Book review - One Jar of Magic

 

Title: One Jar of Magic

Author: Corey Ann Haydu 

Genre: Magical realism

Similar books: Savvy by Ingrid Law

                      All the Answers by Kate Messner

Rating: 

 

more emotionally complex than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): Magic is like a dream. Delightful. Terrifying. Unreal.
Rose Alice Anders is Little Luck. Lucky to be born into the Anders family. Lucky to be just as special and magical as the most revered man in town—her father. The whole town has been waiting for Rose to turn twelve, when she can join them in their annual capturing of magic on New Year’s Day and become the person she was born to be.
But when that special day finally comes, Rose barely captures one tiny jar of magic. Now Rose’s dad won’t talk to her anymore and her friendships have gotten all twisted and wrong. So when Rose hears whispers that there are people who aren’t meant for magic at all, she begins to wonder if that’s who she belongs with.
Maybe if she’s away from all the magic, away from her dad telling her who she’s meant to be, who she has to be, Rose can begin to piece together what’s truly real in a world full of magic. 

My opinion: Going into this book, I was anticipating a story about having to readjust when life doesn't go according to plan, when your expectations are not met. And that is certainly a part of this book. But it quickly becomes apparent that it's even more about parental expectations. The thin veneer of appearance and expectation that holds up an abusive household. It's clear pretty early on that the dad is at least emotionally abusive. There are references to needing to keep the house calm and quiet, to do things exactly as he wants them. It's a disturbing family dynamic. As the book progresses we see how toxic the relationship actually is, both towards the family and in the community at large. Haydu is exploring these ideas of perfection and what we should really expect out of life. Being a story mainly of emotional growth and shift, there isn't a great deal of action. The final scene are almost anti-climactic, just a series of smaller changes as characters chose new paths.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: animals

I'm often intrigued by the approach an author takes to a plot. This is especially true when they make the main characters animals. You can do things with animal characters that would seem implausible with humans. Simply by virtue of being animals, they encourage us to expand our suspension of disbelief. Not to mention they're usually cute and fun. Here are six new books published in the past six months that feature animal characters.

6 new books with animal protagonists:

1. Revver the Speedway Squirrel by Sherri Rinker
2. Horace and Bunwinkle by P J Gardner
3. Arlo and Pips: King of the Birds by Elise Gravel
4. Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
5. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
6. The Animal Rescue Agency Case Files: Little Claws by Eliot Schrefer
   

Non-fiction book review - Bots and Bods

 

Bots and Bods by John Andrews

This is certainly a unique way to explore the inner workings of the human body. The main focus of the text is certainly more on human systems than on robots, though there are also sections that have no human analog. Mostly, robots are used as an object lesson to explain more complex systems. It's more than just bones, muscles, and nerves. It's how various system work together to create a functional whole. The terminology is accessible, eschewing strict biological terms except where necessary. Use this book in conjunction with lessons on the details of body systems to help children understand how their whole body works.

More information: Bots and Bods releases March 2.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World

 

Title: Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World

Author: Jacqueline Davies

Genre: beginner chapter book

Similar books: Fox & Rabbit by Beth Ferry

                     Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto

Rating: 

 

basically what you'd expect

Summary (provided by publisher): Sydney is a skunk and Taylor is a hedgehog, but no matter how odd the pairing may seem, their friendship comes naturally. They live happily in their cozy burrow . . . until the day Taylor gets his Big Idea to go see the Whole Wide World. From mountains taller than a hundred hedgehogs, valleys wider than a thousand skunks, to the dangers that lie in the human world, Sydney and Taylor wanted to see it all. With a map and a dream, they bravely set off, soon discovering that the world is much bigger than they realized . . . 

My opinion: As with most beginner chapter books, the plot of this one is quite simple and follows a pretty predictable arc. This allows the young reader to easily follow the plot and focus more attention on reading skills and building comprehension. While they have big dreams of adventure, their exploration is very limited and constantly beset by complications in the form of natural barriers. While Sydney and Taylor are animals with some human characteristics (they talk, walk on hind legs, carry a backpack, etc) they also retain their animal instincts and often behave in standard animal ways. It's possible to use this book to discuss fantasy and reality in books with a young reader.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Hatmakers

 

Title: The Hatmakers

Author: Tamzin Merchant

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell

                      The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers

Rating:

 

some unique elements

Summary (provided by publisher): When Cordelia Hatmaker’s beloved father fails to return from an ingredient-hunting expedition, Cordelia is the only member of the family who knows in her heart that he can’t be gone for good. Her grief-stricken aunt and uncle forge ahead to continue the work of their guild and to fulfill a crucial order from the King for a magical Peace Hat. But the enchantments woven into the carefully crafted goods of the Hatmaker, Bootmaker, Cloakmaker, Watchmaker, and Glovemaker guilds begin causing sudden inducements of rage and chaos. As war looms and the Peace objects backfire, Cordelia must find out who is using the Makers’ creations for dark purposes and uncover the truth about her father’s disappearance.

My opinion: I appreciate what Merchant has done here. We see so many books with magic that it can be difficult to find a unique take on the idea. By tying magic to clothing, to materials and the state of mind of the maker, we have both a clear set of rules and endless possibilities. We see actual results that differ from what was intended. I can get behind that structure. I'm less fond of the actual plot.The twists aren't always well tied together, so the plot can jump around a lot and feels a bit scattered. There are, perhaps, too many disparate elements. And the final resolution is heavily telegraphed in the first scenes, so there isn't much surprise there. With underdeveloped characters and a tone that creates a marked emotional distance from the reader, I found it less than compelling.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - White All Around

 

White All Around by Wilfrid Lupano

 I am a bit dismayed that this is the first I've heard of the Prudence Crandall School. It's the exact sort of story that fascinates me: a woman bucking societal norms for the greater good. Crandall was already pushing boundaries by having her girl's school curriculum emphasize science and math. She was encouraging her students to think and ask questions, to really explore the way that the world works. It was a logical step, then, to include Black students. Of course, that was completely revolutionary in the 1800s. Lupano shows us all of the challenges the school faced: low enrollment, public ridicule, lack of support, and outright threats. But we also see the students challenged by what they were learning in school and from public opinion. They are questioning religion, their role in society, what to protest and what to accept. They come from different backgrounds and it affects how they interact with one another. The school's eventual downfall is disappointing but unsurprising, given the political climate of the time. The cartoony illustrations keep the events from feeling too intense but remain highly expressive. It's absolutely compelling. Even cooler, the afterward includes brief biographies of Crandall and of each of the students. To have a paragraph about most of the students is a bit astonishing, given how little we know about most women from the era.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Bug Boys

Title: Bug Boys Outside and Beyond

Author: Laura Knetzger

Genre: fantasy graphic novel

Similar books: Last of the Sandwalkers by Jay Hosler

                     The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka
 Rating:

 

Fun

Summary: Little bugs, big feelings! Rhino-B and Stag-B are back for more in this all-new graphic novel perfect for readers of Investigators and Catstronauts.
These best friends are ready for new adventures!
Meeting a bat? They're on it! Getting lost in a labyrinth? Might be scary.
Each day is new and exciting for these two beetles, and together they'll face challenges and help their friends along the way.
Laura Knetzger returns with a story filled humor, hijinks, and a lot of adventure. Rhino-B and Stag-B lead the way on a life filled with mindfulness, fun, and an exploration of the natural world perfect for kids.

My opinion: This story is a little bit weird, but weird in a good way. It's not exactly like every other graphic novel you're going to find. The stories are more contemplative. Events that seem a bit random do eventually tie in to a loose larger plot. Most of the stories are Rhino-B and Stag-B exploring some small part of their world, meeting other bugs and learning how their world is structured. Those small adventures all come together when they go to the big city, learn about it's differences and opportunities. They are excited and overwhelmed. They end up choosing their home but don't dismiss city living as bad. This is a book that can be appreciated on multiple levels and has a quirky enough tone for outsiders to enjoy.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Bob's Burgers peg dolls

I've been wanting to make a Louise Belcher peg doll for a while now. Originally, I'd intended to paint her with her makeover look from one of the Valentines episodes, because it gives me no end of amusement.

 

 In the end, though, I decided to make a pair of peg dolls. And who better to pair with Louise than Boo-Boo. Since Louise is obsessed with slapping him, I've added a little hand print on Boo-Boo's face.

 

Book review - Bump

 

Title: Bump

Author: Matt Wallace

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Chirp by Kate Messner

                      Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher

Rating:

 

a surprising read

 

Summary (provided by publisher): MJ knows what it means to hurt. Bruises from gymnastics heal, but big hurts—like her dad not being around anymore—don’t go away. Now her mom needs to work two jobs, and MJ doesn’t have friends at school to lean on.
There is only one thing MJ loves: the world of professional wrestling. She especially idolizes the luchadores and the stories they tell in the ring. When MJ learns that her neighbor, Mr. Arellano, runs a wrestling school, she has a new mission in life: join the school, train hard, and become a wrestler.
But trouble lies ahead. After wrestling in a showcase event, MJ attracts the attention of Mr. Arellano’s enemy at the State Athletic Commission. There are threats to shut the school down, putting MJ’s new home—and the community that welcomed her—at risk. What can MJ do to save her new family?

My opinion: I never would have expected to enjoy a book about wrestling as much as I enjoyed this one. I never really watched wrestling so I expected that I would feel lost by the terminology, or just by the focus on the sport. But Wallace does an excellent job of integrating definitions naturally into the plot via MJ's introduction to various skills. This book celebrates how a wrestler's individual skills and showmanship works towards the overall benefit of the school. The plot of the Athletic Commission trying to shut down the school serves to ratchet up the tension but bay not have been entirely necessary and makes extreme. Personally, I have liked a bit more about luchadores and their relationship to American wrestling. Even so, its a highly entertaining read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

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

I love that the math/science elements of this book are more than just a gimmick. It's not just that it is set at an academy or that Evie is "really into math". It's a vital part of the plot. It forms the lens through which Evie views the world. Also, there are some frank discussions about privilege and prejudice. How much harder it will be for Evie to get taken seriously because she's a girl. How she has to consider things that Caleb never even thinks about. And yet, her own place of privilege based on her private school education and whiteness. And I liked the view of relationships. Sure, we all know from the start that Evie and Caleb will end up together. But that doesn't invalidate their other relationships. They can like different people in different ways.

There were elements I didn't like as well, most of them involving Bex. To be clear, I liked the character. I like the way she supports and challenges the main characters. She presents her own concerns and biases. But she's also largely there to prompt discussions about religion and femininity. The religious discussions are fairly elementary, not what we would expect of advanced students. I do appreciate that Bex is both a woman of science and a religious person, a combination generally not present in books. But her conversations about beauty and femininity bothered me. She won't let Evie wear bland clothes when presenting. She has to look "amazing", like she has some obligation to natural beauty, like she has an obligation to play up her feminine characteristics.

Overall, I feel like the positives outweigh the negatives but I also would want to discuss them with teen readers, to encourage them to read those scenes critically and consider the messages they convey. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Unspeakable

 

Unspeakable by Carole Boston Weatherford

The first thing I feel the need to point about this book is that it refers to the event correctly. Other things I've read or heard about this call it the "Tulsa Race Riot". And Weatherford correctly identifies it as a massacre. The information ire relayed in a gentle, measure way. Each new element starts with "once upon a time" and then tells us a little information that influences what happened. Thus we learn about the population of the region; how Greenwood became segregated and the Black population became successful and the growing financial disparity between the two groups. We learn about systemic racism and the outbreak of horrific violence ruled by anger and jealousy. This story of cruelty and destruction is told in as gentle and sensitive a way possible and doesn't stop with the massacre. We're told how the event was covered up, only recently fully acknowledged and reconciled by the public. The illustrations are stylized but detailed and capture the feel of the era. And while the text doesn't go into much detail, there is a more involved author's note that give a fair amount of information. An absolute must have for a Black History collection. 

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Book review - Take Back the Block

 

Title: Take Back the Block

Author: Chrystal D Giles

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake

                      Pieces of Why by K. L. Going

Rating:

 

good for societal awareness

 

Summary (provided by publisher: Brand-new kicks, ripped denim shorts, Supreme tee--
Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That--and hanging out with his crew (his best friends since little-kid days) and playing video games--is what he wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to.
But when a real estate developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks, the neighborhood Wes has lived his whole life, everything changes. The grownups are supposed to have all the answers, but all they're doing is arguing. Even Wes's best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn't about to give up the only home he's ever known. Wes has always been good at puzzles, and he knows there has to be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it . . . before it's too late?

My opinion: Not enough books address gentrification at all, much less explain what it is in a way easily understood by a middle grade audience. Wes is a character whose parents want him to be socially aware and responsible. They want him to care about what's going on in the world. Like most kids, Wes doesn't see the point. Like most of us, he only really starts to care when things directly affect him. When he sees how gentrification affects his neighborhood he begins to understand the point of protesting. He see how a person can make a difference, how trying even when an action is futile says something to those in charge. Giles takes the exploration a step further by introducing us to two ends of the spectrum: a character whose family is benefiting from upward mobility but now faces increased social pressure and one whose world is falling apart, who faces bullying and violence at every turn. While the resolution rests on a few convenient turns, the ideas are worth discussing and the book on the whole is pleasant to read.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Cards

 Greeting cards are a great way to experiment with drawing techniques on the small scale. Here are three I drew this weekend.

Book review - Magic's Most Wanted

 

Title: Magic's Most Wanted

Author: Tyler Whitesides

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano

                      Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe

Rating:

 

well-plotted

Summary (provided by publisher): For Mason Mortimer Morrison, life isn’t so magical.
His dad was just sent to jail, his grades have been plummeting from meh to yikes, and, oh yeah, two officers from some organization called Magix just showed up to arrest him in the middle of fourth period.
Talk about bad luck.
Mason knows he’s innocent. But in order to clear his name, he’s going to need the help of a plucky Magix junior detective and a cantankerous talking bunny—and a little bit of magic.

My opinion: When a plot centers on magic, I feel very strongly that said magic needs to follow clear rules. If it has no bounds, then anything can happen and there are no real stakes for the characters. In the case of this book, a particular magical object can do just about anything but is limited to a single ability. And Whitesides never deviates from this rule, only takes advantage of built-in loopholes. Magic aside, this is a pretty standard adventure quest. We have a mismatched team thrown together by circumstance, working together for a single aim. There's a vast conspiracy years in the making. Basically, exactly what you would expect. It's pretty entertaining, though lacking in depth.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight - How to Treat Magical Beasts

 

How to Treat Magical Beasts by Kaziya

I read a fair amount of graphic novels, but there's always been a hole in my understanding of manga. I've struggled to find a series that speaks to me. But I've held firm in my belief that there is a book in every genre for every reader. And at last that belief has paid off. How To Treat Magical Beasts is the perfect series for me and I suspect for a lot of other readers as well. It takes place in a world where magic is slowly being replaced by technology. This is a theory of magic that I enjoy speculating over, that science causes a slow magical extinction. Ziska and her master are finding a way to use the two ideas together. With her magic weakened, Ziska must also apply concepts she has learned from science to treat wounded magical creatures. At the same time, her master is open to learning from her magical cures and applying some of her ideas to medicine. I love the idea that the two ideas can work together instead of canceling each other out. With expressive illustrations that pay attention to detail, this series is both fascinating to read and absorbing to look at.

 

Non-fiction book review - 13 Ways to Eat a Fly

 

13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich

Like many kid's books about science, this one relies a bit on the gross out factor for it's appeal. We get reference to fly guts, to rot, oozing and beheading. But that's not the central focus and doesn't go over the top. Instead, we get a baker's dozen creatures that consume flies and the methods by which they capture their prey. Additionally, each page features a different species of fly. It's a picture book format, so we get the additional appeal of dynamic illustrations. This does mean, though, that the information is limited. Don't read this book expecting to fully understand creatures that eat flies but it's a decent introduction to the concept. 

More information: 13 Ways to Eat a Fly releases February 16. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Million Dollar Race

 

Title: The Million Dollar Race

Author: Matthew Ross Smith

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Peak by Roland Smith

                      Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan

Rating:

 

mostly standard, with a little kookiness

Summary (provided by publisher): Grant Falloon isn’t just good at track; he’s close to breaking the world record 100-meter time for his age group. So when the mega-rich Babblemoney sneaker company announces an international competition to find the fastest kid in the world, he’s desperate to sign up.
But not so fast. Nothing’s ever that easy with the eccentric Falloon family. Turns out, his non-conformist parents never got him a legal birth certificate. He can’t race for the United States, so now if he wants to compete, he may just have to invent his own country.
And even if that crazy plan works, winning gold will mean knocking his best friend—and biggest competitor—Jay, out of the competition. As unexpected hurdles arise, Grant will have to ask not only if winning is possible, but what he’s willing to sacrifice for it.

My opinion: This book combines a couple of standard elements that we don't often see together: sports (and the prospect of competing against your best friend) and navigating your unusual family when you want to be "normal". Kids in middle school tend to feel like outsiders to begin with. Add in a family that actively rejects societal norms and that's the perfect set-up for a lesson in finding your place in the world. Smith goes beyond the expected lessons though. We see Grant's relationship with Jay stretched to the breaking point by competition, secrets, and fame. There's the pressures of that fame and discovering motivations of big companies. And an element of what the future looks like for modern kids, redefining success in the social media era. Add in some quirky details and I can see where this will appeal to a young reader.

Winter hats are the best

 I've wanted for a while now to make a hat from this book:

It's meant to have boning in it so it will stand up but since I didn't plan to use black yarn the boning seemed unnecessary. Instead, I used a variegated yarn. That makes it more of a traditional winter hat but I like the subtle nerdiness.