Book review - Leeva at Last

 

Title: Leeva at Last

Author: Sara Pennypacker

Genre: humor

Similar books:  Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

                      Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts by Esta Spalding

Rating: 

 

funny, with heart

 

Summary (provided by publisher): What are people for?
That’s the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom.
Fame! says Leeva’s mom, the mayor of Nutsmore.
Money! says her dad, the town treasurer.
With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer—setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.

My opinion: It is inevitable that this book will be compared to Matilda. The two books share the same bones, afterall. Both Matilda and Leeva are bright young girls, largely self-sufficient, who are caring and compassionate in spite of their terrible parents. Their encounters with kind townspeople allow them to bloom into more complete members of society. Pennypacker gives us a very different set of details than Dahl did and they work together just as well. At turns funny and charming, this is a pleasant read that may fit the modern sensibility a bit better than some of Roald Dahl's more dated ideas.

More information: Leeva at Last releases March 7.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

The set-up here is a solid one. We get two perspectives. Cee is alone on a deserted island, her only companion a robot without conversational skills. She remembers little, only that she is searching for her sister. Kasey lives in a futuristic city in the sky, protected from the increasing dangers of climate change, coping with the isolation that comes with the disappearance of her older sister. As the book progresses the two narratives begin to approach one another and we get hints of the larger story that is going on in both places. 

Putting in it frankly, this story is a bit strange. It's sci-fi to be certain. Characters use stasis pods, virtual presences, brain-computer interfaces, even gravity reversal fields. But that's challenging part, I think. It's the plot. Through most of the book we are headed in a pretty clear direction. There is some exploration of privilege, social stratification, and ecological responsibility. Then, without getting into any spoilers, at a point where I thought I could see how the book was going to end, the plot shifts significantly. And the final chapters focus on an entirely different message. It was a bit jarring and means I would hesitate before recommending this book to other readers. 

 

Book review - Junkyard Dogs

 

Title: Junkyard Dogs

Author: Katherine Higgs-Coulthard

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson

                     Too Shattered for Mending by Peter Brown Hoffmeister

Rating: 

 

gritty and atmospheric

Summary (provided by publisher): Josh's father has gone missing without a trace, and Gran's ready to call social services. If Josh wants to keep himself and and his little brother, Twig, out of the system, he'll have to take to the streets and track down his dad. But when Josh digs too deep, his dad's old accomplices catch up to Josh and plunge him into a dangerous underground where putting his trust in the wrong person could number Josh in a growing pile of bodies.
This chilling portrayal of a teen desperate for food, shelter, and safety  barrels the reader through an emotionally-charged journey as Josh discovers that blood doesn't always make family—and some bonds can be broken forever.

My opinion: Higgs-Coulthard paints a vivid picture of a family in the act of collapsing. The mother is dead, the father drifting in and out of the picture as he works "jobs". It takes much of the book to get a real sense of what these jobs are but only a few chapters to realize that they probably aren't above-board. They aren't even really getting by, only putting up the most basic of appearances. And that's this book's strongest point. We are really living Josh's life with him, seeing his lack of choices and opportunities. So when he makes questionable decisions they seem rational in the moment, the decisions that will help pay a bill or buy a meal. It's a book less about plot, which is surprisingly slow paced, but about the relationships you have from childhood and those you build. It's a bit rough at moments but nothing too traumatizing. Worth reading and reflecting upon.

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Mittens

 Since I live in a cold climate I've learned to value outerwear. I'm especially fond of mittens since my hands are always cold and mittens keep my fingers a little warmer. Several years ago I knitted myself a pair of mittens (one of the first projects I posted about on this blog!) that has been a mainstay of my winter wear. When they wore thin, I darned them. And then I darned the new hole that developed. Now that the right mitten is almost more darned spots than original knit, I figured it was time for a new pair. I use the basic mitten pattern from my vintage Coats and Clark Learn How Book.

 

if you can get your hands on one of these they're well worth it

I knitted my mittens with superwash wool so they will be sturdy and warm but a little less itchy than traditional wool.
 

What about you? Are you a mitten or glove sort of person?

Book review - It's Boba Time for Pearl Li

 

Title: It's Boba Time for Pearl Li

Author: Nicole Chen

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah

                      Sofia Acosta Makes a Scene by Emma Otheguy

Rating:

 

a cute story with some depth

Summary (provided by publisher): Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and frequenting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!
After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Will she be able to stop Boba Time from closing and prove to her parents that her passion for crochet is worthy and serious?

My opinion:This could easily have been a story about following your passions in spite of parent's disapproval. Chen doesn't stop there. While there is certainly an element of that Pearl's story is as much about paying attention to other people as it is being true to yourself. Sure, Pearl learns to stand up for herself and express her frustrations with her parent's dismissal. She also has to learn to look beyond her own desires. She's developing her identity but also needing to recognize that other people have needs and concerns and that her actions impact others. And on top of all that we get a solid illustration of the difficulties of running a small business. An engaging read populated by believable, flawed characters.

More information: It's Boba Time for Pearl Li releases February 28

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

 

Picture books for everyone

 

Beware the Blue Bagoo by Karl Newson

The first thing I have to note about this book is that it rhymes. If you've followed my blog for very long you know that I have a fraught relationship with rhyming picture books. They tend to be awkward to read. But Newson handles the structure well. There is no labored text, no lines that sacrifice understanding for the sake of a rhyme. The plot is pretty straightforward, our protagonist searching for the Blue Bagoo in order to prove how dangerous it is since there are warnings about it all over town. Of course, we discover that the Blue Bagoo is nothing like the rumors, proving that assumptions are harmful. The highlight is the illustrations. They remind me somewhat of the Moomin characters. They're a bit odd but in a good way. I could see this one going over well with a wide range of kids.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - No Matter the Distance

 

Title: No Matter the Distance

Author: Cindy Baldwin

Genre: realistic fiction/verse novel

Similar books: Knockout by K.A. Holt

                     Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

 Rating:

 

well done

Summary (provided by publisher): Penny Rooney has cystic fibrosis, which means she has to do breathing treatments to help her lungs work. Some days, it seems like her CF is the only thing Penny knows about herself for sure.
From her point of view, everyone around her can make sense of their place in the world. So why can’t Penny even begin to write a poem about herself for school?
Then during spring break Penny spots something impossible in the creek behind her house: a dolphin, far from its home. Penny names the dolphin Rose and feels an immediate bond, since the dolphin is also sick.
But as Penny’s CF worsens, she realizes that Rose needs to return to her pod to get better. Will Penny be able to help guide Rose back to the ocean, even if it means losing her friend?

My opinion: Given that this is a verse novel, the primary focus of the narrative is emotional. We get a fair amount of exploration of Penny's feelings: about her CF, about her relationship with her friend and her sister, about her connection to this dolphin. Even so, Baldwin is able to include a surprising amount of biological information about CF, treatment protocols, infection concerns, and life expectancy. While the near mystical connection between a child and an animal is not my favorite thing I can't deny that it works quite well here.

More information: No Matter the Distance releases February 21 

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley