Non-fiction book review - Wall to Wall

 

Wall to Wall by Mary Ann Fraser

If you have even a passing interest in wall art, this book is worth a look. From cave paintings to modern protest art, all sorts of wall art are explored here. For each instance we learn about the historical and geographical setting, the method of painting, and the larger cultural "why" - the reason for the setting and the thought behind the art. The text is easy to read and supported by images. And for a person like myself who has never had much interest in graffiti and murals, reading a book like this one makes it a far more compelling subject.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - The Awesome Physics in Your Home

 

The Awesome Physics in Your Home

 If there is one branch of science that people find intimidating, it's physics. But physics is all around us and that's what this book wants to help us understand. This text explores simple physics like static electricity and far more complicated procedures. Nothing is explained in depth but we do gain a cursory understanding of each principle. With a few simple experiments supporting the information, this is a solid choice for science minded kids and their adults.

More information: The Awesome Physics in Your Home releases June 18

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

True Colors by Abby Cooper - A girl who sees emotions as colors moves to a town where only positivity is allowed.

What did you recently finish reading?

Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall - Sid is haunted by the ghosts of five girls - girls their dad was convicted of murdering. Now more girls are going missing and Sid will have to find the truth of what happened to them and what that means for Sid and their attempt at living a quiet life.

What do you think you'll read next?

How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta

Book review - Prom Babies

 

Title: Prom Babies

Author: Kekla Magoon

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Belly Up by Eva Darrows

                     What They Don't Know by Nicole Maggi

Rating:

 

a nice assortment of perspectives

Summary (provided by publisher): Mina, Penny, and Sheryl have the typical expectations of prom night in 2005: dresses, dancing, and of course some coming of age moments. None of them plans to get pregnant, but when all three do, they band together as they face decisions that have the power to shape the rest of their lives.
In 2024, their three children--Blossom, Amber, and Cole--are high school seniors, gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
A generation later, will this prom night change lives too?

My opinion: If there is an aspect of the teen experience that is inexorably tied up in sex and gender issues, it's prom. And if there is an issue of sex and gender, it is addressed in this book. With such a grand scope, of course, no single issue gets addressed in any serious depth. Characters are similarly limited in depth and development. The messaging is rather bluntly conveyed. What it lacks in subtlety, though, it makes up for in it's honest conversation. While this book isn't likely to be a favorite, it is a great starting point for discussion.

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Non-fiction book review - The Incredible Octopus

 

The Incredible Octopus by Erin Spencer

 It seems like the world is really only beginning to grasp how amazing octopuses are. Scientists are making more and more discoveries about them. And thus we get books like this one, which take us through the ins and outs of these creatures. We learn about features that all octopus species share and peculiarities of individual species. With dozens of photos explaining each aspect and lots of fascinating factoids, this is a book that is sure to interest young readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Picture a Girl

 

Title: Picture a Girl

Author: Jenny Manzer

Genre: verse novel

Similar books: Kyra, Just for Today by Sara Zarr

                      How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C Rudd

Rating:

 

well balanced

Summary (provided by publisher): Addie and her brother, Billy, live with their mom in a shabby rental cabin in the tourist town of Cedarveil, BC, right off the beach. Their lives are a little different than some—they often visit the food bank, and they don't have a phone or TV. For entertainment, their mom tells them stories before bed...if she's in a good mood, or home at all. Sometimes Mama copes with her depression by drinking; sometimes, she just disappears.
When Addie wakes up one Monday, she senses a stillness that tells her Mama's gone again. Addie knows it's up to her to take care of everything until her mom gets back. It's either not let on that anything's amiss or she and Billy will be separated from one another. Once again she makes it through until her mom's return a week later, knowing that she's strong enough to survive alone—but she's hoping this will be the last time.

My opinion: Sometimes, when you get a book about a kid with a neglectful parent, all we see is the bad. We see the way that the parent harms their child, intentional or otherwise, and the child's inability to find their way out. That isn't the case here. We see a kid desperate to keep her family together, certainly, but we also see the positives of their life together. Not just the fact that Addie wants to protect her mom but why she wants that. We see the way that her community comes together to help them while also doing their best to give the kids chances to ask for more help. As a verse novel it's very character driven, digging deep into Addie's feelings and motivation, but the physical events are easy enough to follow.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Say What

 

Say What? by Charlotte Molas and Radka Piro

Do not be mislead by the cover art here. This book is no simple look at language. It looks at all forms of communication, from language development to body posture. It encourages clear communication and listening skills, teaching kids to not only communicate their needs but also to respect all forms of communication from others. This is a book you could read all at once or in bits and pieces, gleaning new information each time. While the simple illustration style may be appealing to the very young, the content is aimed at more of a middle grade audience.

More information: Say What releases May 28

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley