Book review - The Heist Age

 

Title: The Heist Age

Author: Doug Paleo

Genre: humor/graphic novel

Similar books: Investigators by John Green

                      Didi Dodo series by Tom Angleberger

Rating:

 

silly but fun

Summary (provided by publisher): Dinotown is under attack! In this adventure, the Dinomighties face new icy villains led by Bully Mammoth. This colossal meanie will stop at nothing to ​get his grubby tusks on the world's most valuable painting: the Dino Lisa . . . even if it means putting a deep freeze on Dinotown. How will the Dinomighties heat things up in order to outsmart and ice out Bully and his big bad crew of furry doofs and manage to save their hometown along with the most precious piece of art in the whole wide world?

My opinion: A funny story with dinosaur secret agents? Talk about a guaranteed win with the average kid. Obviously, we're not meant to take this very seriously, which is a good thing since the plot logic is a bit thin. But it's easy to follow, easily read by a newly independent reader, and not too obnoxious for a parent reading along.

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Graphic novel spotlight - Beast Boy Loves Raven

Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia 

This is the third team up between Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo exploring the world of the Teen Titans. While these are stories that have been examined in comics in the past, this version is strongly character driven, as much about Beast Boy and Raven as people as it is about their powers. While they battle evil and seek out the source of their powers, they also struggle just to be teenagers and figure out their place in the world. Each character has had a book of their own and this volume brings them together, with the promise of more of our favorite Titans to come. While most comics focus on Robin and Starfire as the central duo, I appreciate the focus largely on Raven in this series. Beast Boy becomes a support and foil for the more serious Raven. The story is strong and the art even stronger. If you have any appreciation for standard comics, give this series a look. 

 

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Non-fiction book review - Animals to the Rescue

 

Animals to the Rescue by Sandra Markle

I was rather obsessed with helper animal stories in upper elementary school, so I can see the appeal of this book. And there are certainly unusual stories here. Like using elephants for earthquake recovery. I'd not heard of that before. I foresee this one going over quite well with young audiences.

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Book review - A Kind of Spark

 

Title: A Kind of Spark

Author: Elle McNicoll

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: We Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan

                      The Way to Bea by Kat Yeh

Rating:

 

the right kind of complex

Summary (provided by publisher): Ever since Ms. Murphy told us about the witch trials that happened centuries ago right here in Juniper, I can’t stop thinking about them. Those people weren’t magic. They were like me. Different like me.
I’m autistic. I see things that others do not. I hear sounds that they can ignore. And sometimes I feel things all at once. I think about the witches, with no one to speak for them. Not everyone in our small town understands. But if I keep trying, maybe someone will. I won’t let the witches be forgotten. Because there is more to their story. Just like there is more to mine.

My opinion: I bet most of us have never considered the role that most accused witches played in their communities, the causes of their existing outsider status. That idea is at the center of this book and is used as the framework to consider the role of current outsiders. McNicoll is asking us to consider the difference between being accepted and being expected to fit in.These characters feel the need to assimilate to a degree without losing their true selves. At the same time, we're considering community responsibility. This is a place having to come to terms with the ugly parts of their history without covering it up. A solid read for our times though probably not one with a lot of staying power.

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Inktober highlights

 For a couple of years now I've participated in Inktober on Instagram. Here are a few of my favorite drawings I've done this year.

Book review - The Ghost Tracks

 

Title: The Ghost Tracks

Author: Celso Hurtado

Genre: mystery/horror

Similar books: Small Town Monsters by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

                      This is Not a Ghost Story by Andrea Portes

Rating:

Summary (provided by publisher): Erasmo Cruz is from the wrong side of the tracks. His dad was a junkie who overdosed. His mom chose to run off rather than raise him. His only passion is the supernatural, and his only family is his grandmother, whose aches and pains, he soon learns, aren’t just from old age but from cancer.
Desperate to help his grandmother pay for treatment, Erasmo sets up shop as a paranormal investigator. After witnessing a series of inexplicable events, he must uncover the truth behind his clients' seemingly impossible claims. From hauntings to exorcisms, Erasmo soon finds that San Antonio is a much scarier place than even he knew.

My opinion: I'm not certain this book works as either a mystery or a horror story. While I can see what Hurtado is going for, exploring issues of belief and skepticism. Erasmo actually finds a decent balance between these two. He can keep a belief in the supernatural without following blindly while his friend follows stories whole-heartedly. My issue with the the plot on the whole is that it relies heavily on the physically horrific. We get an awful lot of disgusting detail: violence, gore, literal rot. It is, quite simply, gross more than it is frightening.

More information: The Ghost Tracks releases November 2.

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Picture books for everyone

 

Beneath the Trees: The Autumn of Mister Grumpf

This book fits neatly into the transition between picture book and graphic novel. The story is easy to follow, like a picture book, but relies heavily on the images to convey information. The characters tell us as much through facial expressions and body posture as they do through dialogue. Even the grumpy badger, the titular Mister Grumpf, is a pleasure to follow. This is a book that kids reading independently can enjoy but also a decent one to read together.

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Non-fiction book review - How the Wonders of the World Were Built

 

How the Wonders of the World Were Built by Ludmila Henkova

The wonders of the ancient world were something I learned about very briefly in school, mentioned in passing in a social studies class. We didn't learn about any of them in any depth at all apart from the pyramids. So I learned a fair amount from this book. Apart from the technology of the time, we get the context of the culture that created each wonder, the significance to the people, and the reason each was destroyed. Henkova is careful to give archeological and textual evidence for each fact provided. This book is a prime example of different disciplines coming together to explain ideas.  

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Book review - The Mystery of the Taj Mahal Treasure

 

Title: The Mystery of the Taj Mahal Treasure

Author: Raj Haldar

Genre: mystery

Similar books: Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans by Russell Gins

                      The Eagle of Rome by Dan Metcalf

Rating:

 

fun and educational

Summary (provided by publisher):  Eddie and Molly-Jean are next door neighbors and best friends. One Saturday, Eddie's mom sends him up to the attic to get his great-grandpa's most prized possession (a book, of course). Eddie and Molly-Jean are suddenly transported to India where they must use their word knowledge to solve a mystery and help a new friend save his school.

My opinion: A novel is a great way to teach something. By integrating vocabulary and word origins into the plot we not only teach something in a semi-subtle way, they also suggest that learning is fun and useful. The plot is a bit contrived and doesn't always make a lot of logical sense, but logic isn't really the point. Even knowledge of words isn't the focus. The characters are rewarded for intellectual curiosity. They check their book often, looking up things they don't know.

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Cat toys

 I don't have any cats. But I do have a lot of t-shirt scraps and, I like to think, a healthy dose of creativity so I got it into my head to make some cat toys to sell at craft fairs. And because they're pretty easy to make I thought I'd share the process step by step with you. 

1. Cut a circle from a scrap of t-shirt 4-6 inches in diameter. Cut some long strips of shirt about an inch wide and pull them until they curl into a cord. The cord will form your tentacles so cut them into 4 inch lengths. Pin several to your circle.

2. Stitch around the circle, basting the tentacles in place. Use that basting ring to gather the circle into a jellyfish shape.

3. Stuff the jellyfish with a little fiberfill and a scoop of catnip. Add a small circle of fabric in the opening and stitch it shut.

4. Thread a couple of pompoms onto a cord. Stitch one end to the jellyfish and tie the other end to a dowel.

Book review - The Undying Tower

 

Title: The Undying Tower

Author: Melissa Welliver

Genre: dystopia

Similar books: Escaping Eleven by Jerri Chisholm

                      Keystone by Katie Delhanty

Rating:

 

familiar concepts in an interesting combination

Summary (provided by publisher):Decades after the discovery that a small percentage of the population has stopped ageing, the Avalonia Zone is in crisis. From overpopulation to food shortages, the ‘Undying’ have been blamed for the state’s problems, banished to the fringes of society, and punished for every minor infraction.
When sixteen-year-old Sadie takes the fall for an attack by a rebel group, The Alchemists, she suddenly finds herself wrenched away from her quiet life and from her ailing father.
Armed with little help and even less knowledge, Sadie is thrust into a cold and cryptic ‘correctional facility’ – The Tower. Here she’ll have to rethink everything she’s been told about the Undying population in an attempt to save the life she knows, protect a group of unlikely friends, and give voice to the voiceless in a society on the brink of catastrophic upheaval.

My opinion: I approve, in general, of experimenting with dystopian fiction. Welliver has taken some familiar plot elements and combined them in an intriguing way. We don't get a lot of books that explore the potential downsides, culturally, to extended lifespans. We have the familiar: a character raised in relative privilege, adjacent to power, desperate to help her father and unwilling to recognize the negative aspects of her society. The world is, as we would expect, devastated by war and climate change. Some of the explanations for isolation and subjugation are hard to accept but this is the first in a series, so there is room for those ideas to be further developed. The characters, though, are a bit inconsistent and underdeveloped. There plot is a bit tiresome with some unnecessary complications and belaboring of motivations and certain plot points.

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Pick 6: horror

October means it's time for my annual list of horror stories. Who doesn't love a good scare in October? It's almost required to prepare for Halloween by scaring yourself silly. Here are six horror books published in the last six months.

6 new horror novels

1. The Ghoul Next Door by Cullen Bunn
2. The Halloween Moon by Joseph Fink
   
3. Hide and Don't Seek by Anica Mros Rissi
   
4. The Smashed Man of Dread End by J. W. Ocker
   
5. White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson
   
6. Small Town Monsters by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
   

Non-fiction book review - Wonderful Women of the World

 

Wonderful Women of the World edited by Laurie Halse Anderson

From the start, I was on board with the idea of this book. I love profiles of influential women. I love graphic novels. A book that intersects the two is chef's kiss perfection. I like that each profile is approached differently by the author. Some are traditional narratives. Some are the author reflecting on the influence the historic woman has had on her own life. There's a profile in here for everyone. And to top it all off, I was thrilled to learn that profiles like these were a part of Wonder Woman comics from the beginning. A great addition to any collection.

Book review - Long Road to the Circus

 

Title: Long Road to the Circus

Author: Betsy Bird

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: On Snowden Mountain by Jeri Watts

                     Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Rating:

 

a sweet story

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Suzy Bowles is tired of summers filled with chores on her family farm in Burr Oak, Michigan, and desperate to see the world. When her wayward uncle moves back home to the farm, only to skip his chores every morning for mysterious reasons, Suzy decides to find out what he's up to once and for all. And that's when she meets legendary former circus queen Madame Marantette and her ostriches. Before long, Suzy finds herself caught-up in the fast-paced, hilarious world of ostrich riding, a rollicking adventure that just might be her ticket out of Burr Oak.

My opinion: Part of what makes this story successful is that it doesn't try to hard to present complete information. Most of the family are not characters. For the large list of names we meet, only a few are fleshed out. Most people are only briefly present. This allows the plot to focus almost completely on Suzy's experience with the ostriches. It's almost more of a vignette than a complete book. The plot is simple. And while the story lacks the heart or even the message of Charlotte's Web they share a sensibility.

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Book review - Tristan Strong Keeps Punching

 

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia

 

I want to abandon my traditional book review format and address you directly. I know I've talked about Tristan Strong before (books one and two) but let me be clear. Percy Jackson may have kicked off the mythology craze but Tristan Strong is the one you should read. Mbalia has truly elevated the genre. He's exploring the strength of story in culture. And his villains are the embodiment of slavery and inter-generational racism. There are spirits and magical elements, certainly, but the story and link to culture are the ultimate drivers. Each character represents history, pain, struggle, triumph over oppression. Tristan himself is a symbol of the continued struggle for equality. This particular volume addresses redlining and the prison industrial complex, tying in the direct ties to slavery. It's not all seriousness either. There are genuinely light-hearted moments. Gumbaby makes me laugh pretty consistently. I'd encourage kids and adults alike to read and discuss this book.

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Graphic Novel Spotlight - Nightmare in Savannah

 

Nightmare in Savannah by Lila Gwenn

Let's consider the opening scenario of this book: the new girl in town finds herself in the company of a crew of defiant and wild girls. This is a set up that screams of werewolves or vampires. Instead we're treated to lore that I've often said is a vastly under-explored source for stories: changelings. These are the fae that medieval people feared. They are self-serving and cruel. And the more they use their magic the stronger they grow. It also begins to control them more, like a drug addiction. The pacing is a bit rough, scenes jumping a bit more than I'd prefer, but it's a unique book worth reading.

More information: Nightmare in Savannah releases October 26 

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Non-fiction book review - Upstream, Downstream

 

Upstream, Downstream by Rowena Rae

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you want to understand the basics of a complex idea read a book intended for children. Explanatory texts written for adults tend to be overly technical and rely on a lot of jargon. A book for kids will explain the idea in the simplest way possible with a number of clear examples. I can't say as I've ever really thought about watersheds, even when I was studying the water cycle. This book will solidly support those lessons we get in school and tie into our understanding of ecology as well.

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Book review - Alley & Rex

 

Title: Alley & Rex

Author: Joel Ross

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Endless Waiting by Matthew Swanson

                     Mr. Bambuckle: Rule the School by Tim Harris

Rating:

Summary (provided by publisher): Sixth-grader Alley Katz is innocently trying to help a bunch of kindergarteners when the burrito hits the fan. Literally. A burrito. A ceiling fan. A hail of beans. Now he has to get an A on his science test or he’ll be transferred to the dreaded Steggles Academy.
An A seems impossible! Alley is kind, intrepid, and well-liked, but for some reason he doesn’t get graded on any of that. So the principal assigns a peer mentor to help: Rex, a fourth-grade genius who wears a bunny suit.
Alley is totally in favor of both bunnies and fourth graders, but he doesn’t need Rex. He has his own foolproof plan to ace the test. Still, Rex is determined to fulfill his duty as Alley’s mentor—and he may need some help of his own. One boy needs to stay in school, the other needs to get through it. Can this odd couple save the day—and each other?

My opinion: Alley may be a sixth grader, but the reading and interest level of this book skews several years younger. This might make it a decent choice for reluctant readers. Alley's recklessness and wild imagination make it a highly entertaining read and the degree of misadventure is pretty appealing. It reads like a less cynical, more kind-hearted version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

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Book review - White Smoke

 

Title: White Smoke

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Genre: horror

Similar books: His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler

                     Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Rating:

 

genuinely creepy atmosphere

Summary (provided by publisher): Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.
The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.
But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?
As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

My opinion: Fear in a novel comes from two elements: atmosphere and danger. Jackson handles both of these elements well. From the moment the family arrives in town, to a house surrounded by abandoned buildings and a basement they are explicitly told not to enter, we can tell that something is wrong. This wrongness is aided by the neighbors that avoid them and the all white board gentrifying an historically black city with riots and secrets in its past. We have the standard creepy elements - threatening messages, things moved when no one is around - and real threats to their physical well being. There are some subplots that are never fully resolved. Overall, though, it's genuinely scary and socially aware.

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