A bargain on a stack of small sized, brightly colored cardstock inspired me to try making some mini greeting cards. I draw full sized cards with colored pencil and focus on realistic images. In this smaller format I decided to try more cartoon type drawings.
Author: Spencer Hall
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen
The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
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Summary (provided by publisher): Senior year of high school is full of changes.
For Hayley Mills, these changes aren’t exactly welcome. All she wants is for everyone to forget about her very public breakdown and remember her as the overachiever she once was—and who she’s determined to be again. But it’s difficult to be seen as a go-getter when she’s forced into TV Production class with all the slackers like Lewis Holbrook.
For Lewis, though, this is going to be his year. After a summer spent binging 80s movies, he’s ready to upgrade from the role of self-described fat, funny sidekick to leading man of his own life—including getting the girl. The only thing standing in his way is, well, himself.
When the two are partnered up in class, neither is particularly thrilled. But then they start making mini documentaries about their classmates’ hidden talents, and suddenly Hayley is getting attention for something other than her breakdown, and Lewis isn’t just a background character anymore. It seems like they’re both finally getting what they want—except what happens when who you’ve become isn’t who you really are?
My opinion: Let's get one thing out of the way - this book is pretty predictable. Its ultimately a teen romance and thus can only end a couple of ways. Hall has successfully elevated the plot, though. Hayley and Lewis could follow simple character arcs - Hayley learning to loosen up and be okay with making mistakes, Lewis learning to take chances for things that he cares about. Instead they both make a fair amount of progress following their same old toxic patterns. They both seem like they are at the bottom at the book's opening but we eventually discover they have much farther to fall. They make huge mistakes in the name of fixing things. Their choices and relationships aren't simple. This standard plot isn't turned completely on its ear but it's tilted enough that we look at some new angles and examine behaviors through a different lens.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
The premise here is fairly simple: the narrator tells us that turtles live on every continent but Antarctica. A contrary turtle sets out to prove that wrong. As it makes the journey south, it meets with a number of other animals which also are not found in Antarctica. Each animal joins in the journey out of curiosity, desire for company, a sense of adventure. The premise and it's eventual resolution is all a bit silly but should hit the right level of humor for elementary age kids. Each page also includes a couple of facts about an animal, giving it a small degree of educational value.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
We can be lead to believe by our history books that racism is over, that the Emancipation Proclamation immediately ended slavery. This book endeavors to show us otherwise. Lewis discusses the prison industrial complex and how Jim Crow laws contributed to the modern system. Now, all we get here is a very brief overview. This makes it accessible to reluctant readers but paints an incomplete picture. For instance, the only examples of Jim Crow laws we get are segregation in bus seating and schools. Even so, it encourages kids to think critically and question the corruption in our system which makes this inherently valuable.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Author: Celesta Rimington
Genre: magical realism
Similar books: Savvy by Ingrid Law
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
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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
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.
Author: Amy Makechnie
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The Distance to Home by Jenn Bishop
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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
