Non-fiction book review - Wonderful Women of the World

 

Wonderful Women of the World edited by Laurie Halse Anderson

From the start, I was on board with the idea of this book. I love profiles of influential women. I love graphic novels. A book that intersects the two is chef's kiss perfection. I like that each profile is approached differently by the author. Some are traditional narratives. Some are the author reflecting on the influence the historic woman has had on her own life. There's a profile in here for everyone. And to top it all off, I was thrilled to learn that profiles like these were a part of Wonder Woman comics from the beginning. A great addition to any collection.

Book review - Long Road to the Circus

 

Title: Long Road to the Circus

Author: Betsy Bird

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: On Snowden Mountain by Jeri Watts

                     Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Rating:

 

a sweet story

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Suzy Bowles is tired of summers filled with chores on her family farm in Burr Oak, Michigan, and desperate to see the world. When her wayward uncle moves back home to the farm, only to skip his chores every morning for mysterious reasons, Suzy decides to find out what he's up to once and for all. And that's when she meets legendary former circus queen Madame Marantette and her ostriches. Before long, Suzy finds herself caught-up in the fast-paced, hilarious world of ostrich riding, a rollicking adventure that just might be her ticket out of Burr Oak.

My opinion: Part of what makes this story successful is that it doesn't try to hard to present complete information. Most of the family are not characters. For the large list of names we meet, only a few are fleshed out. Most people are only briefly present. This allows the plot to focus almost completely on Suzy's experience with the ostriches. It's almost more of a vignette than a complete book. The plot is simple. And while the story lacks the heart or even the message of Charlotte's Web they share a sensibility.

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Book review - Tristan Strong Keeps Punching

 

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia

 

I want to abandon my traditional book review format and address you directly. I know I've talked about Tristan Strong before (books one and two) but let me be clear. Percy Jackson may have kicked off the mythology craze but Tristan Strong is the one you should read. Mbalia has truly elevated the genre. He's exploring the strength of story in culture. And his villains are the embodiment of slavery and inter-generational racism. There are spirits and magical elements, certainly, but the story and link to culture are the ultimate drivers. Each character represents history, pain, struggle, triumph over oppression. Tristan himself is a symbol of the continued struggle for equality. This particular volume addresses redlining and the prison industrial complex, tying in the direct ties to slavery. It's not all seriousness either. There are genuinely light-hearted moments. Gumbaby makes me laugh pretty consistently. I'd encourage kids and adults alike to read and discuss this book.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Nightmare in Savannah

 

Nightmare in Savannah by Lila Gwenn

Let's consider the opening scenario of this book: the new girl in town finds herself in the company of a crew of defiant and wild girls. This is a set up that screams of werewolves or vampires. Instead we're treated to lore that I've often said is a vastly under-explored source for stories: changelings. These are the fae that medieval people feared. They are self-serving and cruel. And the more they use their magic the stronger they grow. It also begins to control them more, like a drug addiction. The pacing is a bit rough, scenes jumping a bit more than I'd prefer, but it's a unique book worth reading.

More information: Nightmare in Savannah releases October 26 

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Non-fiction book review - Upstream, Downstream

 

Upstream, Downstream by Rowena Rae

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you want to understand the basics of a complex idea read a book intended for children. Explanatory texts written for adults tend to be overly technical and rely on a lot of jargon. A book for kids will explain the idea in the simplest way possible with a number of clear examples. I can't say as I've ever really thought about watersheds, even when I was studying the water cycle. This book will solidly support those lessons we get in school and tie into our understanding of ecology as well.

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Book review - Alley & Rex

 

Title: Alley & Rex

Author: Joel Ross

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Endless Waiting by Matthew Swanson

                     Mr. Bambuckle: Rule the School by Tim Harris

Rating:

Summary (provided by publisher): Sixth-grader Alley Katz is innocently trying to help a bunch of kindergarteners when the burrito hits the fan. Literally. A burrito. A ceiling fan. A hail of beans. Now he has to get an A on his science test or he’ll be transferred to the dreaded Steggles Academy.
An A seems impossible! Alley is kind, intrepid, and well-liked, but for some reason he doesn’t get graded on any of that. So the principal assigns a peer mentor to help: Rex, a fourth-grade genius who wears a bunny suit.
Alley is totally in favor of both bunnies and fourth graders, but he doesn’t need Rex. He has his own foolproof plan to ace the test. Still, Rex is determined to fulfill his duty as Alley’s mentor—and he may need some help of his own. One boy needs to stay in school, the other needs to get through it. Can this odd couple save the day—and each other?

My opinion: Alley may be a sixth grader, but the reading and interest level of this book skews several years younger. This might make it a decent choice for reluctant readers. Alley's recklessness and wild imagination make it a highly entertaining read and the degree of misadventure is pretty appealing. It reads like a less cynical, more kind-hearted version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

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Book review - White Smoke

 

Title: White Smoke

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Genre: horror

Similar books: His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler

                     Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Rating:

 

genuinely creepy atmosphere

Summary (provided by publisher): Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.
The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.
But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?
As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

My opinion: Fear in a novel comes from two elements: atmosphere and danger. Jackson handles both of these elements well. From the moment the family arrives in town, to a house surrounded by abandoned buildings and a basement they are explicitly told not to enter, we can tell that something is wrong. This wrongness is aided by the neighbors that avoid them and the all white board gentrifying an historically black city with riots and secrets in its past. We have the standard creepy elements - threatening messages, things moved when no one is around - and real threats to their physical well being. There are some subplots that are never fully resolved. Overall, though, it's genuinely scary and socially aware.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley