I wouldn't say that I'm a devoted fan of the James Herriot books, but I did enjoy All Creatures Great and Small, so this collection seems like a nice, calm listen. Let's give it a try together.
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Listen with me
Monday, November 6, 2023
Book review - The Amazing Beef Squad
Author: Jason Ross
Genre: humor
Similar books: The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett
The Capybara Conspiracy by Erica S Perl
Rating:
clever chaos
Summary (provided by publisher): Meet the Beef Squad: a group of unforgettable kids who are serious about pranks but also about doing whatever it takes to help the people and places they care about.
Nick Rhodes and his friends Pratchett, Hogue, and Jared--together known as Beef Squad--have got seventh grade totally hacked. They make perfect grades by day, pull spectacular pranks by night, play video games in between, and do it all with a zany sense of humor only they find funny. (Because someone has to celebrate National Asparagus Appreciation Day.) But seventh grade is about to strike back! Trouble at school and a secret from their town's Gold Rush past put Beef Squad on a collision course with Leonardville's most powerful forces. Now, with the help of robotics teammate Karla Woo, they decide to reveal what's going on, no matter the consequences.
My opinion: Stories about pranksters can be a tricky thing. As adults, we don't exactly want to endorse "bad" behavior. Yet these things are incredibly appealing to young readers. We love to read about characters getting away with something. The Beef Squad finds a decent balance. While a lot of their activities are about having fun without consequences, they also have a strong sense of justice. They go from simply trying to cause chaos to righting a wrong and keeping the true "villains" from destroying the town the love out of simple greed. With a cast of solid characters and a relatable small town setting, this is a book worthy of a middle grade audience.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Friday, November 3, 2023
Book review - Maggie Sparks and the Alien Invasion
Author: Steve Smallman
Genre: humor
Similar books: Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner
Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey by Timothy Roland
Rating:
mostly silly
Summary (provided by publisher): Maggie Sparks does NOT fit in!
Especially not with Arthur’s new friends, who all love SCIENCE.
Maggie tries everything she can think of to be like them – even reading BORING science books. But nothing works! Then things go from bad to worse when an angry astronaut upsets Arthur. Thankfully, Maggie is a super powerful, super smart, super talented WITCH. She plans to use her powers to fix things, fit in and make Arthur’s dreams of exploring SPACE come true.
All she needs is a little magic …
My opinion: I like the way Smallman combines friendship issues with chaotic magic. Children make split second decisions without considering consequences all of the time. When you add magical abilities to the mix all kinds of humor ensues. The plot progression, while strange, follows and internal logic so the reader can accept events without question. It's designed for early independent readers so the writing is simple and easy to follow.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Book review - With or Without You
Author: Eric Smith
Genre: realistic fiction/teen romance
Similar books: Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck
How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker
Rating:
a decent twist on some standard elements
Summary (provided by publisher): All’s fair in love and (food truck) war.
Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other.
According to many viral videos of their public shouting matches, the Plazas and Ortiz families have a well-known food truck rivalry. Jordan and Cindy have spent all of high school making cheesesteaks and slinging insults at each other across their shared Philadelphia street.
But the truth? They’re in love, and it’s all just an act for the tourists.
When the fake feud lands them a reality tv show pilot, Jordan and Cindy find themselves having to lie on a much bigger scale. Trapped between pursuing their dreams or their love, can they find a way to have their cheesesteak and eat it too?
My opinion: Individually, the elements of this novel are somewhat played out. You'd think we'd seen every variation on a family rivalry. Or a food truck rivalry. Or a reality tv rivalry. By combining all three, though, Smith has elevated the plot to something new and innovative. Especially since at the outset all of the rivalry is an act. They're playing the system to get what they want most. As the plot progresses, though, the act reveals true sentiment and a once clear relationship is muddied. While the arc of the plot is predictable it remains highly entertaining. Don't expect a lot of deep thinking with this one but if you're looking for something cozy and heart-warming this one probably fills the bill.
More information: With or Without You releases November 7.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Book review - 15 Secrets to Survival
Author: Natalie D Richards
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Out of Range by Heidi Lang
Rating:
.JPG)
one to think about
Summary (provided by publisher): When classmates Baxter, Abigail, Turner and Emerson break a school rule, they’re forced to travel to the middle of nowhere for an extra credit project. They think things can’t get much worse. After all, how will learning to survive in the wilderness help them stay out of trouble in school?
What starts off as a weekend of team building takes a scary turn when their instructor goes missing and they are given nothing but pages of a survival guide to complete a series of challenges.
They soon learn the woods around them have unexpected surprises. Will they discover a way to work together to find their teacher and overcome the dangers of winter in the mountains?
My opinion: As a rule, I'm a fan of survival stories. Personally I prefer the solo survivalist but when you get a book like this one, where a survival scenario forces disparate kids to work together, it achieves something different. Now, this book differs from the genre standard in that their scenario is, at least initially, organized. It's planned. This adds in elements of a puzzle plot, a type that tends to go over well with young readers. It's also the element of this book that give me the most pause. Because the book is built on the idea of these kids put in a potentially dangerous situation by someone they barely know. For an adult reader, it's full of red flags. The plot itself is decent, not terribly unexpected or complex. So it's a decent read that might spark some conversation but not one that would be my go-to first choice.
More information: 15 Secrets to Survival releases November 7
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Non fiction book review - Operation Cupcake
Operation Cupcake by Bambi Edlund
This book is a fun object lesson in the functions of simple machines. We learn about the mechanics of each type of machine and how they make work easier. Edlund also goes beyond the very basics, showing how modifications allow us to do more complicated work. There is a simple plot with a two-fold payout: first the mice get their cupcake and then there is a humorous reveal as the humans discover the fallout of the titular operation. The text is well supported by cartoon illustrations. This is a great way to supplement your kid's science lesson.
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley
Monday, October 30, 2023
Books on screen - Nimona
I haven't done one of these in a while but I finally watched Nimona this weekend and we have to talk about it. Because here's the thing: I love Nimona. I read it as a webcomic. When it was released as a print book I badgered my manager until she promised me we would buy a copy for the library. And when it was first announced that there was going to be a movie I was immediately ecstatic, immediately followed by apprehensive. I love the book so much that I was terrified that the movie would ruin it. That's why it took me four months to actually watch the thing.
Let's start by admitting that the movie makes some big changes. I could make a post much longer than this one pointing out all of the differences in characters, plot elements, even messaging between the book and the movie. But that's not why I wanted to talk about it today. I will very quickly say that I still like the book better. I think the humor is sharper and Ballister is a stronger character in the original form. There is one thing the movie does better, though: it asks better questions. When you read the book you can tell it started life as a web comic. It meanders around, making nonsense jokes and cackling at its own cleverness before it finds focus and tells a coherent story. The movie cuts all of that extraneous information (no matter how much I love it) and focuses the conflict. Most importantly instead of just being about a corrupt system it asks two important questions: once you've been judged is it possible to change perceptions; and why does society vilify things just for being different. The central emotion, then, isn't righteous indignation but weary desperation which lends the movie a maturity that the book lacks, even as it has been modified to be appropriate for a younger audience. It makes this a rare case where both forms are worth consuming though for entirely different reasons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)