Thursday, March 31, 2022

Picture books for everyone

 

The Gardener of Alcatraz by Emma Bland Smith

Picture books seldom address prison at all, much less alternative theories of incarceration and rehabilitation. In telling the story of Elliot Michener, though, Smith has done exactly that. We see both the healing power of nature and the positive affects of finding purpose and fulfillment in a person's life. The narrative is easy enough to follow and is accompanied by cheerful and expressive illustrations. The underlying messages are a bit deeper and give an older child ideas of social justice and the implications of the carceral system to reflect upon

More information: The Gardener of Alcatraz releases April 5. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 31 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser

The Road to Epoli by Ben Costa and James Parks

The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams

Total read in March: 46

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Non-fiction book review - Atlas of Extinct Animals

 

Atlas of Extinct Animals by Radek Maly

This is one I recommend consuming in small bits. It's not especially dense or heavy with technical language. It's more that the nature of the subject is prone to making it a bit repetitive. We are introduced to an animal and how it was specially suited to a feature of the environment or without many natural predators. Typically it all goes wrong when humans are introduced. People hunt, farm, or introduce competition to the environment, ultimately leading to the extinction A few of these animals were done in by climate change or other natural disaster. There's certainly appeal here, especially for a kid with an interest in the sciences.

More information: Atlas of Extinct Animals releases April 26.

March 30 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Skycircus by Peter Bunzl

Dennis the Menace Volume 1 by Al Wiseman and Fred Toole

The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams

Total read in March: 44

 

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Book review - Any Sign of Life

 

Title: Any Sign of Life

Author: Rae Carson

Genre: sci-fi/post-apocalypse

Similar books: Landscape With Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson

                     The Road to Winter by Mark Smith

Rating:

has some believability issues

Summary (provided by publisher): Paige Miller is determined to take her basketball team to the state championship, maybe even beyond. But as March Madness heats up, Paige falls deathly ill. Days later, she wakes up attached to an IV and learns that the whole world has perished. Everyone she loves, and all of her dreams for the future—they’re gone.
But Paige is a warrior. She pushes through her fear and her grief and gets through each day scrounging for food, for shelter, for safety. As she struggles with her new reality, Paige learns that the apocalypse did not happen by accident. And that there are worse things than being alone.

My opinion: It's a scenario we've seen before: waking up to find that the world has changed. As a concept it has some flaws. While Carson addresses some of these with enough detail as to provide plausibility without trying too hard, other elements never fully make sense. The plot is solidly paced but relies a bit too much on gruesome detail for atmosphere. Ultimately, it's not an especially compelling story as no secrets are revealed in later chapters. Once Paige figures out what is going on, where the disease came from, there are no new reveals, just slogging through to a new stasis with no emotional exploration.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 29 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Skycircus by Peter Bunzl

Dennis the Menace Volume 1 by Al Wiseman and Fred Toole

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 43

Monday, March 28, 2022

March 28 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Storm by Nicola Skinner

Dennis the Menace Volume 1 by Al Wiseman and Fred Toole

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 41

Sunday, March 27, 2022

March 27 check-in

 

Open on my shelf today:

Science Comics: Birds of Prey by Joe Flood

Dennis the Menace Volume 1 by Al Wiseman and Fred Toole

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 39

Saturday, March 26, 2022

March 26 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 37

 

Friday, March 25, 2022

Book review - The Best Liars in Riverview

 

Title: The Best Liars in Riverview

Author: Lin Thompson

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: The Paris Project by Donna Gephart

                     Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

Rating:

a solid, age appropriate reflection on pain and identity

Summary (provided by publisher): Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence—weird, yet the same kind of weird. But lately, even their shared weirdness seems weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. The whole town is looking for him, and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can’t say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here’s what they know for sure: For the last two weeks of the school year, when sixth grade became too much, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods.The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game.The raft is gone now, too.Aubrey doesn’t know where Joel is, but they might know how to find him. As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that bully Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion. 

My opinion: It has become a widely accepted truth that middle school is difficult for kids socially, especially for kids who are in any way different. We aren't surprised to find that this is the scenario in this book - bullied kids who are keeping big, essential secrets for fear of worse bullying. It's more than just peer difficulties, though. It's societal disapproval, feeling like you are a disappointment to your parents. These are huge questions to consider in a middle grade novel but Thompson handles them well, never making Aubrey out to be a perfect kid. Aubrey is pushing everyone away, keeping secrets they know to wrong or dangerous. While this is not a book for everyone, if a kid is struggling reading a book like this one could help.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 25 check-in

 

Open on my shelf today:

Boy Underwater by Adam Baron

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 36

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Listen with me

 

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr

A mystery featuring a kid detective is a hard thing to pull off effectively. You don't want to have them investigating a "real" crime as that would put them in unreasonable danger. With only kid level mysteries, though, the stakes are often lacking. That's something this book does well. The missing mascot is upsetting to many of the children at the school and has consequences in their day. The investigation is solid as well. The clues are clear enough for a kid to understand but provide enough misdirection as to not be completely obvious. The motivation is a little weak but that's forgivable. The characters are amusing and believable.

From a purely audio standpoint, this one is well narrated. Moxie's voice is dynamic and excitable without going too far and becoming obnoxious. This was a fun listen that can be enjoyed by kids and their parents. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 24 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Boy Underwater by Adam Baron

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 36

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Non-fiction book review - Flowers are Pretty...Weird!

 

Flowers are Pretty Weird by Rosemary Mosco

This is one of those books that straddles the line between picture book and non-fiction. It's more conversational than we typically see in straight non-fiction. The bee narrator starts with the standard idea of a flower and then gives us examples of flowers that don't fit into that standard. Flowers that grow or appear in ways and places that we wouldn't expect. We start with small variations and are introduced to gradually more extreme versions of weirdness. There isn't a lot of information about each flower though there is a basic exploration of how each variation works to the flower's advantage. Interesting and accessible for even young readers.

More information: Flowers are Pretty Weird releases March 29

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 23 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfeild

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 35

 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Book review - Daughter

 

Title: Daughter

Author: Kate McLaughlin

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: In the Blood by Sara Hantz

                      I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Rating:

not what I was expecting

Summary (provided by publisher): Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.
When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.
Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

My opinion: When you hear that a book is about a character finding out she's the child of a serial killer, you expect a thrilling plot. We're expecting physical danger or deep psychological exploration. But that's not hat McLaughlin gives us here. While Scarlet has some "am I like my father" moments, she comes to conclusions about her own identity pretty quickly. In fact, there's far more exploration of how the public perceives killers and their families than there is introspection. The plot is fairly simple and doesn't actually dig very deep.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 22 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Wrecked by Heather Henson

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 34

 

Monday, March 21, 2022

Small notecards

 I recently got a couple of pen-pals and wanted something unique to send them. I had some cardstock around so folded and cut it into cards that will fit into a standard envelope. 



March 21 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Wrecked by Heather Henson

Squirrel, You Really Got Me Now by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 34

Sunday, March 20, 2022

March 20 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson

Squirrel Power by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 34

Saturday, March 19, 2022

March 19 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Agents of SLAM by Dave Scheidt

Squirrel Power by Ryan North

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Tiffany Brooks

Total read in March: 33

Friday, March 18, 2022

Book review - The Summer We Forgot

 

Title: The Summer We Forgot

Author: Caroline George

Genre: thriller

Similar books: The Girl With the Wrong Name by Barnabas Miller

                      Oblivion by Sasha Dawn

Rating:

not as exciting as it wants to be

Summary (provided by publisher): Some memories are better left forgotten.
Darby and Morgan haven’t spoken for two years, and their friend group has splintered. But when the body of their former science teacher is found in the marsh where they attended camp that summer, they realize they have more questions than answers . . . and even fewer memories.
No one remembers—or no one is talking.
The group of reunited friends suspects that a murderer is stalking the coastal highway 30A, and they are desperate to recover their memories as quickly as possible . . . before their history they can’t remember repeats itself.
Everyone has a secret.
As tensions rise and time runs out, Darby and Morgan begin to wonder if they can believe one another . . . or if they can even trust themselves.

My opinion: The set up here is a decent one - a group of one time friends pulled apart by time and an experience that none of them remembers thrust back together by the reveal that they are connected to a murder. Of course they start their own investigation into what happened to them, an investigation that includes mysterious messages that at turns encourage them to find the secret and threaten their safety. So we have danger, friendship, even romance. The plot has enough action and keeps moving, doesn't dwell much on feelings or atmosphere. The problem is that the mystery has some logical leaps and pushes believably pretty hard. For a one-time read it isn't bad but it won't hold up to a repeat or even much of a close read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 18 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow

Marvel Tsum Tsum Takeover by Jacob Chabot

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 29

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Pick 6: humor

 This winter has been a bit rough, so we're all looking for a pick-me-up. What better way to lighten the mood than a funny book? Here are 6 new funny books published in the past 6 months.

6 new humor books:

  1. Orcs in Space by Mike Tanner
  2. Glorious Wrestling Alliance by Josh Hicks
  3. The Heist Age by Doug Paleo
  4. How to Train Your Dad by Gary Paulsen
  5. Blue, Barry, and Pancakes by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson
  6. Housecat Trouble by Mason Dickerson

March 17 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Marvel Tsum Tsum Takeover by Jacob Chabot

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 28

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Listen with me

 

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

I've been listening to more serious books recently so I'm looking forward to something a bit lighter. A kid's mystery set in school, this has the potential to be a lot of fun.

March 16 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Giant-Size LIttle Marvel by Skottie Young

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 27

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Book review - Mountain Runaways

 

Title: Mountain Runaways

Author: Pam Withers

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall

                      Far North by Will Hobbs

Rating:

delivers what it promises

Summary (provided by publisher): First a Canadian Rockies avalanche kills their parents. Then Children’s Services threatens to separate them. That’s when the three Gunnarsson kids decide to run away into the mountains and fend for themselves until the oldest turns eighteen and becomes their legal guardian. Not many would dare. But Jon, Korka, and Aron’s parents ran a survival school.
Turns out their plan is full of holes. When food and equipment go missing and illness and injury strike, things get scary. They’re even less prepared for encounters with dangerous animals and a sketchy woods dweller. On top of that, grief, cold, hunger, and sibling infighting threaten to tear them apart, while the search parties are closing in on them. Do Jon, Korka, and Aron really have what it takes to survive?

My opinion: This book is a pretty solid example of the survival story. We get a trio of kids matching wits with nature, using the knowledge their parents gave them to keep themselves alive. Their personality differences provide the bulk of the conflict. Most of the plot complications are the result of random bad luck. There are some unique details but the plot goes a lot of the places we would expect. The plot is simple and focused largely on practicalities rather than any character development, but it remains a fairly exciting read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 15 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Air by Monica Roe

Ms. Marvel: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Total read in March: 27

Monday, March 14, 2022

Bandana bib

 A friend of mine is having a baby this summer. Her style tends towards simple country looks, so when I found this plaid bandana bib it seemed like a good fit.


It needed a little something, though, so I embroidered a fox on it. I'd planned to do a pair of foxes, but my placement and sizing was a bit off. One fox works pretty well, I think.



March 14 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson

Ms. Marvel: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin 

Total read in March: 25

Sunday, March 13, 2022

March 13 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Star the Elephant by Remy Lai

Ms. Marvel: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

Total read in March: 23

Saturday, March 12, 2022

March 12 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Scout is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong

Walt Disney's Vacation Parade by Carl Banks

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 19

 

Friday, March 11, 2022

Book review - Gallant

Title: Gallant

Author: Victoria Schwab

Genre: fantasy/horror

Similar books: The Cursed Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles by Haiko Hornig

                      The Monsters of Rookhaven by Padraig Kenny

Rating:

a bit dense

Summary (provided by publisher): Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.
Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.
Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

My opinion: I certainly applaud the combination of fantasy and horror. Many scenarios that are presented as magical and ideal could be terrifying if viewed through a different lens. This book starts with a fairly standard scenario: an orphan in a dreary and hopeless living situation is claimed by long lost family and whisked away to the family estate. It's upon her arrival at the house that Olivia's story takes a darker turn. It becomes clear early on that something is very wrong at Gallant. Her efforts to unearth secrets put the whole household in danger. This can be very interesting and the book is strongly atmospheric. The writing can be dense, though, so heavy with details that you can lose track of what is going on if you don't read closely. That might make it a hard sell for the middle grade set.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
 

March 11 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Any Sign of Life by Rae Carson

DuckTales Classics edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 18

 

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Graphic Novel spotlight - Housecat Trouble

 

Housecat Trouble by Mason Dickerson

If you're familiar with Binky the Space Cat, think of this book as that for a slightly older audience. Buster is a regular housecat, largely interested in when he will be fed next and afraid of most everything. He is wholly unprepared to face the creatures that begin to take over his house. Those creatures may be difficult for a young reader to understand. If you pay attention to the details, though, it becomes clear that they represent darkness and depression. Badness in the life of humans. We then interpret this plot as saying that it is the job of cats to keep people engaged with the world and happy. Since it can be read on a couple of levels it will grow with a reader to a degree.

 


Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 10 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

The Best Liars in Riverview by Lin Thompson

DuckTales Classics edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 17

 

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

March 9 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Daughter by Kate McLaughlin

DuckTales Classics edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 16

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Book review - Mirror Girls

 

Title: Mirror Girls

Author: Kelly McWilliams

Genre: history/magical realism

Similar books: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

                      The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen

Rating:

good idea, a bit lacking in execution
Summary (provided by publisher):  As infants, twin sisters Charlie Yates and Magnolia Heathwood were secretly separated after the brutal lynching of their parents, who died for loving across the color line. Now, at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, Charlie is a young Black organizer in Harlem, while white-passing Magnolia is the heiress to a cotton plantation in rural Georgia.
Magnolia knows nothing of her racial heritage, but secrets are hard to keep in a town haunted by the ghosts of its slave-holding past. When Magnolia finally learns the truth, her reflection mysteriously disappears from mirrors—the sign of a terrible curse. Meanwhile, in Harlem, Charlie's beloved grandmother falls ill. Her final wish is to be buried back home in Georgia—and, unbeknownst to Charlie, to see her long-lost granddaughter, Magnolia Heathwood, one last time. So Charlie travels into the Deep South, confronting the land of her worst nightmares—and Jim Crow segregation.
The sisters reunite as teenagers in the deeply haunted town of Eureka, Georgia, where ghosts linger centuries after their time and dangers lurk behind every mirror. They couldn’t be more different, but they will need each other to put the hauntings of the past to rest, to break the mirrors’ deadly curse—and to discover the meaning of sisterhood in a racially divided land.

My opinion: We get plenty of books about kids on opposite sides of the racial divide during the civil rights movement but I can't say as I'd ever considered what that would look like when the kids in question are biracial twins raised apart. Charlie and Magnolia, then, represent the difference between biological ties and experience. Root magic and spiritualism also play a strong role in the girls understanding their family history, their ties to the land, and what is poisoning the place. Those parts are strong but the characters are underdeveloped. More complex characters would make for a more compelling read but there's enough to consider in this book to make it worth reading.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 8 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

The Summer We Forgot by Caroline George

DuckTales Classics edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 15

 

Monday, March 7, 2022

Cabinet of curiosities

 I first encountered the idea of a cabinet of curiosities on the podcast of the same name and I've wanted to make one ever since. If you've followed this blog at all, you probably realize that I have a tendency to make odd crafts. A dedicated cabinet would be the perfect place to keep them. Then I ordered a violin online and it came in the perfect sized box, especially when I realized that the flats canned vegetables come in fit in that box almost exactly. 



I may eventually paint my cabinet, but for now I'm just happy to have a place to keep my weirdness.

March 7 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

The Summer We Forgot by Caroline George

DuckTales Classics edited by Justin Eisinger and Alonzo Simon

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 15

Sunday, March 6, 2022

March 6 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Birdman and Chicken: the Krazy Crusaders by Trevor Metcalf

The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 10

Saturday, March 5, 2022

March 5 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

Turning by Joy L Smith

The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 7

 

Friday, March 4, 2022

Book review - Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?

 

Title: Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?

Author: Leslie Connor

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Down to Earth by Betty Culley

                      Touch Blue by Cynthia Lord

Rating: 

lovely and charming
 
Summary (provided by publisher): Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin’s best friend has never spoken a word to her. In fact, Frenchie Livernois doesn’t talk.
Aurora is bouncy, loud and impulsive—“a big old blurter.” Making friends has never come easily. When Frenchie, who is autistic, silently chose Aurora as his person back in third grade, she chose him back. They make a good team, sharing their love of the natural world in coastal Maine.
In the woods, Aurora and Frenchie encounter a piebald deer, a rare creature with a coat like a patchwork quilt. Whenever it appears, Aurora feels compelled to follow.

At school, Aurora looks out for Frenchie, who has been her classmate until this year. One morning, Frenchie doesn’t make it to his classroom. Aurora feels she’s to blame. The entire town begins to search, and everyone wonders: how is it possible that nobody has seen Frenchie?
At the heart of this story is the friendship between hyper-talkative Aurora and nonvocal Frenchie. Conflict arises when Aurora is better able to expand her social abilities and finds new friends. When Frenchie goes missing, Aurora must figure out how to use her voice to help find him, and lift him up when he is found.

My opinion: Occasionally you read a book with a character that captures your attention almost right away. Aurora was that character for me. She is herself unapologetically. She recognizes that her energy and "blurting" habit make it hard for her to fit in with her peers but she's accepted these elements of herself. She tries to be more thoughtful but also doesn't want to change her essential nature. And she's imperfect. She makes decisions that the reader know she will come to regret. But when she makes mistakes she owns up to it and does her best to make it right. This book is more than the relationship between Aurora and Frenchie, though. Searching for Frenchie reveals the connections between the town's inhabitants. They come together for one of their own, even a kid who might be considered a natural outsider. Each scene helps people to notice things that help them appreciate each other more. A joy to read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 4 check-in

 

Open on my shelf today:

The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle

Teen Titans: Year One by Amy Wolfram, Karl KErschl, and Serge Lapointe

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Fodi

Total read in March: 5

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Picture books for everyone

 

Brian the Dancing Lion by Tom Tinn-Disbury

People love books about traditionally "tough" or large animals dancing. And e expect them to follow a particular path in of the characters learning not to care what others think about them. Brian differs a little from that outline. He has a lot of shame about his dancing. He feels very strongly that he has to follow certain behaviors and to talk about certain topics, to followw the life of a traditional predator. He has to learn to overcome his perception of societal pressure and do the thing that brings him joy. There are enough unique elements in this story to help i stand out in the world of self-acceptance stories. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 3 check-in

Open on my shelf today:

The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle

My Little Pony: Ponyville Mysteries by Christina Rice

Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D Richards

Total Read in March:3

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Non-fiction book review - Little Killers

 

Little Killers by Sneed B. Collard

When we think of aggression and predators in the animal world, we think big. We tend to forget that there are small, even microscopic predators. Collard walks us through the biology and behavior of half a dozen small predators, as well as a chapter on the important role these predators play in their environment and how we can help protect them. While the cover art goes overboard with the "killers" them, the text doesn't try too hard on that front, relying on pure science instead. The vocabulary is accessible to upper elementary aged readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 2 check-in

 Open on my shelf today:

Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang

Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D Richards

Total Read in March:1

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Book review - This is Not the Jess Show

 

Title: This is Not the Jess Show

Author: Anna Carey

Genre: sci-fi

Similar books: Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

                      Vicarious by Rhett C. Bruno

Rating:

a bit lackluster

Summary (provided by publisher): The year is 1998: Titanic just won six Oscars, boy bands are dominating MTV’s airwaves, and like any other teenager Jess Flynn is just trying to survive high school. Between a crush on her childhood best friend, overprotective parents, and her sister’s worsening health, the only constant is her hometown of Swickley, which feels smaller by the day.
Jess is resigned to her small-town life, until the day she discovers a mysterious device with an apple logo, causing her to question everything and everyone she’s ever known. As more cracks appear in Jess’s world, she faces a choice: can she live the rest of her life knowing it’s a lie, or should she risk everything for the truth?

My opinion: The concept here is decent, a plot clearly influenced by "The Truman Show", though the plot centers more on staying out of the clutches of the show than in the slow reveal of the nature of reality. It's a darker view of human nature and what we'll do for money. In the early chapters Jess is surprisingly oblivious to some pretty obvious holes in here reality. Luckily these are just a temporary road block. Once she learns the truth, the pacing and details improve. The plot relies on some pretty intense coincidence, though. It is more about things happening to Jess than her making conscious changes for her future.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

March 1 check in

 Since my elementary school days I've loved March as reading month. In school we marked it with reading contests and special "read and feed" days. As an adult, I've had to find new ways to mark the occasion. This year I've decided to do daily check-ins here on the blog. Join me in the afternoons for my regular posts but if you're interested in what I'm reading, you can find an extra post every morning where I'll list what's open on my shelf as well as the running total of how many books I've read in March.


Open on my shelf today:

Wrath by Marcus Sedgwick

Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang

Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D Richards

Total Read in March: 0