Ira the pikalope

I sat down to add wings to a plastic animal last week. That was the plan. The problem was, the wings didn't look quite right with any of my animals. What I found instead was the body of a plastic horse and a plastic cowboy, so I figured I'd make a centaur.

This, of course, left me with some cowboy legs. Rather than throw them out, I looked for another animal to cement to the top. Once I glued on a fish head, though, I quickly became enamored with the new being. I've since abandoned the centaur. Instead, I added some antlers, making a creature I've since dubbed the pikalope. I think he makes a good companion to the sharkticorn.

 

 

Book 12 complete - The Black Island

The Black Island by Herge

Tintin books are a great source of simple criminal machinations and adventure. This particular book adds a fair amount of slapstick comedy to the mix (including a two page spread involving the fire brigade and a missing key). While it's not my favorite Tintin book, it's a good one to end my 24 hours of reading.

Book 11 complete - A Brief History of Time

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Full disclosure: I understood very little of this book, but then I didn't really expect to understand it. Had I planned my readathon list in advance, this would not have been the audio book I'd have selected. I soldiered through for two reasons. 1) It was an ideal length. 2) It was already on my phone. All that to say, I'll probably revisit this book at least two more times in future. What I gleaned from it this time is that very little in physics can be cleanly and definitively stated and Dr. Hawking was not only brilliant but funny.

Book 10 complete - The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Pirate

The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World's Worst Pirate by Tim Collins

Given the title and the cover art, I was expecting a more humorous story. While I can appreciate using a story to teach, I didn't find the plot particularly enjoyable or believable.

Book 9 complete - Chasing Augustus

Chasing Augustus by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Just a few pages of this book and I realized the inherent risk of reading it at this point in a readathon. When is a dog book not an emotional read? I wasn't sure I would be emotionally stable enough to read a dog book while sleep-deprived. I was pleased to discover, then, that this is not a sob-fest. Really, it's more about accepting change and forming bonds with people than coping with loss.

Book 8 complete - Trolled

Trolled by Bruce Coville

My capacity for reading heavy, contemplative fiction is definitely waning, so this book came up in my list at the perfect time. It's light-hearted, easily followed, and quick paced. That last element is largely due to the mixed format, told in journal entries, short articles, letters, and text exchanges. While Trolled is technically third in a series, the story stands easily on its own.

Book 7 complete - The Lives of Desperate Girls

The Lives of Desperate Girls by MacKenzie Common

Common draws some intriguing parallel in this book between a girl rejected by her peers and one rejected by society on the whole, both based on circumstances beyond their control. This is an exploration that is likely to be uncomfortable for most, delving as it does into racism and rape culture and the damage they inflict on young lives. It would be fascinating to discuss this book with a book club, especially to list out all of the titular Desperate Girls.

Book 6 complete - The Stars Beneath Our Feet

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

Portrayals of grief tend to follow prescribed paths, usually centering on one of the famed stages of grief. Unsurprisingly, this book focuses on anger. What is surprising is the nature of that anger. It's non-specific, more of a general anger at the world. And the conclusion of the novel does not explicitly address that anger. We're not told how to let go of or manage anger. It's simply a fact of Lolly's reality, just as gangs and social pressure are. A subtle exploration.

Book 5 complete - Lucy and Andy Neanderthal

Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown

I've been looking forward to this one for a while. I'm a fan of Brown's comics. I was expecting a fair dose of humor. I was pleased to find some educational value to it as well. Each chapter of loose story is followed by a few pages of what we've learned about neanderthals from archaeology.

Book 4 complete - 36 Questions that Changed My Mind About You

36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant

The real appeal to this novel is the novelty of it's being framed on the concept of those 36 questions. It's not a particularly complex tale nor is it peopled with particularly complex characters. Read it once for some simple entertainment. I'm not certain that it would hold up to a second read.

Book 3 complete - Biometrics

Biometrics by Maria Birmingham

For kids non-fiction, the balance between readability and level of detail is key. Birmhingham has found the perfect level of information without becoming overwhelming. 

Book 2 complete - Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist

Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist by John Young

Combine a standard "kid with cancer" story and a standard "unexpected road trip" story and that's a fair idea of what to expect from this book. It's not entirely predictable, of course. A couple of unique twists. More importantly, the background attitude is unique. Connor displays an unusual blend of optimism and existential dread.

Book 1 complete - My So-Called Bollywood Life

My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma

Initially, I was not impressed by this book. The typical romance tropes hit hard. I rolled my eyes hard and sighed a lot. It wasn't until I reached the final quarter of the book that I realized that this was intentional, that Sharma was using tropes to make a point. Is it a point that I entirely agree with? No. She's talking about destiny and free-will essentially being the same thing. Even though I disagree, at least I can see why she's using so many chiches. A good choice for fans of teen romance and rom-coms.

And we're off!

I decided sort of last minute yesterday to participate in Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon, so I haven't done any of the typical readathon prep. But, since I find myself without obligations today, I'll give it a shot. This is my official starting line post. I'll be posting updates throughout the day.

Pick 6: grief

I'm always interested to see how novels treat sensitive topics. They explore an issue like grief from a number of perspectives. Here are six novels written in the last six months that have grief as a central issue.

6 new novels about grief

1. Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

2. All Three Stooges by Erica S Perl

3. This is Not a Love Letter by Kim Purcell

4. Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia

5. When Light Left Us by Leah Thomas

6. The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Book review - Power in Numbers

Power in Numbers by Talithia Williams

Shorter profiles are my favorite way to introduce people to historical figures. By giving us five to ten pages of history and influence we're able to appreciate an overview and determine which figures we want to explore in greater detail. And what better way to inspire girls to innovate in STEM fields than to give them a host of brilliant women to model their lives after. Yes, we need to show them how cool STEM subjects are but we also need to show them that they have heroes already in the field.

More information: Power in Numbers releases May 8. 
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Running on the Roof of the World

Title: Running on the Roof of the World
Author: Jess Butterworth
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai
                      What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein
Rating:

intriguing

Summary (provided by publisher):  A story of adventure, survival, courage, and hope, set in the vivid Himalayan landscape of Tibet and India.
In this contemporary story, Tash lives in Tibet, where as a practicing Buddhist she must follow many rules to avoid the wrath of the occupying Chinese soldiers. Lately, things have been relatively peaceful, as long as Tash and her family hide their religion and don’t mention its leader, the Dalai Lama.
The quiet is ruptured when a man publicly sets himself on fire in protest. Soldiers break into Tash’s house and seize her parents. She narrowly escapes, and soon she and her best friend, Sam, along with two borrowed yaks, flee across the mountains, where they face blizzards, hunger, a treacherous landscape, and the threat of discovery and capture. It’s a long, dangerous trip to the Indian border and safety—and not every member of the group will survive.
This page-turning high adventure introduces young readers to a fascinating part of the world and the threat to its people’s religious freedom. Running on the Roof of the World will appeal to fans of such topical survival adventure stories as A Long Walk to Water and Never Fall Down.

My opinion: I know very little about Tibet. We don't learn much in school, not about the culture nor about the invasion. This book gives us a brief glance into indigenous culture, but that's all. We see the restrictions on behavior, speech, religion. We get events, not motivations or historical context. I could see using this as part of an educational unit but I'm not certain it stands well on it's own.

More information: Running on the Roof of the World releases May 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Custom skirt

With Spring finally, actually here, I feel the need for a change in wardrobe. For me, that means a trip to the thrift store. One of my recent thrift finds was this sundress.
 

I'm not really big on sundresses but I liked the weight and color and with the elastic in the waistline I knew it wouldn't be difficult to convert it to a skirt. It did have a small grease stain on the skirt but that was easily covered with some art.

Anglerfish

I've got a couple of larger craft projects in the works but none of them are ready today. So, in the meantime, here's another page from my sketch book, the result of my brief obsession with the strange appearance of anglerfish.

 

Book review - The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl

Title: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee
                      OCDaniel by Wesley King
Rating:

delightful

Summary (provided by publisher):  Middle school is the one problem Lucy Callahan can't solve in this middle-grade novel perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by 7s.
Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test--middle school!
Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation?

My opinion: This book was a genuine joy to read. Such a delight, in fact, that a small part of me wished I could play hooky from work so I could finish reading it. Is it a bit predictable? Perhaps, but no more so than any other middle grade novel. And Lucy is such a strong character that this is worth reading just for her emotional journey. It is pleasant to enter her world, to see her change and grow, to see possibilityg and hurt and friendship develop. And I appreciated the open ending. The point isn't that her future is all planned out but that she's open to new ideas. I'd easily recommend this to most middle grade readers.

More Information: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl releases May 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provide by NetGalley.

Books on screen

I Am Number Four

For the most part, the events of this movie mirror the book fairly well. We see much of the same progression of hiding to confrontation. The big difference comes with characters. While their names and relationships are largely the same, their essential beings are different. John and Henri don't have the friend/father relationship we see in the book. There's more rebellion, more antagonism. John's classmates are vastly different in character than we see in the book. Not worse, necessarily, just different.

The big question is, which version is better? To be honest, neither version is amazing. The book gives us more context for the conflict between the Loriens and the Mogadorians, more detail of Lorien culture and hints about future events. The movie, on the other hand, moves a few events around and actually provides a more logical structure for events. Both have their merits.

Book review - Chasing Helicity

Title: Chasing Helicity
Author: Ginger Zee
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
                      Hideout by Watt Key
Rating:

a little frustrating

Summary (provided by publisher): Helicity is well aware that her name is unusual - kind of like Helicity herself. The word Helicity means to spin, and for as long as she can remember, Helicity has been fascinated by the weather. The weather is Helicity's escape from her own reality - may that be school, her father's strict discipline, or her brother's imminent departure for college where he's all set to play football.
One fateful day, Helicity and her horse head out on a long ride to take a break from life at home. Even with her vast experience with weather, Helicity is unprepared for the elements she faces. The choices Helicity makes before, during, and after that storm will have a lasting effect on her family and her future.

My opinion: I have a couple of persistent complaints about this book. 
1) There's not much detail. We get brief overviews of events and then they're almost brushed aside. The town is devastated by a tornado. We get a few scenes of the aftereffects and then everyone moves on. 
2) Helicity is refered to as being from "West Michigan" rather than a specific town. Normally, I'm okay with this sort of vagueness but then we're told about her trip to Muskegon to ride the ferry. It is frustrating to get specificity in a minor detail but vagueness in the primary setting.
3)The plot is sort of arbitrary and cuts off suddenly. While this is clearly meant to leave events open for sequels, no part of the plot is resolved at the end of this book. Additionally, some of the over-arcing elements are obvious.

More information: Chasing Helicity releases April 24.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Calvin and Hobbes

My first experience with fandom was reading the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes as a child. While I couldn't have articulated it at the time, there was something about that strip that really spoke to me. I remain a fan to this day. And since there is no official merchandise, I made my own.

And what are Calvin and Hobbes without their time machine/transmogrifier/duplicator. 

Book review - The Secret Science of Magic

Title: The Secret Science of Magic
Author: Melissa Keil
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
                      Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson
Rating:

Like a John Green B-side

Summary (provided by publisher): Meet Sophia: former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind. She's been having panic attacks since she learned that after high school, former prodigies either cure cancer or go crazy. It's a lot of pressure. So Sophia doesn't have the patience for games right now. She especially doesn't have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks. Meet Joshua: highly intelligent, cheerfully unambitious, and an amateur magician. He's Sophia's classmate, and he's admired her for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell Sophia how he feels. He doesn't know how wrong he is ...

My opinion: I was fully prepared for this to be just another teen romance. The elements are all there: closed of genius has her world expanded by a charismatic outsider. And if that's all this was I'd quickly write it off as empty entertainment. It's so much more, the romantic element becomes something of a subplot. We have two outsiders trying to find their place in the world, their purpose, their people. We have an attempt to "fix" an anxious person which, importantly, fails. Secret keeping and self-centeredness that nearly destroys long term relationships. There's a lot going on in the background which can make the narrative a bit scattered. In all, though, it's an engaging read well worth your time.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Peter & Ernesto

Peter & Ernesto: a tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

Imagine Frog and Toad or Ernie and Bert were sloths and you have decent grasp of the thrust of this book. A pair of friends who are essentially quite different, yet their differences make their friendship stronger. Not only that, but their different perspectives mean that even though they travel to the same places they have different experiences. The story is easily understood with a clear plot and accessible vocabulary. It's transparent enough for very young readers to understand but with enough subtleties for older readers to appreciate. It's not a terribly complex book but a delight to read.

More information: Peter & Ernesto releases April 10.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Trash Revolution

Trash Revolution by Erica Fyvie


 Sound bites are a great way to inform young readers. You pass a great deal of information over a wide variety of subjects without becoming overwhelming. And Fyvie achieves this goal. She presents plenty of facts about foot garbage, recyclables, e-waste, and more. We see how various kinds of trash break down in landfills, ideal methods of disposal, social and political debates, and efforts to lower environmental impacts. It can easily be read section by section or picked at in small bites of factoids. The information is well supported by cartoon style illustrations that both inform and entertain.
advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Sci-Fu

Title: Sci-Fu
Author: Yehudi Mercado
Genre: science fiction/graphic novel
Similar books: Earthling! by Mark Fearing
                      Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence
Rating:

a little weird, mostly pretty cool

Summary(provided by publisher: Set in 1980s Brooklyn, a young DJ accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia.
Hip-hop, sci-fi and kung fu all hit the turntables for the mash-up mix of the year! Cartoonist/force of nature Yehudi Mercado (Pantalones, TX, Rocket Salvage) sets his sights on 1980s Brooklyn and Wax, a young mix-master who scratches the perfect beat and accidentally summons a UFO that transports his family, best friend, and current crush to the robot-dominated planet of Discopia. Now Wax and his crew must master the intergalactic musical martial art of Sci-Fu to fight the power and save Earth. Word to your mother.

My opinion: I grew up in the Midwest. Hip-hop and breakdancing were never really a part of my world. Luckily, you don't really need to be hyper-familiar with hip-hop culture to understand and enjoy this story. The plot is satisfyingly complex, with a sort of Scott Pilgrim vibe. The real selling point, here, is the art. Mercado has found the perfect balance between text and illustrations, allowing both elements to tell parts of the story. A great choice for readers looking for something off the beaten path.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley