Book review - Princess Ninjas

Title: Princess Ninjas
Author: Dave Franchini
Genre: fantasy graphic novel
Similar books: Crystal Cadets by Anne Toole
                      Gillbert the Little Merman by Art Baltazar
Rating:

not what I'd hoped it would be

Summary (provided by publisher): When the kingdom is under attack who do we turn to? The king and his guards? A knight of myth and legend? Or the prophesized, chosen Princess Ninjas who battle evil and will save the day? I think we all know who!
Working together to protect their home, adopted sisters Bridget, Megan, and Elyce along with their sidekick Turtle-Bear, will find out that being a ninja isn't all about sticking to shadows, magic, and cool karate moves. Sometimes it's about honor, loyalty, and finding out what being a family truly means.

My opinion: I like the concept here, girls being able to be princesses and warriors at the same time. That liking something "girly" doesn't have to mean that you're soft and fragile and useless. It also makes the point that they're all princess warriors but still have different interests, that people are complex. The plot, though, is fairly contrived. We have the leaders of a country raising the orphaned children of warring factions in the name of peace, not to mention magic and a dark sorcerer lurking in swamps and dungeons out to take all of the magic for himself. Add in stiff dialogue and indistinct character voices and it simply isn't a compelling read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: New kids

Moving to a new town or a new school is a classic set-up for a youth novel, and with good reason. Finding yourself in a new situation, adjusting to new schedules and a new peer group; these are a solid framework for addressing personal and family issues. Here are six books published in the last six months that feature kids who recently moved to new towns as a primary character.

 6 New books with characters new to town:

1. 29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz
2. Sincerely Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle
3. Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton
4. Skateboard Sibby by Clare O'Connor
5. The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin
6. Belly Up  by Eva Darrows 

Book review - Milo's World

Title: Milo's World
Author: Richard Marazano
Genre: fantasy, graphic novel
Similar books: Pilu of the Woods by Mai K Nguyen
                      Timo the Adventurer by Jonathan Garnier
Rating:

a decent stepstone to manga

Summary (provided by publisher): Milo leads a lonely childhood marked by the absence of his mother, about whom he knows next to nothing. His father has gone to work in the city, leaving him in the care of his three elderly aunts, who give him his freedom to distract himself by the lake where he lives.
In this lake, Milo discovers a fish egg of unusual size, and when it hatches, a magnificent golden fish is born. Milo is only half surprised when strange creatures, including a toad man, become interested in his secret discovery.
He soon meets and frees a fiery young girl named Valia, who was held prisoner by the toad man, and the two are forced to flee, guided by the golden fish, to "the other side" of the lake . . . the flip side underneath, one of many parallel worlds that are connected through the lakes, rivers, and oceans.
In this parallel universe, an evil wizard wields power, driven by blind vengeance, with the toad man does his bidding. Milo finds himself the subject of fascination, fear, and excitement by the elf-like population, who aren't sure what to do with him, until he sets out on an adventure to protect them from the evil wizard.
Along the way, he finally encounters his mother, who turns out to be a sorceress from this world, and the polar opposite power of the evil wizard. He's the lost scion of a new generation and wizards, and he never knew it (even though his three aunts and the golden fish did).
Milo is the key in this battle; if the wizard manages to capture him, there will be no more opponents in the world on this side of the lake, meaning he could extend his domination and carry it even further, leading the conquest of the multiple parallel universes . . .

My opinion: While Milo's World is designed in the western style (meaning it reads left to right) it has a strong manga vibe, both stylistically and thematically. There's a fair dose of mysticism but nothing too complex.We have a magic fish, a dark wizard, and an interdimensional portal. The plot jumps around a bit and has a few notable holes. Very atmospheric. It's not especially complex so it's a good entry point for manga.

More information: Milo's World releases June 11.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Solving for M

Title: Solving for M
Author: Jennifer Senden
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
                      The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh
Rating:

the perfect amount of complexity

Summary (provided by publisher): When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who's ever heard of such a thing?
But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.
Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika's journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

My opinion: This book tells two stories: life upended by a parent's illness and social changes that come with adolescence. The interplay between these elements, especially the affects of a non-traditional teacher on the way a young person develops, is well plotted. It's a compelling if somewhat predictable story about finding new friends and looking at problems from a new perspective. I liked that the approach to the math journals was more than just "math is everywhere". Through her journal, Mika learns new approaches to all of her problems. Conversely, addressing life problems teaches her new ways of looking at math. There were some plot elements that felt unnecessary and over-wrought, but overall the plot and characters are strong.

More information: Solving for M releases May 28.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

Unicorn Day by Diana Murray

There's just something infinitely appealing about unicorns. Cute or fierce, playful or serious, we can't get enough of them. That element alone means this book will have this book rating pretty highly with pre-readers and readers alike. The story is told in a natural, sing-song style rhyme reminiscent of Dr Seuss that makes it very readable. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and dynamic with a consistent sense of motion. The plot is very simple and easily understood by the preschool set and can be expanded into a larger discussion of acceptance and exclusion for older kids.

More information: Unicorn Day releases June 4
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - The Boy from Tomorrow

Title: The Boy from Tomorrow
Author: Camille DeAngelis
Genre: sci-fi
Similar books: Flower Moon by Gina Linko
                      A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Rating:

kind of a mixed bag

Summary (provided by publisher): Josie and Alec both live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room, but they’ve never laid eyes on each other. They are twelve years old and a hundred years apart.
The children meet through a hand-painted talking board―Josie in 1915, Alec in 2015―and form a friendship across the century that separates them. But a chain of events leave Josie and her little sister Cass trapped in the house and afraid for their safety, and Alec must find out what’s going to happen to them.
Can he help them change their future when it’s already past?

My opinion: I'm a fan of books about the spiritualist movement. It's a fascinating point in history. I like reading books about time travel and the paradoxes inherent in the idea. DeAngelis explores these paradoxes to a significant degree. She also focuses a lot more on the historical characters than the modern ones. Alec is largely only there to serve as a device for change in the lives of Josie and Cass. It would be stronger if there had been more development in both time periods.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Travel houses

Last week I posted about some tiny peg dolls I'd made for larger craft fair project. I've finally finished the rest of the project: altoid tin houses.

 

Book review - Two Like Me and You

Title: Two Like Me and You
Author: Chad Alan Gibbs
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: In Real Life by Jessica Love
                      The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
Rating:

fun, if you don't think too hard about it

Summary (provided by publisher): Edwin Green's ex-girlfriend is famous. We're talking cover-of-every-tabloid-in-the-grocery-store-line famous. She dumped Edwin one year ago on what he refers to as Black Saturday, and in hopes of winning her back, he's spent the last twelve months trying to become famous himself. It hasn't gone well.
But when a history class assignment pairs Edwin with Parker Haddaway, the mysterious new girl at school, she introduces him to Garland Lenox, a nursing-home-bound World War II veteran who will change Edwin's life forever.
The three escape to France, in search of the old man's long-lost love, and as word of their adventure spreads, they become media darlings. But when things fall apart, they also become the focus of French authorities. In a race against time, who will find love, and who will only find more heartache?

My opinion: If you think about it too much, the plot of this book is pretty ludicrous. Luckily, Gibbs keeps it moving pretty constantly so we don't do a lot of lingering on the details. Instead, we get caught up in watching the ridiculousness unfold. Its a standard road trip comedy with a touch of heart. On the plus side, it doesn't resolve in a neat and tidy way. Everyone leaves the situation a little bit changed, perhaps a little bit wiser, and looking at the world through a different lens.
More information: Two Like Me and You releases May 20.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - This Land is My Land

This Land is My Land by Andy Warner and Sofie Louise Dam

If you're a fan of weird history facts, this is the book for you. Warner and Dam have collected stories of micronations and fringe societies. Each story is fairly short, easily digestible in short bursts. It's also very readable. Each story is a narrative, making it a collection of little stories. It's organized  thematically, based on how/why the community was founded and why it failed.  As a bonus, the whole thing is illustrated. A book I'd easily recommend.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Tiny peg dolls

With my summer craft fair fast approaching I've got some new projects in the works. These little peg people are part of a larger project I'll be revealing soon.

 

A trio of magificient ladies

A few weeks ago I posted about a Sojourner Truth peg doll I had made for an upcoming craft fair. This weekend I added to the collection with 3 more ladies: Sally Ride, Jane Goodall, and Mother Teresa. I'm pretty pleased with how the group is shaping up.

Book review - Planet Earth is Blue

Title: Planet Earth is Blue
Author: Nicole Panteleakos
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
                      Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
Rating:

compelling

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home.
While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can't express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, "No matter what, I'll be there. I promise."

My opinion: It's a wonderful, important thing, giving voice to marginalized characters. It's an awesome responsibility too, especially when you give voice to someone who has no voice of her own. We often wonder what goes on in the mind of a non-verbal person. Panteleakos suggests a complex and troubled inner dialogue, a tenuous grasp on reality and a frustration with a world that doesn't try to understand. Nova's story is hopeful and heartbreaking. For the reader familiar with the Challenger disaster, knowing what is coming, the ways Nova's hopes will be dashed, that things will end so terribly just when it is all turning out so well, is compelling. With an ending that speaking to the hope for better things to come, it's an all around solid read and joins the ranks of such books as Mockingbird and Wonder.

More information: Planet Earth is Blue releases May 14.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: Series

There's something wonderful about finding a good series. A solid adventure with the promise of more to come. Especially for young or reluctant readers, if you can get someone started on a series you've guaranteed months of reading. With that in mind, here are six new books that are part of series.

6 series books published in the past 6 months

1. Escape from the Palace by Santa Montefiore
2. The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
3. Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster by Tom Angleberger
4. Ivy and the Goblins by Katherine Coville
5. Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure by Alex T Smith
6. Suer Potato's Galactic Breakout by Artur Laperta

Non-fiction book review - Put On Your Owl Eyes

Put On Your Owl Eyes by Devin Franklin

There is no shortage of kids books about exploring nature. Most focus on identifying animals or plants. That is certainly an element of this book. The larger focus, though, is on mindfulness. How do we identify animal tracks other than by making observations? It's about making a closer connection with your environment, even when its quite familiar. And that's worth celebrating.

More information: Put On Your Owl Eyes releases May 28.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley