Book review - Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed

 

Title: Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed

Author: Jose Pablo Iriarte

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre

                      Almost There and Almost Not by Linda Urban

Rating:

 

some solid ideas

Summary (provided by publisher): After moving cross-country into his late grandfather’s Miami mansion, Benny discovers that the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo, the great Ignacio Ramírez, is still there . . . and isn’t too thrilled about it. He’s been barred from the afterlife, and no one can see him except his grandson. But Benny’s got problems of his own. He’s enrolled in a performing arts school with his siblings, despite having no obvious talent.
 Luckily, Abuelo believes they can help each other. Abuelo has until New Year’s Eve to do some good in the world and thinks that teaching Benny how to play the trumpet and become a school celebrity might be the key to earning his wings. Having no better ideas, Benny finds himself taking Abuelo's advice—to disastrous and hilarious results.

My opinion: With this book Iriarte takes a hard look at the mixed bag of fame and skill. We have the obvious lesson of Abuelo's fame and ego, the way he prioritized himself over everyone else in his life. But there's also the example of Benny's siblings who have always excelled, been the best in their art, and are struggling with finding their place. There's a focus on doing the things that you love, not just because you are good at them. Some of the attitudes are a bit of a mixed bag and the ending is perhaps overly idealized but for the most part it asks good questions for a middle grader to consider.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: multiple perspectives

One of the best things about fiction is the way that it opens up your world to perspectives you wouldn't otherwise understand. It's even better when a single book gives you multiple perspectives at once. Here are six book published in the past six months that are presented from more than one perspective.

6 new multiple perspective narratives

1. Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnsen
2. The Thirteenth Circle by Marcy Kate Connolly
3. Across So Many Seas by Ruth Beher
4. A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
5. Kindling by Traci Chee
6. One Big Open Sky by Ashley Schumacher
   

Book review - A Game of Noctis

 

Title: A Game of Noctis

Author: Deva Fagan

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster

                      Where the Lockwood Grows by Olivia A Cole

Rating:

 

digs deeper than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): In the opulent, sinking city of Dantessa, the Great Game rules all. Pia Paro believes that so long as you follow the rules, you always have a chance at winning. But after her beloved Gramps is sentenced to a life of servitude, Pia accepts a dangerous offer and joins a team of players seeking to win the most perilous game of all: Noctis.
The Seafoxes—Pia’s new teammates—are unlike anyone she’s ever met. There’s brash, bold Carlo; macabre Serafina; kindhearted Pasquale; and their dashing ringleader, Vittoria. Each has their own reason for playing, and soon, Pia begins to question all her long-held beliefs. Maybe the rules Pia once trusted to lift her up have only been keeping her—and thousands of others like her—down.
As she struggles with these revelations, Pia must survive a gauntlet of clockwork soldiers, perilous underwater adventures, and even a game against Death herself. But with Pia’s grandfather’s life at stake, Pia must finally decide whether she’s brave enough to not just break the rules, but to change the very nature of the Game.

My opinion: There's a little bit of a slow start to this book, not because it doesn't jump into action but because it takes a little bit to understand how this world works. Once you have that under your belt, though, it's pretty engaging. The structure of games with high stakes is reminiscent of any number of dystopian novels but with an air of magic. And the exploration of the world digs deep into class systems and our often skewed story of history. While the conclusions are what you would expect, the conversation is worth having with a middle grade reader and the pacing is spot on.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Maybe It's a Sign by E L Shen - A girl looks for signs from her recently dead father, superstitions, and luck to direct her decisions in life while having increasing encounters with an annoying classmate.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Notes by Catherine Con Morse - A girl at a prestigious art school is influenced by a fascinating new teacher, exploring her abilities and taking on increasing pressures.

What do you think you'll read next?

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps

Book review - Trouble at the Tangerine

 

Title: Trouble at the Tangerine

Author: Gillian McDunn

Genre: mystery

Similar books: The Hike to Home by Jess Rinker

                      The Stars of Whistling Ridge by Cindy Baldwin

Rating:

 

balances mystery and heart

Summary (provided by publisher): Simon's family is always on the move. Every few months, they load up their van, “Vincent Van Go,” and set off for a new adventure. According to his dad, you can't live an extraordinary life by staying in one place. But all Simon wants is to settle down, so he's hatched a plan: to make their latest apartment in the Tangerine Pines building his forever home.
When a priceless necklace is stolen, clues indicate the thief might actually be another neighbor. Simon worries he'll have to move again if the thief isn't caught. He usually doesn't go looking for trouble, but if retrieving the necklace means establishing home, Simon is willing to risk it. With the help of his neighbor Amaya, pet sitter, plant-waterer, and podcaster extraordinaire, Simon is determined to crack the case and finally put down roots.

My opinion: For a book focused on a jewelry theft this one manages to be surprisingly gentle. Which does not mean that it's only a surface read. Quite the contrary. The plot transcends a simple mystery. It digs deep into motivations both of thieves and other characters. Even more than a mystery, its an exploration of community and the depths of people and their relationships. It has the perfect level of complexity for middle grade readers and reads quickly.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Dark Parts of the Universe

 

Title: Dark Parts of the Universe

Author: Samuel Miller

Genre: mystery

Similar books: We Don't Swim Here by Vincent Tirado

                      The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson

Rating:

 

intriguing

Summary (provided by publisher): In Calico Springs, Willie’s life has been defined by two powerful forces: God and the river. The “miracle boy” died for five minutes as a young child, and ever since, Willie is certain he survived for a reason, but that purpose didn’t become clear until he found the Game.
The Game is called Manifest Atlas, and the concept is simple: enter an intention and the Game provides a target—a blinking blue dot on the map. Willie’s second time playing Manifest Atlas, his intention takes him to an ominous target: three empty graves. Willie is sure the Game is telling him he’s going to die.
Willie’s older brother, Bones, doesn’t believe him, but their friends are intrigued. Sarai, a girl from across the river, sets the next intention: something bloody. The group follows the Game’s coordinates and they discover something even more unsettling than the graves: a dead body. Sarai’s stepfather’s body. The Game is suddenly personal.
Willie is dedicated to proving the Game works while Sarai is set on finding out what happened to her stepdad. Bones just wants to enjoy his last summer before real life begins. As the group digs deeper into Manifest Atlas, stranger and wilder things begin to appear, unlocking a much deeper mystery running like an undercurrent through the small town.

My opinion: I think I was at least halfway through this book before it was clear to me whether or not something supernatural was going on. I was guessing about reality and what was going on through the lion's share of it. I wasn't always sure that I liked it, but I was constantly guessing, and that was enough to keep me reading. It helps that the characters are strong. Most characters we meet are complex characters with motivations that we don't fully understand. The ultimate resolution of the plot was not what I expected but made sense in the context of the plot.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - War of the Winds

Title: War of the Wind

Author: Victoria Williamson 

Genre: mild sci-fi

Similar books: Where the Lockwood Grows by Olivia Cole

                      Song of the River by Gill Lewis

Rating:

 

decent payoff

Summary (provided by publisher): A thrilling new adventure story with delightfully diverse disability representation. Set on a remote Scottish island, War of the Wind introduces us to a cast of characters with additional support needs. It is simultaneously a page-turning eco-thriller about government testing gone wrong and a heartwarming celebration of our differences.

My opinion: This novel has a strong premise and makes a concerted effort at representation. What it lacks is nuance. Our protagonist views the world through a very narrow focus and refuses to see any other viewpoints. He's a frustrating character and can be a bit off-putting. The plot, too, lacks complexity. We can guess pretty early on that this experimental program is having a negative affect on the population. It keeps the action moving, though. The physical threat is real enough to be thrilling to young readers without becoming overly intense. There are a few scenes that sensitive readers will find upsetting, so be forewarned. The plot pays off in a satisfying way it just requires a little patience to get there.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley