary (provided by publisher): Harrison Boone used to sing. His mom was a famous soprano who performed in all the great theaters. But when she died unexpectedly last year, the music stopped for Harrison too. He finds comfort in practicing magic tricks to become a master magician.
If only Harrison knew the right magic to stop his dad from hitting the road for a new job and sending him to live with his aunt Maggie in an art village named Muse in the southern Utah desert. The residents of Muse believe in a magical entity that used to grant wishes to the winner of the town's annual art contest, but the muse hasn't been seen in years.
Can Harrison connect with his inner artist, find the missing muse, and win the wish that will give him back a normal life?

My opinion: At first I thought that magic would only be a metaphor in this book. We don't get far into this plot, though, before we realize that it is literal. It is a different portrayal of magic than we typically see. This isn't a person with powers. Magic is more of a force or a spirit. A thing with motivations and emotions. That personality, while not something fully explored, plays a vital role in the development of the plot. It becomes something of a metaphor for grief and depression. We see a wide variety of characters trying to cope with assorted forms of loss with varying degrees of success. We learn about the importance of expression, be that through art or through conversation, to deal with our problems. This is a solid use of magical realism to deal with every day issues. A solid read for the middle grade set.

More information: Tips for Magicians releases August 17.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Dog toys

I have quite a stash of brightly colored t-shirts, some that purchased for crafting and others that have been cycled out of my wardrobe. I've made skirts, baby clothes, and now dog toys. These toys are super easy to make. Cut your shirts into long strips maybe 1.5-2 inches wide. A gentle pull on these strips lets them curl into more of a cord.

 

Use four of these cords in a round stitch, like you might use when weaving a lanyard out plastic lacing.

 

Book review - Ten Thousand Tries

 

Title: Ten Thousand Tries

Author: Amy Makechnie

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

                     The Distance to Home by Jenn Bishop

Rating:

 

some interesting elements

Summary (provided by publisher):Twelve-year-old Golden Maroni is determined to channel his hero, soccer superstar Lionel Messi, and become captain of his soccer team and master of his eighth grade universe…especially since his home universe is spiraling out of orbit. Off the field, Golden’s dad, once a pro soccer player himself, is now battling ALS, a disease that attacks his muscles, leaving him less and less physically able to control his body every day. And while Mom says there’s no cure, Golden is convinced that his dad can beat this, just like any opponent, they just have to try.
Golden knows that if you want to perfect a skill you have to put ten thousand tries in, so he’s convinced if he can put that much effort in, on and off the field, he can stop everything from changing. But when his dad continues to decline and his constant pushing starts to alienate his friends and team, Golden is forced to confront the idea that being master of your universe might not mean being in control of everything. What if it means letting go of the things you can’t control so you can do the most good for the things you can?

My opinion: It becomes pretty clear, early on, where this plot is headed. ALS is a terminal disease, so all it takes is a little knowledge to understand the degree of willful ignorance that Golden is engaging in. His determination to believe that he can fix his dad is a bit uncomfortable to read at times and if that were the primary focus I'm not sure I could have made it through this one. At the same time he's plotting cures, though, he's also learning what it means to be a leader and gradually accepting the changes in his family's life that come with his father's decline. There is a solid balance between the sports elements and the family trauma. A tough read but has some heart.

More information: Ten Thousand Tries releases August 1

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

I'd hoped that this would be a more realistic approach to the plot from The Princess Diaries. I was not disappointed. Izumi finds out her dad is royalty and has to figure out how to fit into his world. As an American who grew up middle class in a small town, her life experience doesn't prepare her for the expectations and pressures of palace life. But it's more than just that standard fish out of water story. It's a tale of a girl between cultures. In the US she is visually different. Japan she stands out in habits and personality. She's also used to a more liberal life and the culture she encounters in Japan is fairly traditional. While the plot is fairly predictable the characters are pleasant and dynamic. A fun listen well worth your time.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Mimic Makers

 

Mimic Makers by Kristen Nordstrom

This book crosses over two solid points of interest for young readers: animals and inventors. It's a very cool cross section because we can learn a lot about engineering from nature. Some of the inspirations are obvious. Others took a lot more creativity to discover and apply. This is quite a short book but all of the examples it provides are quite fascinating. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Down to Earth

 

Title: Down to Earth

Author: Betty Culley

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Quintessence by Jess Redman

                     Tips for Magicians by Celesta Rimington

Rating:

 

a joy

Summary (provided by publisher): Henry has always been fascinated by rocks. As a homeschooler, he pours through the R volume of the encyclopedia (to help him identify the rocks he finds). So, when a meteorite falls in his family's field, who better to investigate than this rock enthusiast--with his best friend, James, and his little sister, Birdie, in tow, of course.
But soon after the meteorite's arrival, the water in Henry's small Maine town starts drying up. It's not long before news spreads that the space rock and Henry's family might be to blame. Henry is determined to defend his newest discovery, but his knowledge of geology could not have prepared him for how much this stone from the sky would change his community, his family, and even himself.

My opinion: I had ideas of where this book was headed from the very start. I was pleased to see that it defied my expectations. The eventual plot points were telegraphed early on, but it follows it's own path. The theme of the novel is more subtle than we typically see in middle grade fiction, an exploration of the way life changes whether we want it or not. The things that influence the person we will become. It's not exactly magical realism, more supernatural realism I suppose. Because the features of the meteorite defy explanation. And yet much of the plot is firmly based in science. Henry explores topics in a scientific manner, digging into every question that occurs to him. The characters are charming and all have at least a little depth. Thought-provoking and compelling without being overly complex.

More information: Down to Earth releases August 24.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Travel games

I have a sizeable stash of Altoid tins from a friend who used to eat a lot of them, so they've become one of my favorite craft supplies. In the past I've sold little fishing games and dinosaur playsets in tins. This year I've decided to try dice games. I found directions for a couple of simple games online and painted the tins to match the theme of the game.