Book review - Just Like That

 

Title: Just Like That

Author: Gary D. Schmidt

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: Red Menace by Lois Ruby

                      Like Nothing Amazing Every Happens by Emily Blejwas

Rating:

 

how I loved it

 

Summary (provided by publisher): In this poignant, perceptive, witty novel, Gary D. Schmidt brings authenticity and emotion to multiple plot strands, weaving in themes of grief, loss, redemption, achievement, and love. Following the death of her closest friend in summer 1968, Meryl Lee Kowalski goes off to St. Elene's Preparatory Academy for Girls, where she struggles to navigate the venerable boarding school's traditions and a social structure heavily weighted toward students from wealthy backgrounds. In a parallel story, Matt Coffin has wound up on the Maine coast near St. Elene's with a pillowcase full of money lifted from the leader of a criminal gang, fearing the gang's relentless, destructive pursuit. Both young people gradually dispel their loneliness, finding a way to be hopeful and also finding each other.

My opinion: Two pages. That's how far I made it into this book before I wanted to cry. Schmidt has this ability to break my heart in the best possible way. This is the third book in a loosely linked trio (absolutely no need to read the other two in order to understand this one). The first, The Wednesday Wars, introduced us to a cast of characters with the central focus on Holling Hoodhood. Okay For Now follows Holling's friend Doug after he moves away. And this volume digs deep into Meryl, Holling's almost girlfriend after her parents send her to boarding school. The inciting incident for Meryl's move happens before the book's opening, "off screen", and finds her overwhelmed with grief, living in a fog. That fog follows her through much of the plot, so the early chapters have a sort of emotional disconnect. As Meryl begins to re-engage with the world, so too do we build more connection with characters and events. We of course meet a variety of new characters, some of whom are lovable and others who are classic school villains: harsh teachers, snobby roommates, that sort of thing. But they don't stay flat villains. Through the course of the novel we see some of the things that influence their behaviors. Meryl sees the complexity in the people around her and begins to see a way forward through her grief. All of this with the tumultuous background of a small conservative village in the 60s, addressing Vietnam and classism in equal measure. The focus of the plot isn't on "fixing" things. Grief and big societal issues are not easily fixed. They simply take steps forward, which has to be enough. This is the most action oriented of Schmidt's plots, with gangsters and literal rooftop fights. This makes it a bit sensational, but not too over the top.

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Listen with me

 

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks

There's been a trend recently of including STEM elements in teen romances. Most of these books, though, count having a girl who's "into math" or something as STEM. Science and math seldom play a role in the actual plot. The title of this one intrigues me, though, so I'll be interested to see how it measures up.

Non-fiction book review - Whose Right Is It?

 

Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns by Hana Bajramovic

I think we all know that interpretation of the second amendment is a pretty hot button issue right now. With that being the case, it's important for the individual to understand not only what the amendment says but also how it has been interpreted throughout history. This book does a great job of explaining that context. It takes us through the history of firearms in general and pre-American rules governing guns. All of this context informs how firearms were managed in the early days of our country. Each chapter takes us through a phase of history, at times focusing on a particular theme - race, economy, westward expansion. That specialized focus means we get a little bit of repetition but usually this includes new context so it's understandable. We learn how public perception of guns and gun control have changed over time and due to different influences. The content is clear enough to be understood by young teens but not so simplistic as to be condescending. The text on a whole has a bit of a pro gun control vibe but the arguments are clear and logic based. 

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Book review - The Animal Rescue Agency: Case File Little Claws

 

Title: Case File Little Claws

Author: Eliot Schrefer

Genre: adventure

Similar books: Astro Nuts by Jon Scieszka

                      Mr. Penguin series by Alex T Smith 

Rating:

 

a solid investigation with a social message

Summary (provided by publisher): When an animal is in trouble, there’s only one place to turn: the Animal Rescue Agency!
Dashing Esquire Fox used to organize the world’s most elaborate chicken raids until the day she encountered Mr. Pepper. Meeting the blustery old rooster changed her heart, convincing her to turn from a life of crime and instead form the Animal Rescue Agency, which masterminds rescue operations across the globe.
Esquire and her unlikely chicken business manager coordinate their far-flung agents to get them to the Arctic. In that frozen land they learn that what happened to the polar bear cub was no accident—and that saving him will pit them against the scariest predator in the world: a human.

My opinion: This is an excellent concept for a series. We have all the benefits of both real world and invented world settings, with a hidden society of animals going on below human notice. The animals are largely true to their nature, with just a few more human attributes and habits. Much like in The Rescuers there's a large element of investigation, finding the distressed creature and figuring out a way to help. This takes logic and creativity. There's also a strong ecological and social justice message, fitting for a modern audience. With colorful characters and some quirky humor, there's a lot to like. 

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Ring update

 One of my favorite holiday traditions is Christmas crackers. Now, I tend to be thrifty so the crackers I buy aren't very fancy. The prizes inside are usually cheap junk like fortune telling fish or page flags. Or this little ring.

I don't really like pink, so I wasn't thrilled. But I kind of liked that it's hexagonal so I figured I'd make it work. I painted the inside of the ring with green nail polish. Then I coated the outside with clear polish that I dipped in black glitter while it was still tacky. Then I coated it in a final clear coat to keep the glitter from spreading everywhere.

 

Book review - Chlorine Sky

 

Title: Chlorine Sky

Author: Mahogany L. Browne

Genre: verse novel

Similar books: Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan

                      A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes

Rating:

 

an excellent example of the genre

Summary (provided by publisher): She looks me hard in my eyes
& my knees lock into tree trunks
My eyes don't dance like my heartbeat racing
They stare straight back hot daggers.
I remember things will never be the same.
I remember things.
With gritty and heartbreaking honesty, Mahogany L. Browne delivers a novel-in-verse about broken promises, fast rumors, and when growing up means growing apart from your best friend.

My opinion: A good verse novel is compelling, even if you don't understand the meaning of every single line. Poetry is like that, speaking truth through it's general sense and rhythm as much as through the actual words. There were lines that I didn't really get, especially when they used modern slang. It served to build the character even if it didn't add a lot of new information. Browne really captures the confusion and conflict of being a teenage girl, of realizing that you are changing in different ways than your best friend and may not have much in common any more. The twin desires for all forms of attention and wanting to be left alone. Especially the line between relishing in a boy's attention and when that attention becomes toxic. This narrative is especially interesting since we see the growing distance between friends and how a confrontation with a boy can either drive them permanently apart or draw them back together.

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Non-fiction book review - Viral BS

 

Viral BS by Dr. Seema Yasmin

To be completely accurate, this book explores more than just medical myths. Some entries are flawed medical studies. Others are misrepresented by the media, leading to the public misunderstanding an inconclusive result. That's probably the largest section: studies that researchers say warrant further study that are presented to the public as conclusive. Then there are the cases of irresponsible science that lead to cruel human experimentation and the bias that leads to people not getting the care or the information that they need. Many readers will find the facts presented in this book infuriating. It's a sign that, as far as medicine has come we still have a long way to go. That awareness alone makes this book well worth reading.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - One of the Good Ones

 

Title: One of the Good Ones

Author: Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

                      Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Rating:

 

a little disappointing

Summary (provided by publisher): When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.
One of the good ones.
Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there’s a twist to Kezi’s story that no one could’ve ever expected—one that will change everything all over again.

My opinion: At first, I was really into this book. We're looking at the complexities of public grief and racism. Fame and modern protests. Families and the secrets they keep from one another. Classism. Social media. All timely topics well worth discussion and explored in a nuanced way in this plot. And I loved the use of the Green Book road trip as a method for these characters to better understand Kezi and their family history. I felt a bit betrayed by the second half of the novel, though. We never got the full exploration of that phrase "one of the good ones". I wanted to see the characters address how the media seems to value a "good kid" over another innocent.The pieces are all there but don't come together to the degree I was expecting. Even so, this is a book worth discussing in a group setting as it may prompt those conversations I expected from this narrative.

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Book review - Root Magic

 

Title: Root Magic

Author: Eden Royce

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

                      The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Rating:

 

some cool elements

Summary (provided by publisher): It’s 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won’t stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven— and their uncle, Doc, tells them he’s going to train them in rootwork.
Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations—especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family’s true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs…and not a moment too soon. Because when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it’s going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through.

My opinion: On the one hand, I'm a fan of fiction that explores underrepresented populations, especially their folklore and belief systems. We have some cook complexities, intermixing magic and social issues. With Black characters in the 60s, it should be no surprise that racism plays a major role in the plot. But Royce takes it a step further, exploring prejudices and social judgments within their own community. And the portrayal of rootwork goes beyond a few spells. There is the exploration of spirits and monsters and how root ties them back to their family history. It is power, both for good and for darkness. On the other hand, this book has an historical setting which can be a challenge for middle grade fiction. Additionally, the difference between monsters and evil doesn't get nearly enough exploration. In fact, the characters and their relationships are pretty surface level. The writing skews young, so the degree of depth is probably sufficient.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

Donut Worry by Christianne Jones

As a person who has struggled with anxiety, this book really spoke to me on multiple levels. Donut is worried about school. Her well meaning family and friends attempt to reassure her that there is nothing to worry about. But all of their reassurances only serve to make her feel worse. She sees them living a relatively carefree life and feels especially wrong. She starts to worry about why she can't stop worrying. Usually a kid's book about worry have a character showing the worrier why everything will be okay. So it was nice to see this book where Donut is validated. Cookie tells here to go ahead and worry. That what she's feeling is real and she is just going to have to find her own coping strategy for overwhelming worry. She tries a lot of standard methods in order to find the combination that works for her. The resolution is more about supporting the worrier rather than offering solutions. NO one can solve Donut's anxiety but Donut. While this book won't be relatable for everyone, the chronic worrier will find comfort in these pages.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - We are the Supremes

 

We are the Supremes by Zoe Tucker

I'm one of those people who never really put much thought into the individual members of a band, into their history or foundation. I mean, I love the Supremes but I never really thought about how they came to be or even who they were as individuals. And let's be honest - we aren't going to come away from this book with an in depth understanding of that history. This is essentially a picture book, so it's more of a general overview with a focus on life skills. Determination and hard work, that sort of thing. Still, a good addition to a picture book biography collection. 

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Book review - Stranger on the Home Front

 

Title: Stranger on the Home Front

Author: Maya Chhabra

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon G Flake

                     Starting from Seneca Falls by Karen Schwabach

Rating: 

 

interesting but stiff

Summary (provided by publisher): It’s 1916, and Europe is at war. Yet Margaret Singh, living an entire ocean away in California, is unaffected. Then the United States enters the war against Germany. Suddenly the entire country is up in arms against those who seem “un-American” or speak against the country’s ally, Great Britain. When Margaret’s father is arrested for his ties to the Ghadar Party, a group of Indian immigrants seeking to win India’s independence from Great Britain, Margaret’s own allegiances are called into question. But she was born in America and America itself fought to be freed from British rule. So what does it even mean to be American? 

My opinion: I'm a big fan of books that tell often overlooked parts of history. Personally, I'd heard a little about the Ghadar Party, but only a little and nothing about the plight of Indian immigrants in the US. Anything about this ignored history is worth reading at least once if only so we can be informed, understand the darker parts of our country's past. But it's not an especially deep or entertaining read. The characters are underdeveloped and the plot is only explored on a very surface level. Consider this an introduction, not a truly complex story.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Bookmark

I bought a planner in an effort to make myself more organized and productive this year. It has a nice little pocket and an elastic to keep it closed. The one thing it's lacking - a marker for the current week. Now, I have plenty of basic bookmarks around but who wants to stick with something basic? Instead, I used a scrap of teal cardboard left over from the frame I made a couple of weeks ago to make this astronaut dinosaur.

 

Book review - Just Our Luck

 

Title: Just Our Luck

Author: Julia Walton

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Paper Towns by John Green

                     Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach

Rating: 

 

surprisingly pleasant

Summary (provided by publisher): "Bad luck follows lies." That was the first rule for life that Leo's Greek grandmother, Yia Yia, gave him before she died. But Leo's anxiety just caused a fight at school, and though he didn't lie, he wasn't exactly honest about how it all went down--how he went down. Now Leo's father thinks a self-defense class is exactly what his son needs to "man up."
"Leave the Paros family alone." That was Yia Yia's second rule for life. But who does Leo see sitting at the front desk of the local gym? Evey Paros, whose family supposedly cursed Leo's with bad luck. Seeing that Leo is desperate to enroll in anything but self-defense class, Evey cuts him a deal: she'll secretly enroll him in hot yoga instead--for a price. But what could the brilliant, ruthless, forbidden Evey Paros want from Leo?

My opinion: The first thing I like about this book is Leo. He's not traditionally "masculine." He doesn't like sports or fighting. He knits and crochets to cope with his anxiety. And when he does get in a fight, the jock who punches him ends up his friend. Their conflict comes more from a mutual lack of understanding than any judgment or true bullying. They can be friends and have different interests. They can find each other frustrating or mildly annoying but still likeable. And that relationship with the jock parallels Leo's relationship with his father. Sure they are different but neither one makes much of an effort to find common ground. They make assumptions about each other rather than attempting to communicate. These side relationships are, to me, more compelling than the main plot of Leo and Evey and their revenge plot, which has a couple of hard to believe turns. Still, this is an entertaining read with some heart.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The June Boys by Court Stevens

The key difference between a mystery and a thriller: what we the readers know. Because the identity of the kidnapper is as much a question mark to us as it is to Thea, this book is firmly in the mystery category. Now, a good mystery should present us with an assortment of reasonable suspects. We should be constantly changing our minds about the criminal's identity. Personally, I had a guess pretty early on that didn't waver much and I was close to right. Honestly, the weakest part of this book was the supposed motivations for the various suspects. It does have it's strong points. Consider the investigation. Thea and Nick aren't succeeding where the police fail. We see the police and the FBI actively investigating at every turn. It's just that Thea and her friends are obsessing over details and find themselves privy to information that the authorities do not have. They only keep things to themselves until they are able to confirm it, and then they hand it over. Yes they are investigating but the ultimate responsibility always belongs to the authorities. That makes this plot less one of chasing after criminals and more of discovering secrets and questioning what you know about the people closest to you. This makes it more contemplative than the standard mystery. Stevens asks us to reflect upon the difference between fact and truth, between what we know and what we believe. This is compelling enough to keep us reading and leaves us with ideas to chew on after the fact.

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Non-fiction book review - Race Against Time

 

Race Against Time by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace

I had some knowledge of the Elaine Massacre, but only because I listen to podcasts. It's certainly not something that was ever addressed in my history classes. The facts of the case are laid out in this text in a clear and concise manner. We learn about the initial incident, the arrests, and the years long fight to see justice done. Obviously, we get a fair amount of information about Scipio Jones, more about him than an of the victims. The most interesting part to me was the compromises. The results of the legal battles were far from ideal but Jones knew he had to accept these compromises to keep the men alive. There's no satisfaction in reading this book, no sense that good was done. But that's as important as a story of triumph. We need to learn about failures to help prevent their repetition. 

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Book review - Benny Feldman's All-Star Klezmer Band

 

Title: Benny Feldman's All-Star Klezmer Band

Author: Allison & Wayne Marks

Genre: realistic fiction 

Similar books:  My Year of Epic Rock by Andrea Pyros

                       I am Drums by Mike Grosso

Rating: 

 

a unique perspective to a predictable plot

Summary (provided by publisher): Eleven-year-old Benny Feldman spends his days at Sieberling School obeying his number-one rule for surviving sixth grade: blend into the background.
So when he signs up his klezmer band to play in the school talent show, his classmates are shocked. Teased by guitar superstar and former friend Jason Conroy, Benny vows to win the trophy and erase the embarrassing nickname that has haunted him since his disastrous debut performance in an first-grade Sabbath play.
But, there is a problem. Benny Feldman's All-Star Klezmer Band is only a figment of Benny's imagination. He loves the traditional klezmer music of Eastern Europe, but how is he going to find other players to join him?
With the show a few months away, Benny, an accomplished fiddler, embarks on a quest to assemble a band that will beat Jason's rock group at the talent show. His search takes him to an arcade convention, a potato chip factory, an oddities shop, and a storage room stacked with cans of creamed corn and succotash. Along the way he meets Jennifer, a jazz-loving drummer; Royce, a bow-tie-wearing clarinet prodigy; and Stuart, a braggart accordion player from Cajun Country. He also learns a great deal about the joys and sorrows that lie at the heart of klezmer and discovers that being different can be wonderful.
Eventually, the ragtag and renamed "Klez Misfits" mount the stage and the tension-filled climax will have young readers wondering until the end if Benny and his band can pull off a miracle.
This fun and feel-good story shows how friends, family, history and culture can all build confidence. Benny learns to believe in himself and has fun and finds love along the way.

My opinion: I enjoyed this one more than I expected. It addresses a couple of things that are often overlooked in fiction. Most often, when religion comes up in a book it involves the characters telling us how their family is religious in name or culture only. While we don't get details of Benny's family's belief system, we do get the sense that Judaism is a significant part of their lives, an inbuilt part of their reality. And we're seeing how that influences their every day life, not just surrounding bar mitzvah prep (the typical usage in fiction). Even more, we see how religion and music and culture are all twined together in Benny's life and in his family history. And let's talk about the music. Not a rock band. Not a country band. But music as it is wrapped into a culture. As Benny explains klezmer music to other musicians, he sees the parallels to other musical traditions. Now, I will say that the writing is a bit stiff and some of the plot elements a bit fantastic. It may have benefited from a little more nuance. Overall, though, I call this one a net positive.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Custom flamingo

 I have something of a fondness for lawn flamingos, especially if they are unusual in some way. I have one that I usually keep in my yard that has wiggle eyes. But I wanted something a little more unique. So I bought a plain flamingo at the dollar store.

And then spruced it up with some multi-surface acrylic paint.