Non-fiction book review - A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic

 

A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic by Tom Adams

Many kids go  through a phase of obsession with illusionists and/or pranks. So this book is going to hit right in that sweet spot for a wide audience. It is separated into three main topics: magicians, con artists, and hoaxes/pranks. It should be noted that all three sections have an air of admiration, which can be troubling when it comes to cons. Each section has multiple examples, both of noteworthy figures and famous incidents. There are also a few "do it yourself" sections of card tricks, simple illusions, and good natured pranks that are easy enough for a kid to try.

More information: A Miscellany of Mischief and Magic releases September 5. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This is a surprisingly innocent, gentle story. It doesn't shy away from reality. It speaks plainly about the death of assorted animals (without going into unnecessary detail - so nothing gross). Overall, though, this is a simple story about survival and the power of kindness. This is the perfect choice for your youngster who is perhaps a bit sensitive.

Book review - Guardians of Dawn: Zhara

 

Title: Guardians of Dawn: Zhara

Author: S. Jae-Jones

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Cinder by Marissa Meyer 

                     Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell 

Rating:

 

pleasantly complex

Summary (provided by publisher): Magic flickers. Love flames. Chaos reigns.
Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called an abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.
Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appeasing her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.
In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

My opinion: The Cinderella influences on this plot are clear but it's not a strict retelling. Rather, it's a framework that the author uses to build a unique world and plot. We are deeply exploring magic, demons, and the spirit world, the ideas of balance and the cost for making changes. There are clear and consistent rules for how magic works and for it's role in society. There are a lot of complications, all of which serve to further the plot. The characters, too, are complex and nuanced. This is the beginning of a series with a lot of room to grow and continue to impress.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This book has been described as Hatchet with robots and I have to say that concept intrigues me. While this isn't my normal genre, let's give it a listen together.

Book review - Where the Lockwood Grows

 

Title: Where the Lockwood Grows

Author: Olivia A Cole

Genre: dystopia

Similar books: The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya

                      The List by Patricia Fforde

Rating:

 

a solid read

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Erie has never lived life fully in the sunlight. After destructive wildfires wreaked havoc on the world around her, the government came up with a plan—engineer a plant that cannot burn. Thus, the fire-resistant lockwood was born. The lockwood protects Erie and her hometown of Prine, but it grows incredibly fast and must be cut back every morning. Only the town’s youngest and smallest citizens can fit between the branches and tame the plant. Citizens just like Erie.
But one evening, Erie uncovers a shocking secret that leads her to question the rules of Prine. Alongside her older sister, Hurona, she’ll journey from the only home she’s known and realize that the world is much more complicated than she'd ever imagined. Packed with surprising twists and a cast of courageous characters, this gripping novel encourages readers to stand up for justice and challenge the status quo.

My opinion: The future of dystopian fiction appears to be in middle grade and I am here for it. Cole's book presents us with a future dealing with ecological disaster. We have a world falling apart and characters trying to figure out how to live in it while others take advantage of the chaos to conceal oppression. A savvy reader will suss out what is going on in this book pretty quickly, but that isn't a big barrier. The book is as much about a family trying to find their way forward, to heal the brokenness between them, as it is about revealing what is being done to the town.

Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Holly Horror

 

Title: Holly Horror

Author: Michelle Jabes Corpora

Genre: horror

Similar books: White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson

                      Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang

Rating:

plot doesn't live up to the spooky imagery

Summary (provided by publisher): After her parents' painful divorce, Evie Archer hopes that moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, is the fresh start that her family needs. But Evie quickly realizes that her new home—known by locals as the Horror House—carries its own dark past after learning about Holly Hobbie, who mysteriously vanished in her bedroom one night.
But traces of Holly linger in the Horror House and slowly begin to take over Evie's life. A strange shadow follows her everywhere she goes, and Evie starts to lose sight of what's real and what isn't the more she learns about The Lost Girl.
Can Evie find out what happened the night of Holly's disappearance? Or is history doomed to repeat itself in the Horror House?

My opinion: There's no denying that the cover art for this book is creepy. A skeletal head in a prairie bonnet is a spooky image, especially when early scenes involve that head turning to look at people. The book doesn't live up to that promise, though. The plot on the whole is a pretty standard one and doesn't push much in the way of boundaries. Characters follow fairly expected patterns of behavior. The ending leaves a fair amount to be desired as well. While it's clearly setting up for a sequel, it doesn't do enough to resolve it's plot.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

The Incredible Hotel by Kate Davies

At heart, this book tells a fairly standard story of a young person being undervalued because of their youth. It carries, then, messaging about how every person contributes to the whole and the importance of treating people with respect. The details won't be familiar to most. The average child has no experience with the inner working of a fancy hotel so it gives us a sense of peeking behind the curtain. The individual details are unique and the illustrations are wonderful, expressive and dynamic.

More information: The Incredible Hotel releases September 5.

Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley