Book review - Leeva at Last

 

Title: Leeva at Last

Author: Sara Pennypacker

Genre: humor

Similar books:  Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

                      Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts by Esta Spalding

Rating: 

 

funny, with heart

 

Summary (provided by publisher): What are people for?
That’s the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom.
Fame! says Leeva’s mom, the mayor of Nutsmore.
Money! says her dad, the town treasurer.
With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town's librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer—setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever.

My opinion: It is inevitable that this book will be compared to Matilda. The two books share the same bones, afterall. Both Matilda and Leeva are bright young girls, largely self-sufficient, who are caring and compassionate in spite of their terrible parents. Their encounters with kind townspeople allow them to bloom into more complete members of society. Pennypacker gives us a very different set of details than Dahl did and they work together just as well. At turns funny and charming, this is a pleasant read that may fit the modern sensibility a bit better than some of Roald Dahl's more dated ideas.

More information: Leeva at Last releases March 7.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

The set-up here is a solid one. We get two perspectives. Cee is alone on a deserted island, her only companion a robot without conversational skills. She remembers little, only that she is searching for her sister. Kasey lives in a futuristic city in the sky, protected from the increasing dangers of climate change, coping with the isolation that comes with the disappearance of her older sister. As the book progresses the two narratives begin to approach one another and we get hints of the larger story that is going on in both places. 

Putting in it frankly, this story is a bit strange. It's sci-fi to be certain. Characters use stasis pods, virtual presences, brain-computer interfaces, even gravity reversal fields. But that's challenging part, I think. It's the plot. Through most of the book we are headed in a pretty clear direction. There is some exploration of privilege, social stratification, and ecological responsibility. Then, without getting into any spoilers, at a point where I thought I could see how the book was going to end, the plot shifts significantly. And the final chapters focus on an entirely different message. It was a bit jarring and means I would hesitate before recommending this book to other readers. 

 

Book review - Junkyard Dogs

 

Title: Junkyard Dogs

Author: Katherine Higgs-Coulthard

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson

                     Too Shattered for Mending by Peter Brown Hoffmeister

Rating: 

 

gritty and atmospheric

Summary (provided by publisher): Josh's father has gone missing without a trace, and Gran's ready to call social services. If Josh wants to keep himself and and his little brother, Twig, out of the system, he'll have to take to the streets and track down his dad. But when Josh digs too deep, his dad's old accomplices catch up to Josh and plunge him into a dangerous underground where putting his trust in the wrong person could number Josh in a growing pile of bodies.
This chilling portrayal of a teen desperate for food, shelter, and safety  barrels the reader through an emotionally-charged journey as Josh discovers that blood doesn't always make family—and some bonds can be broken forever.

My opinion: Higgs-Coulthard paints a vivid picture of a family in the act of collapsing. The mother is dead, the father drifting in and out of the picture as he works "jobs". It takes much of the book to get a real sense of what these jobs are but only a few chapters to realize that they probably aren't above-board. They aren't even really getting by, only putting up the most basic of appearances. And that's this book's strongest point. We are really living Josh's life with him, seeing his lack of choices and opportunities. So when he makes questionable decisions they seem rational in the moment, the decisions that will help pay a bill or buy a meal. It's a book less about plot, which is surprisingly slow paced, but about the relationships you have from childhood and those you build. It's a bit rough at moments but nothing too traumatizing. Worth reading and reflecting upon.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Mittens

 Since I live in a cold climate I've learned to value outerwear. I'm especially fond of mittens since my hands are always cold and mittens keep my fingers a little warmer. Several years ago I knitted myself a pair of mittens (one of the first projects I posted about on this blog!) that has been a mainstay of my winter wear. When they wore thin, I darned them. And then I darned the new hole that developed. Now that the right mitten is almost more darned spots than original knit, I figured it was time for a new pair. I use the basic mitten pattern from my vintage Coats and Clark Learn How Book.

 

if you can get your hands on one of these they're well worth it

I knitted my mittens with superwash wool so they will be sturdy and warm but a little less itchy than traditional wool.
 

What about you? Are you a mitten or glove sort of person?

Book review - It's Boba Time for Pearl Li

 

Title: It's Boba Time for Pearl Li

Author: Nicole Chen

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevah

                      Sofia Acosta Makes a Scene by Emma Otheguy

Rating:

 

a cute story with some depth

Summary (provided by publisher): Pearl Li is ready to spend the summer before seventh grade hanging out with her two best friends, crocheting the cutest amigurumi dolls, and frequenting her favorite tea shop, Boba Time. Its quirky owner, Auntie Cha, is the only adult Pearl can confide in about her art—if only her tech-obsessed family would understand her love of crafts!
After Pearl learns of Boba Time’s financial troubles, she decides to sell her amigurumi to raise money for the shop. But as she navigates the ups and downs of running a business, Pearl realizes that monetizing her passion is more complicated than she could’ve ever imagined. Will she be able to stop Boba Time from closing and prove to her parents that her passion for crochet is worthy and serious?

My opinion:This could easily have been a story about following your passions in spite of parent's disapproval. Chen doesn't stop there. While there is certainly an element of that Pearl's story is as much about paying attention to other people as it is being true to yourself. Sure, Pearl learns to stand up for herself and express her frustrations with her parent's dismissal. She also has to learn to look beyond her own desires. She's developing her identity but also needing to recognize that other people have needs and concerns and that her actions impact others. And on top of all that we get a solid illustration of the difficulties of running a small business. An engaging read populated by believable, flawed characters.

More information: It's Boba Time for Pearl Li releases February 28

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

 

Picture books for everyone

 

Beware the Blue Bagoo by Karl Newson

The first thing I have to note about this book is that it rhymes. If you've followed my blog for very long you know that I have a fraught relationship with rhyming picture books. They tend to be awkward to read. But Newson handles the structure well. There is no labored text, no lines that sacrifice understanding for the sake of a rhyme. The plot is pretty straightforward, our protagonist searching for the Blue Bagoo in order to prove how dangerous it is since there are warnings about it all over town. Of course, we discover that the Blue Bagoo is nothing like the rumors, proving that assumptions are harmful. The highlight is the illustrations. They remind me somewhat of the Moomin characters. They're a bit odd but in a good way. I could see this one going over well with a wide range of kids.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - No Matter the Distance

 

Title: No Matter the Distance

Author: Cindy Baldwin

Genre: realistic fiction/verse novel

Similar books: Knockout by K.A. Holt

                     Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

 Rating:

 

well done

Summary (provided by publisher): Penny Rooney has cystic fibrosis, which means she has to do breathing treatments to help her lungs work. Some days, it seems like her CF is the only thing Penny knows about herself for sure.
From her point of view, everyone around her can make sense of their place in the world. So why can’t Penny even begin to write a poem about herself for school?
Then during spring break Penny spots something impossible in the creek behind her house: a dolphin, far from its home. Penny names the dolphin Rose and feels an immediate bond, since the dolphin is also sick.
But as Penny’s CF worsens, she realizes that Rose needs to return to her pod to get better. Will Penny be able to help guide Rose back to the ocean, even if it means losing her friend?

My opinion: Given that this is a verse novel, the primary focus of the narrative is emotional. We get a fair amount of exploration of Penny's feelings: about her CF, about her relationship with her friend and her sister, about her connection to this dolphin. Even so, Baldwin is able to include a surprising amount of biological information about CF, treatment protocols, infection concerns, and life expectancy. While the near mystical connection between a child and an animal is not my favorite thing I can't deny that it works quite well here.

More information: No Matter the Distance releases February 21 

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Amigurumi

 Reading It's Boba Time for Pearl Li (see my review later this week) left me itching to do some crocheting. It's been years since I made amigurumi but I found some patterns I loved online and set to work. The best thing about amigurumi is you can easily make little adjustments to personalize your dolls. For instance, the pattern for this triceratops doesn't have a tail but ot was easy enough to add one to mine.

I left the legs off of the goat . 

And for both I used fabric paint instead of plastic safety eyes.

Book review - Lasagna Means I Love You

 

Title: Lasagna Means I Love You

Author: Kate O'Shaughnessy

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Sizzle by Lee McClain (note: this one skews a little older but the themes are remarkably similar)

                      The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

Rating:

 

charming

Summary (provided by publisher): Nan was all the family Mo ever needed. But suddenly she’s gone, and Mo finds herself in foster care after her uncle decides she’s not worth sticking around for.
     Nan left her a notebook and advised her to get a hobby, like ferret racing or palm reading.
     But how could a hobby fix anything in her newly topsy-turvy life?
Then Mo finds a handmade cookbook filled with someone else’s family recipes. Even though Nan never cooked, Mo can’t tear her eyes away. Not so much from the recipes, but the stories attached to them. Though, when she makes herself a pot of soup, it is every bit as comforting as the recipe notes said.
     Soon Mo finds herself asking everyone she meets for their family recipes. Teaching herself to make them. Collecting the stories behind them. Building a website to share them. And, okay, secretly hoping that a long-lost relative will find her and give her a family recipe all her own.
     But when everything starts to unravel again, Mo realizes that if she wants a family recipe—or a real family—she’s going to have to make it up herself.

My opinion: The plot to this one is a bit predictable but I found that it didn't really matter. Because Mo is a charming, believable protagonist. She makes real kid mistakes, has difficulty relating to the adults in her life and seeing things through their eyes. And the book does acknowledge degrees of privilege. Yes, Mo is in foster care. But she's a cute white kid who gets places in a wealthy foster-to-adopt situation almost immediately. We also see the difference between wealth and care, between material needs and emotional connection. Because that's really what Mo is hunting for throughout this book - a connection beyond physical needs. Some of the plot elements are fairly idealized and there are things that come far more easily than they should but the positives outweigh the negatives.

More information: Lasagna Means I Love You releases February 21.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

 I debated whether to read this one for a while. I kept concluding that it "looked boring". And I wasn't sure where that opinion was coming from. I'm usually far more motivated by title and description than cover. I've concluded that it reminds me of this cover:

A book that was recommended to me by at least two teachers in middle school and that I should have enjoyed since I was really into survival stories at the time but that I always put down after a chapter or two.

Once I was able to dismiss that random association, I felt like I was ready to take on this story of a missing teen, memory loss, a mysterious island, and a near future city desperate to save the world from climate change no matter the cost. 

Listen along with me if you can. And let me know - should I give Julie of the Wolves another chance now?
 

Book review - The Red Palace

 

Title: The Red Palace

Author: June Jur

Genre: historical fiction/mystery

Similar books: Empress in Disguise by Amanda Roberts

                     Queen of Someday by Sherry D Ficklin

Rating:

 

interesting history combined with a decent mystery

Summary (provide by publisher): To enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood...
Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father's approval.
But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon's closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher's innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.
In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

My opinion: I'll be the first to admit that I know almost nothing about modern Korean culture, much less about history. So this novel is a pretty interesting look at the larger world. That was, to me, the real selling point here. The mystery is fine. But the investigation introduces the reader to the intricacies of culture, to taboos and social rules. The roles of women and the careful class structures. The characters are decent and the plot wraps up in a neat and satisfactory way.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Fresh jam

 Have you ever made chia seed jam? If not, let me suggest that you try it ASAP. It's super easy and you can make just a single jar so there is no flavor fatigue or need to come up with a bunch of recipes that call for jam.

The recipe I used calls for 3 cups of frozen fruit (I used blueberries and ground cherries), 2 tablespoons of honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of chia seeds. That's it. And it made enough jam to fill the Smuckers jar I had just emptied.

 

 

Note, there are no preservatives in this jam so it won't keep long even in the refrigerator. Use or freeze within a week.

 

 

delicious on sourdough toast

Pick 6 - series

There's something wonderful about finding a good series. A solid adventure with the promise of more to come or beloved characters who we get to visit repeatedly. Especially for young or reluctant readers, if you can get someone started on a series you've guaranteed months of reading. With that in mind, here are six new books that are part of series.

Six new series books or sequels

1. The Mythics by Lauren Magaziner
2. Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
3. Suitehearts by Claire Kann
4. You Won't Believe This by Adam Baron
5. Roll Call by Molly Knox Ostertag
6. Pluto Rocket: New in Town by Paul Gillian

And one bonus book coming out later this month: InvestiGators: Agents of S.U.I.T by John Patrick Green

Non fiction book review - A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress

 

A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress by Gretchen Woelfle

I'm willing to bet most of us have not heard the name Jeannette Rankin. She's not a figure often mentioned in our history classes which is a real shame. Not only is she an important figure in the suffrage movement, she's a great example of making real change in the world. When she saw a problem, an injustice, she didn't bemoan it. She set about changing it. This is a simple, easy to follow narrative with messaging that will be easily understood by younger children but won't talk down to older kids. 

More information: This book releases February 7.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.