Book review - Scarlet Morning

 

Title: Scarlet Morning

Author: ND Stevenson

Genre: adventure

Age range: middle grade

Summary (provided by publisher): Viola and Wilmur have been waiting for their parents for fifteen boring years in the colorless town of Caveat. Their lives are a drudge of salt, trash, pirate stories, and what-ifs . . . until one very stormy night, when Captain Cadence Chase breaks down their door. They cut a deal with the captain: Chase can take their most prized possession, a mysterious book, but only if she takes them, too. After all, if their parents aren’t coming, Viola and Wilmur might as well have a grand adventure to find them.

Setting sail into the treacherous and beautiful world beyond Caveat, the two inseparable friends must uncover the facts behind legend—and the key to saving all of Dickerson’s Sea from obliteration—before the truth tears them apart.

What I liked: Stevenson's signature wry humor comes across nicely in this all text novel. We have a complex world with rules that we don't always understand but the intricacies are slowly laid out in a way that feels natural to the plot. The emotions are understated but realistic and the humor never gets in the way of the heart of the story.

What I didn't like: It's a bit slow to start. While the characters become more complex and complete as the book progresses, they are fairly basic in the early chapters. It feels like it takes a bit too long for the novel to find it's footing, like it doesn't initially take itself seriously enough.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Incredibly Penelope by Lauren Myracle

I somehow missed, in selecting this book, that it was a modern retelling of A Little Princess, a fact that will make the whole thing make a lot more sense while you're reading. In the modern landscape, the scenario is a pretty big stretch. While Myracle handles the material well it remains a rather unbelievable premise. And the resolution is a bit too neat and tidy. There is some solid reflection on the ways we treat people and how mistreatment can be a reflection of one's own biases and negative self-image. Characters are strong. If you like a bit of magical thinking and endless optimism, this is a solid read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - We're Not Safe Here

 

Title: We're Not Safe Here

Author: Rin Chupeco

Genre: horror

Age Range: teen

Similar book: What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

Summary (provided by publisher): Wispy Falls is safe. The town motto is even "You'll be safe here!" But you aren't safe in the woods that surround the town. In the woods there are monsters. People go missing in the woods. And sometimes the monsters don't stay in the woods…maybe you aren't that safe in Wispy Falls.
A seventeen-year-old vlogger known as Storymancer is determined to get to the bottom of what's wrong in his town. A few years ago, his little brother went missing in the woods and no one, not even his parents, seemed to care enough to try and find him.
But for the first time, an actual body has been found in the woods, and Storymancer is using the opportunity to uncover the rotten core at the heart of Wispy Falls. To investigate the monsters that lurk in the shadows, and the people in town who might just want the monsters there after all.

What I liked: Chupeco has found a careful balance between horror and humor, leaning into the absurdity of a horror scenario but allowing the creepy atmosphere to keep the reader on edge. The novel masters jump scares in a way reminiscent of a horror movie. The air of the book is akin to a Jordan Peele movie.

What I didn't like: While the mixed format approach allows this book to stand out from the crowd it doesn't allow for a deep connection with the characters. They never feel like real people so we care less about what happens to them. While the concept held a lot of promise it feels like it is never truly realized.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman - When a new party drug seems to be changing the people around her, a girl pairs up with a new kid at school to find out the truth about what is going on.

What did you recently finish reading?

Dracula's Brunch Club by Brian Gonsar - When a new vampire tries to destroy the peace he's made with the human population of Transylvania and, even worse, all of the jelly goes missing, Dracula must hunt high and low for a solution to all of his woes and hopefully make the best jelly donuts ever.

What do you think you'll read next?

Orphanland by Lauren Fischer

My bunny crew

 I have previously mentioned my rabbits here and there, usually in the context of the fur I have collected for making yarn. But since I added a fourth rabbit to my crew this summer I thought now would be a good time to introduce them.

First we have the angoras. Opsy and Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the Third Junior are three year old English/French angoras. While they are littermates they are distinctly different personalities. Opsy loves to be held and to explore. Princess is a bit more hesitant but loves a good piece of fruit and to play outside.

Princess

Opsy

Galactus the Devourer of Worlds is a one and a half year old French Lop. She has a lot of attitude but loves to have her head scratched and adores treats. At over ten pounds she does justice to her name.

The newest rabbit is Mister Lighter Than Air, another French Lop. At six months old he's about the size of the angoras and is likely to surpass them soon. He's excitable, interested in everything, and still snuggles occasionally with his lovey.

Fence pumpkin

 We always grow pumpkins in our garden and if you know much about pumpkins you know they have a tendency to spread. And to climb everything. That's how this happened:

When I spotted the pumpkin growing through the fence I figured it would rot. The wire would cut into the skin and that would be that. Or the deer would find it and eat it. No way it would ripen. Turns out, I was wrong. That thing turned a nice bright orange. Freeing it from the fence turned out to be a simple matter of cutting a single wire. 

That is a pumpkin begging to be carved. At first I thought the crease would be a good brow line but it really wanted to be a mouth. The more I thought about it the more it reminded me of this lesser known muppet:

And here's my version:

Book review - The Witching Wind

 

Title: The Witching Wind

Author: Natalie Lloyd

Genre: magical realism

Age Range: middle grade

Similar book: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Summary (provided by publisher):Eleven-year-old Roxie was excited to start sixth grade... until a mortifying incident at a pool party turns her into a middle school laughingstock. Roxie can't imagine enduring a full year of bullying and body shaming, so when her country music star Granny invites Roxie to join her on tour, she jumps at the chance to leave her troubles behind. But then Granny--who's been struggling with memory loss--goes missing, leaving Roxie without an escape plan... and without her best friend.

Grayson doesn't mind being sent to yet another foster home. Her older sister, Beanie, is about to turn eighteen, which means she'll be able to become Grayson's guardian. It won't be long until they live in the same house again. It won't be long until they get to be a real family. But when Beanie's birthday finally arrives, she doesn't show up to collect Grayson. She doesn't respond to calls or texts. It's almost like she's just... vanished.

Roxie knows Granny would never leave without saying goodbye. And Grayson is certain Beanie would never abandon her. So when the new friends learn about the Witching Wind that "steals" what people love most, Roxie and Grayson are certain they've discovered the truth. Granny and Beanie didn't just disappear--they were taken. And it's up to Roxie and Grayson to outwit the Witching Wind before it's too late.

What I liked: The characters here are strong. Roxie is a fairly standard middle grade girl: once cheerful and believing in possibilities but now hurt and bewildered by the changes in her peers. Grayson is delightfully aggressive and grumpy. She's no Pollyanna, not a disabled kid who is simply too good. These are kids full of flaws and struggles that they are trying to muddle through on their own. 

What I didn't like: At first I wasn't fond of the magical elements in the book. The titular wind felt a step too far. If it had been the sole focus of the book it may not have held much appeal. Since Lloyd instead makes the characters and their relationships the center and the wind only a tool for exploring larger themes I became more comfortable with those elements. It may still be a stretch for some but it's worth the effort.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley