Book review - Rule of Threes

 

Title: Rule of Threes

Author: Marcy Campbell

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Steering Toward Normal by Rebecca Petruck

                      Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth

Rating:

 

a nuanced plot with idealized characters

Summary (provided by publisher): How do you share a parent with a stranger?
Maggie’s accustomed to leading her life perfectly according to her own well-designed plans.
But when Maggie learns that she has a half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony’s mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she’s called upon Maggie’s dad—who’s also Tony’s dad—to take him in.
As Maggie struggles to reconcile her mom and dad’s almost-divorce, accept the Alzheimer’s afflicting her grandmother, and understand Tony’s own issues—ignorance is no longer an option. While Maggie can strive for—and even succeed in—a perfect design, when it comes to family, nothing is perfect, and tackling its complexities is only possible with an open heart.

My opinion: Discovering previously unknown family makes for an emotionally complex plot already. A half-sibling your own age is a truly stark betrayal. Maggie's life is in total disarray as she must redefine her family, deal with her grandmother's decline, and address the change in her friendships that comes with the middle grade years. Three issues, any of which can support a plot all on their own. It is, perhaps, too much for a middle grade book. No one issue is explored in any real depth. The characters are pretty idealized, naturally inclined towards kindness and consideration, very little of the general self-centeredness that typifies most preteens. It's not a subtle plot but might serve as a stepping stone for kids making the transition from the obvious plots of grade school fiction to more subtle and literary books.

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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. Stranger on the Home Front by Maya Chhabra
2. Just Like That by Gary D Schmidt
3. Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki
4. Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
5. Dawn Raid by Pauline Varlaga Smith
6. Incredible Doom by Matthew Bogart

Non-fiction book review - Mad for Ads

 

Mad for Ads by Erica Fyvie

Never have I read such a comprehensive breakdown of advertising. Fyvie takes us through the structure, methodology, and psychology of ads. We learn about the roles played by various members of advertising teams and technical terms for assorted parts of campaigns. None of this is explored in a great deal of depth but we do get a basic introduction to every aspect. This is an excellent resource for kids with an interest in business or wanting to understand the complex influence of advertising on our decision making. 

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Book review - My Contrary Mary

 

Title: My Contrary Mary

Author: Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Genre: alternate history

Similar books: Jackaby by William Ritter

                     Odd and True by Cat Winters

Rating:

 

fun and compelling

 

Summary (provided by publisher):Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?
Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.
Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn after the king meets a suspicious end. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis face a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll

My opinion: Most depictions of Mary Queen of Scots don't paint her in an especially positive light. Typically she's shown and ruthless, vindictive. I admire that this book shows all of the royalty as essentially political pawns, especially given their relative youth. This book does, of course, take liberties with the timeline. I mean, we have functional magic in the form of shapeshifters and potions both. There are real prophetic visions (though these are largely played for humor - one of my favorite parts). But these elements are integrated with the historical facts relatively well. The villain dynamic is fairly sharp here. Villains are primarily after power, though some personal prejudice certainly comes into play. While the plot is predictable the characters are dynamic enough to keep us engaged and make for compelling reading.

More information: My Contrary Mary releases June 22.

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Seasonal decor

 Like a lot of people, I've been feeling like my space needs a bit of a refresh. When I found a piece of white cardboard while cleaning out my craft supplies I figured I'd make some decorations to hang on the hooks I put up for garland at Christmas. I cut some simple cloud shapes. Then I used the scraps to make things you might see among the clouds: the sun, a blimp, and a dragon.

Book review - Jo Jo Makoons

 

Title: Jo Jo Makoons - The Used-To-Be Best Friend

Author: Dawn Quigley

Genre: humor/early chapter book

Similar books: Junie B Jones series by Barbara Park

                     Izzy in the Doghouse by Caroline Adderson 

Rating:

 

cute, though it may be trying too hard

Summary (provided by publisher): Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn—about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly.
Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore…

My opinion: There are definitely Junie B Jones vibes in this book. The base concept is very much the same: a young kid at school who consistently misunderstands or misinterprets things that people say. In this case, some of this can be attributed to cultural differences since Teacher is white and Jo Jo is Ojibwe. In fact, I wish the cultural comparison were a larger role instead of being a side element. This series suffers a little from comparison with the Junie B Jones monolith but with time and further volumes it will shine on it's own.

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Graphic Novel Spotlight - The Weirn Books

 

The Weirn Books series by Svetlana Chmakova

In many ways, the Weirn Books series follows standard middle grade plots. The central focus is on school and interaction with peers. Thus we have bullies, popularity, and wanting to gain attention. The surface details make this one stand out from the pack. Sure, it's a magical school. It's also a complex magical world with a lot of associated rules. Magic has a cost, consequences for every spell cast. There is also a horror element, with a creepy building in the woods and a local legend about missing kids, elements that we aren't surprised to learn are associated. The illustrations are fairly cartoony and expressive, keeping this from becoming too creepy for young readers. Just the right level of scary for upper elementary kids. While the plot is fairly predictable, the journey is compelling.

 

More Information: Be Wary of the Silent Woods releases June 16

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Non-fiction book review - Summertime Sleepers

 

Summertime Sleepers by Melissa Stewart

We first learn about hibernation in some of our earliest introductions to animal biology. It wasn't until I reached adulthood that I learned about estivation, though. Personally, I knew that animals other than bears slept for extended periods and may even have grasped that these sleeps don't just happen in the winter. I did not know that it had its own name and process. This book provides the young reader with several examples of animals that estivate, the reasons for it, how they prepare, etc. There isn't much detail here but that isn't the point. The point is to introduce the idea and encourage kids to ask questions about the lives of other animals. It achieves that aim well.

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Book review - Dog Squad

 

Title: Dog Squad

Author: Chris Grabenstein

Genre: adventure

Similar books: Little Claws by Eliot Schrefer

                     Horace and Bunwinkle by P.J. Gardner

Rating:

 

cute and accessible

Summary (provided by publisher): When trouble calls . . . it's DOG SQUAD to the rescue!
Duke is not your average dog. Along with his crew, he fights crime and goes on claw-biting adventures helping dogs in peril in the hit streaming sensation--DOG SQUAD! Fred is a pretty average dog. He's scrappy. He's loveable. But he's not brave like his heroes on Dog Squad.
Fred looks an awful lot like Duke from Dog Squad though. In fact, when Duke needs a stand-in, Fred's the perfect choice. But the Dog Squad action doesn't always stop on screen! When there's danger in real life, can Fred find the courage to step up and save the day?!
It's all paws on deck in this action-packed, middle grade adventure series just right for anyone who loves dogs--and anyone who loves to laugh!

My opinion: Dog squad delivers exactly what it promises. A regular stray dog finds himself thrust into the world of Hollywood due to his resemblance to a famous dog. He learns that the dog actor is self-important and cruel, a sharp contrast to his brave and selfless character. So of course, the reader and the director come to prefer Fred with his humble and helpful attitude. His kindness wins over everyone he meets, including tough customers. It's a bit predictable but should play well with middle grade readers.

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Carrying strap

After I broke my favorite glass water bottle, I started using a peanut butter jar in it's place. It was supposed to be a placeholder while I shopped for a new water bottle but it's starting to grow on me. The only problem is the shape. Since it's short and squat it can be a bit of a pain to transport. With a little paracord and these directions I made a carrying handle that should make things a bit easier.

Book review - Finding Junie Kim

 

Title: Finding Junie Kim

Author: Ellen Oh

Genre: realistic/historical fiction

Similar books: Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki

                     Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

Rating:

 

decent elements, not sure about the whole

Summary (provided by publisher): Junie Kim just wants to fit in. So she keeps her head down and tries not to draw attention to herself. But when racist graffiti appears at her middle school, Junie must decide between staying silent or speaking out.
Then Junie’s history teacher assigns a project and Junie decides to interview her grandparents, learning about their unbelievable experiences as kids during the Korean War. Junie comes to admire her grandma’s fierce determination to overcome impossible odds, and her grandpa’s unwavering compassion during wartime. And as racism becomes more pervasive at school, Junie taps into the strength of her ancestors and finds the courage to do what is right.

My opinion: The structure of this novel presents us with three distinct stories. Junie is facing obvious racism at school and doesn't know how to respond to it, or if she even should. Her grandparents each tell their childhood stories in big blocks. These stories guide Junie in her decision making. I can understand that structure cut they aren't melded together very well. There is far more attention given to the grandparents. Junie's story is thin, lacking in nuance. The three sections are awkwardly pasted together. I like the idea here and given how it addresses an oft forgotten part of history I wish I liked the book itself better.
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Listen with me

 

Dawn Raid by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith

You don't have to read a lot of middle grade fiction to encounter one structured as a journal. What makes this one stand apart is it's natural tone. Most "journals" are preternaturally aware of the meaning events will have in the world at large or the deeper emotional meaning of interactions. Not this book. There are entries about racism and social unrest, of course. But there are also entries about wanting cool clothes. Or annoying little brothers. Or being embarrassed about farting at school. And the text isn't super polished. Anyone who kept a journal at age 13 knows that most of the entries take the structure "I did this and that. It was fun." And that's how this book reads. You could easily believe it was written by an actual kid. It isn't super deep but it was a fun listen and introduced me to parts of history that I knew nothing about.

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Non-fiction book review - Why She Wrote

 

Why She Wrote by Lauren Burke and Hannah Chapman

Most often profiles of famous or influential people focus on the facts of their achievements. That's certainly an element here. We have to understand what makes this person important in history. Once those facts are established, though, Burke and Chapman turn to their real focus - motivations. This is a compelling and unique approach. Most of the motivations are what we expect: paying bills, grasping for freedom, exorcising personal demons, secret keeping. A few are more challenging and stand out from the rest. These are women who fought to protect their investments and their property. Sometimes to make more money but mostly because it was theirs. If these were men their fights would be expected. In women at the time it was considered in poor taste. We can certainly admire women who did what was right for them with little regard for how it would be perceived. Each profile is accompanied by comic strip pages that illustrate the motivation. While not entirely necessary, they are well designed and support the message well. 

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Book review - Only the Pretty Lies

Title: Only the Pretty Lies

Author: Rebekah Crane

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

                      Bright Lights Dark Nights by Stephen Emond

Rating:

 

nicely introspective

Summary (provided by publisher): Convention doesn’t carry much weight in Alder Creek. It doesn’t in Amoris Westmore’s family either. Daughter of a massage therapist and a pothead artist, inheritor of her grandmother’s vinyl collection, and blissfully entering her senior year in high school, Amoris never wants to leave her progressive hometown. Why should she?
Everything changes when Jamison Rush moves in next door. Jamison was Amoris’s first crush, and their last goodbye still stings. But Jamison stirs more than bittersweet memories. One of the few Black students in Alder Creek, Jamison sees Amoris’s idyllic town through different eyes. He encourages Amoris to look a little closer, too. When Jamison discovers a racist mural at Alder Creek High, Amoris’s worldview is turned upside down.
Now Amoris must decide where she stands and whom she stands by, threatening her love for the boy who stole her heart years ago. Maybe Alder Creek isn’t the town Amoris thinks it is. She’s certainly no longer the girl she used to be.

My opinion: Alder Creek, as we first encounter it, seems like a pretty idyllic place. The reader will assume, as the characters do, that being artistic means the citizens are open minded and accepting. We don't have to read very far to see the cracks, blind spots created by racial, financial, and gender privilege. Unsurprisingly, the addition of a Black friend forces Amoris to see her town through new eyes. It also forces her to take a much harder look at herself and her own family, the cruel and insensitive things that she brushes off in the name of peace. Through the plot, Grace asks us to consider not only what prejudices we might be dismissing but also what the appropriate response is when we come from a place of privilege. Questioning our environment is an obvious message. The more subtle messaging is the difference between being an ally and being a savior. The messaging is a bit heavy handed and Amoris's wilful ignorance becomes a bit tiresome, like Grace is working a bit too hard to keep her sympathetic. If it serves as a starting point to discuss more complex social topics, though, it's worth a read.

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Suitcase update

 Today I'm bringing you a project I've been working on for a while. My dad cleaned out an abandoned house and found this vintage suitcase. It was full of trash and had a hole punched in the side. He was going to throw it out due to the hole but I thought it had promise so I brought it home.

The first step was to pull out the stained liner and scrub the grime from the outside. Once it was clean I filled the hole with glue. The blue was an okay color but it was a little stained. Plus I prefer more vibrant shades, so I refinished the outside with some multi-surface acrylic paint in a bright yellow-orange. And since I had some blue leftover from another project, I did the hardware in a contrasting color.

Of course, with a new outside, the inside needed a change as well. I had some leftover fabric from a bag. And like most people I constantly have corrugated cardboard on hand.

It took a fair amount of hot glue to put it all together, but it looks pretty good.

Book review - Rescue at Lake Wild

 

Title: Rescue at Lake Wild

Author: Terry Lynn Johnson

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Secret Explorers series by S.J. King

                      Saltwater Secrets by Cindy Callaghan

Rating:

 

good ideas present

Summary (provided by publisher): Everyone knows that twelve-year-old Madison “Madi” Lewis is not allowed to bring home any more animals. After she's saved hairless mice, two birds, a rabbit, and a stray tom cat that ended up destroying the front porch, Madi’s parents decide that if they find one more stray animal in the house, she won’t be allowed to meet Jane Goodall at an upcoming gala event.
But when Madi and her two best friends, Aaron and Jack, rescue beaver kits whose mother was killed, they find themselves at the center of a local conspiracy that’s putting the beavers and their habitats in danger. As Madi and her friends race to uncover the threat targeting the beavers, Madi must put her animal whisperer skills to the test in both raising the orphaned beaver kits and staying out of trouble long enough.

My opinion: My first thoughts regarding this book are all about consequences. Madi is forbidden from bringing home strays but she does it anyway. While her intentions are good, there are consequences without compromise. She doesn't get a work around that allows her to go to the gala. And there are good reasons for her parent's rules. Her actions put herself, her friends, and the beavers in danger. It's important that reader don't see her rescues as something to imitate. It's also important that the plot finds a balance between protecting the animals and the need for the farmers to protect their property. We are show the devastation to crops, the dangers in the roadways. The solutions involve compromise and thinking through solutions rather than a gut reaction. While not without it's problems, this is a solid read for a kid with an ecological mindset.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

Dawn Raid by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith

I don't believe I've read much at all, modern or historic, about New Zealand. I'm interested to see how this one plays out, given elements of protest and political upheaval at an age where your personal life can already be a bit complicated. This promises to be a quick listen, so join me again soon for a review.

Non-fiction book review - Violet and Daisy

 

Violet and Daisy by Sarah Miller

I was fairly new to the story of Violet and Daisy but I do have an interest in the history of sideshows and Vaudeville, so I was invested in this story pretty early on. Miller makes it easy, presenting their story in a largely narrative structure. The book mostly proceeds in chronological order, backtracking on a few occasions to explain some context. It's not strictly factual, as Miller occasionally editorializes about motivations though she is clear on the difference between recorded fact and her own opinion or when a source is unreliable. While Violet and Daisy are largely presented as victims, manipulated and controlled for most of their lives, Miller is not afraid to point out the negative aspects of their personalities: their tendency to lie and extreme self-importance. The tone is fairly conversational, a style familiar to frequent podcast listeners. While this is something of a niche topic, it's a fairly compelling read. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Republic of Birds

 

Title: The Republic of Birds

Author: Jessica Miller

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

                      The Cartographer's Daughter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Rating:

 

creative but slow moving

Summary (provided by publisher): In the land of Tsaretsvo, civil war has divided the human kingdom from the Republic of Birds. Magic is outlawed, and young witches are sent to a mysterious boarding school, from which no one has returned. Olga and her family live a life of dull privilege in the capital until her father displeases the tyrannical tsarina. The family is sent off into exile at the Imperial Center for Avian Observation, an isolated shack near the Republic of Birds. Unlike the rest of her family, Olga doesn’t particularly mind their strange new life. She never fit into aristocratic society as well as her perfect younger sister, Mira. What does worry Olga is her blossoming magical abilities. If anyone found out, they’d send her away. But then Mira is kidnapped by the birds, and Olga has no choice but to enter the forbidden Republic, a dangerous world full of iagas, talking birds, and living dreams. To navigate the Republic and save her sister, she’ll need her wits, her cunning—and even her magic.

My opinion: We've got a unique set-up here. Sure, we see books with magical kingdoms at war. It's the quasi-tsarist Russia setting that stands out. Especially since it begins with the central characters being sent into exile. It is that exile that allows Olga to experience life, magic, and her family in new ways. She's learing that her father and her step-mother are not exactly what she's always assumed. On the whole, though, I feel like I wanted a little more. It's already a lot, all the elements at play here. But we don't go into depth on anything. I wanted to understand the interplay between the humans, birds, and yagas, their motivations and resentments. Their history and culture is simply never addressed. There's some hints of the careful tightrope of the politics in this kingdom, but it doesn't get much landscape. It might benefit from a second volume, to allow more exploration of those ideas.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Kindle cover

I made myself a Kindle cover years ago. It's held up pretty well but the duct tape occasionally wears thin. Here's how it's looked lately. You can see the tape curling, especially along the spine.

 Usually I just add on a new layer of random tape but sometimes i like to do something creative. And since it's Star Wars day, I thought it would be fun to do something in the Star Wars universe. I settled on my favorite character from the new trilogy, the droid D-0.

 

Tank top

 After a fruitless search for a patterned tank top, I figured I'd make some of my own out of ill-fitting t-shirts. I had planned a whole tutorial for you using this t-shirt.

 After just a couple of wears, it got to be uncomfortable. A bit too tight around the arms and neck. I started by cutting off the sleeves and collar. At this point you want to try the shirt on again. That gives you a sense of where the shirt needs correcting. Usually, the arm holes are too large and the shoulders are too wide. With this shirt, though, it was perfect after cutting. A great length and not too revealing around the armpits. You could go a little narrower on the straps, maybe scoop the neckline a little more, but I favor more of a muscle shirt style so I'm happy with the result.

 I feel a little guilty about such a short tutorial, so as a bonus here's a decoration I made for my favorite hat for Earth Day and which I continue to wear.