Book review - The Best Liars in Riverview

 

Title: The Best Liars in Riverview

Author: Lin Thompson

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Paris Project by Donna Gephart

                     Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

Rating:

 

a solid, age appropriate reflection on pain and identity

Summary (provided by publisher): Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence—weird, yet the same kind of weird. But lately, even their shared weirdness seems weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. The whole town is looking for him, and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can’t say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here’s what they know for sure: For the last two weeks of the school year, when sixth grade became too much, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods.The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game.The raft is gone now, too.Aubrey doesn’t know where Joel is, but they might know how to find him. As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that bully Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion. 

My opinion: It has become a widely accepted truth that middle school is difficult for kids socially, especially for kids who are in any way different. We aren't surprised to find that this is the scenario in this book - bullied kids who are keeping big, essential secrets for fear of worse bullying. It's more than just peer difficulties, though. It's societal disapproval, feeling like you are a disappointment to your parents. These are huge questions to consider in a middle grade novel but Thompson handles them well, never making Aubrey out to be a perfect kid. Aubrey is pushing everyone away, keeping secrets they know to wrong or dangerous. While this is not a book for everyone, if a kid is struggling reading a book like this one could help.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 25 check-in

 

Open on my shelf today:

Boy Underwater by Adam Baron

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 36

Listen with me

 

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr

A mystery featuring a kid detective is a hard thing to pull off effectively. You don't want to have them investigating a "real" crime as that would put them in unreasonable danger. With only kid level mysteries, though, the stakes are often lacking. That's something this book does well. The missing mascot is upsetting to many of the children at the school and has consequences in their day. The investigation is solid as well. The clues are clear enough for a kid to understand but provide enough misdirection as to not be completely obvious. The motivation is a little weak but that's forgivable. The characters are amusing and believable.

From a purely audio standpoint, this one is well narrated. Moxie's voice is dynamic and excitable without going too far and becoming obnoxious. This was a fun listen that can be enjoyed by kids and their parents. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 24 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Boy Underwater by Adam Baron

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 36

 

Non-fiction book review - Flowers are Pretty...Weird!

 

Flowers are Pretty Weird by Rosemary Mosco

This is one of those books that straddles the line between picture book and non-fiction. It's more conversational than we typically see in straight non-fiction. The bee narrator starts with the standard idea of a flower and then gives us examples of flowers that don't fit into that standard. Flowers that grow or appear in ways and places that we wouldn't expect. We start with small variations and are introduced to gradually more extreme versions of weirdness. There isn't a lot of information about each flower though there is a basic exploration of how each variation works to the flower's advantage. Interesting and accessible for even young readers.

More information: Flowers are Pretty Weird releases March 29

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 23 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfeild

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 35

 

Book review - Daughter

 

Title: Daughter

Author: Kate McLaughlin

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: In the Blood by Sara Hantz

                      I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Rating:

 

not what I was expecting

Summary (provided by publisher): Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.
When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.
Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

My opinion: When you hear that a book is about a character finding out she's the child of a serial killer, you expect a thrilling plot. We're expecting physical danger or deep psychological exploration. But that's not hat McLaughlin gives us here. While Scarlet has some "am I like my father" moments, she comes to conclusions about her own identity pretty quickly. In fact, there's far more exploration of how the public perceives killers and their families than there is introspection. The plot is fairly simple and doesn't actually dig very deep.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley