Book review - A Misfortune of Lake Monsters

 

Title: A Misfortune of Lake Monsters

Author: Nicole M Wolverton

Genre: horror

Similar books: Swarm by Jennifer D Lyle

                      Fractured Tide by Leslie Lutz

Rating:

 

doesn't quite live up to it's potential

Summary (provided by publisher): Lemon Ziegler wants to escape rural Devil’s Elbow, Pennsylvania to attend college—but that’s impossible now that she’s expected to impersonate the town’s lake monster for the rest of her life. Her family has been secretly keeping the tradition of Old Lucy, the famed (and very fake) monster of Lake Lokakoma, alive for generations, all to keep the tourists coming. Without Lemon, the town dies, and she can’t disappoint her grandparents . . . or tell her best friends about any of it. That includes Troy Ramirez, who has been covertly in love with Lemon for years, afraid to ruin their friendship by confessing his feelings. When a very real, and very hungry monster is discovered in the lake, secrets must fall by the wayside. Determined to stop the monster, Lemon and her best friends are the only thing standing between Devil’s Elbow and the monster out for blood.

My opinion: It's a classic monster movie set-up: something hungry is in the lake. This book adds a decent wrinkle, with the Ziegler family feeling the pressure to protect the legend of the lake monster for the sake of the town economy. A real monster presents a complication that forces Lemon to address her feelings for her friends and her future. It's a very real catalyst that helps to move the plot along. The monster plot itself heads in some rather strange directions, stretching my willing suspension of disbelief to its furthest limits. While Lemon's other issues add some interest, they don't get quite enough space to develop. The result is a slightly too violent, not exactly thrilling, read.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

The Meadows by Stephanie Oakes - A girl gets the opportunity she's always dreamed of - entrance to one of the country's elite boarding schools. As time passes, though, she realizes that there is more going on at the school than was advertized.

What did you recently finish reading?

A Misfortune of Lake Monsters by Nicole Wolverton - Devil's Elbow is known for it's legend of a Lake Monster, a monster that Lemon's family has been faking for generations. But now that Lemon has taken over acting as the monster, she discovers there is something else in the lake. And it's hungry.

What do you think you'll read next?

The Haunted States of America

Graphic novel spotlight - Willa and Wade and the Way Up There

 

Willa and Wade and the Way Up There by Judith Henderson and Sara Sarhangpour

Willa and Wade is a simple, accessible graphic novel for young readers. The illustrations are uncluttered, making visual interpretation easier. The vocabulary is accessible, with any more complicated words explained by the characters. The plot is straight-forward, as Willa and Wade make different attempts to fly. Readers will enjoy their descriptions of sensations that approach flight, though the pair is forever seeking the full experience.

 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

The Reindeer Remainders by Katey Howes

 There has been an increase in books about math for kids in recent years, all attempting to make math fun and help kids engage with the topic. This book does a solid job of integrating simple division into a narrative as the reindeer attempt to divide their numbers into equal groups. It introduces the ideas of remainders in division and prime numbers while encouraging empathy and inclusivity. With charming illustrations and an easy to follow plot, this is a solid object lesson in division.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Investi-Gators Collection by John Patrick Green

The idea of an audiobook for a graphic novel has always felt a bit counter-intuitive to me. If your story is told visually, if those visuals are essential to fully convey what is happening, then how can it work to tell it aurally? I've listened to a few now and have learned the keys. First is full cast. Each character needs a distinct voice so we can track what's happening. Second is sound effects. Action can be conveyed with sound. A car starting. The "whoosh" of a parachute or "splat" of a cake. And sometimes the dialogue is tweaked or narration is added to make action and other essential elements clear. This audio makes great use of it's narrator, telling us often what Mango and Brash are doing with humor and tongue firmly planted in cheek. It helps that in the original graphic novels are often break the fourth wall or reference the fact that they are comics. The audio follows these same patterns, with characters talking about the fact that this is an audiobook and colors not especially mattering. It's quite silly and playful. And utterly enjoyable. 

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Frankie D, Vegan Vampire

 

Title: Frankie D, Vegan Vampire

Authors: Sally and Brian Dutra

Genre: humor

Similar books: Maggie Sparks and the Alien Invasion by Esther Hernando

                     The Secret of Shadow Lake by Joe McGee

Rating:

 

cute and clever

Summary (provided by publisher): A new early chapter book series starring a lovable vampire who's just trying to fit in. Frankie D and his family have just moved from Transylvania, looking for a fresh start. Where Frankie is from, the school day began at midnight and ended at dawn. Now in America, Frankie and his family must adjust their sleep schedule, train to be out in the sun, and strictly adhere to a vegan, zero-blood diet. Not only that, Frankie has to navigate school as the “new kid” and keep his vampire identity secret from other humans. A tall order for a deathly pale, fanged fourth-grader with a three-legged wolf as a pet!

My opinion: How do you make vampires appropriate for young readers not looking for a scare? You make them vegans. The result is less of a monster story and more of a tale about learning to fit in when you're in a new place. There are some added elements as Frankie and his family have supernatural abilities and need to keep their vampiric nature a secret, but over all it's a story of a kid trying to make friends and be "normal". Without much drama and danger, it's accessible for even young readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

The Best Worst Summer by Elizabeth Eulberg - After moving to a new town and finding herself at a loose end, a girl discovers a time capsule mystery in her back yard and sets out to discover what happened to the friends who buried it.

What did you recently finish reading?

Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis - Being reunited with a sister she doesn't remember threatens to destroy the carefully built walls that keep Mel together.

What do you think you'll read next?

49 Miles Alone by Natalie D Richards