Book review - Treasure in the Lake

 

Title: Treasure in the Lake

Author: Jason Pamment

Genre: fantasy graphic novel

Similar books: Mel the Chosen by Rachele Aragano

                      Believe Your Eyes by Cori Doerrfeld

Rating:

 

a cool idea

Summary (provided by publisher): Grand adventures stories often begin where you least expect them…
Iris knows this because she’s read them all. However, as a thirteen-year-old stuck in the tiny town of Bugden, real adventure seems like a distant dream. But when Iris and her best friend, Sam, stumble upon an unusually dry river on the outskirts of town, they’re led to a discovery beyond anything Iris has ever read about: a hidden city and a forgotten tale of friendship.
In Jason Pamment's middle grade graphic novel debut, perfect for fans of Hilda and This Was Our Pact, can Iris and Sam uncover the truth in time to keep their own friendship afloat, or will history repeat itself and pull them apart forever?

My opinion: What could be more interesting than discovering that there is a whole town hidden in the bed of a nearby river? This idea makes for pretty compelling reading. Pamment makes the most of this idea visually, playing with structure and time both. We see the town in it's prime and after the river has taken it's toll. The reality of what is happening can be a little hard to grasp but the illustrations are strong enough to carry us through confusing events. A bit of a challenging read but worth the effort.

More information: Treasure in the Lake releases September 7

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Book review - Say it Out Loud

 

Title: Say It Out Loud

Author: Allison Varnes

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman

                      Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller

Rating:

 

a solid school-centric read

Summary (provided by publisher): Charlotte Andrews is perfectly fine being quiet--in fact, she prefers it. When she doesn't speak, people can't make fun of her stutter. But when she witnesses bullying on the school bus and doesn't say anything, her silence comes between her and her best friend.
As if that wasn't bad enough, her parents signed her up for musical theater. Charlotte doesn't want to speak onstage, but at least she doesn't stutter when she sings. Then, just as she starts to find her voice, the arts program is cut. Charlotte can't stay silent anymore.
So she begins to write. Anonymous encouraging notes to her classmates. Letters to the school board to save the school musical. And an essay about the end of her best friendship--and her hope that she can still save it.
Words could save Charlotte Andrews and everything she believes in . . . if she just believes in herself enough to speak up.

My opinion: This is a largely character-driven book, a feature less common in work for a middle grade audience. Plenty of things happen in the story but Charlotte's desire to avoid attention is always at the center of things. It informs every action and interaction. It is both the source of conflict and her resolution. And Charlotte is a genuinely likeable character. She may be a bit frustrating at times in her reluctance to act, but she's also very observant and sees the goodness in her peers even when they appear cruel or otherwise unlikable. And through this plot Varnes shows the reader not only the power of simple acts of kindness to affect change but also how easy it is to be a part of the problem. How easy it is to be unkind or allow others to be cruel. A solid read.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

The Clever Tailor by Srivhya Venkat

The story here is a simple one: the tailor makes a garment that he loves and wears until it is no longer presentable, at which point he remakes it into something for a family member. The cycle continues until it is completely worn out. It's a story of using our resources to their fullest. A solid message, especially in a throw-away culture. But what really makes this book shine is the illustrations. On each page the vibrant, patterned fabric flows across and illustrates the way it is used. It has an almost magical quality. Delightful

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Non-fiction book review - Amazing Athletes

 

Amazing Athletes by Marie-Claude Oullet

This book may initially be a hard sell for young readers in the US. Canadian paralympians are, on the surface, a pretty niche topic. But when you get into the details this is a fascinating read. The focus is nearly as much on the sports as it is about the athletes. And Ouellet keeps the focus on athletics, not on handicaps. I personally loved learning about the differences in paralympic sports and how some of the modified rules make these sports more challenging. A cool addition to a sports collection.

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Book review - Beyond the Mapped Stars

 

Title: Beyond the Mapped Stars

Author: Rosalyn Eves

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz

                     Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

Rating:

 

compelling and nuanced

Summary (provided by publisher): Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Bertelsen dreams of becoming an astronomer, but she knows such dreams are as unreachable as the stars she so deeply adores. As a Mormon girl, her duty is to her family and, in a not too far away future, to the man who'll choose to marry her.
When she unexpectedly finds herself in Colorado, she's tempted by the total eclipse of the sun that's about to happen--and maybe even meeting up with the female scientists she's long admired. Elizabeth must learn to navigate this new world of possibility: with her familial duties and faith tugging at her heartstrings, a new romance on the horizon, and the study of the night sky calling to her, she can't possibly have it all...can she?

My opinion: Historical novels about teen girls are nearly always going to be focused on the war between duty and dreams. We tend to see girls who dream of a high achieving life while their parents expect them to be practical - either through marriage or a job. The conclusion of such stories is that following your dreams is worth it, even if it means leaving your family and home behind. I admire this book because it acknowledges that such a choice is not so simple. It's not just that Elizabeth has dreams; she genuinely wants to be a "good" daughter and a good Mormon. She wants to submit to the plan she feels God has for her. She has to learn to find balance, to dream but also stay practical. Her journey emphasizes that prioritizing her desires over everything else causes trouble. This doesn't mean that her desires are wrong, only that she must consider consequences before she makes decisions. While some of the problems and resolutions are idealized, the overall journey is engaging.

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Sun dress update

I liked the simple shape of this dress, though I found it a bit plain and lacking in pockets.

I used some cookie cutters as stamps with fabric paint to add some visual interest. The skirt was a little longer than suits my shape so I cut several inches off the bottom. With the trimmed fabric I cut some squares for pockets which I also decorated with paint.

Book review - Velda the Awesomest Viking

 

Title: Velda the Awesomest Viking and the Voyage of Deadly Doom

Author: David MacPhail

Genre: humor

Similar books: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

                     The Jolley-Rogers series by Jonny Duddle

Rating:

 

good fun

Summary (provided by publisher): Oi, you snivelling pig-dogs! Are you ready for a Viking adventure?
Velda is a small girl with a big axe. The only problem is, everyone thinks she can't be a proper Viking because she's "just a little girl". PURLEASE! She sets sail with Freya, captain of the dragonship Valkyrie, and her notoriously ferocious crew for a life of awesome adventure (and very loud belching).
But when the Valkyrie and her crew are captured by the Queen of the Saxons, Velda is the only one who can free her friends. The small and mighty Viking must travel to the mysterious Islands of Deadly Doom, but there's just one problem, er, well more than one, actually -- she doesn't have a ship, a crew, or a clue how to get there...
Join Velda on her quest as she makes some unlikely new friends and takes on terrifying tasks, all while proving she's the awesomest Viking around.

My opinion: Given the set-up, most readers can probably predict where this book is headed. That's okay. A standard plot gives MacPhail room to include a lot of silly details that will appeal to the average kid's sense of humor. There is some gross humor but nothing over the top. It's also worth noting that the strongest, bravest, most valuable members of the crew are female. It's nice to see female characters who are bold and aggressive and ultimately positive.

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