Book review - The Lost Prince

Title: Seaborne #1: The Lost Prince
Author: Matt Myklusch
Genre: adventure, mild fantasy
Similar books: Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
                     The School for S.P.I.E.S by Bruce Hale
Rating:

clever, better than I expected

Summary: For as long as he can remember, Dean has been a spy for the pirate king One-Eyed Jack. An assignment to spy on captain Gentleman Jim gets complicated when they cross paths with men who claim to be Seekers from the hidden country of Zenhala. These men think Dean is their lost prince. He goes along with them to gather treasure for One-Eyed Jack, but as the trials go on Dean begins to question his mission.

My Opinion: This is one of those books that I could easily imagine as a movie. Loads of action, death defying stunts, treachery, plots, and other assorted adventurous doings. It began to lose me a little when they arrived at the island. There was a little too much description without enough payoff. And things seemed a little too exotic for no particular reason. If you can set aside disbelief, both in setting and some slightly logic defying plot points, this is a fun read. Additionally, the ending is far more successful than I expected, taking a somewhat surprising turn. Great for fans of secrets and pirates.

More Information: The Lost Prince releases April 14th.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Slightly nerdy pendants

Perhaps five years ago I was a big fan of the cartoon Avatar: the Last Airbender. It had an epic storyline, a complex mythology, and serious messages all combined with a delightful sense of play. It's one of those shows that you watch all the way through and then immediately want to start all over again. For some time now I've had this idea to make some pendants inspired by the emblems of the four nations on the show. This is what I came up with. They're somewhere between a quarter and a half-dollar in size, all made from polymer clay.

Zippety Day!

Today was Zippety Day at my library, a day to celebrate our mascot. And what better way to celebrate than with a party? With games, crafts, a specially written story, and a craft, Zippety Day is one of our favorite events to plan.

One of four posters featuring zippety

Playing Feed Zippety a Cookie

fishing - photo by Nicholas Navarre

Playing Musical Statues - photo by Nicholas Navarre

Wearing our Zippety hats with Zippety!

 

Book review - Black Dove, White Raven

Title: Black Dove, White Raven
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
                     Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
 Rating:

Pretty epic

Summary: Rhoda, Emilia, and Teo moved to Ethiopia from the United States in the 1930s. They wanted to escape the racial tensions and judgement that came along with a white woman raising a black child. They fell in love with their new country. When war with Italy threatens, they find themselves caught up in a new conflict. Will their new country save them or tear them apart?

My Opinion: Dual perspective, journal style writing can be hard to pull off but Wein is more than up to the task. The sheer scope of this novel may be off-putting for some but it is well worth the effort. This novel is a great source of cultural and historical education. It gives the reader a great deal to think about and discuss. The issues at play here (slavery, racial equality, colonialism, etc) are complex and have no simple resolution. It portrays each character's perspective not as "right" but as emphatic. And I like that the ending isn't a simply happy-ever-after but a sense of growth and ongoing change.
More information: Black Dove, White Raven releases March 31.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on screen

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

If you've read this book (and if you haven't you really ought to) you know that the first 3/4 of this book center around family humor. Its only in the final chapters, once they arrive in Alabama, that the serious political issues come into play. The movie version eliminates most of those early scenes and incorporates far more scenes of racial tension. It adds a scene where Byron and Kenny try to eat at a southern lunch counter and adds in cousins who talk about marching in a protest. While these things are important historically they entirely change the tone of the story. The original story shows us kids who have their eyes opened to injustice by as moment of intense violence. The movie makes it more of a process. More about a political situation and less about the individual. So, while both have merit, I personally prefer the novel. And if you enjoy audio books, this one is read by Levar Burton.

WWW Wednesdays

What are you currently reading?
The Lost Prince by Matt Myklusch
For as long as he can remember, Dean has been a spy for the pirate king One-Eyed Jack. An assignment to spy on captain Gentleman Jim gets complicated when they cross paths with men who claim to be Seekers from the hidden country of Zenhala. These men think Dean is their lost prince. He goes along with them to gather treasure for One-Eyed Jack, but as the trials go on Dean begins to question his mission.
This book combines the thrill of pirates with the intrigue of missing royalty. The characters have great depth. I love what I've read so far and don't anticipate that opinion changing as I read on.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Anywhere But Paradise by Anne Bustard
The year is 1960 and Peggy Sue's family has just moved to Hawaii. Peggy Sue never wanted to leave Texas in the first place and having to quarantine her beloved cat, being one of only a few white students in her entire school, and not understanding local customs convinces her that Hawaii is just about the opposite of where she wants to be. Will Peggy Sue's opinion change or will living in Hawaii turn out to be the worst possible choice her parents have ever made?
This short read has a great sense of place and character. It's historical fiction but has more universal lessons. It could be a great read for upper elementary school kids. Besides, who doesn't like reading about Hawaii?
 
What do you think you will read next?
Ask the Dark by Henry Turner
A story about the local problem kid going up against a killer.  

Book review - Frank Einstein and the Elctro-Finger

Title: Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger
Author: Jon Scieszka
Genre: sci-fi/humor
Similar books: Dino-Mike and the T. Rex Attack by Franco Aureliani
                     The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole
Rating:

very educational

Summary: Frank Einstein and his best friend Watson are working on an invention to provide free energy to everyone in Midville. Their rival, Edison, will do anything to stop them so everyone will have to get their energy from his power company at whatever prices he pleases. In the process Frank, Watson, and the reader learn about forms of energy.

My Opinion: This series has loads of great science information presented in a kid-friendly manner. This book alone teaches about the laws of motion, simple machines, types of energy, magnetism, and even how a solar cell works (something I confess I did not know). Add in a relatively entertaining plot with a really fun cast of characters and this becomes an easy recommendation for young readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.