Puppets!

Yesterday was our monthly puppet workshop. Being the day after Thanksgiving, it was a relatively small group but the kids had a great time and made some pretty cool puppets.

Robin Hood the Musketeer

a bacon chef, complete with bacon flipper and "kiss the cook" sign

a dancer

Abra, the wizard

a fancy girl with bells on her feet

Book review - Blood of My Blood

Caution: this review may contain spoilers for I Hunt Killers and Game 

Title: Blood of My Blood 
Author: Barry Lyga 
Genre: thriller
Similar books: Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
                     The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Rating:

Completely gripping

Summary: When we left them at the end of Game, Jasper, Howie, and Connie were in trouble. Jasper had been shot and locking in a storage unit. Howie had been attacked by Jasper's aunt Samantha and was potentially bleeding to death. And Connie found herself in the clutches of Billy Dent himself. They must escape their circumstances if they are to stop Billy's murderous reign. In the process they will come across someone even worse: the Crow King.
My opinion: Oh Barry Lyga, what are you doing to me? This book had me on edge the whole time I was reading it. It is the hallmark of a good thriller that even when you've figured out who the killer is there is still a heavy layer of tension. That was certainly this case with this book. Now, this was by far the most gruesome of the trilogy and takes Jazz right to the brink of darkness, tipping him nearly over the edge more than once. I like that it doesn't end perfectly, with Jazz still dealing with the sense of darkness inside of him. In all, it is a most satisfying ending to the journey we began in I Hunt Killers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope this Thanksgiving finds you warm, safe, and surrounded by those you love.

And that you don't have to wear a stupid turkey costume

 

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Rite of Rejection by Sarah Negovetich
All of her life, Rebecca has been working towards her Acceptance, the day that she becomes a full citizen and is eligible for marriage. She works hard in school and follows all the rules. So it comes as a surprise when the Machine rejects her as a future criminal and she is sent to the PIT. There is no future in the PIT, only lawlessness and decay. Rebecca's only chance is to throw in her lot with a group planning to escape.
I haven't read too far into this one yet but I've been enjoying what I read so far. A pretty interesting beginning. Hopefully it lives up to it's promise.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga
When we left them at the end of Game, Jasper, Howie, and Connie were in trouble. Jasper had been shot and locking in a storage unit. Howie had been attacked by Jasper's aunt Samantha and was potentially bleeding to death. And Connie found herself in the clutches of Billy Dent himself. They must escape their circumstances if they are to stop Billy's murderous reign. In the process they will come across someone even worse: the Crow King.
I was on edge the entire time I was reading this book. I wished I didn't have to go to work so I could spend my entire day finding out how Jasper could possibly get out of the trouble he had gotten himself into. If you like serial killer stories and aren't to squeamish, this is a fantastic read.
 
What do you think you will read next?
For Real by Alison Cherry
A story of two sisters bonding over their participation in a reality show. This isn't my usual choice in genre but I'm trying to expand my reading horizons.

Book review - Elora of Stone

Title: Elora of Stone
Author: Jaime Lee Mann
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Jinx by Sage Blackwood
                     Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
Rating:

a nice start to a series

Summary: There is a curse on twins in the Kingdom of Falmoor. Ever since the confrontation between the good witch Elora and evil sorcerer Larque, no set of twins has ever grown up intact. One twin always dies or disappears. At four years old, Arianna's twin brother Asher vanished. Now that she's nearly thirteen, Arianna learns that Asher is still alive and if she can rescue him she and Asher may be able to save Falmoor.
My opinion: I love the central plot in this book. It's a great world with some interesting characters and solid plot twists. I did feel like the time span was perhaps too long. Where Ariana and Asher are meant to be the main characters I'd have liked to have seen the book start with them rather than with their parent's childhood. Still, a solid start to a series and likely to go over well with young fans of fantasy.
More information: The ebook of Elora of Stone releases December 2.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Christmas ornaments

The large portion of what I sell at craft fairs is ornaments. This is just a dozen of the more than 100 ornaments I had in my inventory this year. They are all made with Sculpey brand polymer clay.

 

 

 

Star Wars crafts

This week's big program was Star Wars crafts. I set out a table full of craft supplies in hopes that the kids would just express their own creativity and create something. Of course, there are always a couple of kids who are either too scared or, in this case, too young for that to be a practical plan. So I also planned a handful of easy crafts.

Yoda ears headband...

and of course the Princess Leia version.

Balloon lightsabers

origami, patterns courtesy of the Origami Yoda book series

ATCs

Lightsaber zipper pulls and paper bookmarks (I have a slight Chewbacca obsession)

finger puppets

The lightsabers were a hit with the littles

Book review - Egg and Spoon

Title: Egg and Spoon
Author: Gregory Maguire
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Sekret by Lindsay Smith
                     Trollbridge by Jane Yolen
Rating:

It's just so very, very long

Summary: Elena's village is impoverished and dying. The men have all either left in search of work or been conscripted into the Tsar's army. A flood followed by drought means there is little food. The people believe they are doomed. Then a train comes through town. The train carries a noble family on their way to visit the Tsar in St. Petersburg. Elena is determined to follow the train the Tsar's palace so she can appeal to him for help. When Elena accidentally switches places with a member of the family, young Ekaterina, she is sent of on an adventure that will lead her to cross paths with a Prince in disguise, a phoenix, and Baba Yaga herself.
My opinion: Maguire's writing is masterful. The characters are complex. The kids make selfish, naive decisions. They are trapped in a problem that they don't fully understand with no good solution. Baba Yaga is fantastic. Quirky and hilarious, she's more than just a simple "bad guy." Sure she eats children, but she's a vital part of their world just like the other magical elements. And she is just so funny, particularly in her interactions with her cat. I just can't get over the length of this book, especially as it is a dense read. This isn't a book to pick up for some casual entertainment. The narrative style is kind of meandering with a rich sense of description. This is a style that may appeal to some adults but seldom reaches teens.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
 

Pick 6: Magic

Spells, faeries, witches, giants. Magical elements seem to resonate with young readers and there are some really excellent fantasy novels being written for them. Here are six books published in the past six months that feature magic.

6 new magical novels

1. Bad Magic by Pseudonomous Bosch

2. Jackaby by William Ritter

3. Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen

4. The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

5. Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn

6. The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

 

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Elora of Stone by Jaime Lee Mann
There is a curse on twins in the Kingdom of Falmoor. Ever since the confrontation between the good witch Elora and evil sorcerer Larque, no set of twins has ever grown up intact. One twin always dies or disappears. At four years old, Arianna's twin brother Asher vanished. Now that she's thirteen, Arianna learns that Asher is still alive and if she can rescue him she and Asher may be able to save Falmoor.
I'm not usually a huge fan of fantasy but this one is rather charming. It has its own unique rules of magic and some truly likeable characters.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire
Elena's village is impoverished and dying. The men have all either left in search of work or been conscripted into the Tsar's army. A flood followed by drought means there is little food. The people believe they are doomed. Then a train comes through town. The train carries a noble family on their way to visit the Tsar in St. Petersburg. Elena is determined to follow the train the Tsar's palace so she can appeal to him for help. When Elena accidentally switches places with a member of the family, young Ekaterina, she is sent of on an adventure that will lead her to cross paths with a Prince in disguise, a phoenix, and Baba Yaga herself.
I enjoy most any retelling of fairy and folk tales. Maguire has created a fantastic cast of characters in this book. Baba Yaga is fantastic in this tale and she has a great wisecracking cat. It really is an amazing read. Just long. It's an incredibly long, dense book. 
 
What do you think you will read next?
King Dork by Frank Portman
I like books about dorky kids and this one promises mysteries, music, and mistaken identity.

Book review - Fortunately, the Milk

Title: Fortunately, the Milk
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: fantasy/comedy
Similar books: Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve
                     Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner
Rating:

Silly, crazy fun

Summary: When their father returns home hours late with the milk he ran down the street to pick up, two children listen, disbelieving, as he spins the tale of his delay.
My opinion: Imagine that To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street had been an episode of Doctor Who. You would end up with this book. Futuristic, time traveling dinosaurs. Pirates. Aliens who want to replace all of the trees with lawn flamingos and the cloud with scented candles. Vampires (that call themselves wumpires). Intelligent ponies. This book has it all. It is an absurd romp and an absolute delight. You even get hints of the episode Gaiman wrote for Doctor who. Take this line for instance: "We have spoons. Spoons are excellent. Sort of like forks, only not as stabby." The whole book is full of that dry wit, making appealing to both kids and parents.

Peg dolls continued

As promised, here are the remainder of the peg dolls I painted for my craft fair. Many of these smaller ones have decorations glued to them for added interest.

 

 

 

 

Book review - The Book of Ivy

Title: The Book of Ivy
Author: Amy Engel
Genre: dystopia
Similar books: Matched by Ally Condie
                     I am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff
Rating:

There's just something about this book that I love

Summary: Ivy Westfall has spent the past two years in training. Training for the day when she must marry Bishop Lattimer, son of the president, grandson of the man who overthrew her family (once leaders of their settlement) and made them second-class citizens. Training to return her family to power. Training to kill Bishop. It doesn't take long for Ivy to realize, though, that Bishop is not the cruel tyrant she's always been led to believe. Can she carry through with the plan?
My opinion: This book has all of the standard dystopian elements: girl from a repressed group, arranged marriage, cruel punishment, city walls that claim to be keeping danger out but may be keeping the population in, an assassination plot. And some parts of the plot are kind of idealized, particularly Ivy's interactions with Bishop. (I find Bishop just a little too good to believe). And there's this notion of the power of love to break down barriers, change minds, all that jazz. these are things that tend to make me roll my eyes when I read them. Something about the way Engel put it all together, though, was just shy of perfection. What really sold me on this book was the ending. [ATTENTION: Here there be mild spoilers] What a cruel, dark, awesome ending. Nothing works out for Ivy. She's in a terrible situation with no way out. Clearly this is the lead-in for book 2, but it is also what keeps it from becoming too cliche. If you like dystopias, give this book a try.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

Emma Kate by Patricia Polacco

There is plenty to love about this book. Firstly, the art is pencil drawings. Each object is carefully rendered, adding detail and contouring while maintaining the loose, sketchy style. Each page has a detail or two in color, adding nuance and an almost magical quality to the relationship between girl and elephant. Secondly, it's a book with a great twist at the end, one that never fails to delight both kids and adults when I read this at storytime. Smaller kids need a little bit of coaching to discover the surprise but this does not take away from their enjoyment of it.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
When two kids discover that the milk is all gone, their father runs down the street to buy some. He returns several hours later with a wild story of why it took him so terribly long just to buy a little milk.
I've been wanting to read this new Neil Gaiman book for some time now. With time travel, dinosaurs, pirates, aliens, and more it reminds me of To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street crossed with Doctor Who. 

What did you recently finish reading?
Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Dover Graphic Novel Classics) Adapted by John Green
Holmes and Watson investigate a family curse in this graphic novel adaptation.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the most commonly retold Sherlock Holmes story. This version is fairly solid. The illustrations, while nothing spectacular, are solid and occasionally capture some excellent Holmes expressions. Not the best adaptation of Sherlock Holmes I've ever read but a good thrift edition of you're looking to save some money.

What do you think you will read next?
Niles Wormwart, Accidental Villain by D.M. Cunningham
Niles is determined to make waves at the science fair with his time travel wristwatch. No cliched experiments for this kid. Unfortunately, his experiment goes wrong and blows up the science wing of his school. In the wake of the destruction, Niles is sent of to Camp Mayhem. His father thinks it is a role-playing camp. In reality, it is a training camp for future villains.
This could be an interesting twist on the "kid finds out he is a superhero" plot. 

Peg dolls part 1

With not even a week until the craft fair, I'm frantically trying to finish up all of my projects. I've been painting a high quantity of peg dolls. Here are photos of a dozen of them. I'll share the rest with you next week. All the dolls were painted with acrylic paint and a clear coat of Mod-podge.

Book review - The Silence of Six

Title: The Silence of Six
Author: E.C. Myers
Genre: Thriller
Similar books: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
                     After by Francine Prose
Rating:

Very compelling

Summary: Max used to be best friends with Evan. Things changed after Evan was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Between the diagnosis and the effects of his new medications, Evan drew away from his friends. Max hadn't talked to him in quite some time when Evan hacked a live-streaming presidential debate, asking the very cryptic question "What is the silence of six and what are you going to do about it" before killing himself. Immediately after Evan's suicide, officials lock down all of the details of the debate and simply knowing Evan makes Max the target of a national investigation.
My Opinion: Internet safety/ privacy issues and hactivism make great plots for teen novels. This stuff is so important to think about as our lives become increasingly focused on the digital. While I got a little bogged down in tech speak a few times and occasionally flet like I was being scolded for my mild internet safety naivete, I was far more impressed by the issues of internet privacy, net neutrality, and ownership that came up than annoyed by those little reminders.
Apart from all of that, the writing is solid, the pacing excellent, the characterization believable. This is an action packed novel with an ending that is both satisfying and open for sequels. You won't look at your social media the same after you read The Silence of Six.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on screen

How to Train Your Dragon

This is one of those books where I actually saw the movie first. And I loved it. I love this movie. Recently I got my hands on a copy of the book. It was a lot of fun too. At first glance, though, they have nothing in common apart from a handful of names. The book is funny; the movie is far more serious. The dragons in the book talk; in the movie they don't. The vikings in the book must train a dragon when they are young; in the movie they kill them. Basically the entire plot is different. These differences can seem overwhelming but at heart the two stories actually achieve the same thing. We have this young hero who has a different way of seeing things, a different approach to life, that while challenged by hsi peers eventually proves useful. Both are excellent and well worth your time.

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
The Silence of Six by E.C. Myers
Max used to be best friends with Evan. Things changed after Evan was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Between the diagnosis and the effects of his new medications, Evan drew away from his friends. Max hadn't talked to him in quite some time when Evan hacked a live-streaming presidential debate, asking the very cryptic question "What is the silence of six and what are you going to do about it" before killing himself. Immediately after Evan's suicide, officials lock down all of the details of the debate and simply knowing Evan makes Max the target of a national investigation. 
I'm only a few chapters into this novel but it holds a lot of promise. I'm a fan of books that encourage the reader to consider political issues, the role of technology in our lives, and to question everything. 
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie
On their way to a concert Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and his brother Mike run out of gas. With temperatures plummeting and emergency sirens sounding, they take refuge is a small, seemingly abandoned town. But nothing is as it seems in Purity Springs. When the inhabitants appear in the morning, Dee and her friends realize that the leader, Elijah, poses far more danger than the storm.
 
What do you think you will read next?
Stone Cove Island by  Suzanne Myers
This one promises a decades old murder mystery in the aftermath of a hurricane. Could be pretty awesome.

Book review - Death Coming Up the Hill

Title: Death Coming Up the Hill
Author: Chris Crowe
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
                     Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
Rating:

Technically very impressive

Summary: It's 1968 and Ashe is 17 years old. The Vietnam war is an ever present concern. Ashe pays careful attention to the death toll posted daily in the newspaper. His mother pushes him to get into a good college in hopes that he can get an exemption from the draft. His history teacher tracks the death toll as well and teaches his students about the realities of war. As if political concerns weren't enough, Ashe's home life isn't great. His parents have never gotten along and only stay together for Ashe's sake. When his mother's secret is revealed, Ashe is forced to make some tough decisions for himself and his family.
My opinion: I find the technical aspects of this book incredibly impressive - a single syllable for each American soldier killed in Vietnam in 1968. Just the thought of all the revision necessary to make that happen blows my mind. Apart from sheer technical admiration, it really is a good story. Even though, as a verse novel, there are real limits as to how much information we can receive, Crowe does an excellent job of connecting the reader with the subject. The ending is open, which can be a little frustrating. Overall, it is a satisfying read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Sock monsters

My craft fair prep continues (though somewhat derailed by a twelve hour power outage yesterday). These little monsters are made out of a really fun package of socks. The first dolls with the wide mouths have large wiggle eyes. The ones with the puckered mouths have eyes made out of pompoms.