Book review - Mehndi Boy

 

Title: Mehndi Boy

Author: Zain Bandali

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Meet Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi

                      Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbie Michiko Florence

Rating:

 

a nice combination of elements

Summary (provided by publisher): Tehzeeb drew curvy clouds, grand galaxies, squirmy squiggles, and delicate dots. He made charming checkerboards and even perfected paisleys. His practice was finally paying off!
The first time Tehzeeb tries mehndi, his passion for the art form blossoms. Soon, he’s creating designs for all his friends and family, and dreams of becoming the most in-demand mehndi artist in town. So Tez is hurt and confused when his favorite uncle tells him mehndi isn’t for boys. His art brings people joy. How could it be wrong? Tehzeeb doesn’t want to disappoint his uncle. But when a crisis before his cousin’s wedding puts his talents to the test, Tehzeeb must find the courage to be his true creative self.

My opinion: Books for young readers tend to have a single focus, one internal message. This book manages to include two without becoming overly complicated. Bandali's tale emphasizes both the importance of practice to improve a skill (rather than relying on innate ability) and being true to oneself. The writing is quite simple and the characters aren't especially complex, but they are believable. Reading this book with youngsters allows for a chance to discuss cultural differences and expectations.

More information: Mehndi Boy releases October 24

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Peg doll tins

 We're in last-minute craft fair preparations, trying to top off our inventory as we have a couple of sales coming up. With that in mind, I made a couple of these peg doll tins: a little peg doll figure in a house made out of an Altoid tin. These are my favorites.

Book review - Nell of Gumbling

 

Title: Nell of Gumbling

Author: Emma Steinkellner

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Unfamiliar by Haley Newsome

                      Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Rating:

 

magical but relatable

Summary (provided by publisher): To everyone else, the Magical Land of Gumbling is something out of fairy tales. But to Nell Starkeeper, it’s just home. Sure, the town community center might be a castle, her dads run a star farm, and her best friend Myra is a fairy, but Nell is much more interested in finding out if she’ll get the seventh grade apprenticeship of her dreams with world-famous artist Wiz Bravo.
She’s pretty sure her entire life has been RUINED when she’s instead matched with boring old Mrs. Birdneck in the town archives. And of course her perfect rival Leabelle gets to work with Wiz, and mean girl Viola won’t let Nell forget it. Meanwhile, suddenly Myra seems more into hanging out with Leabelle and saving the town from some weird strangers who keep talking about turning Gumbling into a fancy resort than being friends with Nell anymore. Can Nell find a way to save everything that makes her world magical, while figuring out where she belongs in it?

My opinion: Gumbling may be a magical place full of fairies, pixies, and other fantasy beings, but it's also surprisingly normal. Nell and her friends deal with bullies and unrealistic expectations. They have dreams for their futures and face challenges in the way of societal requirements. They are jealous and petty at times, say cruel things when they are upset. In other words, they are normal kids. They aren't perfect. They make bad choices. But they ultimately recognize where they've gone wrong and find their way towards fixing it. The plot here is inventive in the specifics but relatable in the broad strokes. There's enough humor to keep it from becoming heavy. A solid read for a middle grade audience.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review: Plauge-Busters

 

Plague-Busters by Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal

If you're like me, you find plagues fascinating. A book that breaks down historical plagues teaches us about science, history, and sociology and this volume does all three of those things well. Fitzharris and Teal break down everything we know about each disease historically: when it first appeared or was identified; historical cures; it's deadly impact; what science learned at the time; it's general treatability; what we know now. This is perhaps a bit of a niche interest but if you have any interest in history or epidemiology this is a solid choice. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Project F

 

Title: Project F

Author: Jeanne DuPrau

Genre: dystopia

Similar books: Please Return to the Lands of Luxury by Jon Tilton

                      Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Rating:

 

not DuPrau's best

Summary (provided by publisher): WELCOME TO THE FUTURE.
There are no cars, planes, television, or smart phones. Climate change wreaked havoc on Earth hundreds of years ago, and now people live a simpler life.
Then thirteen-year-old Keith uncovers a secret. It’s a mysterious mission known only as Project F. It’s advanced, it’s scientific, and it’s going to change the world. It’s exactly the kind of adventure Keith has always longed to be a part of.
And what is adventure without a little danger, right? But how much danger is Keith willing to risk? For himself? For his family? For his community? For the entire world…?

My opinion: There is no denying that this book asks important questions. It wants the reader to look at sacrifice for the greater good. The problem is, it's too blunt about it. It doesn't lead the reader to conclusions; it shoves them in our face. It tells us what we should think about the world of the book. We aren't experiencing the plot with Keith. We're viewing it through a lens, through emotional distance. While middle grade readers may need some guidance in interpreting what they read this doesn't mean that the messaging needs to be a blunt instrument. With characters that are generally unrealistic and one-dimensional, there isn't much driving the reader forward.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Hatchet Girls

 

Title: Hatchet Girls

Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Genre: horror

Similar books: It Will End Like This by Kyra Leigh

                     The Violent Season by Sara Walters

Rating:

 

not quite what I wanted

Summary (provided by publisher): When Mariella Morse accuses her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, of murdering her wealthy parents with an axe, the town is quick to believe her. It doesn’t help that Vik is caught standing over her parents’ bodies with blood on his hands, unable to remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to move to Fall River, MA in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Tessa’s search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, notoriously cursed forest, where she and Mariella must face a darkness that has lurked within their town since before the days of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.

My opinion: The Lizzie Borden case has been subject of plenty of speculation, so it's ripe for a re-imagining. Rodriguez certainly takes an interesting tactic, exploring motivations and influences, asking us to consider guilt and responsibility. The book makes overtures towards questions of racism and classism but these concepts are not explored in any true depth. Vik, as we meet him, is too sympathetic. Mariella is too manipulative. There's no nuance to the plot that has us wondering.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde

Let's be frank - this book suffers a bit from a bland title. But with a description that promises missing teen, drastic personality shifts, and the stratified world of elite prep schools and a solidly creepy cover image I'm ready to give it a shot. Let's listen together and hopefully have a couple of scares for spooky season.