His Hideous Heart Blog Tour

Hi friends! Today I'm thrilled to bring you an excerpt from the upcoming short story collection His Hideous Heart, edited by Dahlia Adler. This is a collection of 13 stories inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe, reimagined by modern authors. The new stories are just as eerie and artful as the originals with modern flavor and sensibilities. 

The following is an excerpt from A Drop of Stolen Ink by Emily Lloyd-Jones. It's a sort of cyber-punk reimagining of The Purloined Letter (one of my favorite Poe stories!). 

There are three things you need to know about identity theft.
First, anyone can be a victim.
A few decades ago, there were toddlers with mortgage debt. Elderly grandmothers with drained bank accounts. Even the recently deceased were resurrected for their social security numbers. In the age of the internet, we uploaded our identities and hoped corporate firewalls would protect us. Spoiler alert: they didn't. All of our information was ripe for the taking.
After several years of rampant identity crime, a solution was finally devised.
The only way to protect personal information was to put it somewhere safer: beneath our very skin. Written in government-issued electron-ink, tucked underneath layers of epidermis and powered by the body's tiny electrical impulses. 
It was a simple, elegant solution. The identity tattoos could not be duplicated and they could not be stolen-at least, not without removing a limb. And without the warmth and breath of a life, an applied tattoo went dark, and all of its information vanished.
But here's the second thing you need to know: criminals are smart. Human ingenuity knows few boundaries. There are still ways to steal one's identity.
But before you despair, here's the third thing.
Criminals may be smart.
But I'm smarter. 

Good, right?
If you'd like to read more, His Hideous Heart releases September 10.
  
 

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Witchy

Witchy by Ariel Slamet Ries

Explorations of magic aren't unusual in fiction, both traditional and graphic novels. Ries has taken a fascinating approach with this story, tying the characters' magic to their hair.  The length of their hair is a representation fo the strength of their magic as well as their respect for the spirits that provide their magic. Magic doesn't have rules, per se, but does have a direct tie to another aspect of the world. They don't fully understand their magic because they don't understand the spirit world. It's a complex mythology but Ries does not shy away from explanations and explorations. The progression of the plot only adds to the complexity of the world. The art is charming, cartoony and unafraid to take risks.

More information: Witchy releases September 17.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Explorers

Explorers by Nellie Huang

Books about explorers are inherently appealing to a young audience. By their very nature they have danger, science, and sociology. The key to a book like this one is to consume it in small amounts. Reading the whole thing in a single sitting can be a bit dull. Instead, visit on occasion to learn about someone new and interesting. Huang keeps it interesting by stretching the definition to include boundary pushers: women, people of color, the young, the aging. People who were told by society they were incapable of a goal and who attempted it anyway. A great book to have on your shelf for occasional reference.

More information: Explorers releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl

Title: Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl
Author: Ben Hatke
Genre: sci-fi/graphic novel
Similar books: Foiled by Jane Yolen
                      Estranged by Ethan M Aldridge
Rating:

what a delight

Summary (provided by publisher): Jack and Lilly are no strangers to heroics. They’ve befriended dragons, battled giants, and even earned the loyalty of a goblin army. So when they meet Zita the Spacegirl, fresh from her interplanetary travels and seeking their help to face a new threat, they’re more than ready for another adventure.
But the danger growing just outside the door to their world is greater than anything the new friends could have imagined. An army of giants and screeds stands ready to lay siege to Earth, determined to put the age of humans to an end.
With the gate between worlds growing weaker and time running out, can the heroes come together to save their world from their greatest enemy yet?

My opinion: No joke, I've been eagerly awaiting this book for 2 years, from the moment I finished Mighty Jack and the Goblin King and realized that Hatke was bringing Zita into Jack's world. Because the only thing better than getting a resolution to Jack's story would be reading more about Zita. And this is more than just a continuation of the Zita we knew in the original trilogy. This is an older Zita, a Zita who still feels like an outsider on Earth but is starting to gain some distance from her adventures. Jack and his crew, on the other hand, are in the midst of their adventures and have literally, physically been changed. Goblin blood, magic seeds, psychic links. They are noticeably abnormal at odds with Jack's determination to return to the status quo. Zita feels different but appears like any other kid. These ideas and petty jealousies crash together with an intersection of fairy tales, Norse mythology, and sci-fi adventure. It's a grand, sweeping story with constant action and a fair dose of social complexity. Hatke invites the reader to consider the giants in life, both literal and metaphorical. Well worth the wait.

More information: Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: history

I'm a fan of historical fiction for all ages, but especially for middle grade readers. I've always found historical fiction to be a good way to make a personal connection with a history lesson. It personalizes dry facts. Here are six historical fiction books, mostly for middle grade readers, published in the last six months.

6 New Historical novels

1. Voices by David Elliot
2. Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt
3. Julius Zebra: Entangled with the Egyptians by Gary Northfield
4. The Ballad of Yaya by Jean-Marie Omont
5. Lenny's Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
6. Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

Non fiction book review - Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine

Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine by Zoe Tucker

Picture book biographies can sometimes oversimplify a person's life, especially glossing over the more negative aspects. Tucker certainly doesn't take that route. We're told how Ada inherited negative personality traits from both her parents. She's described as moody and short tempered. But we also see how her determination and mathematical mind lead her to take a vague description for a calculating machine and develop a programing language to achieve that goal, drawing up designs and figuring out logistics. A great choice for a young reader needing a little inspiration.

More information: Ada Lovelace and the Number-Crunching Machine releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Art of Taxidermy

Title: The Art of Taxidermy
Author: Sharon Kernot
Genre: historical fiction/verse novel
Similar books: Voices by David Elliot
                      Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith
Rating:

artistic, but not for everyone

Summary (provided by publisher): A heartbreaking verse novel about love and death, grief and beauty, and the very individual ways we make sense of it all.
Lottie, the daughter of German migrants, develops a fascination for death after losing her mother at a young age. When Lottie begins collecting dead animals, her aunt tries to redirect her energies into more 'feminine' activities. But her father encourages her interest, recognizing a scientist's curiosity.

My Opinion: I'm a big fan of verse novels, especially when the bulk of the plot focus on a character's inner journey or self exploration. When the author is good at imagery, making us feel along with the character it transcends story to become art. And that's certainly the case here. Even when I wasn't clear on the context of a moment, when I was confused about he actual plot, I was sharing Lottie's experience. A little more context for the setting and events in the world at large would have been nice. But this is a book to read more for how it's being told than what is being told. That style won't work for everyone but I enjoyed it.

More Information: The Art of Taxidermy releases August 23.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Other Half of Happy

Title: The Other Half of Happy 
Author: Rebecca Balcarcel
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
                      Beyond the Green by Sharlee Mullins Glenn
Rating:

lots to think about here

Summary (provided by publisher): Quijana is a girl in pieces. One-half Guatemalan, one-half American : When Quijana's Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage. One-half crush, one-half buddy : When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she's found true friends. But she can't help the growing feelings she has for Jayden. One-half kid, one-half grown-up : Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.
In the course of this immersive and beautifully written novel, Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. This lyrical debut from Rebecca Balcarcel is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.

My opinion: In our culture, there's this push for imigrants to assimilate. This can leave them and their children in a cultural limbo, not really fitting in with the general public but clearly isolated from their own family. Add in general struggles to fit in when you're in your middle school years, family with health problems, the worries that can come along with having a neuro-atypical sibling and you have a fair amount to explore in this book. Perhaps, one might argue, too much, especially when you add in first crushes and increasingly complex lies. This is not a comfortable read and doesn't resolve in neat and tidy ways. But it has a ring of truth that will resonate with middle graders.

More information: The Other Half of Happy releases August 20
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Picture books for everyone

Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle by Laura Purdie Salas

 Salas gives the reader a simple introduction to a surprising number of animals and their winter survival techniques in this little book. The illustrations and rhyming text will appeal to even the very young. Older children will learn a great deal from the text and the appendix.

More information: Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non fiction book review - Just Like Beverly

Just Like Beverly by Vicki Conrad

I read a lot of Cleary growing up. Basically every book I could get my hands on but I never read a biography. This one really spoke to me. We get the clear parallels between Beverly's early life and the characters she created. It's a biography in the vein of "famous people are just people". Beverly Cleary had no special training or background in writing. She was simply someone who saw a need and set herself to the task of fulfilling that need. The text is engaging but easy to understand. And I love that Hahn's illustrations are reminiscent of the original Cleary book illustrations.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Cassandra Steps Out

Title: Cassandra Steps Out
Author: Isabelle Bottier
Genre: graphic novel
Similar books: Rise of the Zelphire by Karim Friha
                      Jonesy by Sam Humphries
Rating:

a quick read, could be better

Summary (provided by publisher): Cassandra has a gift. Animals can show her what they're thinking. And she's done keeping her talent a secret. In the first volume of the Cassandra: Animal Psychic series, Cassandra sets out to help pets and their people.
The trouble is, other parts of Cassandra's life are changing too. Her mom has a boyfriend she really likes, but his daughter can't stand Cassandra. And Cassandra's best friend is about to leave town. Not even her trusty dog Miss Dolly can make things feel okay. When Cassandra gets on the trail of a lost cat, will she be able to help its owners? Or will her first case be a flop?

My opinion: The cover image and concept skew towards a young middle grade audience, though Cassandra herself is a teen. The actual line to line writing is fairly stiff. Additionally, there are a number of side plots that remain under-developed. This was an idea with a fair amount of potential that is simply never realized. It's possible that future volumes will make it stronger. Decent for simple entertainment but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.

More Information: Cassandra Steps Out releases September 3.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Blog Tour Book review - Cape

Title: Cape
Author: Kate Hannigan
Genre: historical fiction/superhero
Similar books: The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
                      How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson Rating:

fun and empowering

Summary (provided by publisher): Josie O’Malley does a lot to help out Mam after her father goes off to fight the Nazis, but she wishes she could do more—like all those caped heroes who now seem to have disappeared. If Josie can’t fly and control weather like her idol, Zenobia, maybe she can put her math smarts to use cracking puzzles for the government.
After an official tosses out her puzzler test because she’s a girl, it soon becomes clear that an even more top-secret agency has its eye on Josie, along with two other applicants: Akiko and Mae. The trio bonds over their shared love of female superhero celebrities, from Hauntima to Zenobia to Hopscotch But during one extraordinary afternoon, they find themselves transformed into the newest (and youngest!) superheroes in town. As the girls’ abilities slowly begin to emerge, they learn that their skills will be crucial in thwarting a shapeshifting henchman of Hitler, and, just maybe, in solving an even larger mystery about the superheroes who’ve recently gone missing.
Inspired by remarkable real-life women from World War II—the human computers and earliest programmers called “the ENIAC Six”—this pulse-pounding adventure features bold action and brave thinking, with forty-eight pages of comic book style graphic panels throughout the book. Readers will want to don their own capes for an adventure, and realize they have the power to be a superhero, too!

My opinion: Hannigan combines the excitement of superheroes, the complexity of life in wartime, and the inspiring tale of early women in STEM into a fun and easy to follow novel for upper elementary kids. These disparate elements don't seem like they would work together well but Hannigan makes it work. In large part this is because the focus is on everyday life. The focus is on people who are dismissive of these girls because of their gender and/or their age. This allows them to easily maintain the double life necessary for a superhero, not to mention the extra demands placed on people due to the war. On it's own, a plot about superheroes during World War II might not be anything special. By adding in a fair amount of historical information about ENIAC and the role of war on the beginnings of the computer age the modern reader can see the connection between this historical plot and their own life. The character development in this book is perhaps a bit thin but it's the first in a series, so we can expect to see increasing complexity in future volumes.

Non fiction book review - A Likkle Miss Lou

A Likkle Miss Lou by Nadia L. Hohn

I love discovering figures through books. I was utterly unfamiliar with Louise Coverley before reading this little text. And I love the lessons we can take away from her story. Kids need all kinds of heroes, people who come from different places and different backgrounds, who fight for equality of all sorts. Louse Coverley proved that there is art in all sorts of speech, that a person doesn't have to talk a certain way to be respected, intelligent, and artistic. It can be hard to convince a child to read about an unfamiliar figure but Fernandes' illustrations are lovely and compelling. Visual appeal will go a long way to helping this book find an audience.

More information: A Likkle Miss Lou releases August 13.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Mother Tongue

Title: Mother Tongue
Author: Julie Mayhew
Genre: realistic/literary fiction
Similar books: Trail of Crumbs by Lisa J Lawrence
                      Miles Away from You by A. B. Rutledge Rating:

a lot going on

Summary (provided by publisher): On the day she brings her sweet little sister, Nika, to school for the first time, eighteen-year-old Darya has already been taking care of her family for years. But a joyous September morning shifts in an instant when Darya’s rural Russian town is attacked by terrorists. While Darya manages to escape, Nika is one of hundreds of children taken hostage in the school in what stretches to a three-day siege and ends in violence. In the confusion and horror that follow, Darya and her family frantically scour hospitals and survivor lists in hopes that Nika has somehow survived. And as journalists and foreign aid workers descend on her small town, Darya is caught in the grip of grief and trauma, trying to recover her life and wondering if there is any hope for her future. From acclaimed author Julie Mayhew comes a difficult but powerful narrative about pain, purpose, and healing in the wake of senseless terror.

My opinion: Be prepared going into this book: it's a long, dense read. And culturally hard to grasp. Russian culture feels especially foreign. Layer on grief and the youthful desire for change and it's a busy plot. Darya is just post high school. She's at a natural transition point. Tragedy derails her attempts to figure out her future. All of her life redefines itself as viewed through a changed lens. Its at this point that the plot shifts, taking her to the city. So the plot is not only about grief, it's about a relative innocent faced with the cruelty and impersonal nature of life in the city. She's used and manipulated, all the while trying to figure out the kind of person she wants to become. These transitions between location and focus were a bit jarring. Foreknowledge of Russian culture and/or the patience for repeat reading would go a long way to understanding the full depth of this book.
More information: Mother Tongue releases August 13.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The 47 People You Meet in Middle School

Title: The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School
Author: Kristin Mahoney
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Hundred Percent by Karen Romano Young
                      The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers
Rating:

very readable

Summary (provided by publisher): Dear Louie,
You've been asking and asking about what middle school is like, but I just thought they were annoying-younger-sister questions. Even though I am almost done with my first year, I can still remember when I thought middle school was a mystery, so I'll try to give you a leg up. I know middle school is a lot to figure out. But since I still haven't worked it all out yet, I'm happy to help as much as I can. That's what big sisters are for.
Love, Gus
Discover the ins and outs of middle school in this guide from an older sister to her younger sister. From tackling a new building to meeting new people like the assistant principal, the class pet, the Huggers, the renegade, the tomato kid, your old best friend's new best friend, this is a must-read for everyone starting middle school.

My opinion: More than any other stage in life, middle school seems to mark a turning point for most kids. Middle school is when they try on new personalities, when some turn mean and others loose their nerve. There is no shortage of books that explore the complex nature of relationships in the middle school years. It can be hard for an individual book to distinguish itself. Mahoney presents us with a strong effort here. The format is unique, presented as a list while still maintaining a linear narrative. The personal and school relationships are interwoven well. The issues associated with the divorce mix with the issues Gus experiences at school. A solid read for young readers, especially those struggling with the middle school transition.

More information: The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School releases August 6.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.