Book review - Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

 

Title: Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Genre: adventure/humor

Similar books: The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

                     The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Rating:

 

a clever collection of details

Summary (provided by publisher): Everything I'd known about the world was a lie.
On my thirteenth birthday, I, Alcatraz Smedry (yes, I got named after a prison, don’t ask) received my inheritance: a bag of sand. And then I accidentally destroyed my foster parents’ kitchen. It’s not my fault, things just break around me, I swear!
I thought the sand was a joke until evil Librarians came to steal it. You’re probably thinking, “Librarians are nice people who recommend good books,” but that’s just what they want you to think! It turns out they’re actually a secret cult keeping the truth from you—a hidden world filled with magical eyeglasses, talking dinosaurs, and knights with crystal swords!
Or so my Grandpa Smedry claimed when he suddenly showed up to rescue me. So now I have to go with him to invade the local library and get that sand back, before it's used to conquer the world. And Grandpa says how I keep breaking things is actually an amazing talent. There’s no way that can all be true, right?
Will I ever make it back home alive?

My opinion: There is a very specific subgenre of middle grade fiction that this book fits into: books where reality is not what we think. Where a very normal kid finds themself in the midst of a wild adventure with villains and sword fights, with mythological beasts and plots to take over the world. And peculiarities about yourself turn out to be signs that you are meant for something bigger. Sand, weird glasses, and a tendency to break things don't sound like elements that would make for an exciting story so it is a testament to Sanderson's skill and creativity that this book makes any kind of sense. It follows an internal logic even if it defies the logic of the natural world. This is a book that will be too much for many readers but is worth a look if you like the off-beat.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine by Beth Anderson

In this book Anderson tells the story of Austrian inventor Franz Gsellmann. He's some one most of us will never have heard of. He didn't invent something we use every day or that everyone admires for it's ingenuity. In fact, what he invented is really just an oddity, more of an art piece than an invention. That's actually what makes this book worth reading. It's not a story of innovation, constantly striving to make a thing better. It's a celebration of curiosity, of doing a thing simply because it brings you joy. While it may be of limited interest to the average reader, I could easily see using this in a classroom setting to introduce a creative project.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - A Taste for Poison

 A Taste for Poison by Neil Bradbury

Like many people, I have some fascination with true crime. It is the non-fiction sub-genre that I find consistently compelling rather than dry and dull. And that interest extends to books like this one, less about individual killers than about poisons and their historical use. I expected this to be a deep dive into the 11 historical cases with a brief overview of the poison involved. Not so, friends! Bradbury dives deep into the effects of poisons on the body, the science of neurotransmitters and how poisons both kill and cure. For a more clinical exploration it did a solid job of keeping me engaged even though I am not especially science minded. And I have a couple of friends interested in bio-chemistry who will likely enjoy it even more.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

 

Hello again

 Hi friends. I know I disappeared for a while there. I had it in my head that I could keep up a regular blogging schedule while moving house. And it turns out I very much cannot. 

But, I've finished moving and hope to be back to my normal blogging schedule soon. Thanks for sticking with me.

Non-fiction book review - Birds of Prey

 

Science Comics: Birds of Prey by Joe Flood

 I'm a big fan of birds in general and raptors in particular so this book was right up my alley. And it is packed with information. We learn about every aspect of the behavior and biology of birds of prey. Unlike some of the books in the Science Comics series, Flood doesn't force the information into an awkward plot. There is a loose framework of a narrator explaining these birds to a squirrel. Essentially, the science is allowed to stand on it's own. It can be a bit dense in information but the illustrations and mild humor keep the reader engaged. It's a volume you could read several times and gain new insights each time.

More information: Birds of Prey releases May 17 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel Spotlight - Tin Man

 

Tin Man by Justin Madson

The Wizard of Oz is a story that lends itself surprisingly well to retellings as authors make different characters central or create different settings for the tale. Madson's take is a far cry from the original. There are certainly parallels in the characters but the main thrust of the story is vastly different. Tin Man presents us with a far more meandering, introspective story. It's a reflection on what it means to be alive, what drives us forward even after loss or when barriers seem insurmountable. It really tells it's own story, though, and could be appreciated even if you weren't familiar with the original story.  

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Agents of SLAM

 

Agents of S.L.A.M. by Dave Scheidt

Of all the sports, wrestling is probably the most suited to the graphic novel format. It's already more action than planning and strategizing. And Scheidt doesn't rely only on wrestling action. He's taken a wrestling team and made it a team of international secret agents. So there is travel, exotic locales, and political intrigue. The plot keeps moving constantly but leaves room for reflection and emotional depth. It's solidly entertaining and empowers the young protagonist to become a vital part of the novel's resolution. It will entertain young readers and hold up to repeat reading. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley