Thursday, October 27, 2011
Scott Pilgrim
Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life Scott Pilgrim vs The World
Scott Pilgrim & The Infinite Sadness
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
Scott Pilgrim vs The Universe
Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour
by Bryan Lee O'Malley
This set of graphic novels set in Toronto follow Scott Pilgrim in his pursuit of becoming the boyfriend of Ramona Flowers and, as required, defeat her evil ex-boyfriends, all seven of them. Sounds strange? Well, yes, but it makes more sense when you realize that it is set up much like a video game, with each book as a level, and the defeat of each boyfriend an objective that earns Scott points toward his final goal. Better?
That framework also helps explain the crazy fight scene between Ramona and Knives Chau, who Scott first dates briefly, that is held, of all wonderful things, in the Toronto Reference Library. Seriously. It is a delight to Toronto readers that the city figures so prominently and recognizably, but it doesn't limit the readership, either. It's a bit nonsensical, a little rambling, and a whole lot of crazy, mixed-up fun with characters you mostly like, even in their douchey moments, and they do have them.
I like the drawing style, a fairly comic style that keeps the fight scenes jokey and the characters seeming fun even when they have their moments. Having read the series, I can see that Michael Cera might just be the most inspired choice to play Scott Pilgrim, as he was cast - it's sitting on my shelf waiting for a viewing now.
Labels: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, Canadian, friendship, graphic novel, love story, music theme, slightly weird stuff, teen
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Noah Barleywater Runs Away
by John BoyneDoubleday
978 0 385 67597 0
Something is wrong at Noah's home, and he decides to run away. He's not being mistreated, it's made clear, but the nature is a mystery that some readers will guess at before it is revealed at the end.
In any case, he is now on the road and encounters some strange people and situations along the way, landing finally at a strange toyshop built under a most unusual tree. There, he meets an old man who seems to understand a great deal about him. By the end of a very odd and thought-provoking day of magical happenings and meandering discussion, Noah has learned enough to change his perspective and decide to return home, and the reader has learned enough to piece together the pieces of this fairy-tale-inspired story.
The ending is satisfying, if not as surprising as it might have hoped to be, and the read has a decidedly fairy-tale quality, as mentioned above. How well it all worked, though, I'm not certain. I think it is perhaps too old for most children, or too determinedly offbeat, but that is John Boyne's style, and to be honest, I didn't love his famous title The Boy in Striped Pajamas, either. I have to call this one a book that some will enjoy and some not, because I really believe it's a case where taste will dictate more than anything whether you walk away liking it or not.
Labels: 2010, family, growing up, issues, middle grades, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff
Friday, July 22, 2011
Emily the Strange: Stranger and Stranger
by Rob Reger and Buzz Parker
I've always kind of loved Emily the Strange... but until not that long ago, she was mostly a vague character to me. The new series of half-graph novels/diaries are delving further into the world and mind of Emily, and giving me a whole new appreciation. Being based on an already-successful character, these didn't have to be great to sell - but they are pretty darn good, to be honest. Way better than they have to be, which is a real treat to find!
This second installment is not quite as great as the first (my review of The Lost Days here), but still interesting and as amusingly twisted as you could hope for. This time, Emily successfully duplicates herself, only to find her mother initially unreceptive to this new twin, and soon enough, she isn't feeling so keen on the idea anymore either, as she discovers that this twin is more EvilMe than Emily, and has not only stolen her dark side, but her skating skills! She seeks help from her neighbour, a former spy trainer, and eventually hatches a plan to get rid of the twin and regain what she's lost...
As with The Lost Days, the book is funny, and Emily has unexpected cool little quirks that make her even more awesome. Definitely a worthwhile read, even for those who are not hardcore fans of the Strange!
Labels: 2010, family, friendship, siblings, slightly weird stuff, teen
Thursday, August 05, 2010
The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
by Candace Fleming
This collection of stories takes place throughout the school year at Aesop Elementary, a most unusual institution filled with punnily-named teachers and occasionally very strange occurrances, particularly in the grade 4 classroom, with its new teacher...
Each of these tales is a way of retelling one of Aesop's famous fables, or telling a story that while set in a modern school, winds up at the same moral as one from an ancient fable. The moral is spelled out at the end of the chapter, but this doesn't feel preachy because of it, and it doesn't seem that it would turn kids off. Instead, they might find themselves trying to guess what the lesson will be.
The stories, with their often strange and sometimes supernatural elements combined with the school setting made me think of the Sideways Stories from Wayside School series, or maybe even the Bailey School books.
Fun, a little silly, and light-hearted, but not without its little life lessons, either.
Labels: 2007, friendship, humour, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
Monday, May 03, 2010
The Remarkable Adventures of Tom Scatterhorn
: The Museum's Secret (Publisher Review)
by Henry Chancellor
This book is on the face of it in the vein of the Night at the Museum movies - Tom Scatterhorn's father seems to go a little bonkers, and then disappears, so tom is sent to live with his aunt and uncle while his mother goes to find his father. They live, of course, in the strange, spooky old Scatterhorn Museum, where strange, spooky things seem to be afoot.
This is not enough, however, so there is also a portal to the past, which may also be played out in a scale model of the town at that time, some 100 years ago, when the museum was first being built and opened by Sir Henry Scatterhorn and his genius taxidermist friend, August Catcher.
Add to this also a strange life-giving serum, "the divine spark" and a pair of odd characters who also seem to be traveling through time hunting for the bottle and ready to destroy Tom for it, some strange goings-on in Mongolia that involve Tom's parents, and the second-largest uncut sapphire in the world, and you have a LOT going on in this book.
It's not short, but it's packed, and it feels like a few threads were left untied at the end. Whether this spells sequel or just the fact that it was too much to keep track of is really not clear, but i could hardly blame the author for dropping one or two lesser plotlines, given the number that do find themselves neatly wound up.
The book did not immediately grab me, to be honest, but after a few chapters, began to pick up, when Tom begins to wander the museum a bit and you get a sense of where this is going. Once it does get going, there is plenty of suspense and action, though I did at times find it confusing with the hopping around in time and the references to the town model and the large eagle that seems to go unexplained even at the end. It had large sections that were great fun, but I think this is one for a dedicated reader or one really looking for a time travel or museum adventure.
by Henry Chancellor
This book is on the face of it in the vein of the Night at the Museum movies - Tom Scatterhorn's father seems to go a little bonkers, and then disappears, so tom is sent to live with his aunt and uncle while his mother goes to find his father. They live, of course, in the strange, spooky old Scatterhorn Museum, where strange, spooky things seem to be afoot.
This is not enough, however, so there is also a portal to the past, which may also be played out in a scale model of the town at that time, some 100 years ago, when the museum was first being built and opened by Sir Henry Scatterhorn and his genius taxidermist friend, August Catcher.
Add to this also a strange life-giving serum, "the divine spark" and a pair of odd characters who also seem to be traveling through time hunting for the bottle and ready to destroy Tom for it, some strange goings-on in Mongolia that involve Tom's parents, and the second-largest uncut sapphire in the world, and you have a LOT going on in this book.
It's not short, but it's packed, and it feels like a few threads were left untied at the end. Whether this spells sequel or just the fact that it was too much to keep track of is really not clear, but i could hardly blame the author for dropping one or two lesser plotlines, given the number that do find themselves neatly wound up.
The book did not immediately grab me, to be honest, but after a few chapters, began to pick up, when Tom begins to wander the museum a bit and you get a sense of where this is going. Once it does get going, there is plenty of suspense and action, though I did at times find it confusing with the hopping around in time and the references to the town model and the large eagle that seems to go unexplained even at the end. It had large sections that were great fun, but I think this is one for a dedicated reader or one really looking for a time travel or museum adventure.
Labels: 2008, action/adventure, enh, family, middle grades, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff, suspense
Friday, April 23, 2010
Publisher Review: When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
This first caught my attention because it is last year's Newbery winner, and I try to make sure I hit those big titles amidst my reading. The jacket blurb sounded decidedly strange, leaving more questions than anything, and it seemed like this was one you'd have to read to get, as if it was defying attempts to describe it.
It didn't grab me on the first few pages, to be honest. But once I started further in, and started to care about the characters and be curious about where the story was going, it became a series of events that were a little strange, full of hints, and weaving their way slowly towards a fascinating conclusion.
It's definitely a book for older children - it contains some minor violence, some abstract concepts, and a horrible accident, and would just fly over the heads of younger children. But for the child who can follow it and stick with it through the first little bit as it gets going, it holds rich rewards. It's a book that has stuck with me after I closed it, a sure sign of a worthwhile read.
This first caught my attention because it is last year's Newbery winner, and I try to make sure I hit those big titles amidst my reading. The jacket blurb sounded decidedly strange, leaving more questions than anything, and it seemed like this was one you'd have to read to get, as if it was defying attempts to describe it.
It didn't grab me on the first few pages, to be honest. But once I started further in, and started to care about the characters and be curious about where the story was going, it became a series of events that were a little strange, full of hints, and weaving their way slowly towards a fascinating conclusion.
It's definitely a book for older children - it contains some minor violence, some abstract concepts, and a horrible accident, and would just fly over the heads of younger children. But for the child who can follow it and stick with it through the first little bit as it gets going, it holds rich rewards. It's a book that has stuck with me after I closed it, a sure sign of a worthwhile read.
Labels: 2009, family, friendship, good stuff, growing up, middle grades, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff
Saturday, March 20, 2010
American-Born Chinese
by Gene Luen Yang
This teen graphic novel was recommended to me by a bookstore clerk, who saw that I had picked it up and told me it was good stuff. He wasn't wrong.
The book features three stories that seem separate, yet address the same theme of fitting in and knowing who you are. The first story is from the Chinese legends of the Monkey King, the second is about a young boy who is growing up as a Chinese-American, and the third is about a white American boy whose annoying, over-the-top stereotype of a Chinese cousin is visiting and ruining his life at school.
The blend of fantasy and reality here works well, though it did have me for a while wondering why we had these three separate stories and where we were going. It resolves nicely, though, and at the end, the three stories suddenly entwine in an interesting and unforeseen way to drive the point home, without becoming all message-y.
Being a graphic, this is a quick read, and it's fun, but it's a solid book, too, with things to say about racism, accepting yourself, and growing up. While it's about a boy from Chinese heritage, it's applicable to a huge number of kids growing up in North America right now from different places, and I bet a lot of them would identify with parts of it. To me, that makes it a great thing to have on the shelf, so people get a better sense of what they or someone else might be facing.
and of course you can't talk graphic novel without talking about the drawing style. it's cartoon-y, of course, but a more conventionally western style of comics, not manga-style. it's got bold lines, yet manages a good amount of detail. To be honest, while I'm not a big graphic novel reader, I really liked the look and the way this novel worked.
-loved the style
This teen graphic novel was recommended to me by a bookstore clerk, who saw that I had picked it up and told me it was good stuff. He wasn't wrong.
The book features three stories that seem separate, yet address the same theme of fitting in and knowing who you are. The first story is from the Chinese legends of the Monkey King, the second is about a young boy who is growing up as a Chinese-American, and the third is about a white American boy whose annoying, over-the-top stereotype of a Chinese cousin is visiting and ruining his life at school.
The blend of fantasy and reality here works well, though it did have me for a while wondering why we had these three separate stories and where we were going. It resolves nicely, though, and at the end, the three stories suddenly entwine in an interesting and unforeseen way to drive the point home, without becoming all message-y.
Being a graphic, this is a quick read, and it's fun, but it's a solid book, too, with things to say about racism, accepting yourself, and growing up. While it's about a boy from Chinese heritage, it's applicable to a huge number of kids growing up in North America right now from different places, and I bet a lot of them would identify with parts of it. To me, that makes it a great thing to have on the shelf, so people get a better sense of what they or someone else might be facing.
and of course you can't talk graphic novel without talking about the drawing style. it's cartoon-y, of course, but a more conventionally western style of comics, not manga-style. it's got bold lines, yet manages a good amount of detail. To be honest, while I'm not a big graphic novel reader, I really liked the look and the way this novel worked.
-loved the style
Labels: 2006, friendship, good stuff, graphic novel, growing up, issues, slightly weird stuff, teen
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Publisher Review: The Magician's Elephant
by Kate DiCamillo
Kate DiCamillo is almost a sure-fire winner when it comes to middle-grade fiction, but having been a few years since I last read her, I could only remember general impressions about what was so special about her writing when I picked this up. I knew I enjoyed her, recalled that she was really good at creating a mood, and it seemed to me that there was something old-fashioned about her storytelling. And so, like most people in the kidslit world, I was eager to read this latest offering.
When I started, I remembered immediately what makes her writing amazing - she uses language gorgeously, reveling unabashedly in words, and never shying away from using a word that a child will need to ask about. a strong or confident reader will usually pick up the meaning from context, but a reader-aloud may have to explain a word or two, or there may be some looking up, but with her stories being so magical, I don't think it's off-putting, and find it rather a great thing that she may be good enough to entice kids to do that just to stay with her when they need to! Talk about your vocab booster.
The language is not the whole of the story, of course, but one of the ways she helps create an overall atmosphere, which she does beautifully. In this case, there is magic in the air, magic strong enough the swirl through an otherwise depressingly heavy winter. This magic in the town begins with a magician's incredible but unfortunate trick, and gives way to a sense that anything is possible.
Dreams, prophetic dreams, start to bloom in the sleeping minds of the populace, drawing many of them into being part of an unfolding story. it is a strange story, an impossible story, but with the help of the dreams, with the help of a new sense of wonder, the people follow along with it and help it come true.
It's a slightly odd book, this one, but for a child who is willing to dream, who loves a good ending, who loves a beautifully told tale, it's just a lovely book to share and immerse yourself in.
Kate DiCamillo is almost a sure-fire winner when it comes to middle-grade fiction, but having been a few years since I last read her, I could only remember general impressions about what was so special about her writing when I picked this up. I knew I enjoyed her, recalled that she was really good at creating a mood, and it seemed to me that there was something old-fashioned about her storytelling. And so, like most people in the kidslit world, I was eager to read this latest offering.
When I started, I remembered immediately what makes her writing amazing - she uses language gorgeously, reveling unabashedly in words, and never shying away from using a word that a child will need to ask about. a strong or confident reader will usually pick up the meaning from context, but a reader-aloud may have to explain a word or two, or there may be some looking up, but with her stories being so magical, I don't think it's off-putting, and find it rather a great thing that she may be good enough to entice kids to do that just to stay with her when they need to! Talk about your vocab booster.
The language is not the whole of the story, of course, but one of the ways she helps create an overall atmosphere, which she does beautifully. In this case, there is magic in the air, magic strong enough the swirl through an otherwise depressingly heavy winter. This magic in the town begins with a magician's incredible but unfortunate trick, and gives way to a sense that anything is possible.
Dreams, prophetic dreams, start to bloom in the sleeping minds of the populace, drawing many of them into being part of an unfolding story. it is a strange story, an impossible story, but with the help of the dreams, with the help of a new sense of wonder, the people follow along with it and help it come true.
It's a slightly odd book, this one, but for a child who is willing to dream, who loves a good ending, who loves a beautifully told tale, it's just a lovely book to share and immerse yourself in.
Labels: 2009, family, good stuff, middle grades, Publisher Reviews, siblings, slightly weird stuff
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The Battle of the Labyrinth
by Rick Riordan
Book #4 of 5 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
This series has been amazing - see reviews for books #1, #2, and #3 - and though I didn't love the 2nd and 3rd as much as the first, I thought this 4th installment was fantastic.
It brings together a fast-moving plot with lots action, a good dose of greek mythology, plenty of fantastical elements, and solid friendships that save the day.
This time, the dark forces marshalling around Kronos in his bid to return are threatening the training camp of the demigods, hoping to wipe out the heros and force the gods to fight them in a second epic clash of good vs. evil.
The heros will be no match for a full-scale invasion, so when they find an entrance to Daedalus' underground Labyrinth, they enter it, despite grave danger, to try to find Daedalus and seek his help. What they find is not what they expect - of course.
What they find includes various mythological gods and monsters and even one human who is not quite so human after all. The group splits up at one point, and not to give anything away, but there is some lost time, some nasty surprises, soem pleasant surprises, and, well, let's just say it's not every day that someone gets to show up at their own funeral!
If you haven't been reading this series, you really ought to - and quickly, before the first movie comes out soon! It's a sure winner for people who like action, people who like fantasy, and people who just like a well-written, fast-paced read with a few laughs on the side.
Book #4 of 5 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
This series has been amazing - see reviews for books #1, #2, and #3 - and though I didn't love the 2nd and 3rd as much as the first, I thought this 4th installment was fantastic.
It brings together a fast-moving plot with lots action, a good dose of greek mythology, plenty of fantastical elements, and solid friendships that save the day.
This time, the dark forces marshalling around Kronos in his bid to return are threatening the training camp of the demigods, hoping to wipe out the heros and force the gods to fight them in a second epic clash of good vs. evil.
The heros will be no match for a full-scale invasion, so when they find an entrance to Daedalus' underground Labyrinth, they enter it, despite grave danger, to try to find Daedalus and seek his help. What they find is not what they expect - of course.
What they find includes various mythological gods and monsters and even one human who is not quite so human after all. The group splits up at one point, and not to give anything away, but there is some lost time, some nasty surprises, soem pleasant surprises, and, well, let's just say it's not every day that someone gets to show up at their own funeral!
If you haven't been reading this series, you really ought to - and quickly, before the first movie comes out soon! It's a sure winner for people who like action, people who like fantasy, and people who just like a well-written, fast-paced read with a few laughs on the side.
Labels: 2008, action/adventure, friendship, growing up, loved it, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
Publisher Review: Emily the Strange: The Lost Days
a novel by Rob Reger and Buzz Parker.
I've been a fan of Emily the Strange as a sort of semi-defined character in my mind for quite a while, as have many people who wear her on their hair-clips, lunchboxes, or pencil-cases - but never really had much of a firm handle on her story or what she was really about. All of which has changed. Now? Now, I love her.
Right from the start, this book pulls you in with a promising premise and a winning voice and personality. You see, we know she's Emily, but she doesn't. In fact, she doesn't know anything about herself, having arrived in a super-weird town with a serious case of amnesia. it tells you right away that you are in for a good ride as she tries to sort things out, and things are pretty, er, Strange in this town.
The other characters are also interesting little puzzles that make you wonder and keep you guessing, even if hardly anyone seems likeable, and the town contains enough odd little mysteries to satisfy even the most easily bored. As she does start to unravel the layers of mystery, Emily discovers (and we along with her) what kind of person she is (and is decidedly not), where she came from, that she knows a lot of people in some other unusual places, and finally, the big secret that brought her here in the first place.
You may just be following along in her diary, but she is funny, smart, and every inch unapologetic for being different, so she never loses you, and the little drawings and asides are worth noticing.
Final verdict? I half-expected this to be kind of gimmicky and not so great, as books based on something else often are, but I was pleasantly surprised, and loved every minute of this. I fully recommend it to anyone who likes a girl with a twist - chicklit this is not, yet girly fun all the same.
And even better, you can check it out online at HarperCollins' website for the book, where they have not just the usual inside jacket flaps and a tiny excerpt, but over half of it posted for viewing with the Browse Inside feature. That's pretty awesome in itself.
I've been a fan of Emily the Strange as a sort of semi-defined character in my mind for quite a while, as have many people who wear her on their hair-clips, lunchboxes, or pencil-cases - but never really had much of a firm handle on her story or what she was really about. All of which has changed. Now? Now, I love her.
Right from the start, this book pulls you in with a promising premise and a winning voice and personality. You see, we know she's Emily, but she doesn't. In fact, she doesn't know anything about herself, having arrived in a super-weird town with a serious case of amnesia. it tells you right away that you are in for a good ride as she tries to sort things out, and things are pretty, er, Strange in this town.
The other characters are also interesting little puzzles that make you wonder and keep you guessing, even if hardly anyone seems likeable, and the town contains enough odd little mysteries to satisfy even the most easily bored. As she does start to unravel the layers of mystery, Emily discovers (and we along with her) what kind of person she is (and is decidedly not), where she came from, that she knows a lot of people in some other unusual places, and finally, the big secret that brought her here in the first place.
You may just be following along in her diary, but she is funny, smart, and every inch unapologetic for being different, so she never loses you, and the little drawings and asides are worth noticing.
Final verdict? I half-expected this to be kind of gimmicky and not so great, as books based on something else often are, but I was pleasantly surprised, and loved every minute of this. I fully recommend it to anyone who likes a girl with a twist - chicklit this is not, yet girly fun all the same.
And even better, you can check it out online at HarperCollins' website for the book, where they have not just the usual inside jacket flaps and a tiny excerpt, but over half of it posted for viewing with the Browse Inside feature. That's pretty awesome in itself.
Labels: 2009, fluff, graphic novel, growing up, loved it, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff, teen, witches and wizards
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sara's Face
by Melvin Burgess
Melvin Burgess has an incredible knack for dreaming up situations that sound like they could only lead to the cheesiest book in the world, yet making them entertaining and easy to buy into by virtue of his fantastic writing. His book Lady, for example, is about a teenaged girl who turns into a dog. Ridiculous? Sure. But he writes it so that the experience of being a dog seems like it must be realistic, it is so plausible.
So here, he writes about a rock star who has, teaming up with a gifted but unscrupulous plastic surgeon, pushed the boundaries of surgery well past normal or accepted. As a result, after years of constantly morphing his appearance, his face has collapsed. Still, he won't be kept down, and reinvents himself with a mask that propels him to even greater heights of global fame.
Sara, who considers herself a piece of performance art in her own way, is awestruck. She takes to wearing a mask of his face as much as she can, even before she burns her face with an iron. As she recovers, the great star Jonathon Heat visits her in the hospital, taking her under his wing and into his home, where he says he will nurture her talent, fix her face, and make her a star. The question is - is that what he really wants? Sar begins to have suspicions that he and his surgeon want her for a whole different reason, and that she may not even be the first.
The book has good suspense, an ending horrible enough to satisfy but not as bad as it could be, and a premise of evil plotting that leaves you with some delicious little chills. At the same time, for those who are inclined to a good think or good discussion, there is plenty here for that, too.
Not the kind of book I'd say you have to read, but a good little thriller, and just shocking enough to make you want to.
Melvin Burgess has an incredible knack for dreaming up situations that sound like they could only lead to the cheesiest book in the world, yet making them entertaining and easy to buy into by virtue of his fantastic writing. His book Lady, for example, is about a teenaged girl who turns into a dog. Ridiculous? Sure. But he writes it so that the experience of being a dog seems like it must be realistic, it is so plausible.
So here, he writes about a rock star who has, teaming up with a gifted but unscrupulous plastic surgeon, pushed the boundaries of surgery well past normal or accepted. As a result, after years of constantly morphing his appearance, his face has collapsed. Still, he won't be kept down, and reinvents himself with a mask that propels him to even greater heights of global fame.
Sara, who considers herself a piece of performance art in her own way, is awestruck. She takes to wearing a mask of his face as much as she can, even before she burns her face with an iron. As she recovers, the great star Jonathon Heat visits her in the hospital, taking her under his wing and into his home, where he says he will nurture her talent, fix her face, and make her a star. The question is - is that what he really wants? Sar begins to have suspicions that he and his surgeon want her for a whole different reason, and that she may not even be the first.
The book has good suspense, an ending horrible enough to satisfy but not as bad as it could be, and a premise of evil plotting that leaves you with some delicious little chills. At the same time, for those who are inclined to a good think or good discussion, there is plenty here for that, too.
Not the kind of book I'd say you have to read, but a good little thriller, and just shocking enough to make you want to.
Labels: 2006, good stuff, issues, slightly weird stuff, suspense, teen
Monday, August 11, 2008
Publisher Review: Madapple
by Christina Meldrum. See more about the book on the publisher's website, here.
(and read about my stance on reviews here, if you like.)
To start, let me fill you in on the title: Madapple is another name for a local herb also called jimsonweed that plays a major role in this tale so defined by herbs and lore. Aslaug grows up isolated, under the complete control of her mother, who teaches her what she thinks she should know, including lots of mythology and history, as well as great amounts about scientific inquiry and how to identify and use local flora.
The actual story unfolds in two formats running in alternating chapters - one a series of transciprts from a trial, the other the story as told by Aslaug in her complete version, filling in the gaps and questions that the court records open up. I must say that I think this gradual drawing out of the plot was probably supposed to engage and draw in a reader, but I didn't love the device. It was a bit slow going for me, though it did raise questions along the way, as intended.
Once Aslaug's mother passes away, she seeks and finds family, only to discover a world of strange, intertwined secrets and history. Herbs continue to play a role, but now she is thrust into a place of religion, where she is suddenly introduced to the readings and explorations that her mother kept hidden from her, although she had known that her mother was reading in these areas. Now she begins to see a new side of her mother and hear conflicting stories that leave her confused. Each member of this new family seems to have their own secrets and agendas, many of which revolve around her, but which she is unable to decipher. History seems to repeat itself at the end, until her cousin decides to take matters into his own hands and break from the madness.
Without giving away the ending, it does leave you with questions, most certainly, and with some things to chew on, if the story has grabbed you enough to make you keep thinking about it. For myself, I wasn't finding that I had to keep coming back to it, though I did also have to give myself a good few days to let it percolate before I could sit down and write a review. I found myself wonderign, instead, whether I liked it or not. It was haunting in places, certainly, it raises questions that might be of gripping interest for some readers, especially if they are of a religious bent, for it flirts with religious teachings, and it leaves open questions about the family and their history. In the end, though, I think I might just not have been the right person for this one.
(and read about my stance on reviews here, if you like.)
To start, let me fill you in on the title: Madapple is another name for a local herb also called jimsonweed that plays a major role in this tale so defined by herbs and lore. Aslaug grows up isolated, under the complete control of her mother, who teaches her what she thinks she should know, including lots of mythology and history, as well as great amounts about scientific inquiry and how to identify and use local flora.The actual story unfolds in two formats running in alternating chapters - one a series of transciprts from a trial, the other the story as told by Aslaug in her complete version, filling in the gaps and questions that the court records open up. I must say that I think this gradual drawing out of the plot was probably supposed to engage and draw in a reader, but I didn't love the device. It was a bit slow going for me, though it did raise questions along the way, as intended.
Once Aslaug's mother passes away, she seeks and finds family, only to discover a world of strange, intertwined secrets and history. Herbs continue to play a role, but now she is thrust into a place of religion, where she is suddenly introduced to the readings and explorations that her mother kept hidden from her, although she had known that her mother was reading in these areas. Now she begins to see a new side of her mother and hear conflicting stories that leave her confused. Each member of this new family seems to have their own secrets and agendas, many of which revolve around her, but which she is unable to decipher. History seems to repeat itself at the end, until her cousin decides to take matters into his own hands and break from the madness.
Without giving away the ending, it does leave you with questions, most certainly, and with some things to chew on, if the story has grabbed you enough to make you keep thinking about it. For myself, I wasn't finding that I had to keep coming back to it, though I did also have to give myself a good few days to let it percolate before I could sit down and write a review. I found myself wonderign, instead, whether I liked it or not. It was haunting in places, certainly, it raises questions that might be of gripping interest for some readers, especially if they are of a religious bent, for it flirts with religious teachings, and it leaves open questions about the family and their history. In the end, though, I think I might just not have been the right person for this one.
Labels: 2008, enh, family, growing up, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff, teen
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Invasion of the IQ Snatchers
by Arthur Slade, from the Canadian Chillers series.
Something weird is going on in Nanaimo, BC, where plates of nanaimo bars are being delivered, and a few of them stolen away by a large, hairy thief. And why do the parents all seem so strange, all of a sudden, what with the curlers and the TV-watching and the obsession with clean ears?
Determined to find out, a pair of friends and friendly competitors set out after the thief to find out what she knows. A fair bit, it turns out, but joining forces, the three just barely manage to stop the brains of Nanaimo from becoming fuel for intergalactic flight. No, really. But it's okay, everyone turns out normal in the end, and the thief becomes a friend - for future volumes, perhaps?
Strange and silly, this one reminds me a bit of Daniel Pinkwater's style, and is sure to have the same appeal, especially to reluctant readers. Teachers may appreciate the author, who is notable on the Canadian kid lit scene, while kids will pretty surely enjoy the thin size and the fun, quirky, fast-paced content.
Labels: 2007, enh, fluff, middle grades, slightly weird stuff, suspense
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Publisher Review: London Calling
by Edward Bloor. Reviewed for Random House. Find more information about this book on their website here.
This book is a fascinating blend of historical fiction, family issues, and the supernatural. In it, Martin is hating school and weighed down by the accepted order of things based on history in both his school and his family. He begins to be angered when it is clear that nothing will change as long as this version of history remains entrenched, and he sinks into a depression. It is only the arrival of an antique radio that seems to connect him to a past time and give him a mission that finally shakes him into some action. He begins to research, at first to figure out if he is crazy or dreaming, then because of growing interest, and finally, to also create some temporary solution to his issues at school by doing independent research projects from home. Through his feverish dedication, he wins over his sister, his father, and his mother, and is allowed to go on the errand of a lifetime, creating a healing on many fronts that in fact changes quite a few things in the end.
(And first, a word about publisher reviews on kittenpie reads.)
This book is a fascinating blend of historical fiction, family issues, and the supernatural. In it, Martin is hating school and weighed down by the accepted order of things based on history in both his school and his family. He begins to be angered when it is clear that nothing will change as long as this version of history remains entrenched, and he sinks into a depression. It is only the arrival of an antique radio that seems to connect him to a past time and give him a mission that finally shakes him into some action. He begins to research, at first to figure out if he is crazy or dreaming, then because of growing interest, and finally, to also create some temporary solution to his issues at school by doing independent research projects from home. Through his feverish dedication, he wins over his sister, his father, and his mother, and is allowed to go on the errand of a lifetime, creating a healing on many fronts that in fact changes quite a few things in the end. I'm not giving too much away here because it is a wonderful book to watch unfold, not in terms of suspense, so much as watching Martin grow and learn, and seeing how he inspires changes in others around him. There are in this book subplots that are skillfully woven directly into the main thrust of the book, rather than being distractions as subplots can be when handled less deftly. While doing his research and following his intuition, Martin is also dealing with issues of identity, of the weight of expectations, and with an alcoholic father, all of which fold back into what he is uncovering and his pondering about what he can and cannot change. By the end of this, Martin has grown in amazing ways, and has helped everyone around him grow, too. Quite a feat for a young man just coming of age, really.
What I am most impressed with about this book is how it successfully blends enough action (in both his school struggles and the wartime setting of his time travels) to keep it interesting with a mystical quality that is not pure fantasy and with an inward-looking, serious look at self. This is pretty rare stuff, especially in a book with true boy appeal. I can think of few that manage such a balance, though I think that Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life may be a contender as well. Plus, it warms a librarians heart to see research become so important and life-changing to someone! All in all, this was a great book, and while I think it is decidedly a teen work, I wouldn't hesitate to give it to anyone but the most struggling of readers.
Labels: 2006, family, good stuff, historical fiction, issues, Publisher Reviews, slightly weird stuff, teen
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Alcatraz Smedry Versus the Evil Librarians
by Brandon Sanderson.
This book is a fantasy mixed with a comedy, a sort of Harry Potter meets Daniel Pinkwater. Throw in a smidge of Lemony Snicket, for the evil conspiracies and because Alcatraz often addresses the reader in asides about writing conventions and about what sort of person he really is, after all. But the book, or Alcatraz, that is, insists that it is in fact non-fiction, an autobiography and record of true events, and written to set the record straight, although he acknowledges that librarians will bill it as fantasy to keep the lid on the true nature of their nefarious world domination.
It's silly, it's postmodern, it's rife with action and discovery of new views of the world, which is apparently run by evil librarians who obfuscate the truth to keep the people under their control. (I'll never tell if that is true or not.)
But whatever the case, it is an fun, fast-paced, and quite enjoyable read, and one I can see recommending especially to a boy who is ready to move into chapters in terms of reading level, but reluctant to move into heavier books. One who loved Jon Sceisczka or Dav Pilkey would be a perfect bet.
This book is a fantasy mixed with a comedy, a sort of Harry Potter meets Daniel Pinkwater. Throw in a smidge of Lemony Snicket, for the evil conspiracies and because Alcatraz often addresses the reader in asides about writing conventions and about what sort of person he really is, after all. But the book, or Alcatraz, that is, insists that it is in fact non-fiction, an autobiography and record of true events, and written to set the record straight, although he acknowledges that librarians will bill it as fantasy to keep the lid on the true nature of their nefarious world domination.
It's silly, it's postmodern, it's rife with action and discovery of new views of the world, which is apparently run by evil librarians who obfuscate the truth to keep the people under their control. (I'll never tell if that is true or not.)
But whatever the case, it is an fun, fast-paced, and quite enjoyable read, and one I can see recommending especially to a boy who is ready to move into chapters in terms of reading level, but reluctant to move into heavier books. One who loved Jon Sceisczka or Dav Pilkey would be a perfect bet.
Labels: 2007, action/adventure, good stuff, humour, middle grades, slightly weird stuff, witches and wizards
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The Clone Conspiracy
by Simon Rose
This mini-thriller is slightly more complicated reading than an Easy-to-Read book, but not by a lot. Its short length (88pp.) keeps it in range for kids who are not dedicated readers, while also keeping it moving, in order to fit a little thriller into its pages. It's written well enough, given the little space left over once plot is being driven, but is nothing special.
Still, a kid who likes the way TV shows move forward will find this similar. It begins with the disappearnace of Patrick, Luke's friend. After a few months, he sees him by chance, and is drawn into a strange mystery involving cloning and evil scientists. Not much time is spent on details, but essentially, they wanted Patrick in order to use his body to house another mind. And now Luke and Patrick's sister are in danger, too... Where does the conspiracy end?
Simple and fast-paced, it's what we call a hi-lo. High interest, low reading skill necessary.
This mini-thriller is slightly more complicated reading than an Easy-to-Read book, but not by a lot. Its short length (88pp.) keeps it in range for kids who are not dedicated readers, while also keeping it moving, in order to fit a little thriller into its pages. It's written well enough, given the little space left over once plot is being driven, but is nothing special.
Still, a kid who likes the way TV shows move forward will find this similar. It begins with the disappearnace of Patrick, Luke's friend. After a few months, he sees him by chance, and is drawn into a strange mystery involving cloning and evil scientists. Not much time is spent on details, but essentially, they wanted Patrick in order to use his body to house another mind. And now Luke and Patrick's sister are in danger, too... Where does the conspiracy end?
Simple and fast-paced, it's what we call a hi-lo. High interest, low reading skill necessary.
Labels: 2005, action/adventure, early chapters, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
Ziggy and the Plugfish
by Jonathan Harlen.
Kooky in the way of cartoons like Spy Groove or Atomic Betty, zany in the style of Daniel Pinkwater, this is a great read for someone who likes fast-moving and silly. A lot of the (mostly boy) readers of series like Captain Underpants would probably like this as a next step up in the reading chain, because while it is somewhat wordier, it has the same kind of madcap feel about it, and inhabits a similalry appealing (to kids) world where only the kids make sense.
The story begins when Ziggy Plunkett's parents are consumed by some sort of giant jellyfish who has washed up on the beach where they were vacationing. And so does the rescue ranger who tries to pull them out. And then, as he and his newfound partner Shayla try to figure out what to do next, a submarine shows up and starts pulling the whole jiggling mess out to sea. So they follow, attempting a rescue, and find themselves at the bottom of the Marianas Trench before things are put right. Even the conclusion is bizarre, but pretty funny.
Kooky in the way of cartoons like Spy Groove or Atomic Betty, zany in the style of Daniel Pinkwater, this is a great read for someone who likes fast-moving and silly. A lot of the (mostly boy) readers of series like Captain Underpants would probably like this as a next step up in the reading chain, because while it is somewhat wordier, it has the same kind of madcap feel about it, and inhabits a similalry appealing (to kids) world where only the kids make sense.
The story begins when Ziggy Plunkett's parents are consumed by some sort of giant jellyfish who has washed up on the beach where they were vacationing. And so does the rescue ranger who tries to pull them out. And then, as he and his newfound partner Shayla try to figure out what to do next, a submarine shows up and starts pulling the whole jiggling mess out to sea. So they follow, attempting a rescue, and find themselves at the bottom of the Marianas Trench before things are put right. Even the conclusion is bizarre, but pretty funny.
Labels: 2005, action/adventure, good stuff, humour, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Once Upon a Curse
by E.D. Baker.
This girly fantasy revolves around a family curse that makes the girls in the family turn ugly and nasty when they touch a flower after their 16th birthday. This is a family of witches, so nasty is REALLY nasty. The youngest in the line is about to turn 16, and is betrothed to a boy she loves, but she is determined to end the curse or stay single so as not to put him through it.
So she pursues an answer, using magic, traveling back through time, and so on. Doing something with that answer when she returns is another story, because her aunt is making it difficult, not to mention throwing other wrenches in the birthday celebration that must be dealt with. She and her fiance work together and come a long way, but it looks like hope is lost until a surprise twist.
This took me a while to read, because it doesn't pull you along, the way some fantasy-type books do, with adventure. So although the character is a smart, strong young lady, and I like her relationship with Eadric, this was really just sort of lukewarm. A real fan of princess-y books might love it, though.
This girly fantasy revolves around a family curse that makes the girls in the family turn ugly and nasty when they touch a flower after their 16th birthday. This is a family of witches, so nasty is REALLY nasty. The youngest in the line is about to turn 16, and is betrothed to a boy she loves, but she is determined to end the curse or stay single so as not to put him through it.
So she pursues an answer, using magic, traveling back through time, and so on. Doing something with that answer when she returns is another story, because her aunt is making it difficult, not to mention throwing other wrenches in the birthday celebration that must be dealt with. She and her fiance work together and come a long way, but it looks like hope is lost until a surprise twist.
This took me a while to read, because it doesn't pull you along, the way some fantasy-type books do, with adventure. So although the character is a smart, strong young lady, and I like her relationship with Eadric, this was really just sort of lukewarm. A real fan of princess-y books might love it, though.
Labels: 2004, girly, lukewarm, slightly weird stuff, witches and wizards
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Titan's Curse
by Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, bk. 3.
I really loved the first book of this series, was ho-hum on the second, and am somewhere in between on this third installment.
This is a quest Percy is not supposed to go on, but since his friend Annabeth is in danger, he goes anyhow, and joins the quest, along with one other demi-god, his satyr friend Grover, and two of Artemis' huntresses, who are determined to go, because she, too, is in trouble. The titans are rising, still trying to gather the strength to overthrow the gods of Olympus, and the prophecy about a child of either Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades looms.
The quest involves lots of peril and some more familiar monsters, some not-so-familiar monsters, and even fun add-ins like the statues at the Hoover Dam. After tricking the titan Atlas and ending this attempt at uprising, the remaining heroes of the quest visit Olympus, high above the Empire State Building, and learn a few things fromt he gods themselves, as well as enjoying a great victory feast. In the end, Thalia heads off the possibility that she will be the one in the prophecy, leaving Percy a couple of years to figure out how to thwart the Titans before he figures in it himself.
The book delivers lots of fun action, but still not quite at the pace of the first volume. It also sets up the continuation of the series perfectly, so we know there is at least on more before the big showdown. Even though I feel like this series hasn't totally lived up to the potential of the first book, I'll still read it, because they are entertaining, certainly.
I really loved the first book of this series, was ho-hum on the second, and am somewhere in between on this third installment.
This is a quest Percy is not supposed to go on, but since his friend Annabeth is in danger, he goes anyhow, and joins the quest, along with one other demi-god, his satyr friend Grover, and two of Artemis' huntresses, who are determined to go, because she, too, is in trouble. The titans are rising, still trying to gather the strength to overthrow the gods of Olympus, and the prophecy about a child of either Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades looms.
The quest involves lots of peril and some more familiar monsters, some not-so-familiar monsters, and even fun add-ins like the statues at the Hoover Dam. After tricking the titan Atlas and ending this attempt at uprising, the remaining heroes of the quest visit Olympus, high above the Empire State Building, and learn a few things fromt he gods themselves, as well as enjoying a great victory feast. In the end, Thalia heads off the possibility that she will be the one in the prophecy, leaving Percy a couple of years to figure out how to thwart the Titans before he figures in it himself.
The book delivers lots of fun action, but still not quite at the pace of the first volume. It also sets up the continuation of the series perfectly, so we know there is at least on more before the big showdown. Even though I feel like this series hasn't totally lived up to the potential of the first book, I'll still read it, because they are entertaining, certainly.
Labels: 2007, action/adventure, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
Monday, October 15, 2007
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
by Wendy Mass
When Jeremy, a few weeks shy of his thirteenth birthday, receives a mysterious box from his dead father, it sets him on a quest. The search, he thinks, is for the missing keys, four of them, to open the box inscribed "The Meaning of Life: For Jeremy Fink To Open On His 13th Birthday." The search, though, takes him in some most surprising paths, including the delivery of long-lost items to some very interesting characters. He takes the opportunity to learn from them, too, and by the time the four keys come together, he has been on quite the adventure. In the end, he makes an even more startling discovery, but his sense of who he is and how he fits into he world has grown, and he is filled with a greater sense of both peace and purpose.
This book was a great, fun, journey, filled with interesting people and little unexpected twists, including the one at the end. Jeremy's learning manages to not be too pat or trite, despite containing the kind of "wisdom" that could come off that way. Instead, it really gets you thinking about the search he is on, and I can see it being quite inspiring for the kind of child who thinks about their reading. Even if not, it's a terrific little read.
When Jeremy, a few weeks shy of his thirteenth birthday, receives a mysterious box from his dead father, it sets him on a quest. The search, he thinks, is for the missing keys, four of them, to open the box inscribed "The Meaning of Life: For Jeremy Fink To Open On His 13th Birthday." The search, though, takes him in some most surprising paths, including the delivery of long-lost items to some very interesting characters. He takes the opportunity to learn from them, too, and by the time the four keys come together, he has been on quite the adventure. In the end, he makes an even more startling discovery, but his sense of who he is and how he fits into he world has grown, and he is filled with a greater sense of both peace and purpose.
This book was a great, fun, journey, filled with interesting people and little unexpected twists, including the one at the end. Jeremy's learning manages to not be too pat or trite, despite containing the kind of "wisdom" that could come off that way. Instead, it really gets you thinking about the search he is on, and I can see it being quite inspiring for the kind of child who thinks about their reading. Even if not, it's a terrific little read.
Labels: 2006, good stuff, middle grades, slightly weird stuff
