Book review - One Jar of Magic

 

Title: One Jar of Magic

Author: Corey Ann Haydu 

Genre: Magical realism

Similar books: Savvy by Ingrid Law

                      All the Answers by Kate Messner

Rating: 

 

more emotionally complex than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Magic is like a dream. Delightful. Terrifying. Unreal.
Rose Alice Anders is Little Luck. Lucky to be born into the Anders family. Lucky to be just as special and magical as the most revered man in town—her father. The whole town has been waiting for Rose to turn twelve, when she can join them in their annual capturing of magic on New Year’s Day and become the person she was born to be.
But when that special day finally comes, Rose barely captures one tiny jar of magic. Now Rose’s dad won’t talk to her anymore and her friendships have gotten all twisted and wrong. So when Rose hears whispers that there are people who aren’t meant for magic at all, she begins to wonder if that’s who she belongs with.
Maybe if she’s away from all the magic, away from her dad telling her who she’s meant to be, who she has to be, Rose can begin to piece together what’s truly real in a world full of magic. 

My opinion: Going into this book, I was anticipating a story about having to readjust when life doesn't go according to plan, when your expectations are not met. And that is certainly a part of this book. But it quickly becomes apparent that it's even more about parental expectations. The thin veneer of appearance and expectation that holds up an abusive household. It's clear pretty early on that the dad is at least emotionally abusive. There are references to needing to keep the house calm and quiet, to do things exactly as he wants them. It's a disturbing family dynamic. As the book progresses we see how toxic the relationship actually is, both towards the family and in the community at large. Haydu is exploring these ideas of perfection and what we should really expect out of life. Being a story mainly of emotional growth and shift, there isn't a great deal of action. The final scene are almost anti-climactic, just a series of smaller changes as characters chose new paths.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: animals

I'm often intrigued by the approach an author takes to a plot. This is especially true when they make the main characters animals. You can do things with animal characters that would seem implausible with humans. Simply by virtue of being animals, they encourage us to expand our suspension of disbelief. Not to mention they're usually cute and fun. Here are six new books published in the past six months that feature animal characters.

6 new books with animal protagonists:

1. Revver the Speedway Squirrel by Sherri Rinker
2. Horace and Bunwinkle by P J Gardner
3. Arlo and Pips: King of the Birds by Elise Gravel
4. Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
5. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
6. The Animal Rescue Agency Case Files: Little Claws by Eliot Schrefer
   

Non-fiction book review - Bots and Bods

 

Bots and Bods by John Andrews

This is certainly a unique way to explore the inner workings of the human body. The main focus of the text is certainly more on human systems than on robots, though there are also sections that have no human analog. Mostly, robots are used as an object lesson to explain more complex systems. It's more than just bones, muscles, and nerves. It's how various system work together to create a functional whole. The terminology is accessible, eschewing strict biological terms except where necessary. Use this book in conjunction with lessons on the details of body systems to help children understand how their whole body works.

More information: Bots and Bods releases March 2.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World

 

Title: Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World

Author: Jacqueline Davies

Genre: beginner chapter book

Similar books: Fox & Rabbit by Beth Ferry

                     Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto

Rating: 

 

basically what you'd expect

Summary (provided by publisher): Sydney is a skunk and Taylor is a hedgehog, but no matter how odd the pairing may seem, their friendship comes naturally. They live happily in their cozy burrow . . . until the day Taylor gets his Big Idea to go see the Whole Wide World. From mountains taller than a hundred hedgehogs, valleys wider than a thousand skunks, to the dangers that lie in the human world, Sydney and Taylor wanted to see it all. With a map and a dream, they bravely set off, soon discovering that the world is much bigger than they realized . . . 

My opinion: As with most beginner chapter books, the plot of this one is quite simple and follows a pretty predictable arc. This allows the young reader to easily follow the plot and focus more attention on reading skills and building comprehension. While they have big dreams of adventure, their exploration is very limited and constantly beset by complications in the form of natural barriers. While Sydney and Taylor are animals with some human characteristics (they talk, walk on hind legs, carry a backpack, etc) they also retain their animal instincts and often behave in standard animal ways. It's possible to use this book to discuss fantasy and reality in books with a young reader.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Hatmakers

 

Title: The Hatmakers

Author: Tamzin Merchant

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell

                      The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers

Rating:

 

some unique elements

Summary (provided by publisher): When Cordelia Hatmaker’s beloved father fails to return from an ingredient-hunting expedition, Cordelia is the only member of the family who knows in her heart that he can’t be gone for good. Her grief-stricken aunt and uncle forge ahead to continue the work of their guild and to fulfill a crucial order from the King for a magical Peace Hat. But the enchantments woven into the carefully crafted goods of the Hatmaker, Bootmaker, Cloakmaker, Watchmaker, and Glovemaker guilds begin causing sudden inducements of rage and chaos. As war looms and the Peace objects backfire, Cordelia must find out who is using the Makers’ creations for dark purposes and uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance.

My opinion: I appreciate what Merchant has done here. We see so many books with magic that it can be difficult to find a unique take on the idea. By tying magic to clothing, to materials and the state of mind of the maker, we have both a clear set of rules and endless possibilities. We see actual results that differ from what was intended. I can get behind that structure. I'm less fond of the actual plot.The twists aren't always well tied together, so the plot can jump around a lot and feels a bit scattered. There are, perhaps, too many disparate elements. And the final resolution is heavily telegraphed in the first scenes, so there isn't much surprise there. With underdeveloped characters and a tone that creates a marked emotional distance from the reader, I found it less than compelling.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - White All Around

 

White All Around by Wilfrid Lupano

 I am a bit dismayed that this is the first I've heard of the Prudence Crandall School. It's the exact sort of story that fascinates me: a woman bucking societal norms for the greater good. Crandall was already pushing boundaries by having her girl's school curriculum emphasize science and math. She was encouraging her students to think and ask questions, to really explore the way that the world works. It was a logical step, then, to include Black students. Of course, that was completely revolutionary in the 1800s. Lupano shows us all of the challenges the school faced: low enrollment, public ridicule, lack of support, and outright threats. But we also see the students challenged by what they were learning in school and from public opinion. They are questioning religion, their role in society, what to protest and what to accept. They come from different backgrounds and it affects how they interact with one another. The school's eventual downfall is disappointing but unsurprising, given the political climate of the time. The cartoony illustrations keep the events from feeling too intense but remain highly expressive. It's absolutely compelling. Even cooler, the afterward includes brief biographies of Crandall and of each of the students. To have a paragraph about most of the students is a bit astonishing, given how little we know about most women from the era.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Bug Boys

Title: Bug Boys Outside and Beyond

Author: Laura Knetzger

Genre: fantasy graphic novel

Similar books: Last of the Sandwalkers by Jay Hosler

                     The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka
 Rating:

 

Fun

Summary: Little bugs, big feelings! Rhino-B and Stag-B are back for more in this all-new graphic novel perfect for readers of Investigators and Catstronauts.
These best friends are ready for new adventures!
Meeting a bat? They're on it! Getting lost in a labyrinth? Might be scary.
Each day is new and exciting for these two beetles, and together they'll face challenges and help their friends along the way.
Laura Knetzger returns with a story filled humor, hijinks, and a lot of adventure. Rhino-B and Stag-B lead the way on a life filled with mindfulness, fun, and an exploration of the natural world perfect for kids.

My opinion: This story is a little bit weird, but weird in a good way. It's not exactly like every other graphic novel you're going to find. The stories are more contemplative. Events that seem a bit random do eventually tie in to a loose larger plot. Most of the stories are Rhino-B and Stag-B exploring some small part of their world, meeting other bugs and learning how their world is structured. Those small adventures all come together when they go to the big city, learn about it's differences and opportunities. They are excited and overwhelmed. They end up choosing their home but don't dismiss city living as bad. This is a book that can be appreciated on multiple levels and has a quirky enough tone for outsiders to enjoy.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley