4-Stars

REVIEW: Quest by Aaron Becker

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Series: Journey Trilogy #2
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy

Audience: Preschool–Grade 3

Summary: A king from a magical realm escapes into the ordinary world just long enough to meet two children in a seemingly ordinary city park. He gives them a map and the tools they need to rescue him just before several soldiers seize him and take him back through the door. After the king is recaptured, the intrepid kids find their way into the magical place and embark on a quest to free the king and lift darkness from the kingdom.

Tracy’s Thoughts:
Last year I raved about Aaron Becker’s Journey. It was one of my frontrunners for the 2014 Caldecott Medal, and I was thrilled when Becker nabbed an Honor for his majestic artwork. In Quest, our heroine and her new friend return for yet another journey into the wonderful kingdom of imagination and must face new challenges and dangers. But it is through quick thinking and teamwork that the kids overcome obstacles rather than confrontation or violence. Like Journey, Quest is a wonderful foray into creative problem solving and an ode to the twin powers of art and imagination.

The artwork here is more muted than the vivid landscapes of Journey, featuring a rain-drenched park, a dark kingdom under siege, and foreboding mountains. And yet the children are able to bring color into the world of gray. The scenes are rich and layered; the details of several scenes evoke the ancient temples and the ruins of different civilizations. There are also intriguing parallels between the the statuary of the real-world park and the children’s magical adventures. Observant or history-minded children will delight in examining the various scenes and are sure to tease out new details with each encounter. Tiny details are carried over from the first book while others hint at adventures still to come. The publisher blurb promises that fans will have one more addition to the series, and I am eager to experience the magical adventure that awaits!

GUEST REVIEW: The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls

Tonight we have a special guest review from a new library employee! But Donna isn’t new to Book News & Reviews; in 2012, when we Donna was simply a library patron, she contributed reviews of Home at Last by Bonnie Leon and Siobhan Fallon’s linked short story collection You Know When the Men Are Gone. Glad to have you back, Donna!

Donna’s Rating:4/5 Stars
Genre: Mainstream Fiction/Love Story
Audience: Adult

Summary: Thirty-something Bess Gray despairs of ever finding “the one.” Then she meets a charming Irish musician and becomes instantly smitten. After a couple of months of dating he proposes. The problem? Rory has already been married EIGHT times before. Before deciding whether to follow her heart and leap all in, Bess embarks on a journey to meet each of the past wives and learn where Rory’s past marriages went wrong.

Donna’s Review:
It took a little bit to get used to the jumping back and forth from the his and her viewpoints during the reading of this book. Once I got past that, the story did stick its fangs into me. It kept me coming back for more. I wanted to know all about the hows and whys of Rory’s eight wives. How in the world did he end up being married that many times? More than one is not that uncommon in modern times, but eight?

I liked getting to see Rory mature with each of his wives, what could have been just relationships if not for his very giving and romantic nature. I also liked seeing how Bess came to terms with each of them, as she definitely wanted to know about each of them. As we women all do, she wanted to see if each one was prettier than her, smarter than her, etc. Bess’s grandparents and gay friend, Cricket, liven up the main story line.They show the  reader there are always different shades of gray in relationships.

I think the end could have gone either way, or any way, and I don’t want to spoil it for you! The whole story, and for me, Bess’s thoughts, were something that any woman would want to think about. Every woman wants to know about her predecessors and sometimes ends up finding out too much about them. This book might change the way some women think about finding out too much information. In my opinion, this book is a 4-star read. It is funny, sad, and has much romance to offer while showing the loneliness and vulnerability of people, whether single or in a relationship.

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REVIEW: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Series: Lumatere Chronicles #1
Format: Audiobook/Book on CD
Genre: High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult/Adult Crossover

Summary: Exiled from his homeland after the royal family was slaughtered and a dying woman cursed the land, Finnikin is determined to find a new home for his people. He was only a child at the time of the murders of his friend Prince Balthazar and the rest of the royal family, but Finnikin struggles with feelings of guilt related to a cryptic prophecy. Then he meets a young novice who goes by the name of Evanjalin who says the prince lives and there is hope of reclaiming Lumitare from the impostor king who butchered the royal family. Finnikin is skeptical, but Evanjalin remains stubbornly committed to her course and the two set off on a mission that take them across kingdoms, collecting allies and exiles along the way back to Lumitare.

First Line: “When it finally appeared in the distance, Finnikin wondered if it was some phantom half-imagined in this soulless kingdom at the end of the world.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
This novel has been on my to-read list since its publication in 2010, and I’m kicking myself now for not reading it sooner. Of course, having waited, I have the added benefit of not having to wait a year for each of the sequels to be released. So if I look at it that way, perhaps I did myself a favor because now I can’t wait to begin Froi of the Exiles!


I listened to this book on audio, and initially I thought I would never get through it. The novel jumps straight into the action and provides key back story right away, and all of the places, characters, and relationships were a little overwhelming. Unlike with a traditional book, it wasn’t easy to flip back several pages as a reference point. I think this is a recurring issue for me with rich fantasy series like this one or Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, but at least with A Game of Thrones I had the TV show to orient myself (yes, I was late to the game there too). Here I was on my own, but within the first few chapters I was utterly hooked and gradually the pieces came together. Of course, there were still plenty of intentional plot twists and turns to keep me guessing. I usually listen to my audiobooks in the car, and more than once I sat in my driveway listening long after arriving home, absorbed in a particularly well-written passage.

In Finnikin of the Rock, Marchetta introduces a world rich with intrigue and secrets, where characters are far more than they first appear. Most of them are wonderfully complicated, both light and dark. Take the secondary character of Froi, for example. Froi is a young thief with a bad attitude and no outward compassion or loyalty toward his fellow man. He is crude and mocking, and yet he also gradually shows redeeming qualities that make readers care about him even as they are appalled by his actions. Marchetta does an excellent job showing the toll Lumatere’s terrible history (aka the Five Days of the Unspeakable) and subsequent curse has taken on its people, and no one embodies this better than Froi, although the story of Finnikin’s father Trevanion and Lady Beatrice is heartwrenching.


Though the novel is published as YA and does not have any particularly graphic scenes, it has a very adult sensibility in that it deals frankly with issues like violence, rape, and sex. The violence of war is neither glossed over nor glorified, and the characters act like real people rather than one-dimensional archetypes. Marchetta’s world-building is well done and the various kingdoms and their history have me intrigued to learn more. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, the series has a historical-style setting with hints of magic, but this is a fantasy series that will appeal even to readers who generally don’t like fantasy. The magic here is more mystical than fantastical, and the storytelling is wonderfully compelling.

For readers like me, it may take a bit of patience to become acclimated to the world of Finnikin and Evanjalin—not to mention sorting out all the different characters. But the effort is well worth it. I can’t wait to visit Lumitare and its inhabitants once again and am looking forward to discovering more about the treacherous kingdom of Charyn, which, like Marchetta’s characters, will likely be far more nuanced and surprising than we might expect.

GUEST REVIEWS: Picture Book Flash Reviews

We have a couple of firsts for you today at Book News & Reviews! Today we are featuring our first reviews from BCPL’s very own Ms. Cheryl as well as our first child-submitted review. Five-year-old Tabitha Beck is a soon-to-be first grader, a HUGE Dora fan, and a patron at our Lebanon Junction Library location. She graciously chose to share her thoughts with us about one of her favorite books, which she has read many times.

 

Charlie Goes to School
by Ree Drummond

Reviewer: Ms. Cheryl
Ms. Cheryl’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Ages 4–8
I am a big fan of Ree Drummond and couldn’t wait to read her children’s book. Charlie is the main character and is a Bassett Hound. The book is written from his perspective. Charlie starts off the story at the beginning of his day with how he “helps” out all the human family members. Then he discovers school and wants to have a school for all the animals on the farm. Things do not go well, and Charlie eventually gives up and takes a much needed nap. The author writes a very fun and engaging story and the illustrator did a fantastic job of illustrating the book. I really enjoyed looking at the pages and all the little characters on each page.

The Worst Princess
by Anna Kemp

Reviewer: Ms. Cheryl
Ms. Cheryl’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Ages 3–7
This book was a quick and fun read. It has rhyming words and a funny twist to the typical “Happily Ever After” princess story. The princess is a bit more adventurous than your average princess, so she is very excited when her brave and wonderful prince finally comes along. Only this prince wants his princess at home being happy with her clothes and castle. Throw in a naughty dragon that comes to the princess’s rescue, and you have a great read.

Show Me Your Smile:
A Visit to the Dentist
by Christine Ricci

Reviewer: Tabitha Beck
Tabitha’s Rating: (Rating not provided, but we’re guessing Tabitha gives it a 5 out of 5!)
Audience: Everyone (Publisher recommends ages 3–5)
This is a Dora book and I love Dora, the Explorer. In this book Dora goes to the dentist and I learned that it’s not that scary. I would recommend this book to anyone to read. It’s good to go to the dentist because if you don’t take care of your teeth, you won’t be able to eat. The dentist helps you keep your teeth healthy and keep your smile beautiful. I love this book.

REVIEW: Norwegian by Night by Derek Miller

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Suspense/Crime Fiction
Audience: Adult

Summary: Recently widowed and still haunted by the death of his son decades ago in Vietnam, Sheldon Horowitz is an impatient and crotchety old man. He’s a little depressed and feels alone now that all of his friends and family are dead except for his granddaughter Rhea. Believing her grandfather suffers from dementia, Rhea has convinced Sheldon to move to Oslo to live with her and her Norwegian husband. Sheldon finds the laid-back attitude of the Norwegian people incomprehensible and persists in sharing his oddball philosophical musings, thus calling his mental state into further question. Then he witnesses the murder of his Serbian neighbor and goes on the lam with her young son, believing it is the only way to protect the boy from Kosovar gangsters. Rhea and the police inspector, Sigrid Ødegård, think Sheldon has suffered a mental break, but could Sheldon’s unusual actions be more wily than anyone could guess?

First Lines:
“It is summer and luminous. Sheldon Horowitz sits on a folding director’s chair, high above the picnic and out of reach of the food, in a shaded enclave in Oslo’s Frogner Park.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
In his debut novel, Miller offers a completely different take on the Scandinavian crime fiction wave popularized by authors like Larsson, Mankell, Nesbø, Fossum, and Läckberg. Critically acclaimed but under the radar of most readers, Norwegian by Night was named by both Kirkus Reviews and The Guardian as one of the best crime novels of 2013. It’s not your typically plot-centered crime novel—though there are some definite machinations and exciting bits. Instead, its focus is on Sheldon’s inner thoughts and his path to redemption. Now that he has taken responsibility for this young boy, Sheldon is reminded more than ever of his son and sees this “final mission” as a way to do something that matters again and to atone for what he sees as his own culpability in his son’s death.

You see, Sheldon was a marine sniper in Korea and has felt useless ever since. That is, if you believe Sheldon’s latest story. On previous occasions, he always told his late wife and granddaughter a different story of his time in Korea. Sheldon, with his visions and inconsistent stories, is a bit of an unreliable narrator. Both reader and the characters in the book are left to wonder whether Sheldon is
truly senile or if he’s just crazy sharp, with a unique way of looking at the world. In a way, despite the fact that the protagonist is 82 years old, Norwegian by Night could be considered a coming of age novel—or perhaps a coming to terms with age novel.

Sheldon is a fascinating and insightful character, with plenty of foibles and flaws to add interest. And his journey is incredibly relatable despite the unusual circumstances. Though some of the other characters—Rhea and her husband Lars, for example—could do with some fleshing out, some of the secondary characters are also quite intriguing. Sigrid serves as a wonderful contrast to Sheldon, and some of her conversations also provide unexpected humor to the largely reflective narrative. Take this dryly comical phone conversation with her father:

     “Have you met a nice man yet?”
     Sigrid nods. “I’d been meaning to tell you. I got married and had three sons.”
    “That’s wonderful news.”
    “Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They’re delightful, but have speech impediments and very short legs.”

Some of the scenes with Sigrid were my absolute favorites in the novel, particularly the Psycho bit (saying anything more could prove too much of a spoiler). And although the crime plot was somewhat understated, I was fascinated (and appalled) by some of the insight into Serbian/Kosovar hostilities and the cycle of violence. The contrast of different nationalities and ethnicities—Norwegian, American, Jewish, Serbian, Kosovar—and their effects on various characters’ way of life and way of thinking elevate a simple plot into something far more.

Norwegian by Night is a a quiet thriller with literary bones. Despite a few lengthy expositions and a somewhat ambiguous ending, it offers something different and interesting to the crime fiction genre as it addresses a number of important issues—war, personal and ethnic identity, and aging—with compassion, insight, and humor.

GUEST REVIEW: Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty? And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries by David Levinthal and John Nickle

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book/Humor/Mystery/Fractured Fairy Tales
Audience: Ages 4–8

First lines: “There are eight million stories in the forest. This is one of them.”

Allison’s Guest Summary & Review:
With a title like this, I couldn’t help picking up this read. Officer Binky is a fun character, rife with all the characteristics of a gumshoe detective, who investigates the crimes occurring in five fairy tale classics. Kids will be familiar with these stories, retold afresh without reinvention, and complete with tongue in cheek references. But children will also be enthralled by Levinthal’s artwork–an appealing acrylic montage. All in all, this was a fun read, which should keep kids laughing!

Awesome NEWS + REVIEW: Bluffton by Matt Phelan

NEWS: Earlier today we hit a major milestone. We surpassed 50,000 page views! I would like to thank all of our readers and followers for their support. Here’s to 50,000 more views, and years more of posts and reviews at Book News and Reviews!  –Tracy

 REVIEW

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction (Graphic Novel)
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween

Summary: The year is 1908, and a vaudeville troupe has arrived in sleepy Muskegon, Michigan to summer in nearby Bluffton. Henry—bored of the everyday sameness of Muskegon and working in his father’s shop—is fascinated by the animals and performers, but mostly with a slapstick comedian his own age named Buster Keaton. Henry quickly becomes a fixture in Bluffton, palling around with Buster and another boy traveling with the troupe. He yearns to perform like Buster, but all Buster wants to do is orchestrate pranks and play baseball.

First Lines: “Life in Muskegon, Michigan, was quiet. Ordinary.”

Tracy’s Thoughts: With gentle nostalgia, humor, and perfect pacing, award–winning graphic
novelist Matt Phelan brings to life a bygone era in this compelling
fictionalized account. Watercolor washes bring the place and period to life through soft focus, and yet the characters’ actions and emotions—from Buster’s pranks to Henry’s envy—are powerfully visualized. Like the illustrations, the story is a quiet one, but dynamic just the same. There are plenty of laughs (some of Buster’s pranks will delight and inspire mischievous kids) and there are many small, though-provoking moments of note. For example, there are small subplots about child labor laws and a romantic rivalry, but moral judgements aren’t overt; instead, readers are left to examine their own beliefs and draw conclusions of their own.

Despite its historical setting, many of the events and situations of the book have a timeless feel and are perfectly relevant to today. It might be tough convincing kiddos who have no idea who Buster Keaton is to give this book a try, but then the book isn’t really about Buster. It’s about Henry, who in his summers with Buster is encouraged to think more widely about the world, but also learns to appreciate the world closer to home. It’s a coming of age story about taking the things you love and becoming the person you are meant to be in adulthood.

FLASH REVIEWS: 5 Great Wordless Picture Books of 2013

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Audience: Preschool–Grade 2
This wordless lift-the-flap book seamlessly reproduces the grace and movement of live animation. Clumsy, round Flora wishes to dance, so she watches and imitates a tall, elegant flamingo. Despite comical poses and a few mishaps, the mismatched pair eventually find their rhythm in a surprisingly graceful ballet. Expansive white space across the two-page spreads allow the dancers and Flora’s facial expressions to shine. This is visual storytelling at its best, with a bonus interactive component for hands-on children who enjoy lifting flaps and controlling the pace.
 

 Bluebird by Bob Staake
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Kindergarten–Grade 3
A muted palette of blues and grays is offset by a bright, cheery bluebird in this graphic-novel style wordless picture book. A lonely boy in the city is befriended by a bluebird until tragedy strikes. The illustrations of the boy—who, like the rest of the book’s images, is composed of minimalistic geometric shapes—still manages to perfectly convey his emotions of isolation, joy, fear, and hope. But beware, this book also has the potential to be upsetting (or confusing) for certain readers. Despite the potentially controversial last pages, this book is a fine exploration of friendship, sacrifice, loss, and hope. It may serve as a wonderful discussion opener for topics like bullying and grief in the right hands. The boy’s expressions and actions in themselves may provide insight for children regarding emotional sensitivity and how to interpret (and appreciate) the feelings of others through visual cues.




Journey by Aaron Becker
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Preschool–Grade 3
This magical, gloriously illustrated picture book about a girl’s adventure into an enchanted land begins with boredom in the the ordinary world and a fat red marker reminiscent of Harold’s purple crayon. (The beginning also reminds me somewhat of John Rocco’s Blackout, although the solution here is quite different.) Determined and fearless, the girls faces challenge after challenge before returning home to an unexpected surprise. The strong narrative, bold artwork, and imaginative settings will inspire awe and fascination.Young readers who enjoy fantasy and flights of imagination won’t want to miss this one! Journey definitely gets my vote when Caldecott time rolls around (not that I have a vote :)) (BCPL copies on order)



Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Preschool–Grade 2
David Weisner (Tuesday and Flotsam) is pretty much the king of wordless picture books, and his latest offering doesn’t disappoint. With bold, well-balanced artwork presented in a combination of full-page spreads and panels, he creates a secret world that humans cannot detect. The cat, Mr. Wuffles, however, can’t help but be intrigued by the tiny spaceship toy and whatever drama may exist within. Animal lovers in particular will adore this comical tale.

Inside Outside by Liz Boyd
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Preschool–Grade 2
This book follows a boy and
his dog playing inside and outside through the seasons. Die-cut windows
allow the reader to view the scenes both in juxtaposition, and out from spread to
spread. It’s a simple but brilliant concept. The natural-toned pages and myriad homey details add further interest. This is a book that begs to be experienced over and over so that each detail can be absorbed and appreciated.


REVIEW: Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger, Illustrated by Cece Bell

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book/Humor
Audience: Pre-K–Grade 2

Summary: Crankee Doodle is bored. But when his pony helpfully suggests several possible solutions for the tedium, Crankee is unreceptive and becomes increasingly contrary with each of the pony’s ideas.

First Line: “I’m bored.”

Tracy’s Thoughts: The song “Yankee Doodle” has never made much sense to me, but I absolutely loved singing it as a kid. (Truthfully, it’s still kind of fun to sing.) But in this hilarious picture book, the nonsense lyrics take on new life and even get a bit of much needed clarification.

The illustrations are simple, in bold primary (and patriotic) colors. As Crankee becomes increasingly…well, cranky, squiggly, wavy lines are introduced in the background. Other subtle artistic touches add humor—particularly in the last pages, when Crankee and his pony finally make it to town. The highlight here, though, is Angleberger’s (the Origami Yoda books) dialog between the cranky Yank and his pony. Crankee’s escalating rants grow more and more long-winded and personal until  both characters unravel in complete (and highly hilarious!) meltdowns.This book makes for a great read aloud and will prove particularly relevant for a child in the midst of his own irritable day.

REVIEW: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Audience: Middle-Grade/Tween

Summary:
Children have been disappearing from the village of Gavaldon for generations. Adults claim children simply get lost in the forest and disappear, but the children know the truth. Every four years, two children—one nice child and one nasty child—are spirited away by the mysterious School Master to be trained as heroes and villains, eventually graduating into fairy tales of their own. Sophie has always believed she will be selected for the School of Good and groomed to become a princess. And surely her witchy, loner friend Agatha is destined for the School of Evil. Only once Sophie’s dream comes true and she and Agatha are taken by the School Master, the girls find that their presumed destinies are flipped and the school is far more dangerous than they anticipated.

First Line: “Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
I adored this book, with its twisted fairy tales and imaginative world building. At first glance, The School for Good and Evil might feel a bit like a Harry Potter rip-off, with its predestined school divisions, secret corridors, magical creatures, and deadly challenges. The Rowling influence here is undeniable. And yet—for the most part—The School for Good and Evil feels fresh and new. Much of this is due to its examination of the middle ground between good and evil and the unlikely, occasionally uneasy friendship between its two heroines.

Sophie—with her princess hair, flouncy pink dresses, and daily good deeds—is the picture of a Disney princess, while Agatha—a dire, black-clad loner who prefers the companionship of her cat and a quiet cemetery—thinks villains are far more interesting. Which is why the girls are so surprised when pretty Sophie is dropped at the School for Evil and Agatha is
assigned to the School for Good. Readers may think they know the “moral of the story”—truth lies beyond appearances, blah, blah, blah. But fortunately for us, the story and its characters are more complicated than that.

The School for Good and Evil is a bit lengthier than necessary, with a somewhat repetitive series of trials and tests, but I was entertained throughout and frequently amused by the snappy dialog and moral dilemmas. Despite its flaws, the The School for Good and Evil is a clever, adventure-filled read that turns the expected clichés of fairy tales upside down. Luckily, this is only the first title of a planned trilogy. A sequel (A World Without Princes) is due out in April 2014 and a film adaptation is currently in development. But for those eager for more, check out the dedicated website and take the exam to determine which school is right for you. (My results: 66.7% Good, 33.3% Evil. Sounds about right ; ) )

REVIEW: Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, Illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book/Humor/Fantasy
Audience: Preschool–Grade 2

Summary: Six-year-old Lexy loves dancing. But every time she tries to perform in front of a crowd, she freezes completely. So she decides to quit and become a teacher. Unfortunately, no one wants to learn from a kid—until a group of fuzzy blue giants turn up at her door looking for dance lessons.

First Line: “One day Lexy decided that when it came to dancing, she was done.”

Tracy’s Thoughts: 
This highly enjoyable story comes from a well-known children’s librarian and blogger, and it’s clear she knows her stuff. Bird’s action-packed language and Dorman’s energetic artwork fairly leap off the page, creating a fantastic read aloud. Vivid, full-color digital art and a likeable, exuberant protagonist
will capture the attention of readers, and the humorous text and story
will hold it. I was charmed when Lexy refers
to herself as an “ice pop” after freezing onstage (anyone want to guess how the giants
are described when they too suffer from stage fright?), and laughed out
loud when the giants practiced a wide variety of dances, from the chicken dance to
krumping. The story nicely weaves together a tale of realistic fears
with fantasy elements, and the result is a fun, engaging read that
makes Lexy’s eventual triumph less pointedly didactic than many other
picture books dealing with childhood fears. Even better, the final page leaves room for a follow up title—or so I
hope.


REVIEW: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Love Story
Audience: Young Adult/Teen

Summary:  For Eleanor and Park, it is far from love at first sight. Park thinks the crazy-haired, oddly dressed new girl looks like a victim waiting to happen, and the minute she steps on to their shared school bus he’s proven right as the bullies zero in for the kill. Meanwhile, Eleanor is too concerned with her problems at home to think much about the “stupid Asian kid” who reluctantly scoots over to share his seat, cursing under his breath all the while. For days they share the seat in awkward, sometimes hostile silence. But then… Something changes. Soon, Eleanor is surreptitiously reading Watchmen comics over his shoulder and Park is making Eleanor mix tapes of his favorite bands. Slowly, tentatively a friendship develops and then friendship becomes something more. But love doesn’t solve everything. Together they must face disapproving parents, mean-spirited classmates, and the dark truths Eleanor never wants Park to discover.

Celebrity Stamp of Approval: “Eleanor & Park reminded
me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also
what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review

First Lines: “He’d stopped trying to bring her back. She only came back when she felt like it, in dreams and lies and broken-down déjà vu.”

Tracy’s Thoughts: I practically inhaled this book from start to finish. Told through the alternating perspectives of Eleanor and Park, it is a fast, engaging read that brings its characters to vibrant life. Both protagonists feel incredibly real, flawed yet wholly sympathetic. Though they come from different worlds, I completely bought into the idea that Eleanor and Park are destined to meet and fall in love. Yet even they have doubts that their love can last, especially considering their circumstances. Eleanor is keeping secrets from Park about her disadvantaged home life and abusive, skeevy stepfather, and Park’s Korean-American mother is less than approving of Eleanor and her appearance. Plus Park has some difficulty coping with the shameless bullying some students at the school direct at Eleanor. (Though he adores her, he’s also a little embarrassed by her at times.) And then there’s Eleanor’s own insecurities and her trouble believing that slender, calm Park is attracted to her chubby, difficult self. Suffice it to say, they have a lot to deal with, and every bit of it feels realistic and essential to the story.

Despite the undeniable dark side to this novel, it is also funny, heartbreaking, and extremely sweet. In many ways, the novel is like Eleanor herself: gritty and perhaps a little abrasive, but also extremely lovable. There is a good deal of profanity and crude language, but, to me, the language is authentic to the characters and place rather than gratuitous. And the dialog is smart and clever; it’s no wonder John Green so enthusiastically recommends this book. Though it is solidly grounded in the period (did I forget to mention the book is set in 1986?), Eleanor and Park is a timeless, universal story of first love.

REVIEW: The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Preschool to 2nd Grade

Summary: Laszlo lives in a large house with a creaky roof and several intimidating staircases, but it is the dark that scares him. It hides in corners and comes out at night, but most of all, it lives in the basement. Then one night, the dark comes to Laszlo’s room and speaks to him, urging Laszlo to visit the one place he fears most.

First Line: “Laszlo was afraid of the dark.”

Tracy’s Thoughts: From the moment I first heard of this book, I was psyched. Yes; I’m a grown woman without children excited over a picture book! But it’s a collaboration between Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen! I loved the dark, edgy humor of Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back and thought a book by Klassen and Lemony Snicket about a child’s fear of the dark would be perfect. And the duo does not disappoint.

This imaginative, suspenseful picture book manages to be both appropriately eerie and oddly comforting (in a Lemony Snicket kind of way!). Here, the dark is a living, breathing entity. As least it is to Laszlo, who sleeps with a flashlight and avoids shadowy corners. Most of the illustrations are deceptively simple two-page spreads depicting the interplay of light and shadow, with solemn little Laszlo looking on warily. The house is austere and barren, giving the dark room to expand. Overall, the muted color scheme and mildly creepy tone of the text compliment one another perfectly. And after Laszlo comes to an understanding of sorts with his nemesis, the ending comes full circle. Only now, instead of watching the creeping shadows with suspicion as the sun sets outside, Laszlo is oblivious to the coming night and plays happily with his toy trucks, his flashlight nowhere in sight.

For a completely different take on nighttime fears, I highly recommend I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll.

FLASH REVIEWS: Recent Audio Reads in Historical Fiction

I’m back with more quick reviews of my recent audio reads! I just finished two Bloody Jack Adventures  plus a couple of adult historicals. So here goes…

The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O’Melveny
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

When the powers that be try to keep her from practicing her craft as a physician, Renaissance woman Gabriella Mondini decides now is the time to go searching for her long-lost father. What follows is a journey across Europe and beyond that calls to mind the Canterbury Tales. Through her entries in her diary and additions made in an anthology of diseases begun by her father (also a physician), readers are privy to Gabriella’s adventures and obsessions. A woman physician in sixteenth-century Venice, Gabriella
Mondini had the potential to become a fascinating character. The plot in and of itself is certainly intriguing, but the pacing is uneven and the supernatural elements are clumsily integrated and all too predictable. O’Melveney is a poet, and the prose is lyrical and striking at times; however, it also frequently veers into pretension and excessive description. Probably the only reason I finished this audiobook is Katherine Kellgren, whose magnificent voice performance kept me engaged.

Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert  Goolrick
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction/Psychological Suspense/Southern Gothic

When Charlie Beale arrived in the small Southern town of Brownsburg with a suitcase full of money, it was the summer of 1948. Decades later, a man who knew Charlie and was witness to Charlie’s torrid, fateful affair with the young bride of the town’s wealthiest man recounts the story. I was downright mesmerized by Goolrick’s A Reliable Wife, but Heading Out to Wonderful lacked the tension and immediacy I expected in his follow-up novel. The setting and storyline had the haunting, nostalgic quality of a folk ballad, but the finale seemed forced and arbitrary. Also, I was troubled by the occasional awkwardness of the narrative voice and some unacknowledged loose ends. For example, it is never explained (MILD SPOILER AHEAD…HIGHLIGHT TO READ) how Charlie came by that suitcase of money. Although this was the most interesting part of the story to me, I would have understood if that particular plot point remained a mystery. But the fact that none of the book’s characters seem to wonder or question it makes no sense. Still, even with all that being said, I think Heading Out to Wonderful would make a fantastic book club read. The recurring themes of lost innocence, sin and forgiveness, identities abandoned and recreated, and memory itself leave much to discuss.

Mississippi Jack by L.A. Meyer
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Historical Adventure/Humor
Series: Bloody Jack Adventures #5

I am still a little furious at Jamie. But at the same time, I also like him a bit better now. In the past, Jamie has been almost too perfect for the wonderfully flawed adventuress that is Jacky Faber. Now, I see him as a more developed, if flawed character and I like him better for it. In this latest adventure, Jacky and Jamie are once again separated as Jacky makes her way down the Mississippi in a rollicking adventure reminiscent of the best tall tales. Legendary boatman Mike Fink even plays a significant role in the story. New love interests also emerge—most notably the irascibly charming Sir Richard Allen—to throw a wrench in Jacky and Jamie’s relationship. Not to mention the intervention of the British Navy and Intelligence Agency, marauding Indians, and a homicidal Mike Fink. Also, did I already mention that I love Katherine Kellgren? Because I do. Her fabulous performances make the Bloody jack series a joy to listen to, bringing Jacky and the gang to vivid life.

Mt Bonny Light Horseman by L.A. Meyer
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Audience: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Historical Adventure/Humor/War Story
Series: Bloody Jack Adventures #6

This time around, Jacky is tasked by British Intelligence to act as a spy against the French. Those who love the battle scenes of earlier Bloody Jack novels won’t be disappointed. And Jacky being Jacky, there are also new flirtations for the more romantically minded (though the new love interest fails to live up to the standard set by Jamie’s previous rivals for Jacky’s affections, IMHO).

FLASH REVIEWS: Recent Audio Reads with an International Flavor

As I mentioned in my last post, my pleasure reading of late has been almost entirely limited to audiobooks. It’s been a while since I finished some of these, but here are some quick reviews of international-themed books I’ve been reading/listening to over the past few months:

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Genre: Coming-of-Age Story/Political Fiction/War Story

This stunning coming of age novel tells the story of Jean Patrick Nkuba, a young Rwandan who dreams of running in the Olympics. He is a kindhearted and slightly naive boy, but as he grows older he becomes increasingly aware of the stark ethnic divide in his country and the challenges his Tutsi heritage will present to achieving his dream. Gripping and frequently distressing—this is one of the few novels that has made me cry—Running the Rift is nevertheless a story of hope, love, and perseverance. Benaron does not shy away from the escalating violence that eventually leads to the Rwandan genocide, but the story is not sensationalistic in any way. Instead, through the fictionalized account of Jean Patrick, it brings a relatable voice to an unimaginable tragedy and shows that there is much more to the country and its people than can be surmised from political reports and news stories. In contrast to the unflinching portrait of violence and moral complexities are Jean Patrick’s genuine love of his sport, his country, his family, and a young woman for whom he would do almost anything.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Literary Fiction/Political Fiction/Dystopia

Set in the real-world dystopia of North Korea, this Pulitzer Prize–winning novel takes readers on a weird and wonderful journey along with its anti-hero protagonist. Jun Do begins life with the unlucky reputation of being an orphan—although in actuality he is not—and through a series of strange circumstances and fateful choices he finds himself filling unlikely roles, from professional kidnapper to national hero to romantic rival of the Great Leader himself. Set in a world where the “story” is so much more important than truth—where the story becomes truth—Jun Do seizes opportunities to reinvent himself over and over, and yet the nature and politics of North Korea can easily take him on a detour that will rewrite his story all over again. Perhaps because the world it explores is so very alien, I must admit that I initially found this book a bit difficult to connect with. I also wonder whether my occasional dissatisfaction might be related to the audio format. There are multiple voices and frequent interruptions from propagandist loudspeakers that perhaps did not translate well in this audio adaptation. But while it becomes a bit tedious at times (whether due to format or subject matter), The Orphan Master’s Son is also frequently brilliant, fascinating, and surprising.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Nonfiction/Social Issues/Travel Writing

In this intimate and poignant book, a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist creates a extraordinary portrait of India’s urban poor. By focusing on Annawadi, one of dozens of tiny slums that exist alongside the modern new airport and luxury hotels of Mumbai, Katherine Boo is able to bring to life the everyday realities faced by so many. While the story centers on the accusations of a woman who set herself on fire and the repercussions for the family accused of harming her, several key residents of the small undercity are examined. From petty squabbles that escalate into tragedy to a murdered garbage thief left ignored on the side of the road, death and survival in Annawadi is brought to vivid life by Boo’s compassionate yet clear-eyed reportage. There is Abdul, the quiet, diligent garbage collector; Asha, an ambitious kindergarten teacher determined to work the corrupt system for her own betterment; and Manju, Asha’s disapproving, intelligent daughter who hopes education will be her way out. Readers are left both frustrated by the actions of some residents and cautiously hopeful for the futures of others; but, in the end, the people of Annawadi are portrayed at complex individuals, not as collective objects of pity but as human beings fighting for survival and carving out a life in a flawed and corrupt system.  

GUEST REVIEW: My Sister’s Stalker by Nancy Springer

BCPL programmer Allison is back with another guest review!

Allison’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Audience: Teen/Young Adult

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Rig Googles his sister, who he is missing camaraderie with
since his parents’ divorce, and finds that there is a website dedicated
to her. He feels that the person who put the pictures
of his sister on the website is a stalker, though he has trouble trying
to convince his mother of that fact. She feels that
the site dedicated to her daughter is created by an
admirer. Rig skips school and takes a bus to his old
hometown to show his father what he has found. While
his mother is obviously looking at things pessimistically, his more
down-to-earth father shares his concerns. The two of
them embark on a journey where Rig has to look into himself to “connect”
with the website creator in order to save his sister from what he sees
as a threat.

Allison’s Guest Review:
This will be a good read for reluctant readers, especially among young men. It is a quick read; it took me just under two hours to read. It will be perfect for those who just want a quick mystery, but some readers used to in-depth novels will be asking for more detail. Rig is a typical sixteen year old, struggling to adjust to a new town and a new school after his parents’ divorce. He feels more connected to his mother than his father, and begrudgingly admits to missing his sister, too. He must connect with his father in order to warn his sister of the danger he feels she is in, and discovers that he has the quality traits his father has always professed to not seeing in Rig. The two embark on a trip to save Rig’s sister dealing with knife-wielding maniacs, an inability to communicate, and inner turmoil in order to accomplish their goals.

FLASH REVIEWS: Recent YA Reads in Realistic Fiction

I have been woefully remiss about posting book reviews lately, but here are some quick reviews of some of the YA books I’ve read and enjoyed over the last few months. We are undergoing a few changes right now at Book News & Reviews, but I promise we will continue to publish “reviews of all sorts” for your reading pleasure—and hopefully with greater frequency than ever!

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Coming of Age
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Colby’s plan for after high school has always been to spend the year after graduation exploring Europe with Beth, his best friend—and secret crush. Only now suddenly Beth has other plans that don’t include Colby and he must figure out both his confused feelings for his best friend and what her deviation from the plan means for his own future. In the meantime, he is on an adventure-filled road trip with Beth and her punk-rock girl band, The Disenchantments. This is a fantastic novel, full of humor; quirky, complex characters; and deeply felt emotions. Hauntingly beautiful and rawly honest without becoming overly heavy, it is a perfect summer read.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Romance
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Perfect good-girl Samantha Reed has been fascinated by the messy, complicated lives of the large Garrett family since the day they moved next door 10 years ago. Her state senator mother, on the other hand, considers them a blight on the neighborhood and so the ever-dutiful Samantha has kept her distance. But then Samantha finally meets Jase Garrett and the perfect bubble she lives in under the dictates of her mother suddenly seems sterile and unsatisfying. This book has far more depth than a typical summer romance, with strong characters and a slowly unfolding plot. Complicated family dynamics, shocking secrets, and difficult moral dilemmas come into play to create a compelling read sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, Elizabeth Scott, and Deb Caletti.

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Told in alternating viewpoints—part prose, part poetry—this is a lyrical, edgy read that will especially appeal to creative and artistic teens. Set over the course of a single night, the story follows a group of teens on a mission to uncover the identity of a talented local graffiti artist who goes by the name Shadow. Lucy, an aspiring glassblower, has always felt a special connection to Shadow’s work and believes they are fated to meet. What Lucy and her girlfriends don’t know is that Ed, a boy with whom she once shared a disastrous date and who now claims to know the whereabouts of Shadow, is actually the reclusive artist himself. Over the course of the night, the teens encounter several misadventures and Lucy and Ed gradually move from adversaries to confidantes as they share their inner thoughts about past failures, artistic inspiration, and deeply held beliefs. The beautiful imagery and innovative writing falters a bit here and there, but overall this is a wonderfully written novel with well-developed, believable characters and motivations.

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Ever since her parents split up and she moved with her father to the U.S., Sophie spends her summers with her mother in the Congo helping out at the wildlife sanctuary that has become her mother’s obsession. But after Sophie impulsively purchases a mistreated bonobo from a street seller, her mother leaves on a business trip and assigns Sophie the task of caring for the animal while she is away. Then fighting breaks out across the country and the sanctuary is ransacked by rebels. Somehow, Sophie manages to escape into the jungle with several of the apes in tow, and she must find a way to survive both the dangers of nature and the threat of human killers. Though the story occasionally pushes the limits of credulity, this is a harrowing, vividly realized novel with wide appeal.

Out of Reach by Carrie Arcos
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Struggling with her own inner guilt and determined to locate her missing drug-addict brother, Rachel teams up with Tyler—a former bandmate of her brother’s—to look for clues to Michah’s whereabouts. Together, they travel to a beach town believed to be Micah’s last-known residence, all while Rachel desperately searches to understand what became of her brother and what it all means for her life. Flawed but believable characters, emotional revelations, and short, fast-paced chapters, make for an absorbing and powerful story. Frequent flashbacks showing Rachel’s unraveling relationship with her brother make the narrative even more compelling and heartbreaking.

REVIEW: Again! by Emily Gravett

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Preschool–Kindergarten

Summary: Again! Again! is the refrain of Cedric the little dragon, whose poor Mommy dragon is trying to get him to go to bed. Mommy dragon reads the story again and again, until she falls asleep and then something surprising happens!

Lucinda’s Views: As the mother of a three-year-old girl, I completely identified with this book’s premise. How many times have we as parents had to read or repeat an action “Again!” The illustrations of Cedric’s patient mother are hillarious as she gets more and more exhausted as the book progresses. Cedric, in spite of his demands, is just an adorable little dragon and preschool children will completely identify with his wish for his mommy to read the story “Again!” The ending has a surprise twist that I won’t spoil here, but needless to say, kiddos will enjoy the novelty and the imagination of the ending. A fun read!

DUAL REVIEW: Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Lucinda’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tracy’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Preschool to 1st grade

Summary: In this cautionary tale for all would-be hosts of parties for dragons, Adam Rubin gives tips for what to feed the guests at your party.  In short:  DRAGONS LOVE TACOS!  However, do not ever feed your guest dragons spicy salsa.  (Dragons hate spicy salsa! It makes them “hot under the collar!”)

Lucinda’s Views: This cute, imaginative book’s title was what really caught my attention. How often do you see the words dragon and tacos in one title?  Exactly….Anyway, with its cute tale of what to feed dragons this book is a humorous read aloud that kids of all ages will enjoy. With its fanciful art and innovative subject matter, this is a book that your kiddos will want you to read again and again.

Tracy’s Thoughts: This cute and clever picture book is virtually guaranteed to tickle any young child’s fancy. The story revels in its silliness, and the colorful pencil and watercolor artwork is both fabulous and hilarious. Despite an unfortunately abrupt ending (from my point of view, and the primary reason I didn’t select it for our Best of 2012 list), this is a fun and cheerful story with a lot of kid appeal.

GUEST REVIEWS: Flash Reviews from 2013 Cabin Fever Participants

Ever get sick of hearing what Lucinda and I think of our latest reads? Ready for a fresh opinion? How about some of your fellow BCPL patrons? Here are several guest reviews we received as part of our 2013 Cabin Fever program. Thanks to all of our guest reviewers for sharing!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Reviewer: Anonymous Patron @ Ridgway Library
Anonymous Patron’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Romance
Audience: New Adult/Adult
Series: Beautiful #1

Summary: Travis Maddox, Eastern University’s playboy, makes a bet with good girl Abby that if he loses, he will remain abstinent for a month, but if he wins, Abby must live in his apartment for the same amount of time.

Anonymous Patron’s Review: This story was amazing! I literally could not put it down! This was a wonderful love story about two people you would not think should be together until all the “pieces” unfold. I am looking forward to reading the author’s other books.

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon
Reviewer: Heather Lawrence (Mt. Washington Library)
Heather’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Christian Fiction/Romantic Suspense
Audience: Adult
Series: Guardians of Justice #2

Heather’s Summary & Review: The story of Allison Taylor and Mitch Morgan pursuing their admiration and affection for each other has enough love, adventure, and danger to keep the reader wanting to know “What happens next?” There was enough character development to understand the good guys from the bad guys but still leave a little suspicion and doubt of some of the characters’ overall intentions and roles in the story. The theme of faith and belief in God is dispersed throughout the story, helping the reader see connections to events and understand why things happen from a spiritual standpoint. The book is a great example of how when a person puts his/her trust in God, even the most dangerous of situations can become a moment of strength and courage.

A Golden Betrayal by Barbara Dunlop

Reviewer: Debbie Sanders (Ridgway Memorial Library)
Patron’s Rating: 3/5 Stars
Genre: Category Romance
Audience: Adult
Series: Silhouette Desire #2198 / The Highest Bidder #6

Summary: Convinced a headstrong American woman and her auction house are connected to the theft of a priceless statue, an Arabian prince kidnaps her.

Debbie’s Review: A funny romance with a spunky couple that are attracted to each other as soon as they meet. Good read.

Let It Sew by Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Reviewer: S. Jeanine Hall  (Hillview Library)
Heather’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humor
Audience: Adult
Series: Southern Sewing Circle #7

Jeanine’s Summary:
It’s Christmas in Sweet Briar, South Carolina. A grinch has taken over the towns Christmas Decorating Committee, and Tori, Dixie, and Rose have been drafted to help. Charlotte Devereaux, a founding member of the Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle, has passed away. She left behind a sketchbook of clues indicating her husband was murdered. Will Tori and her sewing circle gals have time to solve a murder and de-throne a grinch before Christmas? After all, they have a hundred Christmas stockings to make!

 

 Liberator by Bryan Davis
Reviewer: Marie Webb  (Lebanon Junction Library)
Marie’s Rating: No star rating was given.
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult/Adult
Series: Dragons of Starlight #4

Summary: The resurrected Starlighter,
Cassabrie, may be the humans’ last hope on Starlight as Jason, Koren,
and Elyssa struggle to warn the soldiers of the dragon king’s plan to
wipe them out using a deadly disease that already threatens Koren’s
life.
 
Marie’s Review:
Liberator is the 4th book in a series “Dragons of Starlight.” I found the books to be interesting and captivating. Davis has created a world within a world with a lot of intriguing characters. This keeps you guessing as to the outcome and actually who the good guys are and who will prevail.

 

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
Reviewer: Anonymous Patron  (Mt. Washington Library)
Marie’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Chick Lit
Audience: Adult
Series: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants #5

Summary: In this final Sisterhood, published as an adult novel, the girls are now in their late twenties. The pants are long gone and each is missing the closeness they once shared, so Tibby organizes a reunion that could change their lives in unexpected ways.
 
Anonymous Patron’s Review:
It was good to revisit old friends from the previous Sisterhood books. The girls learned to be bold and embrace both the joys and sorrows of a well lived life.

Super Finishing Techniques for Crocheters by Betty Barden
Reviewer: Lisa Houchins (Mt. Washington Library)
Lisa’s Rating: No star rating was given.
Genre: Adult Nonfiction/Crafts
Audience: Adult

Lisa’s Review: Lots of information for the beginning crocheter. Laid out well and easy to follow. Lots of pictures. Even a few cute ideas and patterns.

DUAL REVIEW: Mr.Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Lucinda’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tracy’s Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Genre: Literary Mystery/Adventure
Audience: Adult/Older Teen

Summary: Forced to find another job due to the Great Recession,
web designer Clay Jannon finds himself the night clerk at the
mysterious Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, a bookstore where there are
few regular patrons and where the regulars borrow books rather than buy
them. Little does Clay know that by walking into this bookstore he will
discover a secret world that will shape his future in ways he could
never imagine and irrevocably alter his view of the world.

Lucinda’s Views:
This book possessed a carefully crafted plot that keeps the reader
interested even to the end. The seamless blend of cutting edge
technology and the history of the book will delight the reader. The
mystery that comprises much of the plot is believable and works to
propel the story forward. The characters are likable, believable, and
fit into this tale of one young man’s quest to find himself in a world
which is not quite what he thought it was. For those who love a good
book, but also like their technology this is a perfect read.

Tracy’s Thoughts:
I didn’t know quite what to expect from this book. It appeared on a number of “Best of 2012” lists and won a 2013 Alex Award.
Lucinda told me she stayed up ridiculously late to finish it. And yet
I’ve also read some less than positive reviews and a co-worker whose  opinion I trust told me that it was “weird” and “disappointing.” Well…
I generally like “weird” so that didn’t do a lot to dissuade me, but my
co-worker’s inability to pinpoint exactly what didn’t work for her left
me feeling less than enthused about reading it. But then I read more
glowing reviews and I needed to read more eligible books for the Hub Reading Challenge… so I decided to take my chances.

Unfortunately, I too ended up disappointed. For me, it was a really
rough start as I found nothing engaging about
the voice (as a reader, I’m all about voice :)). I wasn’t interested in
Clay as a narrator, and I also thought Sloan’s prose was choppy and even
clunky at times. The overabundance of modifiers in particular kept
yanking me out of the story, inspiring annoyance rather than interest in
whatever was being described:

This place was absurdly narrow and dizzyingly tall, and the shelves went
all the way up—three stories of books, maybe more. I craned my neck
back (why do bookstores always make you do uncomfortable things with
your neck?) and the shelves faded smoothly into the shadows in a way
that suggested they might just go on forever. (Page 8)

As a not-so-secret bibliophile, a description that should have inspired
awe or curiosity at the very least simply left me cold. I’m a girl who
enjoys lengthy sentences and detailed description, but clearly Sloan’s
prose just isn’t for me. However, I appreciate that this is an entirely
subjective reaction—there’s nothing really wrong with the writing after
all—and that the prose will speak differently to different readers.

I also felt that the characters were a bit underdeveloped. Penumbra
could have been a figure of great curiosity but instead seemed barely
present. While Lucinda saw the characters as likable and believable, I
interpreted them as one-dimensional and uninteresting. Luckily, about 
80 pages in the thematic element of antiquity vs. technology emerged to
advance the story. I enjoyed the idea of how technology and antiquity
(in this case, old books and the knowledge they contain) can be seen as
opposing forces but at the same time act as partners in advancing human
knowledge and possibilities. For me, this concept was the heart of the
book.

In the end, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is firmly in my
“meh” category. The concept was promising but, for me, never fully
realized. The story and characters ultimately fell flat, but the
intriguing juxtaposition of traditional books and technology
(particularly Sloan’s imagined Google world and underworld hacker/pirate
network) kept me interested enough to finish the book. For a better,
more fully realized read with a similar feel (though, alas, without the
book emphasis), I suggest reading Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.

FLASH REVIEWS: YALSA’s 2013 Hub Reading Challenge, Check-In #1

I keep getting distracted by other books (and work, and school, and life in general), but I have managed to make a little headway into those 25 books I pledged to read for the Hub Reading Challenge. So far, I’ve discovered some great YA books—and I finally got around to reading Code Name Verity, one of last year’s most buzzed about books.

So anyway, here’s a quick look at my progress so far:

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Greg’s strategy for surviving high school is to stay under the radar. He doesn’t want true friends but maintains a superficial sort-of-friendship with every group in the school, from the jocks to the Goth kids. Of course, none of the other groups is meant to know that he is “friends” with the others. In a school full of cliques, Greg is Switzerland. But when his mom pushes him to befriend (or refriend) a classmate recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, his plan goes to hell. Suddenly, Greg is facing uncomfortable, emotionally charged situations and he has no idea how to react. Even worse, people find out about his secret filmmaking hobby. This book is far from the sad, angsty teen “cancer book” you probably expect from the description. Biting, frequently crude humor and a strong narrative voice make Jesse Andrews’s debut novel a truly compelling read. Greg’s lack of self-awareness and total cluelessness about the male/female dynamic reminded me of Brent Crawford’s Carter Finally Gets It. While the characters of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl aren’t exactly endearing, they are nuanced, believable, and incredibly well-grounded in the novel’s Pittsburgh setting.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Finley is used to being an outsider. He’s the only white guy on his high school basketball team and he doesn’t have much to say, even to his longtime girlfriend. But in a town ruled by gangs and the Irish mob, that may not be such a bad thing. Then his basketball coach encourages him to befriend a new student. Russell is really a basketball phenom from an elite private school in California, but he claims to be an alien called Boy21. This is a unique story, subtly told. The writing is clear and simple, perfect for reluctant readers, and the characters and relationships are well-drawn and compelling.

Cool fact: Quick is also the author of the adult novel The Silver Linings Playbook, the film adaptation of which is nominated for several Academy Awards this year (including Best Picture and a Best Actress nom for Jennifer Lawrence, otherwise known as Katniss Everdeen). The Awards will air this coming Sunday.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Rating: 3/5 Stars
When Sunday Woodcutter befriends an enchanted frog, she has no idea that her new friend is really Prince Rumbold of Arilland, the man her family blames for the death of her brother Jack. This reinvention of the “Frog Prince” fairy tale is full of twists and frequently intertwines with other fairy tales, yet it is a wholly original story that stands on its own. Personally, I felt that Sunday and Rumbold’s relationship need more development. Also, although some of the fairy tale tie-ins were amazingly clever, sometimes the multitude of fairy-tale references became overkill, stealing focus from the main story. Still, I am eager to learn more about some of Sunday and Rumbold’s relatives in the next installment of the Woodcutter saga.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Genre: Historical Fiction/Suspense
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Probably the least said about this book plot wise, the better. Suffice it to say, it is about friendship, espionage, and courage. When a teenaged spy is captured by the Nazis, she agrees to confess everything. It is then up to the reader to read between the lines of that confession and discover the truth of who “Verity” really is. Incredibly compelling and carefully plotted, with convincing historical detail, this is a multi-layered tale well worth reading.

Next up: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, which my blogging partner Lucinda has already read any enjoyed. (So you know a Dual Review will be coming soon!)

For those of you participating, how many titles have you checked off your list so far? Which is your favorite book so far?

REVIEW: See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Tween/Teen (11 and up)

Summary: Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible in her family. Her dad is obsessed with the family restaurant and hardly ever comes home for dinner anymore; her mother is constantly escaping to her special room to meditate; and her perpetually critical sister Sara is miserable to be stuck at working at the family diner while her friends are all away at college. Fern has always had a special bond with her older brother Holden, but now that he’s started high school he’s busy coping with school bullies and his own emerging sexuality. And then there’s adorable, irrepressible three-year-old Charlie, the constant center of attention within the family.
The only person keeping Fern sane is her eternally calm and optimistic
best friend Ran, who almost makes her believe that “all
will be well.” But then tragedy strikes and even Ran can’t see how things will ever be okay again.

 First Line: “The very best day of my life, I threw up four times and had a fever of 103 degrees.”

Tracy’s Thoughts:
This is a book that will make you laugh, break your heart, and then somehow, against all odds, make you smile again. Knowles’s characters are fully developed, with authentic emotions and flaws. Quiet, introspective Fern makes a wonderful narrator, and though the lens through which she sees each of her family members is necessarily skewed by her own perspective, readers are able sympathize with each of the characters. Fern’s voice is distinct and engaging, often with shades of unintentional humor. This is especially true when she talks about her family:

Holden is always running off in a huff, and I am always the one searching for him and bringing him home. Holden’s named after the main character in The Catcher in the Rye. I wasn’t supposed to read it until I’m older, but I snuck my mom’s paperback copy out of her room last year. The pages were all soft from her reading it so many times. The book is about this boy who’s depressed because he thinks everyone he knows is a phony, so he runs away. I understand why my mom liked the book and all, but I personally think is was a big mistake to name your kid after a boy who tries to kill himself, even if he is thoughtful and brilliant. My favorite parts in the book are when the main characters talks about his little sister, Phoebe. Sometimes I think I’m a little like Phoebe to our Holden. Because in the book she’s the one he goes back for. And that’s sort of like me. Only I have to go looking for him first. (25–26)

The first third of the book introduces the quirk-filled family, from
Fern’s goodhearted, embarrassing father to demanding, loveable Charlie.
But then everything—the simple coming-of-age story you thought you were
reading—comes to a devastating halt as tragedy strikes. The emotions
become even more palpable, and the characters more real.

Relationships shine in this book, particularly the bond between
Holden and Fern—and later, when she steps up after the tragedy, Sara.
Fern’s friendship with Ran and Cassie—which also adds a minor love triangle to
the mix—rings equally true and enjoyable. I don’t want to spoil the “tragedy” that shifts the direction of the
narrative, so there is not much more I can say about this gripping
story. Characters must cope with guilt, grief, and other complex emotions, but the story never becomes maudlin or melodramatic. But there are hints of brightness amidst the darkness that comes. This is a simply but incredibly well-written story, full of humor, compassion, heartwrenching tragedy, and, eventually, healing.

REVIEW: Death’s Acre by Dr. Bill Blass and Jon Jefferson

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Adult/Older Teen

Summary: Straight from an episode of CSI, this book details the life and times of Dr. Bill Blass, who established “The Body  Farm”.   The Anthropological Research Center, colloquially known as “The Body Farm” is a one-of-a-kind research facility that studies how the human body decomposes after death by studying actual human subjects (most are donated by well-meaning donors after their deaths) through the various stages of decomposition.  This research has and is  aiding forensic scientists all over the world in the quest to identify remains and identify murders, charlatans, and criminals.

Lucinda’s Views:   As a person with an interest in forensic anthropology, this book was right up my alley.  Dr. Bass brings a very technical and intense branch of science down to an approachable, layman’s level.  Through easily understood, but fascinating scientific tidbits, Dr. Bass relates some of his more memorable cases and even the mistake that lead to the establishment of “The Body Farm”.  Over his more than forty year career, Dr. Bass has been called upon to aid with many interesting, unique cases, from 3,000 year old Native American burials to a man who was shot, blown apart, and then had his house burned down around him in order try and conceal his murder.  If you are interested in forensic science and love CSI, then this book would definitely be of interest.

REVIEW: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Post-apocalyptic/Science Fiction
Audience: Young Adult/Adult

Summary: Set in a post-apocalyptic world where everyone upon reaching their fifteenth birthday undergoes extensive plastic surgery to become “pretty” and anyone who does not undergo the transformation is an “ugly”.  Tally must ultimately decide for herself what she values the most; meeting her society’s expectations or being true to herself. 


Lucinda’s Views: With its original setting and original premise, this book is an enjoyable, memorable read. Tally’s battle within herself and the expectations of her society beg the question to the reader, “is it better to conform and be accepted by society or to be true to oneself?”  Tally’s struggle also mirrors that struggle that all go through in order to come to self-knowledge.   Well-written and wholly original, this book is worth read!  I would also like to recommend the remainder of the series, Pretties, Specials, and Extras.