REVIEW: How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClure

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Toddler-Preschool

Summary: Using single-word text on each page, Nikki McClure gives the reader a glimpse into what a cat’s day might look like.


Lucinda’s Views: With its simple text and black, white and blue pictures, this eye-catching picture book is good for younger preschoolers and toddlers, especially if there is a cat in the house. The illustrations are basic, but manage to convey a great deal of action with just the simple, bold line drawings. The actions of the cat could be easily mimicked by young children, which makes this a fun read aloud that would be ideal for active kiddos. A fun read!

A Note from Tracy:
I am sorry to report that this post will be our final review from Lucinda at Book News & Reviews as she has decided to resign from her position here at BCPL. (Unless we can convince her to send us the occasional guest review? :))

Thank you, Lucinda, for all of your contributions here at Book News & Reviews and to BCPL. There would be no Book News & Reviews without your efforts and enthusiasm to get us started. (Check out the new statement in the footer!) I wish you the best of luck in whatever the future brings.

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.

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.

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.

REVIEW: Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Fairy
Audience: Adult/High School

Summary: When her sister is murdered in Dublin, Ireland MacKayla Lane travels there in order to bring the murderer to justice.  Little does she know that there she will discover a world of Fae, Druids, and other realms. Along her journey MacKayla will learn dark family secrets as well as discovering untapped supernatural talents. She will find she has strength and resources that she never thought she possessed as she fights for her very soul and even the fate of the world.

Lucinda’s Views:  A departure from her Highlander novel series, the Fever series is pure urban fantasy.  In MacKayla’s quest to find the fiend who murdered her sister she is caught up in a world she never dreamed that she was a part of, let alone responsible for saving.

Abounding with Celtic and Irish lore, this series pulls in legends, bardic tales, and modern fairy tales and ties them together into a cohesive whole that will entertain but at the same time make you wonder….What if?  The Fae of MacKayla’s world are nothing like the Tinkerbell of modern ideology.  These Fae are dangerous, frightening and out to satiate hungers that have been harnessed for millennium. 

MacKayla’s journey from Southern socialite to a strong, independent woman will keep you interested as well as the myriad of characters that MacKayla encounters. The dark, sexy Jericho Barrons, the Seelie Prince V’Lane, and the irrepressible Dani O’Malley, who is not what she seems, are all well-developed and mysterious.  If you like Urban Fantasy and want to read a well-written original series I encourage you to check this series out!      

FLASH REVIEW: New Halloween Books

Just in time for Halloween we have received some new, very readable Halloween books that kids of all ages can enjoy.

The Monster who Lost his Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber
Rating: 3/5 stars
Genre: Picture Book 
When Monster looses his custom made “M” he becomes Onster, a monster without his mean.  As such he is ridiculed by the other monsters and this distresses him greatly until he realizes being a “M”onster who is mean is not as enjoyable as it used to be.  Instead he finds joy with some new human friends to whom he is Onster, the nice monster down the street who can be a helpful friend. I really enjoyed this lighthearted look at being a monster.  With its bright, colorful illustrations this book is engaging and will bring out the “Onster” in your little reader!

Zombie in Love by Kelly Dipucchio
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Genre: Picture Book
Poor Mortimer, a zombie is looking for love in all the wrong places until he finally meets Mildred at Cupid’s Ball.  Then it is “love at first bite”.  This charming little picture book struck me as a clever read-aloud for our Trick or Treat storytime.  Following the trend for Zombie/post-apocalyptic settings in new books, this storybook follows the trend with humor, and a sweet tale of zombie love.  The illustrations are sure to make older preschoolers/kindergartners laugh and the tale is endearing without being sappy.  On the whole a fun read for all!

Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble by Tracey Corderoy
Rating: 4/5 starts
Genre: Picture Book
In the ultimate of Granny Makeovers, a little girl takes her “different” witch granny and makes her into a “normalish” granny.  However, with this change, all involved discover that they don’t like this new granny and with a flick of her wand, Granny becomes her usual, quirky self.  This books message of loving family members for themselves is delivered in a fun manner, with rhyming text and fun colorful illustrations.  Granny herself is a hoot and the book wraps up with a fun beach vacation accompanied by all the cats, bats, and frogs is just funny.  Kiddos will enjoy the concoction of the gloopy soup which includes such ingredient as slime and “froggy poop”.  Of the three books that I have reviewed here, I think that this one is my favorite as it is fun, has a good message, and well, just reminds me of spending time with my Granny when I was a little girl.

REVIEW: Becoming Sister Wives by Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown

Rating: 3/5 stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Adult

Summary: Ever wonder what it would be like to be part of a polygamist family? How would it feel to share your husband with three other women?  This book can perhaps provide some insight into these questions.  Becoming Sister Wives tells the story of the polygamist Brown family and how they came to be the family that can be seen on TLC’s reality show Sister Wives.  Cody, the husband, is married to not only Meri, but also Janelle, Christine, and Robyn and they have some 17 children among them.  This story tells of their tribulations, not only as they struggle to become a unified family unit, but also the struggles that they face/are facing as polygamists in prevalently monogamist America.  You will learn how each couple came to be married and how each wife has come to grips with “sharing” her husband with four other women.

Lucinda’s Views: I picked up this book because I was curious as to what the Brown family would say concerning their unconventional lifestyle.  I found it to be an easy, quick read that in some ways touched my heart.  The views expressed by all of the Brown in this book is that this lifestyle is a sincere calling from God, not a salacious attempt by Cody to have as many women in his life as possible using the excuse of religion.  Each voice in the book was expressed in a sincere, clear manner that left no doubt about who was speaking and that each voice was sincerely expressing their beliefs as they see them.  I found this book to be an interesting, even informative read.  Even if you do not agree with the Browns’ choice of livestyle, this book is worth giving a read.

REVIEW: A Discovery of Witches and The Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Star Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Supernatural Fantasy/Time Travel
Audience: Adult, Young Adult

Summary: In two sweeping novels that range in setting from modern-day Oxford to Elizabethan England, Deborah Harkness tells the story of the lovers Matthew and Diana, a vampire and witch who are breaking every taboo to be together.  It all begins when Diana calls up the alchemical treatise “Ashmole 782”.  Unbeknownst to Diana, this manuscript has not been seen in hundreds of years and is said to hold the key to the origins of the three races; witches, vampires and daemons.  Subsequently, Diana simply sends it back to the Bodlien Library’s stacks.  With this one act, Diana suddenly finds herself the object of a race against time, at the center of a powerful magic, and in a struggle for her very life and that of the vampire she loves. 

Lucinda’s Views:   I have a confession to make, I have a guilty pleasure.  I love a good supernatural love story/fantasy, so I eagerly grabbed A Discovery of Witches when it first came out.  Then I heard that the sequel was arriving, so I got out my handy Nook and reread A Discovery of Witches.  It was as absorbing a book as it had been during the first read.  Diana’s tenaciousness and true strength of character draws the reader in and holds them in thrall until the last page.  Matthew is the quintessential vampire hero, strong, protective, and a little bit of an enigma.  As seen in Shadow of Night, Matthew has been a hidden player throughout much of our modern era, including being a member of the School of Night.  (An organization founded by Sir Walter Raleigh during Elizabeth I’s reign.  It consisted of some of the most gifted minds of the day.)  Anyone who loves the combination of history and fantasy will enjoy this aspect of the novels.  These book are well-written, interesting, and will hold a fascination for any reader who picks them up.  I can’t wait for the third novel in the trilogy to be published!

REVIEW: Terror by Night by Terry Caffey

Star Rating: 4/5 (Playaway audiobook)
Genre: True Crime
Audience: Adult/Upper Level Young Adult

Summary: When his young family is murdered by his own daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Terry Caffey must learn to live as the only survivor of the attack and come to grips with this tragedy.  As he strives to take up his life again, he comes to a great understanding of the grace, mercy, and purpose of God. 

Lucinda’s Views: This book was recommended to me by a fellow librarian and at first I was sceptical as to whether or not I would enjoy reading it.  However, I found myself glued to my headphones and caught up in the tragedy of Terry’s life.  I found myself close to tears many times in this book as Terry recounted anecdotes from his family life prior to the horrific murders. 

This book does have a Christian bent, but it comes across as an integral part of the story as opposed to being didactic.  Terry’s faith is the impetuous that allows him to rebuild his life and truly forgive his family’s murderers including his own daughter Erin.

If you find that you like books that tell a tale of triumph over adversity and the strength of the human spirit this is a must read for you.

REVIEW: Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult/Young Adult Crossover

Summary:
Laura comes from a world similar to our own except for one difference:
it is next to the Place, an unfathomable land that fosters dreams of
every kind and is inaccessible to all but a select few, the
Dreamhunters. These are individuals with special gifts: the ability to
catch larger-than-life dreams and relay them to audiences in the
magnificent dream palace, the Rainbow Opera. People travel from all
around to experience the benefits of the hunters’ unique visions. Now
fifteen-year-old Laura and her cousin Rose, daughters of Dreamhunters,
are eligible to test themselves at the Place and find out whether they
qualify for the passage. But nothing can prepare them for what they are
about to discover. For within the Place lies a horrific secret kept
hidden by corrupt members of the government. And when Laura’s father,
the man who discovered the Place, disappears, she realizes that this
secret has the power to destroy everyone she loves . . .

Lucinda’s Views:
This
book is a well-written jaunt into an alternate Australia set in the
Edwardian era. The difference is that in this Australia, there are
people that can capture dreams and share them with others. They are
called Dreamhunters, and the best are well-paid celebrities, so that
almost every person desires to join their ranks. Laura and Rose are no
exception.

This alternate world is well-imagined and
keeps developing as the plot progresses in a believable manner. The
ending does not provide any sort of resolution to the reader, but it is
clearly stated on the cover that it is part of a duet, and other than
that one caveat, the plot is well-paced, develops in an absorbing
manner, and the cliff-hanger at the end of the novel leaves the reader
eager for more.

Laura and Rose are likable and the
mysterious disappearance of Laura’s father just serves to bolster the
reader’s affinity for them. If you like to read fantasy and are looking
for a new world, with well-developed characters to explore this is the
book for you.

REVIEW: Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Genre: Supernatural Fantasy/Romance/Historical
Audience: Young Adult

Summary:  In this spin-off of Beastly, Kendra the witch tells her own tales including how she discovered she was a witch in the plague year of 1666, survived the Titanic, and has helped poor souls across the centuries of her life.  The latest of her “poor” souls is Emma, a plain, but beautiful within stepsister who just need to “get out from under herself.” In addition, interwoven within the whole book are the tales of Cinderella, The little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Pea.

Lucinda’s Views:   This book was a quick, enjoyable, light summer read.  Kendra is a sympathetic character, who somehow even makes cursing someone seem like the “thing” to do.  One can understand her need to “help” these poor souls as she comes across them.  However, her “help” has mixed results, but somehow things always seem to be set right in the end.  If you enjoy fairy tales, supernatural tales or teen romance…this is the book for you.

DUAL REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Lucinda’s Rating: 2/5 Stars (DNF)
Tracy’s Rating: 2/5 Stars
Genre:
Erotic Romance
Audience:
Adult (Mature)

Summary: College student Anastasia Steele is just filling in for her friend and roommate when she meets and interviews powerful businessman Christian Grey, and it turns out to be a highly awkward and embarrassing experience. But when Christian seeks her out on her home turf then warns her away, Ana can’t help but be intrigued by the undeniable attraction they share. Soon, Ana learns that any relationship with Christian will be far different from her expectations, as he has a taste for bondage, dominance, and punishment—and Ana must decide if she can be the submissive he needs.

First Line: “I scowl with frustration at myself in the mirror.”

Lucinda’s Views: 
I tried my best to read this, having been urged on to finish it by several of the library staff, but I couldn’t. I don’t know if it was the wooden characters or the stalkerish behavior of the main characters that turned me off of this book, but try as I might I could not bring myself to finish the book. It did start off with an interesting, if done before plot and I was at first intrigued by this groundbreaking offering of erotica by a major publishing house. Things seemed to go downhill in subsequent chapters, however. The characters never seemed to develop any depth and I just couldn’t deal with Ana’s whining. All I can say is that I just lost interest. I was trying to read the Hunger Games Trilogy simultaneously and this offering just didn’t compete.


Tracy’s Thoughts: 

Like Lucinda, I had several enthusiastic co-workers urging me to read this book. About a third of the way in I was ready to throw in the towel, but I stuck with it. And while I can’t say I loved it, I didn’t hate it either. At least, I didn’t dislike it any more than I did the Twilight series (but more on that later).

EL James is the first to admit that she isn’t a great writer, but her prose is… competent, if sometimes a bit robotic. She clearly has a fondness for certain words—many of them starting with the letter “P”—and I actually made a game out of spotting her frequent variations of the words purse, pout, and petulant. (These recurring word choices probably didn’t help Lucinda’s impression of Ana as an annoying whiner either.) What really captured me and kept me reading was the e-mail exchanges between Ana and Christian that begin midway through the book. This is the only time that the characters seem to come alive. In their e-mail conversations, they are playful, challenging, even funny. I especially loved the humor Christian showed in changing his e-mail signature to reflect their ongoing conversation. They have a personality in their e-mails—Christian particularly—that just doesn’t come out in their face-to-face exchanges or in Ana’s inner monologues.

Speaking of inner monologues… I got really tired of Ana’s conversations with her “inner goddess” and her subconscious. It began to sound like Ana has a split personality, especially in a few really strange moments when she describes her subconscious/inner goddess/whatever as “hiding behind the couch.” Not to mention how just plain WRONG it is for Ana to be observing and communicating with her subconscious, which is supposed to be, um, subconscious. As in, something she is unaware of. But whatever. As I said, EL James has no pretensions about being an accomplished writer.

As Lucinda points out, there is actually  potential for a really good story here. Christian and Ana love each other (for whatever reason), but they have a
real conflict in their lifestyles and expectations. I would have loved
to see more about how they deal with that conflict, or how sometimes people can love each other but be basically incompatible. Unfortunately, James goes more for the Twilight plot treatment, much of it focused on Bella Ana’s inner angst and confusion. (Which isn’t so surprising, considering the novel originated as a piece of Twilight  fan fiction). Here are just a few of the Twilight/Fifty Shades of Grey parallels that struck me as I was reading:

  • Enigmatic, adopted hero with unpredictable mood swings? Check. (Well, unpredictable for the heroine anyway).
  • Self-esteem challenged heroine who mysteriously attracts every male within a mile radius? Check. 
  • Heroine parental issues, including a supposedly “scattered” mother and conversationally challenged father figure? Check.
  • Lots of immediate, internal obsessing on the part of the heroine over the hero? Check.
  • “Overprotective” hero that tracks down the heroine in unexpected places (i.e., behaves like a stalker) and is “concerned” over the heroine’s means of transportation? Check.

And there are more similarities where that came from. Of course, Christian’s deep, dark secret isn’t vampirism. It is his BSDM lifestyle (along with whatever traumatic childhood event “caused” it). But believe it or not, this book wasn’t nearly as explicit as I was led to expect. For the most part, it was more unsettling (at least in the scenes where Ana herself was most uncomfortable) than sexy. Of course, the subject matter is for mature readers only, but the language used to describe Christian and Ana’s encounters is almost restrained, even clinical at times. At least it wasn’t as shocking to me as a some of the scenes from True Blood!

So, for me this book was a mixed bag, with untapped potential. But the e-mails and questions about Christian’s history still have me slightly intrigued. I have books two and three of the trilogy at home and am determined to give them a fair shot. (One co-worker told me not to judge by the first book, promising that the plot deepens as the saga progresses.)

A few questions for you:
For those of you who’ve read this book (and we KNOW some of you have!), what did you think? Are we being too harsh?

Just for fun, have you seen the police sketch of Christian Grey on The Composites on tumblr? What do you think? Does the sketch capture Christian as you imagined him?

REVIEW: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction/Fairy Tale
Audience: Young Adult

Summary: This is the story of Cinderella, but with a twist.  Cinderella is “Cinder” a cyborg who is a gifted mechanic and citizen of New Beijing.  As her world suddenly changes, Cinder becomes involved with intergalactic politics, a handsome prince, and some surprising news about her heritage the could change the world as she and everyone around her knows it.

Lucinda’s Views:  As one of many fairy tale variants available on today’s shelves, I must say this has been one of the most enjoyable to read.  I found the story to be engaging, well-written and just “twisted” enough to be a thoroughly new experience.  Cinder as a cyborg and the issues that are raised about how “human” could a cyborg or even an android be give one food for thought. Also the premise that a fairy tale heroine could be anything but a Disney look-alike just really tickles the heck out of me.  So if you like your heroines sassy, a bit rough around the edges, and in no way stereotypical, check out this book!

P.S. there is also a prequel to this story (no spoilers present).  It is called Glitches and be found here.

REVIEW: Bones by Steve Jenkins

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: All Ages
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: In this offering from Caldecott winner Steve Jenkins, children of all ages can see in-depth the bones of both human and various animal skeletons.  Fold out pages and large illustrations fill the pages of this well-done non-fiction book for all.

Lucinda’s Views:  With its detailed cut-paper illustrations of both human and animal bones, this book allows kids-of-all ages to compare their own bones with that of various other animals.  Many bones in this book are actual size and the cut paper illustrations are fascinating in a macabre way.  The text offers simply yet direct explanations of anatomy and physiology in a manner that most will easily understand.  On the whole, a very enjoyable, fascinating read.

REVIEW: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre:  Biography
Audience: Older Teen/Adult

Summary: Four years after the sudden death of her mother from a highly aggressive cancer, Cheryl Strayed made a decision that would change her crumbling life. She decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Western equivalent of the Appalachian Trail. Her rigorous 1,000 plus mile hike would change her life in ways that she little expected.  This book is the story of her hike and its ultimate alteration of her very being.

Lucinda’s Views: I admit that I picked this up after having read about it in a fashion magazine. (Gasp)
But I was intrigued nevertheless.  This account of hiking the PCT and all its many dangers, hazards, and beauties almost had me convinced to go out and buy a backpack to start training for the Appalachian Trail.  (Anyone who knows me knows that that is so not my idea of fun.)  With well written, descriptive prose that draws you in and allows you a vision of a woman whose life is just beyond her control, Cheryl’s hike is truly a test of courage, strength, and true grit that makes an enjoyable and motivating read…..(I was looking at hiking boots today….)

REVIEW: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Cover art for EXTRA YARN

Rating: 4/5 stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Preschool -K

Summary: Annabelle finds a box of yarn and knits herself a sweater, but strangely enough there is enough yarn to knit her dog one, and then her friend Nate one…and so forth and so on.  This goes on until Annabelle’s knitting abundance is noticed by the evil Grand Duke who offers to buy the box.  When Annabelle refuses to sell him the box, the duke sends his evil henchmen to steal the magical yarn box.  However, the box does not work for the duke and the box finds its way back to Annabelle, who finds her extra yarn inside.

Lucinda’s Thoughts:  As someone who is a yarn addict and loves to knit this book was right up my alley.  The pictures were delightful and Jon Klassen’s use of color only on the knitted garments, etc was fabulous.  The underlying theme of how giving gets you a great deal further in the world is a basic lesson that will appeal to all.  The ending was satisfying in that the duke gets his just reward and Annabelle gets her box back.  On the whole, a charming read for knitters and non-knitters everywhere.

DUAL REVIEW: Press Here by Herve Tullet

Lucinda’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Tracy’s Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Toddler-Kindergarten

Summary: Each page intructs the reader to perform a different action producing surprising results that will be different on each page.

Lucinda’s Thoughts: This book was a bunch of fun….each page brought a new action with surprising and delightful results.  The bright, primary colors could be used to aid in teaching little ones colors as well as the concept of size, numbers, counting, and a host of other concepts.  A must read for anyone who has little ones who are curious and eager to learn.

Tracy’s Thoughts:
I pretty much summed up my thoughts when I selected Press Here as one of the Best Picture Books of 2011. It was one of the most innovative, entertaining, and educational children’s books of the year. Here’s what I had to say then:

This ingenious, interactive picture book will incite wonder and delight in children ages 2 to 200. It doesn’t require batteries or have any fancy flaps or tabs. Instead, Tullet asks kids to suspend belief and participate by pressing on dots, shaking the book, turning it, and blowing on it—gently of course. When they turn the page, they see the results of their actions. The illustrations—somewhat reminiscent of Leo Lionni, without the personification—are simple, leaving room for the reader’s imagination. Ages 2 to 5.

REVIEW: Chicken Cheeks by Michael Black

Book Jacket

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Audience: Pre-K to 1st Grade
Genre: Picture Book
Summary: Some bears will go to any length to get some honey. This one recruits every animal that comes along to form, well, at stack. The result? Tail of the duck to the gluteus maximus of the duck-billed platypus (with many other rears in between).

Lucinda’s Thoughts:  I laughed my rear off (no pun intended!) when I read this book.  The plays on words that Black uses accompanied by Hawkes comical illustrations are just what is needed to brighten up a dull day!  This book will appeal to children and adults with its “butt humor” and will be a hit to read to any little jokester.

Just a little something from the author!

DUAL REVIEW: Little Pea by Amy Rosenthal

Book Jacket

Lucinda’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tracy’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Audience: Toddler -1st grade
Genre: Picture Book

Summary: Little Pea hates eating candy for dinner, but his parents will not let him have his spinach dessert until he cleans his plate.

Lucinda’s Views:  Little Pea’s adventures are relevant for any young child.  Not liking what is for dinner is a regular facet of childhood and Little Pea is no exception.  The fact that Little Pea doesn’t want any candy is what tickles the funny bone in this book.  The illustrations are very succinct and add to this story’s charm.  For example, the facial expressions of Little Pea as he is eating his much hated candy meal are priceless.  If you like a good chuckle in your picture books this is the one for you!

Tracy’s Thoughts: Amy Rosenthal is the author of one of my absolute favorite picture books from recent years, Duck! Rabbit! And while I don’t love and adore Little Pea with the same fervor, I still think this book is utterly charming. The story and illustrations are simple, yet adorable. And the reverse psychology is sure to convince a picky eater or two to try something new.

REVIEW: The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Book Jacket

Rating:3.5/5 Stars
Audience: Pre-K
Genre: Picture Book

Summary: From the quiet of being the first one awake in the morning to “sweet dreams quiet” when the last light is turned off, simple text explores the many kinds of quiet that can exist during the day.

Lucinda’s Views: This likable and gentle picture book discusses the different kinds of quiet that a young child my encounter. The pictures are pleasing to the eye and the succinct text complements the illustrations and even enhances them.  The only drawback to reading this book is the requests you are going to get to read it “again, again.”

REVIEW: Everything I need to Know Before I’m Five by Valorie Fisher

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Pre-K

Summary: Do you know your letters? Can you count to twenty? Learn all that and more in this all-in-one concept picture book. Perfect for kids heading to kindergarten, this book covers the alphabet, counting, opposites, shapes, colors, and seasons. Award winning author-illustrator Valorie Fisher uses bright, gorgeous photos of retro toys to illustrate these topics in a completely fresh way. Parents will love this stylish and funny approach to basic concepts, while kids will learn, well, everything.

Lucinda’s Thoughts:  I brought this book home for my little one and she loves it!  With its bright realistic illustrations and well defined concepts this book is a must read especially for those that are entering Kindergarten or are preparing for Kindergarten.  Really you should just check it out and see for yourself!

REVIEW: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genres: Fantasy/Supernatural Fiction
Audience: Adult/Young Adult

Summary: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

Lucinda’s Thoughts:  This book intrigued me from the start.  Always a fan of the supernatural, the idea that there are others among us sparked my interest.  Jacob’s troubles and resulting journey hold the reader’s interest and bring about unexpected twisted and turns that are  attention-grabbers.  I would have liked more background story for the peculiar children and their mentor, but understandably a book can only be so lengthy. 

The book’s accompanying photographs are mysterious, yet blend effortlessly with the story.  (Kudos to the author and individuals who sought these out, as they are all real photos, not artwork for the book.)  The cover art is also wonderful, and while I would be the last to judge a book by its cover, this cover is compelling. 

Jacob’s trip through time and space weave a complex narrative of a world where all is not as it seems, and Jacob is one of the few who can see the difference.  As Jacob’s tale progresses, he becomes not only a more mature, multi-faceted figure, but finds himself walking in the footsteps of his grandfather, an enigmatic figure whose own children thought him a mystery.  The conclusion of the book is slightly twisted, and leaves room for a sequel. (Another bothersome aspect of this novel.)  Even so, I am looking forward to the further adventures of Jacob and his “peculiar” comrades.

The following is the book trailer for the wonderful novel:

DUAL REVIEW: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism

Summary: The Cirque des Rêves arrives in the night, without warning, and captivates its audience from dusk till dawn. What the audience—and most of the performers—do not know is that the circus is merely the arena for a much grander scheme. Two magicians have set their protégés on a collision course, a deadly game where not even the participants themselves are sure of the rules—or the consequences. Celia, the daughter of Prospero the Enchanter, is a performer in the circus, pretending that her magical feats are mere illusion. Marco, an orphaned boy trained by Prospero’s greatest rival to defeat Celia, is more covert in his strategy. The Night Circus spans decades and continents as the game plays out slowly—until the two competitors finally meet and fall in love, putting the circus itself at risk.

Lucinda’s Views:
This is a beautifully written intricate tale that seems to be a tale of star-crossed lovers, but is so much more than it seems. The intricate tale weaves in and out of the lives of Celia and Marco effortlessly, while also supporting the depth of the other characters that are inherent to the development of this wonderful story.  I must say that the ending was not what I expected, but was extremely satisfying for all that is was unexpected.  Even the supporting characters were extraordinarily well-developed. Each character was intriguing and kept the story moving towards its penultimate conclusion.  If you haven’t yet had a chance to pick this up, it should be a must on your list.

To see Tracy’s earlier review click here: