tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47442340710850471982024-03-14T06:18:02.501-04:00My Comfy ChairSettling back, reading children's books, and sharing what I findBen Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-74491168775996513532021-06-25T10:43:00.004-04:002021-06-25T11:00:22.570-04:00Arrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3dgGpbc" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cSqyd559OLz83joBCeq2JWcLzFMD0ky_h6wNsSXotV-WOUfJYoJVdBjBYIkzJoWGc_Ttt6FfHy9UPvQdkBl2z6hnMLeyQayf8bzxWg_0jnFL2R-CDtP1Ff6Z0EhTsKqVwyMUd0hZqRBV/s0/Arrow.jpg"/></a></div><div><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3dgGpbc" target="_blank">Arrow</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Samantha Clark</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (June 22, 2021)</span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arrow is a fascinating novel with a broad theme of environmentalism couched in a very personal story of a boy who lives apart from other people in a lush, magical forest. As we read, we realize that most of the world has lost the equilibrium of the forest, and is a mix of barren, dry territory inhabited by the vast majority, and small oases of the wealthy who hog all the resources. Arrow must grapple with incursions from this outside world, but also learn how trust and reliance on others is the only way for the world to survive in the long run.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While that sounds heavy-handed as a description, as a novel it is far more intimate. Arrow's connection to the forest and the animals is deep and inspiring. This reminded me of Lois Lowry's The Giver with its deft blend of deep social issues and a child's processing of those issues from a very personal point of view. An excellent book that I think teachers would welcome.<br /><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I heartily recommend this.<br /><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Order <b>Arrow</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/3dgGpbc" target="_blank">Amazon US, </a>or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781534465978" target="_blank">where you can order it from a local indie bookstore</a>.</span><br />
<br /></div>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-59294341815974319202019-10-07T08:00:00.000-04:002019-10-07T08:10:12.632-04:00The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-Guinevere-St-Clair/dp/1534414479/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=b7ee8ae5a9997bfdfeec630a23de91da&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1534414479&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20&language=en_US" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1534414479" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2AKatbP" target="_blank">The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Amy Makechnie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (hardcover June 12, 2018, paperback June 4, 2019)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, and I have a fascinating book to recommend. Amy Makechnie's debut middle grade is difficult to categorize. Part mystery, part slice-of-life, part family dynamics, it follows the story of the eponymous Guinevere St. Clair, also known as Gwyn, as she moves from New York City to her parents' hometown of Crow, Iowa with her little sister, Bitty, and her father and mother to try to help her mother, referred to as Vienna, regain memories lost when Gwyn was four years old.<br />
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Vienna doesn't remember her daughters, or anything else that happened after she was thirteen. While this might sound like an "issue" book, and it certainly deals with a serious issue of brain injury and the impact on a family, the characters are so rich and the story so compelling, you don't feel like it is an issue book. (Not that I mind such books, but some find them too heavy.)<br />
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And oh my, those characters. Gwyn is feisty and difficult and headstrong, but also a passionate defender of her quirky friend, Micah (who I adored), and his constant companion and best friend, Jimmy. Micah's mother, Gaysie Cutter, is scary and unpredictable, but Gwyn's father firmly believes in her. When Gaysie's one friend, an older man named Wilbur, disappears, Gwyn feels compelled to solve the mystery of where he has gone or what has happened to him, and her number one suspect is Gaysie.<br />
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Hang on for the ride as Gwyn tries to find evidence and understand the complex world of adults in this close-knit but relatable rural town.<br />
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I heartily recommend this, and think you will find, as the title suggests, both the book and the characters quite unforgettable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Order <b>The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2AKatbP" target="_blank">Amazon US, </a>or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781534414471" target="_blank">where you can order it from a local indie bookstore</a>.</span><br />
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Find the rest of the <a href="https://gpattridge.com/2019/10/07/mmgm-for-10-7-2019/" target="_blank">Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews for October 7, 2019</a><br />
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Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-13034082838884812852019-06-10T07:00:00.000-04:002019-06-10T07:38:05.495-04:00The Monster Catchers (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Monster-Catchers-Bailey-Buckleby-Story/dp/1250165784" target="_blank"><br />
<img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OfsfGVDOGk2RrjjglUnrDd5JR2oC6IZlTLNoIdKgui1ZS0MRFYRUXGp9S_rxBX3dr7AgVz4YS2BxJNYwm1K5MMxApn2ikz22sjgnNb1zlxxeWXoobE90meiLR0cwfflDh0ZlqZnJ7od0/s1600/TheMonsterCatchers.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Monster-Catchers-Bailey-Buckleby-Story/dp/1250165784" target="_blank">The Monster Catchers</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: George Brewington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (March 5, 2019)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, and I have a great new book to recommend, perfect for the occasion. George Brewington's debut middle grade novel is an entertaining romp through a world where cryptids (supposedly mythological beasts) are real and Bailey Buckleby knows all about them. He should, he's the son in Buckleby & Son, the people you call when your unpleasant neighbors or uninvited visitors are non-human and an infernal nuisance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seventh grader Bailey is amazing with Frisbees, but he doesn't use them to goof around or play with his friends. Instead, they are his weapon-of-choice when dealing with meddlesome monsters or uppity upperclassmen. But after a strange visitor comes calling, looking to buy a certain monster of whom Bailey is especially fond, everything starts to go to pieces... including Bailey's faith that his father is 100% truthful about the family business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wild, exciting, and more than a little manic, this book will delight children who love the unusual and aren't entirely sure that grownups always know best. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I heartily recommend this madcap adventure, and hope that Mr. Brewington has the sequel underway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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Note: Under a new policy on the blog, I am doing away with ratings. I'll simply recommend books I can recommend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Order <b>The Monster Catchers</b> on <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Monster-Catchers-Bailey-Buckleby-Story/dp/1250165784" target="_blank">Amazon US, </a>or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250165787" target="_blank">where you can order it from a local indie bookstore</a>.</span><br />
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Find the rest of the <a href="https://gpattridge.com/2019/06/10/mmgm-for-june-10-2019/" target="_blank">Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews for June 10, 2019</a><br />
<br />Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-77181887354448472932018-05-27T23:00:00.000-04:002018-05-29T13:18:05.276-04:00Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadya-Skylung-Cloudship-Rescue-Seymour/dp/1524738654" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh4-Ofi3nk8Bm8MvbcKAaolmqzbgu2J5zpsLpp4kGyj8X818sqEFXKS3mn7_gfOaZ_0lvkDRoDkLd98knVAVtHXhVO6hmRQ87dyEP2DtNME8VdZ_Y29j_FMvBHq25lQgynpgK82R8_k7m/s1600/NadyaSkylung.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadya-Skylung-Cloudship-Rescue-Seymour/dp/1524738654" target="_blank">Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Jeff Seymour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (May 15, 2018)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, and I have a wonderful new book to recommend, perfect for the occasion. Jeff Seymour's debut middle grade novel is an absolute delight, and I am already eagerly waiting for a sequel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nadya Skylung is a member of the crew of the Cloudship Orion, which in this richly imagined world plies its trade from city to city powered by a cloud garden. Nadya's role is to help keep the plants in the garden happy and healthy. (Far more than just tending to them, as skylungs like Nadya communicate with the plants in a manner that is part telepathic, part empathetic, and much cooler than I can describe here.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When pirates attack and seize most of the crew, Nadya and her friends must decide whether to follow orders and escape, or risk everything to save the only family she's ever known. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nadya is heroic, headstrong, and a bit of a pain in the tush, and you won't be able to stop cheering for her, even when she stumbles and falls flat on her face. A very real, and very entertaining character, but the supporting cast is equally complex and fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While the plot of this novel is exciting, it is the whole world that will really pull you in. I read a lot of middle grade, and love many books, but only a few worlds over the years are so compelling I want to go live there for a while. Aside from those created by J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis, I can't think of any world more enticing than Jeff Seymour's. It isn't that it feels safe or comfortable, but then Harry Potter faces lots of danger and it doesn't make me want to visit less. There is just so much texture and depth behind every tidbit you learn about the cloudships and the cities, you want to explore and learn more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I guess we'll have to rely on Mr. Seymour. I hope we get to see more of Nadya and her friends, and learn more about this fantastical (and fantastic) world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A real gem, I predict this will go on to be a favorite cherished book by middle grade boys and girls. It has that staying power which as a kid would have made me visit and re-read again and again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Five stars!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Order <b>Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue</b> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nadya-Skylung-Cloudship-Rescue-Seymour/dp/1524738654" target="_blank">Amazon US, </a>or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781524738655" target="_blank">where you can order it from a local indie bookstore</a>.</span><br />
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Find the rest of the <a href="https://gpattridge.com/2018/05/28/mmgm-for-5-28-18/" target="_blank">Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews for May 28, 2018</a><br />
<br />Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-73566452223118173232018-05-08T13:34:00.000-04:002018-05-08T13:59:09.988-04:00Meet Yasmin! (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Yasmin-Saadia-Faruqi/dp/1684360226/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=489771c0b8546f30cdbc16eacb8d4c31" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1684360226&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1684360226" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2HYSOTH" target="_blank">Meet Yasmin!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Saadia Faruqi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Illustrator: Hatem Aly</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Picture Window Books (August 1, 2018)</span><br />
<i>ARC courtesy of NetGalley.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've been waiting for a while to get a chance to read Saadia Faruqi's upcoming chapter book, Meet Yasmin!, and I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oh my gosh, this is such a delightful book, and Yasmin is such a fun and engaging second grader, she absolutely deserves that exclamation point in the title. Yasmin's family is Pakistani (as is the author), so the text is sprinkled with a few words in Urdu that kids will find easy to learn and fun to use. She is perfectly relatable, prone to worry and inspiration at a moment's notice, and her family is warm and supportive and everything you could hope for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hatem Aly's illustrations are an absolute delight, and he brings such life and energy to Yasmin and her family and classmates, you'll feel like you're right there with them as she goes through mini-adventures as an explorer, painter, builder and fashionista.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Teachers will love the age-appropriate study guide, with a glossary, recipe, facts about Pakistan, and more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A wonderful, spirited book with a heroine I hope we meet many times again. Perfect for boys and girls in early elementary school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Five stars!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Pre-order <b>Meet Yasmin!</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2HYSOTH" target="_blank">Amazon US, </a>or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781684360222" target="_blank">where you can pre-order it from a local indie bookstore</a>.</span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-35744524479426526012018-04-15T22:00:00.000-04:002018-05-08T13:35:34.560-04:00The Mad Wolf's Daughter (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Wolfs-Daughter-Diane-Magras/dp/0735229260/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=11e5ca691770523b92625588cca0a78b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0735229260&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0735229260" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Mad Wolf's Daughter</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Diane Magras</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kathy Dawson Books (March 6, 2018)</span><br />
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This is the second week in a row participating in Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, and as I mentioned last week, the second debut middle grade novel that launches a series I know may will loved and look forward to. You can read other MMGM picks linked at <a href="https://gpattridge.com/tag/marvelous-middle-grade-monday/" target="_blank">Greg Pattridge's MMGM page</a>. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;"><b>A Scottish medieval adventure about the youngest in a war-band who must free her family from a castle prison after knights attack her home--with all the excitement of Ranger's Apprentice and perfect for fans of heroines like Alanna from The Song of the Lioness series.</b><br />
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One dark night, Drest's sheltered life on a remote Scottish headland is shattered when invading knights capture her family, but leave Drest behind. Her father, the Mad Wolf of the North, and her beloved brothers are a fearsome war-band, but now Drest is the only one who can save them. So she starts off on a wild rescue attempt, taking a wounded invader along as a hostage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book, and especially about Drest, the heroine who won't give up until she saves her family, even if her family may turn out to be less than the stellar ideal she has in her head.<br />
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This book transports the reader back to medieval Scotland when girls were not expected to be as strong and brave as their brothers, and certainly not expected to become legends. I really like that Drest is as strong-willed and determined as she is without being unrealistic, and both her quest and her dealings with her captive and others show the power of both her spirit and her belief in what is right.<br />
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One of my favorite characters is Tig, a friend and ally Drest meets on the way. More than anything else, Tig believes in Drest, and helps her believe in herself.<br />
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A simply wonderful middle grade adventure with a simply terrific heroine, I can't wait read the sequel. (For those who worry, this book stands alone very well, but you'll want to spend more time with Drest and her world.)<br />
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I strongly recommend this for kids and anybody who loves an exciting adventure.<br />
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Five stars!<br />
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Buy <b>The Mad Wolf's Daughter</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2ITPWU7" target="_blank">Amazon US,</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or find <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780735229266" target="_blank">where you can buy it in a local indie bookstore</a>.</span><br />
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Find the rest of the <a href="https://gpattridge.com/2018/04/16/mmgm-for-4-16-18/" target="_blank">Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews for April 16th</a><br />
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Or you can read my last week's MMGM review of <a href="https://mycomfychair.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-serpents-secret-mmgm-review.html" target="_blank">The Serpent's Secret</a>.Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-9792023208612396202018-04-10T08:39:00.000-04:002018-04-10T08:39:16.504-04:00My Brother Bernadette (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Bernadette-Red-Bananas/dp/1405257806/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=397f6609c0b2bc9c22df4296b37e8b2e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1405257806&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1405257806" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>My Brother Bernadette</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Jacqueline Wilson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Egmont UK; Reprint edition (February 7, 2011)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Sara always gets lumbered with looking after her little brother Bernard, and summer project at the local school is no different. There’s so much to do—football, judo, trampolining, model car making, computer games, and drama. But all Bernard wants to do is clothes design. Soon all the kids, led by Big Dan, are calling Bernard "Bernadette" and shoving him around. Sara wants to help but is worried she may make it worse. But "Bernadette" is a little boy with big ideas, and he has a plan up his very nicely designed sleeve.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The story is mostly fun, and the characters are good, and the illustrations are friendly, but the story arc doesn't quite live up to the promise. I went looking for a book like this purposefully, which makes it more disappointing that it wasn't as good as I hoped. In my opinion, there are not enough books which question gendered activities (e.g., boys liking to design clothes). While this book does handle that, it winds up with a disappointing ending in that it features a comeuppance which kind of depends on those same gendered expectations.<br />
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I recommend this for kids and parents who are looking for stories which challenge gender preferences for toys and activities, but I do wish it were a stronger story arc.<br />
<br />
Three stars.<br />
<br />
<b>My Brother Bernadette</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2HlGV6J" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-8302150629805694852018-04-08T22:00:00.000-04:002018-04-09T08:14:25.523-04:00The Serpent's Secret (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Serpents-Secret-Kiranmala-Kingdom-Beyond/dp/1338185705/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=88ffc53883b719d3059963c85ea4c6b0" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1338185705&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1338185705" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Serpent's Secret</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Sayantani DasGupta</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scholastic Press (February 27, 2018)</span><br />
<br />
It's been a while since I participated in Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, but I have a couple of books that I absolutely must share, both of them debut middle grade novels that launch series I know will be loved and anticipated by all their readers. You can read other MMGM picks linked at <a href="https://gpattridge.com/tag/marvelous-middle-grade-monday/" target="_blank">Greg Pattridge's MMGM page</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey… until her parents mysteriously vanish later that day and a rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents’ fantastical stories—like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess—and a wealth of secrets about her origin they've kept hidden.<br />
<br />
To complicate matters, two crushworthy Indian princes ring her doorbell, insisting they’re here to rescue her. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I loved the cover of this book long before I got a chance to read it, but worried whether it would live up to the promise. Oh my gosh, does it ever. Kiran's parents seem wacky in the beginning, but as you travel with Kiran (as both you and she cling desperately on for dear life) into the magical world of this book, it turns out their stories are nothing but a pale shadow of the exciting, scary and hysterical world of snot and rakkoshes (all the rakkoshes!) she encounters as she tries to rescue them.<br />
<br />
With riddles and puzzles and twists galore, this is a novel that will delight kids (when they can sneak the book back from their parents who will doubtless sneak it from them after they go to sleep). It is great fun to wallow in all the mythology Sayantani DasGupta throws in, and I am sure this will appeal to many due to its diversity, but most of all, it is an excellent adventure.<br />
<br />
I strongly recommend this to kids and their parents and anybody who loves exciting adventure and a terrific sense of humor, and I can't wait for the sequel.<br />
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Five stars!<br />
<br />
<b>The Serpent's Secret</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2IB6jER" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span><br />
<br />
Find the rest of the <a href="https://gpattridge.com/2018/04/09/mmgm-for-4-9-18/" target="_blank">Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews for April 9th</a><br />
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Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-87418642917665861472018-04-05T13:54:00.000-04:002018-04-05T13:54:10.971-04:00Nothing But Sky (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-But-Sky-Amy-Trueblood/dp/1635830168/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=c7a25b7ece96f0a82c23ec44cfc6944b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1635830168&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1635830168" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Nothing But Sky</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Amy Trueblood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Flux (March 27, 2018)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Grace Lafferty has been performing stunts as a wing walker with her uncle Warren and his barnstorming team since she was 13 years old. She fears that they will soon be forced out of the sky by bigger teams or stricter air regulations. Determined to keep her chosen family together, Grace will do whatever it takes to get to the World Aviation Expo where they can compete to win a lucrative contract with a Hollywood studio.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's so much to like in this novel: gutsy Grace who risks all and ignores the taunts and threats that follow an independent young woman in the 1920s, the style and atmosphere of the post WWI barnstorming era, the authentic feeling of the budding romance between Grace and Henry, and the historical details about death-defying tricks performed by the daring young men and women of the time.<br />
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Through it all runs a sense of hope and optimism in a time when there were no safety nets, under the planes or under one's future. I related to the uncle who is trying to do his best by Grace while worrying he is doing something wrong, to Henry who is fighting his own demons from the war, but most of all to Grace whose indomitable spirit barely flags even when faced with cruelty or disaster.<br />
<br />
While I enjoy the clear delineation of good and evil in this classic tale, I can imagine some will be slightly taken aback, as so many novels today dwell on the morally ambiguous. Those have their place, but I admit to enjoying a story where the morality is fairly clear throughout.<br />
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I recommend this to young adults and grownups (and even precocious younger teens) as an excellent tale with a strong female lead, a thrilling plot, and a wonderful sense of the roaring twenties.<br />
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Five stars!<br />
<br />
<b>Nothing But Sky</b> on <a href="https://amzn.to/2JlNBlV" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-79204682130181236672018-02-25T11:36:00.000-05:002018-02-25T22:22:15.987-05:00Sunlight (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sunlight-C-L-Bledsoe-ebook/dp/B004NSVJ28" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCYFMkULb1eenm7SzoHPTVkPL5lfUL_8coa7oKN2sap_Mdixdmtt5U7bkPbQIMkZ5bynt5eoLdkF_jabxIixiTAw4PVdN6GSchrqYL71qYef5qElSJgwA3fbSLOiKyvYMPTktgof8KCdp/s1600/Sunlight.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sunlight-C-L-Bledsoe-ebook/dp/B004NSVJ28" target="_blank">Sunlight</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: C.L. Bledsoe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Etopia Press (February 4, 2011)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sol (15 y.o.) and his dad are still struggling a year after the death of Sol's mother, but in different ways. Sol spends time being moody and reading and missing his mom, while his father spends time drinking a little more than he should. Neither of them is very happy with the other's way of coping, and when a conference comes up for Sol's dad, Sol is left to spend some time with an aunt and uncle he barely knows on their sunflower farm.<br />
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But while Sol starts out bored, odd things start happening and he sets out to find out what they are. What he finds helps him learn more about his mom and her stories, and how some of them just might be real. He also learns a lot about himself and about friendship, and even a little about love.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the novel very much, though it started a little rough. Give it a couple of chapters, and you will start to really like these people and want to spend the rest of the book with them. I especially like the mysterious girl, and how Sol and she relate. Their different reasons for being isolated helped them form a bond, and their shared quest for the truth solidified it. Well done!<br />
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I recommend this to teens, and even mature tweens. The content is clean, so those worried about how YA can trend toward sex and swearing will be relieved.<br />
<br />
Four stars<br />
<br />
Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sunlight-C-L-Bledsoe-ebook/dp/B004NSVJ28" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></span>.<br />
<br />
<br />Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-49634213527398680082018-01-16T15:08:00.000-05:002018-01-16T15:08:15.116-05:00Where the Watermelons Grow (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Watermelons-Grow-Cindy-Baldwin/dp/0062665863" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062665863&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Watermelons-Grow-Cindy-Baldwin/dp/0062665863" target="_blank">Where the Watermelons Grow</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Cindy Baldwin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">HarperCollins (To be released July 3, 2018)</span><br />
<i>e-ARC courtesy of NetGalley.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Twelve-year-old Della Kelly of Maryville, North Carolina, tries to come to terms with her mother's mental illness while her father struggles to save the farm from a record-breaking drought.</i> </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A lot of things are wonderful in 12-year-old Della's life, from her best friend, Arden, to the Bee stories she tells her little sister, Mylie, to the delicious sweet taste of cold watermelon on a hot summer day. But when she discovers that her mother's sickness might be coming back, a sickness that confuses her mother about what is real and what is not, Della decides she has to do something about it.<br />
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But decisions are easier decided on than acted on, and when all her efforts fail, Della has to face the fact that she may not be able to heal her mother, and will have to work awfully hard to even heal herself. Fortunately, she is not as alone as she sometimes feels.<br />
<br />
As a reviewer, I must acknowledge that no book is read in isolation. In the past week, Time magazine posted two articles, one <a href="http://time.com/5093669/why-we-shouldnt-shield-children-from-darkness/" target="_blank">by Matt de la Peña</a>, and then a response <a href="http://time.com/5093669/why-we-shouldnt-shield-children-from-darkness/" target="_blank">by Kate DiCamillo</a>. Each talked about sadness and fear in children's stories, and addressed how honestly and directly authors should talk about difficult topics. Kate DiCamillo talked about asking a friend why she kept reading <i>Charlotte's Web</i>, and whether she thought maybe if she read it again, Charlotte wouldn't die. Her friend's response:
</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“No,” she said. “It wasn’t that. I kept reading it not because I wanted it to turn out differently or thought that it would turn out differently, but because I knew for a fact that it wasn’t going to turn out differently. I knew that a terrible thing was going to happen, and I also knew that it was going to be okay somehow. I thought that I couldn’t bear it, but then when I read it again, it was all so beautiful. And I found out that I could bear it. That was what the story told me. That was what I needed to hear. That I could bear it somehow.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW is a wonderful, heart-wrenching story filled with love and hardship and hope and harsh realities. It shows that life can be terrible and scary and out of your control, and yet it can still be beautiful, and you can bear it all somehow.<br />
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I heartily recommend this to children and teens (and even adults) everywhere. Life is hard and filled with struggles, but you can bear it somehow.<br />
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Five stars!<br />
<br />
To be released in July 2018, but available for pre-order now on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-Watermelons-Grow-Cindy-Baldwin/dp/0062665863" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span>.<br />
<br />Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-57778273816130585922018-01-10T10:00:00.003-05:002018-01-10T10:21:58.494-05:00Adding a Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness tag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG15aOtRtUNcD6k7PsomjHlI07_6Hsri9MPLacgaap31axGkBKgGvn4bUylUEJxkhysmUyBrASHDBLYynZdmO3AtLOltudQB-cBrjz8_73EP8fEZEoqG-s61V3QArW6qh-04FGOEex6-O/s1600/homeless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG15aOtRtUNcD6k7PsomjHlI07_6Hsri9MPLacgaap31axGkBKgGvn4bUylUEJxkhysmUyBrASHDBLYynZdmO3AtLOltudQB-cBrjz8_73EP8fEZEoqG-s61V3QArW6qh-04FGOEex6-O/s320/homeless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://mycomfychair.blogspot.com/search/label/poverty%2Fhunger%2Fhomelessness" target="_blank">Search for reviews tagged with new Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness tag</a>.<br />
<br />
A while back, I added a Diversity tag, which has been quite popular. When I recently reviewed <a href="https://mycomfychair.blogspot.com/2018/01/once-you-know-this-review.html" target="_blank">Once You Know This</a>, I realized that socioeconomic diversity might not really fit under that Diversity tag, but that more and more books are coming out with themes of poverty, hunger and homelessness. Not only do I want to encourage readers to find and explore these books, I want to encourage myself to read and review more of them (as has happened with diverse books). Hence, a new tag was needed.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
As with the Diversity tag, I don't want in any way to segregate such books. A good book is a good book, and I want to recommend it for its quality and readability. I want a librarian looking for excellent middle grade books to look at all the middle grade books. <br />
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It can also be a judgement call for some books where money troubles play a role, but may not be the major theme. But like most things on this review blog, I'll just have to use my judgement as best I can. Please don't hesitate to comment on a review if a tag seems inappropriate or you want to know more about why I added that tag. I'm always happy to respond, and sometimes even change my mind.<br />
<br />
I've created the tag and added it to the Areas of Interest and tagged my first book. I will start going back through old reviews and seeing if any fit. Then, I'll start looking at books I can read and review that would fit in that category. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, I'd love to hear them in the comments.<br />
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<a href="http://mycomfychair.blogspot.com/search/label/poverty%2Fhunger%2Fhomelessness" target="_blank">Search for reviews tagged with new Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness tag</a>.Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-65387259702850000762018-01-09T19:17:00.000-05:002018-01-10T09:35:17.889-05:00Once You Know This (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Once-Know-This-Emily-Blejwas/dp/1524700975/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=927557e1b4a478873a0ff9012a531e3b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1524700975&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2qKRHP7" target="_blank">Once You Know This</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Emily Blejwas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (September 19, 2017)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
<i>Eleven-year-old Brittany knows there has to be a better world out there. Lately, though, it sure doesn’t feel like it. She and her best friend, Marisol, stick together at school, but at home Brittany’s granny is sick, her cat is missing, there’s never any money, and there’s her little brother, Tommy, to worry about. Brittany has a hard time picturing her future as anything but a plain white sky. If her life is going to ever change, she needs a plan. And once she starts believing in herself, Brittany realizes that what has always seemed out of reach might be just around the corner.</i> </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not always a fan of "issue" books, and at first I worried this might be too gritty and harsh for middle grade kids to deal with. I think the author could have lightened her touch a little at first, but the characters are strong and appealing, and I quickly got caught up in the glimpses of hope that Brittany couldn't always see for herself. Her friend, Marisol, is a gem (both as a friend and as a character), and I grew more and more interested in the various people who Brittany depends on or who depend on her to get through a life that feels insurmountable yet real.<br />
<br />
In some ways, this reminds me of <a href="http://amzn.to/2qQ9qoG" target="_blank">SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR</a> by Matthew Quick, though aimed at somewhat younger readers. That is high praise from me, though it is tempered by the worry that only some kids will be able to handle the variety of issues. But perhaps I underestimate today's middle grade students, many of whom deal with a world that is difficult and challenging.<br />
<br />
I like how the seeds of hope are planted in this book, and that when they grow, it is not unrealistically rosy, but is very satisfying. I also like that the adults in Brittany's life, while flawed in different ways, are clearly trying to do what is best for her, even when they can't always manage.<br />
<br />
ONCE YOU KNOW THIS is heartfelt and sincere with a strong dose of hopeful even against a grim backdrop. Ultimately, it is very satisfying, and the characters will stay with you. For those children who relate to it, I can see it becoming a favorite.<br />
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This is a very good book, and I recommend it for 9-14 year-olds with the caveat that it is somewhat intense, and the number of issues may be wonderful for some readers, but too much for others.<br />
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Four stars out of five.<br />
<br />
Available on <a href="http://amzn.to/2qKRHP7" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-41623600115196590832017-11-20T11:56:00.000-05:002017-12-06T15:26:11.199-05:00Tiny Infinities (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Infinities-J-H-Diehl/dp/1452163359" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452163359&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Infinities-J-H-Diehl/dp/1452163359" target="_blank">Tiny Infinities</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: J.H. Diehl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Chronicle Books (To be released May 8, 2018)</span><br />
<i>Borrowed ARC.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i> </span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All 12-year-old Alice wants to do is focus on getting her name up on her swim team's record board, but life is way beyond her control. After a bad car accident, her mother is sullen and will barely leave her room. Her dad has moved out, and her brothers have gone to live with her aunt.<br />
<br />
Furious and confused by the scattering of her family, Alice decides to move out to a tent in the backyard, and not move back inside until her parents come to their senses and her dad moves back home. Thus begins a long summer where Alice struggles to meet her cherished swimming goal, find a way to get her family back together, and maybe even help the little girl next door who watches Alice but never says a word.<br />
<br />
TINY INFINITIES is a lovely, complex story which will tug at your heart and make you smile as well. Alice and Harriet, her new and confusing friend, are such real early teens, with all the complexities of figuring out both what is right and wrong, and what is right and wrong for YOU. One thing I especially love is how every other character, from Alice's mom and dad to little Piper next door, are drawn with both warm and depth, none falling into simple stereotypes or roles.<br />
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This is a phenomenal book, and I strongly recommend it for 11-14 year olds, and anybody else who remembers that age when life was complicated, out of your control, and yet full of promise. STEM friendly.<br />
<br />
Five stars!<br />
<br />
To be released in May 2018, but available for pre-order now.<br />
<br />
On <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Infinities-J-H-Diehl/dp/1452163359" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span> <br />
<br />
Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-39955538788170731992017-11-20T09:42:00.000-05:002017-11-20T09:42:05.409-05:00STEM friendlyI've added a new category in the reviews, marking the ones that are <b>STEM friendly</b>, meaning they have good, positive messages and themes relating to science and math, especially for girls but also for boys. It may take a while for me to go back and identify earlier books, but going forward I will make sure to add that label when appropriate.Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-60075281191385081422017-11-06T14:14:00.001-05:002017-12-06T15:25:36.508-05:00The 11:11 Wish (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/11-Wish-Kim-Tomsic/dp/0062654942" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062654942&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/11-Wish-Kim-Tomsic/dp/0062654942" target="_blank">The 11:11 Wish</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Kim Tomsic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (February 13, 2018)</span><br />
<i>Borrowed ARC.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i> </span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Megan is starting 7th grade at a new school, and she's determined to leave her awkward, nerdy past behind, but middle school has a way of upending plans. Caught between two rivals before she even makes it to her first class, Megan has to use her wits to try and rescue her social status, but her wits aren't helping much. Just when social disaster seems certain, Megan happens to wish on a magic clock at 11:11 exactly, and mysterious, wonderful things start happening.<br />
<br />
If only magic didn't come with such a high cost.<br />
<br />
An absolutely charming romp through the intricacies of middle school politics, crushes and the desire to fit in, mixed with magic and math and mayhem. Against the poignant backdrop of a first year without mom, and a sister and dad who are struggling to cope as well, this story does a great job of wrapping everything up in a satisfying package.<br />
<br />
I strongly recommend for tweens and teens. It's possible that the fashion-related elements will discourage some boys from reading, but that's their loss if it does. The embrace of STEM is very welcome.<br />
<br />
Five stars!<br />
<br />
Won't be released until February, but go ahead and pre-order it for your favorite teen today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/11-Wish-Kim-Tomsic/dp/0062654942" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span> <br />
<br />
Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-18488717329089087442017-09-13T21:59:00.000-04:002017-09-15T11:28:55.022-04:00Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Toguchi-Sleuth-Michiko-Florence/dp/0374308357/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=d40fbb97619dcc83a04f6b88f4596c0d" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0374308357&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2joOxwS" target="_blank">Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Debbi Michiko Florence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Illustrator: Elizabet Vukovic</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (July 11, 2017)</span><br />
<i>Borrowed from library.</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i></i><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It's a big weekend for eight-year-old detective Jasmine Toguchi!</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>She's excited to celebrate Girl's Day-a Japanese holiday celebrating women and girls-with her sister, her mother, and her best friend, Linnie. On Friday, Jasmine's neighbor Mrs. Reese lets the best friends search through her old clothes for the perfect accessories for their Girl's Day outfits. But the clothes are in her garage, which is dark and scary. And Linnie decides to go home early, which is kind of weird. And Jasmine's big sister, Sophie, doesn't seem to want to join in the Girl's Day fun this year, which is kind of confusing. WHAT is going on?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In this entertaining new chapter book series, Jasmine Toguchi stars in adventures which revolve around school and her family and their Japanese traditions. Jasmine is dramatic and imperfect and fun. We get to follow along her adventures, which she describes in grand fashion but which sometimes fall flat. Kids will enjoy her stumbles along with her excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I like that the Japanese traditions shown in the book are integrated well, and don't either take a front row seat or fade too far into the background. They are simply part of Jasmine's life, so we learn about them through her excitement. The illustrations are warm and fun and integrated into the text. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's always good to find a chapter book series to recommend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Four</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> stars!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2x2DIFJ">Amazon</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-10401683749087540952017-06-24T15:54:00.003-04:002017-06-24T16:26:08.069-04:00Braced (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Braced-Alyson-Gerber/dp/0545902142/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=fcdde197424c7a1a5016ea9509d6aa34" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0545902142&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theabsminmus-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0545902142" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2s38v4q" target="_blank">Braced</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Alyson Gerber</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (March 28, 2017)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rachel is excited about the start of 7th grade with its promise of soccer and friends and (just maybe) boys. But when the surgeon monitoring her scoliosis says the curvature in her spine is getting worse and that she must wear a back brace 23 HOURS A DAY, all her dreams seem doomed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What follows is a year of difficulty and discovery, as Rachel learns to cope with the bulky clothes she has to wear, the difficulty in playing her beloved soccer, and the impact her brace has on her friends, teammates and her ever-so-cute crush, Tate.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What makes the story heartwarming is how Rachel starts to see the trials her friends and family are also going through, from her pregnant mom who used to wear a brace herself, to her friends coping with loss and love and confusion. There are times when this can be a little too convenient as far as lessons go, but what really works is how well the author captures the age and mindset of Rachel, and shows how she matures and gains perspective through her adversity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Four out of stars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2s38v4q">Amazon</a></span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-24467795139414860252017-06-18T17:32:00.003-04:002018-01-25T15:31:10.902-05:00The Upside of Unrequited (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Upside-Unrequited-Becky-Albertalli/dp/0062348701/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=abceb8c701a4133a4b14db562b6bdd4f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062348701&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" ></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sNdeqb" target="_blank">The Upside of Unrequited</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Becky Albertalli</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Balzer + Bray (April 11, 2017)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>17-year-old Molly is the queen of crushes, carefully tabulated and shared with her twin sister, Cassie, and good friends Abby and Olivia, but never, ever shared with the boys themselves. She is shy, but also afraid that the boys might see the overweight girl Molly sees in the mirror.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In this entertaining and often poignant story of taking chances and breaking out of her self-imposed boundaries, Molly must rediscover the girl in the mirror while at the same time dealing with her changing relationship with her sister. In a way, it reminds me of the theme (though not the story) of the Disney movie, Frozen, with sisters learning to define their own roles while exploring love outside, and inside, their safe but confining home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With a wonderful cast of characters, from the sisters' helpful but unhelpful moms to the gorgeous Mina who sweeps away Cassie on her tangent to the smooth hipster Will and adorkable Reid who, in Molly's mind at least, vie for her first big step out from unrequited love to real live boyfriend, The Upside of Unrequited is fun and authentic and caring. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I strongly recommend for young adults, and anyone who remembers what it was like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Five stars!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2sNdeqb">Amazon</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">P.S. This also reminds me I should really get a copy of <a href="http://amzn.to/2sI09iB" target="_blank">Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda</a>, Ms. Albertalli's first novel, which has been highly recommended. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-46172536150761518832016-12-08T10:34:00.001-05:002016-12-08T10:34:12.096-05:00The Straight and Narrows (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Narrows-Christine-Emery/dp/1633934063/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=056e5e97edd03b42e7192258bc4c061f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1633934063&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" ></a></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2gfK1Pi">The Straight and Narrows</a><br />
Author: Christine A. Emery<br />
Illustrator: Kellie R. Emery<br />
Publisher: Koehler Kids (November 15, 2016)<br />
<i>Digital ARC provided by author</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Wide and Curly was born into a family of Straight and Narrows.<br />
She couldn't, wouldn't, didn't fit.<br />
<br />
Come along with the Straight and Narrows as they learn in their stick-y situation what it means to be family and the measures they will go through to find acceptance.</b></i><br />
<br />
I was a little afraid after reading the description that this might be too much of a message book, but with the delightful illustrations and entertaining story, it is a joy to read. After various attempts by the Straight and Narrows make to "fix" their Wide and Curly daughter, they realize that what needs fixing is their attitude.<br />
<br />
Perfect for starting discussions in a classroom or with your own kids. In case you worry, this is not a thin vs. fat book, but far more generally applicable to differences of all sorts.<br />
<br />
Four stars.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2gfK1Pi">Amazon</a>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-46272308176603602772016-12-05T11:58:00.002-05:002016-12-05T11:58:51.271-05:00Be Light Like a Bird (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Light-Like-Bird-Monika-Schr%C3%B6der/dp/1623707498/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=169cab38cd0ab1880e5ee53fab556ceb" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1623707498&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2g0FfoJ">Be Light Like a Bird</a><br />
Author: Monika Schröder<br />
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers (September 1, 2016)<br />
<i>Courtesy of free e-copy from author</i><br />
<br />
Twelve-year-old Wren's life is turned upside down after her father dies in a plane accident. Her mother seems angry and unable to cope, and even more unable to help Wren talk about her grief. They leave their home and move from town to town, settling in each for a few weeks before her mother gets restless and moves on again. Finally, they reach the small town of Pyramid in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Wren decides that whatever it takes, they're going to stay.<br />
<br />
Wren struggles to deal with bullies and loneliness, and with her increasing alienation with her mother, but when she finds a mission in the form of protecting a local pond, she starts to make connections and even friends. But she worries that it could all be torn away if her mother decides to leave again. <br />
<br />
In time, Wren finds the strength to deal with her issues, and with the very thorny difficulty in forgiving those who may not entirely deserve it. An emotional story that may be hard for middle graders to start, and even harder for them to put down.<br />
<br />
I recommend this to all who love the environment, and who may have experienced loss or sadness.<br />
<br />
Four stars out of five. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2g0FfoJ">Amazon</a>Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-64302541881418161212016-11-13T17:19:00.000-05:002016-11-14T15:59:42.989-05:00Foxheart (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Foxheart-Claire-Legrand/dp/0062427733/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=17ef6ff9a549685fdb10b840e7da37ec" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062427733&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" ></a></div><br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2eUSDsd">Foxheart</a><br />
Author: Claire Legrand<br />
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (October 4, 2016)<br />
<i>Courtesy of our local library</i><br />
<br />
I'm excited to offer a lovely new book by Claire Legrand for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. <br />
<br />
Twelve-year-old Quicksilver is not an orphan, but her parents left her in a convent orphanage anyway. Never fitting in, or wanting to, Quicksilver learns to fend for herself... and take what she wants. With aspirations of being the greatest thief in the Star Lands, and when she finds a stray dog she names Fox, she even has a companion.<br />
<br />
But everything changes in a flash when a strange group of seven visit the convent late at night, and wreak havoc in a search for witches (of which very few are left in the world). Quicksilver escapes with Fox, and they head out to perfect her thieving ways, but before long they run into an old woman who changes everything. Soon, Quicksilver and Fox are embarked on a quest they don't much want to help people they don't much like while fighting an ancient king who may not be quite what he seems.<br />
<br />
Themes of love and loss, loyalty and sacrifice, and the importance of deciding your own fate are woven into a tapestry that is a delight to watch, and even more fun to live through. I particularly liked that Quicksilver's early dream of being a great thief never fade and are integrated into her new life. Richly imagined with great characters and a very clever fantasy world, this is a delight for middle grade kids, and anybody else who loves a good story. <br />
<br />
I strongly recommend this to all who love fantasy, magic and wonderful worlds.<br />
<br />
Four and a half stars out of five. <br />
<br />
To find other posts for MMGM, visit <a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/">Shannon Messenger's blog</a> where she toils to keep up with them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2eUSDsd">Amazon</a><br />
Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-5803784292344583512016-11-02T13:29:00.000-04:002016-11-02T13:29:00.157-04:00Princeless #1: Save Yourself (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Princeless-Save-Yourself-Jeremy-Whitley/dp/1939352541/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=d12af7b06b951f4b4bccb4455f394fc4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1939352541&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" ></a></div><br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2fCqVSK">Princeless #1: Save Yourself</a><br />
Author: Jeremy Whitley<br />
Artist: M Goodwin<br />
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment (April 1, 2014)<br />
<br />
<i><b>From School Library Journal: </b>Princess Adrienne is no hero's fair maiden, and she is not afraid to say so! She's the seventh daughter whom her father, the king, has stranded in a tower (his goal is to lure a prince worthy to rule the kingdom of Ashland). Prince after prince has tried to rescue Adrienne, and after Prince Wilcome's failed attempt, she decides to save herself. Along with her protector dragon, Adrienne decides to save her sisters, but their first mission is to find some armor. Blacksmith Bedelia Smith joins their group with her armor-for-ladies collection, and the princess also lets her brother, Prince Devin, in on her plan. After his failed rescue attempt, the very charming Prince Wilcome is banished to the palace's dungeon, but he doesn't bargain on Shadira the elf tricking him into helping her escape. This volume includes the first four issues of the dynamic and female-empowering comic book series. Princess Adrienne is a strong woman of color, and she talks about her femininity in a fresh and fierce new way. Other characters are drawn well, and the side stories of Bedelia Smith, Prince Wilcome, and Prince Devin are engaging. On the whole, the series feels current and skewers well-known tropes. VERDICT Princess Adrienne is not to be missed! Recommended for all middle grade graphic novel collections.</i><br />
<br />
This (or these, as it is really four short comic issues in one) is the sort of book I am thrilled to have around for young girls. It is fun and quick, and I love the diversity and empowerment. I would recommend it for middle grade shelves at the bookstore or library.<br />
<br />
That said, it wasn't quite all I had hoped when I read about it. There are a lot of great graphic novels, and I was hoping for something closer to that. This is more of a comic book style, and that doesn't appeal to me as much. (Fortunately, I am not the target demographic, which is why there is a whole series of these already.)<br />
<br />
So, good for them for making it, and I hope it gives great pleasure to the young ladies for whom it is intended (and the young men who aren't afraid).<br />
<br />
Three and a half stars out of five.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2fCqVSK">Amazon</a><br />
<br />
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Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-79756489156681039982016-11-01T15:26:00.000-04:002016-11-09T17:55:06.726-05:00When The Moon Was Ours (review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Moon-was-Ours-Novel/dp/125005866X/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478026480&sr=1-1&keywords=When+the+Moon+Was+Ours&linkCode=li3&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=7b16be6f21b1ea5d9fa35ab9f5194812" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-CVGDyPweaa_qRCkMcOs0_20Z0am661ZSBjvZId7NROY8A5CWGZ6XRh4vM1UIhxSJsGc0_v0JnNgJmApuwWuvPi6nt1XCV7-STTQf2Y1qvLuOcElGB17j2y-ev6Eu_extNlUa2d9ryI-/s400/WhenTheMoonWasOurs.jpg" width="262" height="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2ewOybn">When The Moon Was Ours</a><br />
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore<br />
Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin (October 4, 2016)<br />
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<i>To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel's wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel's skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they're willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up.</i><br />
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This was recommended when I was seeking books with transgender characters, and it has that and so much more. Magical realism shows up in various books, but has a special style in Latin American literature. (Note: I majored in Latin American studies in college, and lived briefly in Venezuela.) The magical realism in <i>When the Moon Was Ours</i> is so tightly woven into the story and setting and language, you would have trouble sorting out what it "real" and what is "magic", and all of it is steeped in symbolism and interconnected meanings. It reminds me of both Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez.<br />
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But even if you are not a literature-nerd, this is a wonderful young adult story of love and loss and sacrifice. Miel and Sam are beautifully drawn, and inexorably drawn together. The Bonner girls are fabulous villains, as perfect and flawed as you could hope. Reading about them, you are reminded that every person has their own tragic and heroic story, and I almost wish Ms. McLemore had time to write those as well.<br />
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Given that I sought the book out for its transgender character, I should mention that it is a tastefully and lovingly handled. I have too little personal experience to judge or comment on that aspect beyond the fact that the author made the characters feel authentic and true.<br />
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But don't take my word for it. Run out and get a copy of this gem. <br />
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Five stars out of five! <br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2ewOybn">Amazon</a><br />
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Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4744234071085047198.post-64701268797370836872016-10-09T13:03:00.000-04:002016-10-09T13:03:00.801-04:00Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles (MMGM review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Root-Beer-Candy-Other-Miracles/dp/1772780073/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475959703&sr=1-1&keywords=root+beer+candy+and+other+miracles&linkCode=li2&tag=theabsminmus-20&linkId=1f9a03237dbe127c127954eed1d2ae73" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1772780073&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=theabsminmus-20" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2dEzdqP">Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles</a><br />
Author: Shari Green<br />
Publisher: Pajama Press (October 12, 2016)<br />
<i>Digital review copy courtesy of NetGalley</i><br />
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I'm very excited to offer a wonderful, poignant book in verse for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. <br />
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Bailey and her younger brother, Kevin, are staying with their Nana Marie in the small town of Felicity Bay for a month, but it is not quite a vacation. Their parents are struggling, and have gone away on a retreat called Marriage Repair. Bailey and Kevin barely know Nana Marie, but as they have nowhere else to go, they get to spend a month near the ocean with her. Bailey believes in miracles, and hopes for one to make her parents happy again. <br />
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Meanwhile, Felicity Bay feels like a miracle of its own. Bailey makes a new friend, Daniel, and loves exploring and playing in the sea. But when Daniel keeps coughing, and she finds out he has cystic fibrosis, she starts to lose faith.<br />
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Then a mermaid appears (well, a driftwood mermaid), and a retired pastor with an ice cream cart starts shouting prophecies. Bailey thinks that just maybe a miracle is possible after all, if only everything doesn't fall apart first.<br />
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The story is lovely, and winds up in a beautiful way with Bailey discovering that sometimes you have to make your own miracles, and that sometimes even miracles aren't enough. But through the sadness and joy, Bailey remains optimistic, and discovers that families always love each other, even when it is hard to get along.<br />
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I strongly recommend this to all who love the sea, and families, and miracles. And even root beer candy.<br />
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Five stars out of five! <br />
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To find other posts for MMGM, visit <a href="http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/">Shannon Messenger's blog</a> where she toils to keep up with them.<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2dEzdqP">Amazon</a><br />
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P.S. After I read this, I was pleased to see that this is a Pitch Wars success story. How terrific to see the writing community pull together to support emerging writers.<br />
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Finally, a snippet of verse from the book showing how wonderfully Shari Green captures this age.<br />
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Ben Langhinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16077213274836551992noreply@blogger.com9