Book review - True Colors

 

Title: True Colors

Author: Abby Cooper

Genre: dystopia

Similar books: The Town With No Mirrors by Christina Collins

                      Falling Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix 

Rating:

 

a little flat

Summary (provided by publisher): In Serenity, Minnesota, everyone looks on the bright side, and that’s on purpose: to live in this town, people have to agree to talk positively and only focus on the good things in life. For twelve-year-old Mackenzie Werner, who has the rare gift of her emotions showing up as a colorful haze around her body, this town seems like the perfect place; she’ll never face the embarrassment of a grumbly grapefruit smog if everyone and everything is set up to be happy. But when a documentary maker comes to town and starts asking questions, Mackenzie, overwhelmed with emotion, can’t hold her haze back—and it explodes onto the whole town. Now everyone has their own haze, revealing their real feelings. As Mackenzie learns that emotions go beyond surface level, the whole town must reckon with what it means now that these true colors are on display.

My opinion: With the set-up here, the average reader will not be surprised at the direction that this plot takes. The messaging about emotional complexity is clear, making it easy for a young reader to grasp. The writing itself isn't especially nuanced. Characters are thin. It's a unique concept but doesn't really extend much beyond that. It doesn't take chances or stretch the reader much.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic novel spotlight - Karate Prom

 

Karate Prom by Kyle Starks

Between the title and the cover art, no one is going to be surprised by the humorous nature of this book. It absolutely does not take itself seriously. This is basically the more madcap version of Scott Pilgrim. With a meathead, jerk villain, constant battles, and a strong fighter as a female character, this is a fun read. Nothing deep, but still quite enjoyable.

 Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Stepping Off by Jordan Sonnenblick - A rising junior who feels like the biggest struggle he faces is his attraction to two girls finds his world rapidly changing in the face of his parents' marital struggles and the appearance of COVID-19.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Space You Left Behind by Ona Gritz - A verse novel that explores identity for a disabled teen, her sperm donor father, and what feels missing in her life.

What do you think you'll read next?

Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph by Ari Rosenschein

Listen with me

 

The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord

This story of a girl whose whole world has been turned upside down learning to see life through a different lens could be pretty compelling. Let's give it a listen and find out together.

Non-fiction book review - Wall to Wall

 

Wall to Wall by Mary Ann Fraser

If you have even a passing interest in wall art, this book is worth a look. From cave paintings to modern protest art, all sorts of wall art are explored here. For each instance we learn about the historical and geographical setting, the method of painting, and the larger cultural "why" - the reason for the setting and the thought behind the art. The text is easy to read and supported by images. And for a person like myself who has never had much interest in graffiti and murals, reading a book like this one makes it a far more compelling subject.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - The Awesome Physics in Your Home

 

The Awesome Physics in Your Home

 If there is one branch of science that people find intimidating, it's physics. But physics is all around us and that's what this book wants to help us understand. This text explores simple physics like static electricity and far more complicated procedures. Nothing is explained in depth but we do gain a cursory understanding of each principle. With a few simple experiments supporting the information, this is a solid choice for science minded kids and their adults.

More information: The Awesome Physics in Your Home releases June 18

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

True Colors by Abby Cooper - A girl who sees emotions as colors moves to a town where only positivity is allowed.

What did you recently finish reading?

Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall - Sid is haunted by the ghosts of five girls - girls their dad was convicted of murdering. Now more girls are going missing and Sid will have to find the truth of what happened to them and what that means for Sid and their attempt at living a quiet life.

What do you think you'll read next?

How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta

Book review - Prom Babies

 

Title: Prom Babies

Author: Kekla Magoon

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Belly Up by Eva Darrows

                     What They Don't Know by Nicole Maggi

Rating:

 

a nice assortment of perspectives

Summary (provided by publisher): Mina, Penny, and Sheryl have the typical expectations of prom night in 2005: dresses, dancing, and of course some coming of age moments. None of them plans to get pregnant, but when all three do, they band together as they face decisions that have the power to shape the rest of their lives.
In 2024, their three children--Blossom, Amber, and Cole--are high school seniors, gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom.
A generation later, will this prom night change lives too?

My opinion: If there is an aspect of the teen experience that is inexorably tied up in sex and gender issues, it's prom. And if there is an issue of sex and gender, it is addressed in this book. With such a grand scope, of course, no single issue gets addressed in any serious depth. Characters are similarly limited in depth and development. The messaging is rather bluntly conveyed. What it lacks in subtlety, though, it makes up for in it's honest conversation. While this book isn't likely to be a favorite, it is a great starting point for discussion.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - The Incredible Octopus

 

The Incredible Octopus by Erin Spencer

 It seems like the world is really only beginning to grasp how amazing octopuses are. Scientists are making more and more discoveries about them. And thus we get books like this one, which take us through the ins and outs of these creatures. We learn about features that all octopus species share and peculiarities of individual species. With dozens of photos explaining each aspect and lots of fascinating factoids, this is a book that is sure to interest young readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Picture a Girl

 

Title: Picture a Girl

Author: Jenny Manzer

Genre: verse novel

Similar books: Kyra, Just for Today by Sara Zarr

                      How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C Rudd

Rating:

 

well balanced

Summary (provided by publisher): Addie and her brother, Billy, live with their mom in a shabby rental cabin in the tourist town of Cedarveil, BC, right off the beach. Their lives are a little different than some—they often visit the food bank, and they don't have a phone or TV. For entertainment, their mom tells them stories before bed...if she's in a good mood, or home at all. Sometimes Mama copes with her depression by drinking; sometimes, she just disappears.
When Addie wakes up one Monday, she senses a stillness that tells her Mama's gone again. Addie knows it's up to her to take care of everything until her mom gets back. It's either not let on that anything's amiss or she and Billy will be separated from one another. Once again she makes it through until her mom's return a week later, knowing that she's strong enough to survive alone—but she's hoping this will be the last time.

My opinion: Sometimes, when you get a book about a kid with a neglectful parent, all we see is the bad. We see the way that the parent harms their child, intentional or otherwise, and the child's inability to find their way out. That isn't the case here. We see a kid desperate to keep her family together, certainly, but we also see the positives of their life together. Not just the fact that Addie wants to protect her mom but why she wants that. We see the way that her community comes together to help them while also doing their best to give the kids chances to ask for more help. As a verse novel it's very character driven, digging deep into Addie's feelings and motivation, but the physical events are easy enough to follow.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Say What

 

Say What? by Charlotte Molas and Radka Piro

Do not be mislead by the cover art here. This book is no simple look at language. It looks at all forms of communication, from language development to body posture. It encourages clear communication and listening skills, teaching kids to not only communicate their needs but also to respect all forms of communication from others. This is a book you could read all at once or in bits and pieces, gleaning new information each time. While the simple illustration style may be appealing to the very young, the content is aimed at more of a middle grade audience.

More information: Say What releases May 28

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy - Murray has always had a magical connection with the ocean but that is called into question when a hurricane destroys much of the town. And with that shaken, Murray begins to question a lot of other things.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Lamplighter by Crystal J Bell - A young woman defies expectations in her New England town, carrying on her father's work as the village lamplighter, and uncovers a dark secret.

What do you think you'll read next?

The Things We Miss by Leah Strecher

Book review - The Boo Hag Flex

 

Title: The Boo Hag Flex

Author: Justina Ireland

Genre: horror

Similar books: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes

                      1, 2, 3, Scream by R.U. Ginns

Rating:

 

appropriately creepy

Summary (provided by publisher): The last thing Tasha Washington wants is to move from her home in Savannah to a trailer park in Middle-of-Nowhere, Georgia. But when her mother dies and Tasha is taken in by her father—a man she’s never met, who abandoned her mom when Tasha was just a baby—she doesn’t have much of a choice. At least, she thinks, she won’t have to spend much time with him—something that becomes clear when he dumps Tasha with her grandmother and disappears to be with his new girlfriend.
The Shady Pines trailer park seems like a miserable place to spend a summer, even before an elderly neighbor suddenly passes away. But then Tasha meets a girl named Ellie who says she knows what really killed old Mr. Harold: a terrifying creature that stalks the trailer park at night, sucking the life from its victims. Tasha doesn’t believe it, but when she discovers a book of hoodoo legends in her grandmother’s trailer, and more people around Shady Pines start to appear unwell, she begins to fear the stories are true—and that danger is much closer than she thinks.

My opinion: I don't know about you, but I was definitely a middle grade reader who liked a good scare. An avid reader of Goosebumps. So this book would have been exactly my cup of tea. And it's tonally just about perfect. The new-kid dynamic is frequently used in horror as a way for characters to explain away strange happenings but it works quite well in this instance, partly because Tasha is a well developed character. Also in the book's favor is the use of a lesser known spook - the boo hag. The result is creepy, sympathetic, and just a touch gross. While the series construction of tales told in some kind of haunted, otherworldly camp cabin feels a bit forced, the internal story is strong and worth reading on it's own merit.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Lion of the Sky

 

Title: Lion of the Sky

Author: Ritu Hemnani

Genre: historical fiction/verse novel

Similar books: One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome

                      The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

Rating:

 

a nice, complex picture

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Raj is happiest flying kites with his best friend, Iqbal. As their kites soar, Raj feels free, like his beloved India soon will be, and he can’t wait to celebrate their independence.
But when a British lawyer draws a line across a map, splitting India in two, Raj is thrust into a fractured world. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families are torn apart—and Raj’s Hindu and Iqbal’s Muslim families are among them.
Forced to flee and become refugees, Raj’s family is left to start over in a new country. After suffering devastating losses, Raj must summon the courage to survive the brutal upheaval of both his country and his heart.

My opinion: Partition is, admittedly, an incredibly complex topic. It could be too much to address in a traditional novel, much less in a verse novel like this one. But Hemnani makes it work, partly by not trying to explain everything. We don't get a full picture of the politics of the region, the history of British occupation. We only get a snapshot of life in the region under British rule and the rapid shift after Partition is declared. The narrative covers a reasonable time span, less than a year, and shows us very different pictures of life in that time. More importantly, it's about more than just the affects of Partition. It is just as much about Raj's relationship with his father, the expectations he feels like he cannot meet.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Lies My Teacher Told Me

 

Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen; adapted by Nate Powell

The simple existence of the original book shook up our understanding of history education and became considered essential reading. It's a bit to my chagrin that I've never managed to read the book. But when I learned that Powell was adapting the text into the graphic novel format I knew my chance had come. Now to be clear, this is still an incredibly text heavy book. In fact, if it were not an adaptation that would be a significant criticism. Instead I understand that Powell is doing his best to illustrate and include as much of the original language as possible since it was all carefully selected in the first place to convey essential information. This is not a graphic novel that you're going to fly through but rather read carefully. The illustrations highlight the text, assisting in understanding. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Maybe It's a Sign

 

Title: Maybe It's a Sign

Author: E. L. SHen

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn

                      A Duet For Home by Karina Yan Glaser

Rating:

 

nicely reflective

Summary (provided by publisher): Seventh-grader Freya June Sun has always believed in the Chinese superstitions spoon-fed to her since birth. Ever since her dad’s death a year ago, she’s become obsessed with them, and believes that her father is sending her messages from beyond. Like how, on her way to an orchestra concert where she’s dreading her viola solo, a pair of lucky red birds appear—a sure indication that Dad wants Freya to stick with the instrument and make him proud.
Then Freya is partnered with Gus Choi, a goofy and super annoying classmate, for a home economics project. To her surprise, as they experiment with recipes and get to know each other, Freya finds that she may love baking more than music. It could be time for a big change in her life, even though her dad hasn’t sent a single sign. But with the help of her family, Gus (who might not be so annoying after all), and two maybe-magical birds, Freya learns that to be her own person, she might just have to make her own luck.

My opinion: This could have been a simple story of a kid finding her way out of grief. It manages to transcend that. Certainly grief is a large element. It's also about parental expectations, both explicit and assumed, complex family dynamics, and self discovery. It's about learning to know yourself and the things that matter to you. This is not always a comfortable, relaxing read but it is an engaging one and it could spark a good conversation with a middle grade reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Tales From Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex by Justina Ireland - After her mother's death a girl moves in with her father and grandmother in a trailer park where strange things are happening.

What did you recently finish reading?

With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods - A boy and his friend adopt a baby mockingbird that was born with only one wing. Learning about birds teaches him about himself.

What do you think you'll read next?

Picture a Girl by Jenny Manzer

Yarn bowl

 Last year I decided to experiment with growing birdhouse gourds and the results were ... startling.

They spent the winter curing and drying and they're finally ready to work with. I finished my first experiment this week - a yarn bowl. 

 

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and I'm thinking about doing a more detailed how to if that's something you'd be interested in seeing. Let me know in the comments.

Book review - Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed

 

Title: Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed

Author: Jose Pablo Iriarte

Genre: magical realism

Similar books: Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre

                      Almost There and Almost Not by Linda Urban

Rating:

 

some solid ideas

Summary (provided by publisher): After moving cross-country into his late grandfather’s Miami mansion, Benny discovers that the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo, the great Ignacio Ramírez, is still there . . . and isn’t too thrilled about it. He’s been barred from the afterlife, and no one can see him except his grandson. But Benny’s got problems of his own. He’s enrolled in a performing arts school with his siblings, despite having no obvious talent.
 Luckily, Abuelo believes they can help each other. Abuelo has until New Year’s Eve to do some good in the world and thinks that teaching Benny how to play the trumpet and become a school celebrity might be the key to earning his wings. Having no better ideas, Benny finds himself taking Abuelo's advice—to disastrous and hilarious results.

My opinion: With this book Iriarte takes a hard look at the mixed bag of fame and skill. We have the obvious lesson of Abuelo's fame and ego, the way he prioritized himself over everyone else in his life. But there's also the example of Benny's siblings who have always excelled, been the best in their art, and are struggling with finding their place. There's a focus on doing the things that you love, not just because you are good at them. Some of the attitudes are a bit of a mixed bag and the ending is perhaps overly idealized but for the most part it asks good questions for a middle grader to consider.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Pick 6: multiple perspectives

One of the best things about fiction is the way that it opens up your world to perspectives you wouldn't otherwise understand. It's even better when a single book gives you multiple perspectives at once. Here are six book published in the past six months that are presented from more than one perspective.

6 new multiple perspective narratives

1. Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnsen
2. The Thirteenth Circle by Marcy Kate Connolly
3. Across So Many Seas by Ruth Beher
4. A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
5. Kindling by Traci Chee
6. One Big Open Sky by Ashley Schumacher
   

Book review - A Game of Noctis

 

Title: A Game of Noctis

Author: Deva Fagan

Genre: fantasy

Similar books: Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster

                      Where the Lockwood Grows by Olivia A Cole

Rating:

 

digs deeper than I expected

Summary (provided by publisher): In the opulent, sinking city of Dantessa, the Great Game rules all. Pia Paro believes that so long as you follow the rules, you always have a chance at winning. But after her beloved Gramps is sentenced to a life of servitude, Pia accepts a dangerous offer and joins a team of players seeking to win the most perilous game of all: Noctis.
The Seafoxes—Pia’s new teammates—are unlike anyone she’s ever met. There’s brash, bold Carlo; macabre Serafina; kindhearted Pasquale; and their dashing ringleader, Vittoria. Each has their own reason for playing, and soon, Pia begins to question all her long-held beliefs. Maybe the rules Pia once trusted to lift her up have only been keeping her—and thousands of others like her—down.
As she struggles with these revelations, Pia must survive a gauntlet of clockwork soldiers, perilous underwater adventures, and even a game against Death herself. But with Pia’s grandfather’s life at stake, Pia must finally decide whether she’s brave enough to not just break the rules, but to change the very nature of the Game.

My opinion: There's a little bit of a slow start to this book, not because it doesn't jump into action but because it takes a little bit to understand how this world works. Once you have that under your belt, though, it's pretty engaging. The structure of games with high stakes is reminiscent of any number of dystopian novels but with an air of magic. And the exploration of the world digs deep into class systems and our often skewed story of history. While the conclusions are what you would expect, the conversation is worth having with a middle grade reader and the pacing is spot on.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

Maybe It's a Sign by E L Shen - A girl looks for signs from her recently dead father, superstitions, and luck to direct her decisions in life while having increasing encounters with an annoying classmate.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Notes by Catherine Con Morse - A girl at a prestigious art school is influenced by a fascinating new teacher, exploring her abilities and taking on increasing pressures.

What do you think you'll read next?

And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps