Book review - Winter White

 

Title: Winter White

Author: Annie Cardi

Genre: realistic fiction

Age range: teen

Similar book: Dust by Alison Stine

Summary (provided by publisher): Pia and her brother, Max, live on an isolated farm in rural Maine, and it’s the only life they remember. Their father says the only way for them to stay protected is to stay on the farm. Pia doesn’t question it. Pia’s entire world turns upside down when her father breaks his leg, and she must be the one to venture into town to make farm deliveries. And then she sees him. Felix, a boy who is both a stranger and somehow familiar, makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself, her past, and her family. But no matter how she feels about Felix, she must always obey her father, above all else.

But Pia's feelings are too big to ignore, and the more she engages with Felix, the more she begins to see that there’s promise for her beyond the isolated world to which she’s grown accustomed. And the more she dreams about a better life, the more she wonders if her father is telling the truth about their family’s past. Pia knows her father and his friend Anthony are hiding something, and soon Pia must reckon with the damage her father is doing to their community and the damage he has done to their own lives.

What I liked:  By basing this book on a lesser-known Shakespeare play (I don't know anyone who would mention The Winter's Tale) Cardi has a plot framework with plenty of room for interpretation. No one is going to be offended by the way this plot is modernized. And it leans heavily into modern issues - specifically the opioid crisis. Pia is a strong relatable character in a fairly believable setting

What I didn't like: While the plot is mostly strong, there are a few points that suffer from having to fit into the framework of the original play. If you don't have the familiarity with the original plot these plot points feel strange and unnecessary. Additionally, the climax of the book is somewhat over the top in it's theatrics. So while it's an interesting exercise and a fun read, I don't know that this book would top my list of recommendations.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Cat toys

 I've been making catnip toys from upcycled t-shirt scraps for several years now and occasionally I like to introduce a new design. Here are a few I've been working on lately.

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Goat Magic

 

Goat Magic by Kate Wheeler

The premise here is a familiar one: a cursed royal and a peasant must break the curse and return the royal to her rightful place. Along the way they learn about each other and gain a greater understanding of their diverse experiences. We can guess a lot of the events from the set-up but that doesn't especially matter. The characters are strong and the art is even stronger. We have a lot of fun details feeding into the plot and the goats are fantastic. Plus we have female characters who are learning about different kinds of strength and who defend themselves. This is a solid choice for the average middle grade reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Puppet

 Several years ago, I made a sketch of a puppet that I wanted to make. 

this fellow

It was meant to be a muppet style puppet formed from foam and fleece. I found a tutorial and made the base of the head not long after making the sketch and there it sat. The half formed head has been in my craft supplies ever since, even moving states with me, waiting for me to figure out how to finish it. 

Suddenly this month it just clicked. I unfortunately don't have process photos for you because I finished it in the course of about two hours in a fit of productivity. The base of the puppet is a foam mattress pad covered in thin fleece. The hair is formed from scraps of a worn out t-shirt. The shirt is made from an old thermal. You'll notice the sleeves are actually inside out. I realized my error after I had them sewn in and haven't decided yet whether it bothers me enough to fix it. I might yet add some embellishments since I think he was maybe meant to be a space explorer in which case that should be a uniform top with some badges and maybe a zipper.

I also can't remember if I had named this character so if you have any suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments.

Listen with me

 

K-Jane by Lydia Kang

As I suspected, there was a lot of second-hand embarrassment in this book. When you have a character who starts out the plot lying to basically everyone, we know things are going to blow up spectacularly. If that had been the entire point of the plot then I would say pass on this one. Instead, Kang is using the situation to have a real conversation about culture and assimilation. As a Korean-American, what are Jane's responsibilities to culture? Should she aspire to be all-American or should she be embracing every aspect of Korean culture? And who defines what it means to be authentically Korean? The book grapples constantly with these issues. I had thought perhaps it would also address appreciation versus fetishization and there were moments that brushed against those topics but it never truly gets into it. Even so, this is more than just a light-hearted romp of a character pretending to be something she's not. On the whole, I enjoyed this book even though it made me squirm at times. Well worth the read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

WWW Wednesday

 What are you currently reading?

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion - Eight girls went missing at Hollow Lake. Five returned. Now girls are starting to die and something wants the truth about what happened to be revealed.

What did you recently finish reading?

Winter White by Annie Cardi - Pia has lived an isolated life on a Maine farm with her father and brother since she was six. When she starts interacting secretly with people in town, she starts to question everything her father has ever told her.

What do you think you'll read next?

Sundown Girls by L S Stratton

Book review - Mercy

 

Title: Mercy

Author: Patricia Ward

Genre: mystery

Age range: teen

Similar book: Starlings by Amanda Linsmeyer

Summary (provided by publisher): Mercy was named for her mother’s hopes.

Mercy, in the hope that the Sorrowing—the curse that Mercy and her family had lived with for generations—might take pity on them.

But Mercy’s name never did her any good, and it certainly didn’t save her mother.

The Sorrowing ensures that Mercy, her family, and the core families in Arbor Falls aren’t able to grow, dream, or prosper. It makes sure they stay exactly as they are—mired in the mud. Mercy has learned to live with the truth: the only way to escape the Sorrowing is to accept it.

Until the Bowens move back to town.

The Bowens are a cursed family, too, and they should know better than to test the Sorrowing. Instead, their ignorance sets off a wave of fury that promises to destroy everything.

Now, Mercy will have to unearth the horrors that unfolded that terrible night the Sorrowing was born—to face the despicable secrets of her town and break the curse before it breaks everything she has left.

What I liked: Mercy is a strong character. Her history explains her approach to her reality, creating a believable world. The realities of the curse are carefully balanced with the mystery elements, creating a rich atmosphere and enough questions to make for compelling reading and a spooky air. The truth behind the curse leaves some elements that are applicable and worth discussing for a modern reader.

What I didn't like: The pacing is a bit unbalanced, with some points dragging. Secondary characters are okay, thin at first but largely gaining a little depth as the book reaches it's climax.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley