Star Wars Peanuts

While this project isn't exactly a craft, it's the fruition of an idea I had while working on some crafts. While brainstorming my Star Wars craft projects I had this idea of Snoopy as Luke Skywalker and Woodstock as Yoda.

Book review - 5 to 1

Title: 5 to 1
Author: Holly Bodger
Genre: dystopian fiction
Similar books: Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
                     The Giver by Lois Lowry
Rating:

a literary delight

Summary: Fed up with a system that only values males, women banded together to form the nation of Koyanagar where women hold the power and boys must compete in a series of tests for the opportunity to marry. Sudasa is now eligible for marriage - a marriage she's not sure she wants but which she's told she must make for the good of the country. Among the competitors for her hand is Kiran, a boy with a secret agenda. As the tests progress Sudasa and Kiran first clash and then discover they may be working towards the same goal.

My opinion: This novel is written not only in alternating perspectives but alternating formats. Sudasa's sections are written in verse. Artfully sparse, each word and space is packed with meaning. Kiran's sections, while prose, make use of very careful word selection. The novel as a whole is delightfully artistic. While dystopian it focuses more on emotion than action, introspection rather than revolution.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Spotlight on Spelled

I'm excited for the upcoming fantasy retelling, Spelled and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight it here. Here's the summary and an excerpt provided by the publisher.

Spelled

By Betsy Schow

Sourcebooks Fire

June 2, 2015

Advance Praise for Spelled

“A cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea’s evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine… For Oz fans, this work is a great clean-read alternative to Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die.” -School Library Journal

“This wickedly funny, fast-paced adventure has it all: brains, courage, and heart. (Plus a kickin’ pair of heels.) .” --Jen Calonita, author of The Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series

“Fairy tale survival rule #1, do NOT read this book late at night. You will wake up your entire family with loud laughter. Fairy tale survival rule #2, if you love the Wizard of Oz, clever fairy tale mash-ups, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen until the very end, you MUST read Spelled.” --J Scott Savage, award winning author of Farworld, Case File 13, and the Mysteries of Cove series.

“A hilarious and snarky reimagining of the world of Oz, along with many other fairy tales injected throughout, "Spelled" is one fabulous read…Kick off those silver slippers and tuck in with this wonderful tale!” —Senator Sipes, Lil Book Bug (Palmdale, CA)

Book Info:

Talk about unhappily ever after. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving Dorthea with hair made up of emerald flames and the kingdom in chaos. Her parents and everyone she loves are stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed-off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse…before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

Amazon | B&N | BAM | !ndigo | IndieBound | Kindle |  Nook

Betsy Schow:

Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.

Website| Twitter

Excerpt from Spelled:

Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.

Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.

Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.

I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”

“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.

In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”

Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.

Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.

After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

I didn’t ask for Sterling’s opinion, but it made me feel better.

Until he opened his mouth again.

“Worth, pffft. I mean, look around at all the jewels. Your palace has everything you could ever want. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re fussing about. Why would anyone want to leave?”

Because a cage is still a cage, no matter how big or glittering the bars are.

And I would find a way free, no matter the cost.

Sounds like fun, right? Check out this awesome giveaway!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Graphic Novel Spotlight: The Chronicles of Claudette

The Chronicles of Claudette series by Jorge Aguirre

At face value, these books are just simple stories about a girl who wants to be a hero. Sure, there's epic adventure with witches, monsters, death around every corner. Kids love that stuff. As they are reading this, though, they are absorbing far more than adventure. Giants Beware! is loaded with lessons about bravery, loyalty, and the notion that even good, well-intentioned adults aren't always right. Dragon's Beware! builds on these themes and adds in the importance of knowing your strengths and limitations. Each character's strengths are necessary and they must work together to find and defeat the evil. 

WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
Dragons Beware! by Jorge Aguirre
Flush with her success with the Baby Toes Eating Giant, Claudette is certain that she has a bright future as an adventurer. Her new plan is to slay Azra, the dragon that ate her father's legs. Azra also took her father's magic sword, the only weapon capable of defeating the gargoyles that are plaguing the village. With Marie and Gaston by her side, Claudette is certain she has what it takes to defeat the dragon.

Kids love the adventure of these stories. Parents will enjoy the messages of believing in yourself and the complex nature of things we don't understand.
 
What did you recently finish reading?
Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt
Penelope's life has always been defined by privilege and protection. Her father is the head of a black market organ donation syndicate. Her autoimmune disorder has always meant that her parents keep a pretty close eye one her. She dreams of freedom, but freedom comes at a terrible cost. As her family is betrayed, Penelope must go on the run with no idea who to trust.

Organized crime is a pretty interesting topic, making this a fresh approach to the standard "star crossed lovers" type plot. The action is pretty constant and the characters are relatively likeable.
 
What do you think you will read next?
A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin
This story of "difficult" girls doing affecting change on the sly has potential.

Book review - The Firebird Mystery

Title: The Firebird Mystery
Author: Darrell Pitt
Genre: steampunk/mystery
Similar books: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
                     Knightley and Son by Rohan Gavin
Rating:

kind of slow-paced

Summary: Once an acrobat, Jack Mason has spent the last several years in a grim orphanage. Now he has a chance at a better life as the assistant to an "infirm gentleman." That man turns out to be Ignatius Doyle, eccentric and adventurous detective. When Doyle accepts the case of a missing man, he and Jack along with the missing man's daughter, Scarlet, set out on a dangerous mission that could change the course of the entire world.

My opinion: While the mystery aspect of this novel is pretty interesting, it moves slowly and has a tendency to get caught up in the minutae of a situation. As I read I tended to get so bogged down with details and explanations that I would lose track of the plot, a plot which didn't always transition well. It might be a nice choice for hardcore Sherlock Holmes fans.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

A funny pair of beards

In preparation for a program this week I made these two crocheted beards. I used this free pattern from Mad Mim. It's super easy to follow and the beards work up really quickly. I can't wait to make people wear them.