Book review - Just Like That

 

Title: Just Like That

Author: Gary D. Schmidt

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: Red Menace by Lois Ruby

                      Like Nothing Amazing Every Happens by Emily Blejwas

Rating:

 

how I loved it

 

Summary (provided by publisher): In this poignant, perceptive, witty novel, Gary D. Schmidt brings authenticity and emotion to multiple plot strands, weaving in themes of grief, loss, redemption, achievement, and love. Following the death of her closest friend in summer 1968, Meryl Lee Kowalski goes off to St. Elene's Preparatory Academy for Girls, where she struggles to navigate the venerable boarding school's traditions and a social structure heavily weighted toward students from wealthy backgrounds. In a parallel story, Matt Coffin has wound up on the Maine coast near St. Elene's with a pillowcase full of money lifted from the leader of a criminal gang, fearing the gang's relentless, destructive pursuit. Both young people gradually dispel their loneliness, finding a way to be hopeful and also finding each other.

My opinion: Two pages. That's how far I made it into this book before I wanted to cry. Schmidt has this ability to break my heart in the best possible way. This is the third book in a loosely linked trio (absolutely no need to read the other two in order to understand this one). The first, The Wednesday Wars, introduced us to a cast of characters with the central focus on Holling Hoodhood. Okay For Now follows Holling's friend Doug after he moves away. And this volume digs deep into Meryl, Holling's almost girlfriend after her parents send her to boarding school. The inciting incident for Meryl's move happens before the book's opening, "off screen", and finds her overwhelmed with grief, living in a fog. That fog follows her through much of the plot, so the early chapters have a sort of emotional disconnect. As Meryl begins to re-engage with the world, so too do we build more connection with characters and events. We of course meet a variety of new characters, some of whom are lovable and others who are classic school villains: harsh teachers, snobby roommates, that sort of thing. But they don't stay flat villains. Through the course of the novel we see some of the things that influence their behaviors. Meryl sees the complexity in the people around her and begins to see a way forward through her grief. All of this with the tumultuous background of a small conservative village in the 60s, addressing Vietnam and classism in equal measure. The focus of the plot isn't on "fixing" things. Grief and big societal issues are not easily fixed. They simply take steps forward, which has to be enough. This is the most action oriented of Schmidt's plots, with gangsters and literal rooftop fights. This makes it a bit sensational, but not too over the top.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks

There's been a trend recently of including STEM elements in teen romances. Most of these books, though, count having a girl who's "into math" or something as STEM. Science and math seldom play a role in the actual plot. The title of this one intrigues me, though, so I'll be interested to see how it measures up.

Non-fiction book review - Whose Right Is It?

 

Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns by Hana Bajramovic

I think we all know that interpretation of the second amendment is a pretty hot button issue right now. With that being the case, it's important for the individual to understand not only what the amendment says but also how it has been interpreted throughout history. This book does a great job of explaining that context. It takes us through the history of firearms in general and pre-American rules governing guns. All of this context informs how firearms were managed in the early days of our country. Each chapter takes us through a phase of history, at times focusing on a particular theme - race, economy, westward expansion. That specialized focus means we get a little bit of repetition but usually this includes new context so it's understandable. We learn how public perception of guns and gun control have changed over time and due to different influences. The content is clear enough to be understood by young teens but not so simplistic as to be condescending. The text on a whole has a bit of a pro gun control vibe but the arguments are clear and logic based. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Animal Rescue Agency: Case File Little Claws

 

Title: Case File Little Claws

Author: Eliot Schrefer

Genre: adventure

Similar books: Astro Nuts by Jon Scieszka

                      Mr. Penguin series by Alex T Smith 

Rating:

 

a solid investigation with a social message

Summary (provided by publisher): When an animal is in trouble, there’s only one place to turn: the Animal Rescue Agency!
Dashing Esquire Fox used to organize the world’s most elaborate chicken raids until the day she encountered Mr. Pepper. Meeting the blustery old rooster changed her heart, convincing her to turn from a life of crime and instead form the Animal Rescue Agency, which masterminds rescue operations across the globe.
Esquire and her unlikely chicken business manager coordinate their far-flung agents to get them to the Arctic. In that frozen land they learn that what happened to the polar bear cub was no accident—and that saving him will pit them against the scariest predator in the world: a human.

My opinion: This is an excellent concept for a series. We have all the benefits of both real world and invented world settings, with a hidden society of animals going on below human notice. The animals are largely true to their nature, with just a few more human attributes and habits. Much like in The Rescuers there's a large element of investigation, finding the distressed creature and figuring out a way to help. This takes logic and creativity. There's also a strong ecological and social justice message, fitting for a modern audience. With colorful characters and some quirky humor, there's a lot to like. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Ring update

 One of my favorite holiday traditions is Christmas crackers. Now, I tend to be thrifty so the crackers I buy aren't very fancy. The prizes inside are usually cheap junk like fortune telling fish or page flags. Or this little ring.

I don't really like pink, so I wasn't thrilled. But I kind of liked that it's hexagonal so I figured I'd make it work. I painted the inside of the ring with green nail polish. Then I coated the outside with clear polish that I dipped in black glitter while it was still tacky. Then I coated it in a final clear coat to keep the glitter from spreading everywhere.

 

Book review - Chlorine Sky

 

Title: Chlorine Sky

Author: Mahogany L. Browne

Genre: verse novel

Similar books: Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan

                      A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes

Rating:

 

an excellent example of the genre

Summary (provided by publisher): She looks me hard in my eyes
& my knees lock into tree trunks
My eyes don't dance like my heartbeat racing
They stare straight back hot daggers.
I remember things will never be the same.
I remember things.
With gritty and heartbreaking honesty, Mahogany L. Browne delivers a novel-in-verse about broken promises, fast rumors, and when growing up means growing apart from your best friend.

My opinion: A good verse novel is compelling, even if you don't understand the meaning of every single line. Poetry is like that, speaking truth through it's general sense and rhythm as much as through the actual words. There were lines that I didn't really get, especially when they used modern slang. It served to build the character even if it didn't add a lot of new information. Browne really captures the confusion and conflict of being a teenage girl, of realizing that you are changing in different ways than your best friend and may not have much in common any more. The twin desires for all forms of attention and wanting to be left alone. Especially the line between relishing in a boy's attention and when that attention becomes toxic. This narrative is especially interesting since we see the growing distance between friends and how a confrontation with a boy can either drive them permanently apart or draw them back together.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Viral BS

 

Viral BS by Dr. Seema Yasmin

To be completely accurate, this book explores more than just medical myths. Some entries are flawed medical studies. Others are misrepresented by the media, leading to the public misunderstanding an inconclusive result. That's probably the largest section: studies that researchers say warrant further study that are presented to the public as conclusive. Then there are the cases of irresponsible science that lead to cruel human experimentation and the bias that leads to people not getting the care or the information that they need. Many readers will find the facts presented in this book infuriating. It's a sign that, as far as medicine has come we still have a long way to go. That awareness alone makes this book well worth reading.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.