Picture books for everyone

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

This is a great book for encouraging individuality. Mr. Plumbean (is that a great name or what) lives on a street where ever house is the same. When a passing seagull spills orange paint (which no one knows why it is carrying) on his house, Plumbean repaints it with wild colors and pictures. The neighbors pressure him to conform leading the the book's refrain: "My house is me and I am it. My house is here I like to be and it looks like all my dreams." In addition to the awesome lesson, the text is peppered with such amazing phrasing as the above quote. It has a simple elegance that really speaks to me. The illustrations are rough and quirky. I've found that some kids don't relate to Pinkwater's illustration style. Luckily, this book is easily adapted to a felt board. I've presented it thus several times and it generally will received.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Joe All Alone by Joanna Nadin
When Joe's mom and her boyfriend Dean fly off on an unexpected vacation, Joe is left behind. A week to himself, even though he's forbidden to tell anyone about it, promises to be an adventure and a welcome break from the gruff Dean. As the week passes, though, things start to spiral out of control.

The concept of this book sounds like every young teen's dream: a total lack of supervision. Joe's voice is strong and his story is pretty compelling so far.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Bomb by Sarah Mussi
Genesis just wants to get over her boyfriend, Naz. So she agrees to a blind date. That moment changes everything. When she wakes up, she's in a dark room and a strange vest is strapped to her body. A voice speaks to her through a device glued into her ear, telling her that she's wearing a bomb and if she doesn't do exactly as she is told it will detonate. Gen has just become and unwilling pawn of the Brightness.

Bomb is a fast paced thriller that takes on love, loyalty, terrorism, and governmental policy. It's a book that will keep you reading every spare minute.
 
What do you think you will read next?
What Remains by Helene Dunbar
A story of massive life changes and overwhelming grief.

Book review - Undertow

Title: Undertow
Author: Michael Buckley
Genre: dystopia
Similar Books: Alienated by Melissa Landers
                     The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
Rating:

pretty cool, if a little predictable

Summary: Lyric Walker's life used to be predictable. Until the day that the Alpha arrived on Coney Island and the whole world changed. 30,000 ocean dwelling warriors now occupy the beach and a small group of Alpha teens are about to start attending Lyric's school and it's turning Coney Island into a powder keg. When Lyric is manipulated into helping the Alpha prince, Fathom, assimilate it might be the spark that sets things off. Some people want the Alpha gone - no matter the cost.

My opinion: I love books that bring important ideas to the forefront of our minds. This one suggests that our notion of American society being very accepting is flawed, that faced with a large group of physically superior beings we would react with fear and violence rather than open arms. While the plot follows a rather predictable path, the pacing is spot on. Plus, the setting and people are fantastically described. ItThe characters have depth and development. There is plenty of action and a solid romantic element for those so inclined. This is the first in a series, a fact that becomes abundantly clear when you reach the end, so bear that in mind when you consider reading this one if waiting for a second volume will be problematic for you (as it sometimes is for me). 


More information: Undertow releases May 5th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

More Star Wars penguins

Back in October, I shared some finger puppet designs with you. Included was this guy:

Pretty funny as a penguin I am, hmm.

Yoda penguin was designed by, and then made for, my nephew. We decided that Yoda needed a crew. Which lead to these 4 puppets.

Up next: Chewbacca. Not sure how that's going to work but it must happen.

Book review - Material Girls

Title: Material Girls
Author: Elaine Dimopoulos
Genre: dystopian fiction
Similar books: Feed by M T Anderson
                     So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Rating:

pretty attention-grabbing

Summary: In Marla and Ivy's world teens are at the top of the heap. At age 12 a handful of kids get "tapped", selected for careers in the creative industries. Tapped teens design video games, become musicians, and decide what clothes will be produced. When Marla loses her position in a fashion label's court, relegated to drafting in the basement, and a new pop star threatens to take Ivy's place, both girls begin to question the system that they've always believed in whole-heartedly. A new "eco-chic" trend binds the girls together and might just have the power to tear their world apart.

My opinion: This turned out to be an excellent, thought provoking read. The base plot is not particularly ground breaking; for the first 3/4 it follows the same direction as most dystopian fiction, that of discovering and defying a system that one once believed in. The ending, though, makes it stand out from the crowd. Not only does Dimopoulos point out the flaws in the fashion industry and our image obsessed culture she also does not pave and easy road for her revolutionaries. While the fashion angle won't appeal to many readers, it's worth a read for those with an eye towards social justice and mindful consumption.

More information: Material Girls releases May 5th.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on screen

How I Live Now

When I started watching movie adaptations with an eye for differences I began to notice certain key signs that an adaptation would be disappointing. Things like drastic changes in character dynamics, which was the first thing I noticed about this movie. The book How I Live Now introduces us to Daisy, a displaced fifteen year old with an eating disorder and her cousins: typical 17 year old Osbert, 15 year old twins Edmund and Isaac (who seldom speaks but has a way with animals), and the pixie-like 8 year old Piper. The farm is an idyllic place and Daisy quickly becomes part of their lives. The movie removes Osbert entirely, makes Isaac younger, and introduces a neighbor named Joe who spends time with the children. Edmund takes on most of Isaac's personality traits, leaving the two younger kids much more average. They are annoying and insensitive. In the long run these changes might not typically matter but in this case they change the entire tone of the movie. The book takes this almost magical place with these mystical children and tears it apart with war. In spit of the changes, they go on living and find a new normal, hence the title. The movie is far darker, focusing instead on dangers and how their lives fall apart. Even that idyllic beginning is harshened with the farm a dump, Daisy angry and combative, and the neighbor boy abused. 
Taken on it's own, this isn't a bad movie. But for the viewer who is at all familiar with the book this adaptation with be disappointing more than anything else.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Some Kind of Normal by Juliana Stone
Before the accident, Trevor knew what to expect from life. Football, parties, and music. One bad choice takes it all away from him and leaves him with a traumatic brain injury and scrambling to find a new "normal." When good girl Everly is assigned as his tutor, he thinks she's a stuck-up miss perfect. He can't know that Everly is struggling with a secret that has destroyed her own sense of normal.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Undertow by Michael Buckley
Lyric Walker's life used to be predictable. Until the day that the Alpha arrived on Coney Island and the whole world changed. 30,000 ocean dwelling warriors now occupy the beach and a small group of Alpha teens are about to start attending Lyric's school and it's turning Coney Island into a powder keg. When Lyric is manipulated into helping the Alpha prince, Fathom, assimilate it might be the spark that sets things off. Some people want the Alpha gone - no matter the cost.

Undertow is similar to a lot of alien stories that you read. You have this entirely foreign culture suddenly thrust upon human society. Unsure of the intent of these strangers, novelty soon turns to fear and aggression. It points out the human tendency  towards discrimination, but follows a relatively predictable plot. Interesting but not what I'd consider a high priority read. 
What do you think you will read next?
The Worst Class Trip Every by Dave Barry
I loved Barry's Peter and the Starcatchers series and look forward to reading his take on a field trip misadventure.