Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Review: Into the Black Nowhere

Into the Black Nowhere Into the Black Nowhere by Meg Gardiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another great thriller about a serial killer and the FBI agents that hunt them. FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix is hunting someone who keeps putting young blonde women into white nightgowns and killing them. Lots of twists and unbelievable action, mostly taking place in Texas and Oregon.

No errors were heard in the audio production, but the narration and story didn't grip me like some audiobooks do.

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Monday, February 26, 2018

Review: A Killing in Plymouth Colony

A Killing in Plymouth Colony A Killing in Plymouth Colony by Carol Otis Hurst
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm a descendant of John Billington, the first white man hanged in the colonies for murder. Thankfully he made babies before dying. That's why I wanted to read this fictional account of the murder he committed, but this book was pretty bad. Lots of "telling" and not much action. It is pretty to easy to understand why not everyone liked Governor Bradford though--I'm sure he was self-righteous. Crazy that these people came over on a boat when not many knew how to survive. You'd think they would have stocked the boat with more stuff, like livestock, right?

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Review: Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I slogged through this--I wanted tighter editing. I skimmed through the flowery stuff, mainly dealing with the gods, and I won't be reading the sequel. I wanted more of Lazlo, and less of the feelings.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Review: Carnegie's Maid

Carnegie's Maid Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Lovely audiobook, complete with Irish accents. Clara Kelly is forced to travel to America to raise money for her family after the potato famine. She's surprised when a man asks for her by name--turns out there was another Clara Kelly on the boat, but Clara doesn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. She gladly takes the free ride to Pittsburgh, and learns quickly to act like she has experience as a lady's maid. Over the next few years, she grows close to Andrew Carnegie, her lady's son, and, of course, she helps him with business and instills a sense of philanthropy in him.

I do love how the author created a plausible fictional account of why Carnegie created all those libraries.

The audio production was clean, except for one clipped word introducing the number of the chapter.

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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Review: The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This poet knows how to write LOVE. Seriously, you just want to hug the author (with permission, of course). But he writes love between teens, between fathers and sons, and just between anyone so eloquently. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is still my favorite, but this one is darn good, too.

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Review: Deep Freeze

Deep Freeze Deep Freeze by John Sandford
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Loved the mystery, but didn't love the sexist comments and actions by the characters. The comments about "the gays" were making my eyebrows go up, too. When I need a popular fiction fix, I'll have to stick with Baldacci instead.

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Monday, February 19, 2018

Review: A Different Pond

A Different Pond A Different Pond by Bao Phi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes Americans fish in the early mornings in ponds because they need to bring the fish home to their family. That's the case in this children's book about Vietnamese-Americans struggling to make ends meet. The father is working two jobs, and the little boy tags along to help. Love the illustrations and the dropped hints--fish sauce, the war, and how mom looks tired.

Part of me wanted this to be a graphic novel--it was so close except for the typed words. Add in some word bubbles (can you tell I don't know much about being an author) and a few more panels and I think this would have been an even stronger book for children.

And, yep, I could tell it was the same artist who created the lovely The Best We Could Do.

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Sunday, February 18, 2018

Review: Piecing Me Together

Piecing Me Together Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a YA novel that all teachers and non-profit leaders should read--loved how it dug down into the "why are we providing this program" to teens? Not too preachy, and the phrase "white savior" was never used, but it definitely made me think about it. Jade, a scholarship student at a private school in Portland, Oregon, is torn between wanting the opportunities her school can give her, while also thinking that she doesn't need to be "fixed." She is a collage artist--love how art and finding her voice plays an important part in the novel.

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Saturday, February 17, 2018

Review: Hide

Hide Hide by Lisa Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just the fast-paced thriller/mystery I was looking for this evening. Annabelle is used to moving constantly--her father always packed quickly and changed their names. But now he's dead, and Annabelle can finally stay where she is. When the news reports her dead though, she has to contact police to straighten them out--she's not dead!

Love how the past mysteries, a home for the mentally ill, and a freaking UPS man play into this mystery--kept me reading to figure out who done it.

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Review: See What I Have Done

See What I Have Done See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Creepily delicious! I loved how Schmidt took a real story, and used her imagination to fill in the blanks. The Bordens were a creepy and twisted family. Many different points of view are used--she does a great job creating doubt about the guilt of Lizzie Borden. And making the reader feel that maybe her family deserved it! Not much treatment of the mentally ill back in those days (um, like now), and so it's a difficult read to read about what happens when someone finally snaps.

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Review: Big Cat, Little Cat

Big Cat, Little Cat Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adorable picture book that gently deals with the death of an animal, but how the cycle can continue by getting another pet. Tons of white on the pages so that the critters stand out--babies would love the contrasting black and white.

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Review: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Strong, black, and powerful young men who look good and feel good after a trip to the barber. Loved this "ode to the fresh cut" and all kids will enjoy it. Glorious pictures, and loads of positive attitudes in this short book, along with great rhymes and poetry. Glad this won so many awards this year.

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Review: Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Perfect for the classroom--poems inspired by other famous poets and poems. Love the back matter explaining why the poet was chosen, and I love that the poems were all written by Krame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth. Most are short (a bonus for this non-poetry lover), and the illustrations are bright and abstract.

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Review: Silent Days, Silent Dreams

Silent Days, Silent Dreams Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Art. How horrible to be born deaf and mute years ago, when everyone only teased you and shut you away. In this picture book, James Castle becomes an unexpected artist. Everything things he's useless since he can't talk, read or write, but he can draw. Even when his family takes away writing materials, he uses charcoal and spit and sticks to create a kinder world around him.

The different methods of drawing and painting used in this book are amazing. It's like standing inches away from a masterpiece at a museum. Fascinating.

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Review: Charlie & Mouse

Charlie & Mouse Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My daughter would have loved this book when she was learning to read. Funny kids who say silly things--who wants a bedtime banana? And wonderful, detailed illustrations.

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Review: Yokki and the Parno Gry

Yokki and the Parno Gry Yokki and the Parno Gry by Richard O'Neill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who doesn't want a mythical white horse made of birds to take your struggling family away to a better place? Young Yokki and his traveling family have fallen on hard times--no one wants to buy their homemade goods, engines have replaced horses, and fences have been put up across the land. But his father always tells stories of the mythical horse, and, in this time of need, it rescues them and finds a land of plenty.

I LOVED the illustrations with the white horse, the Parno Gry.

But, really, what happened at the end? Was there really a mythical happy and plenty place? Because I've never heard of that kind of happy ending about the Romani. It was difficult to tell where this story took place--it feels like they intentionally left it unclear. But that made the ending even more mythical to me, although kids might just fall for it and not question anything.

But, yay, for a picture book about the travelers!

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Review: Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read a children's nonfiction book like this and think, wow, most of my science teachers sucked growing up. I learned more about ecology and geology fin this grade school level book than I did in years in grade school. The picture book section is perfect for younger grade school readers, but the extensive backmatter section can reach kids up to junior high. Or, um, adult. I loved learning about the different layers of rock in the Canyon, as well as the paper cutouts on some of the pages. Loved how the Asian-American author included an Asian-American dad and daughter to hike through the canyon, too.

Caldecott honor (awesome, detailed illustrations) and Sibert honor, which means it's a kickass nonfiction picture book that should be in ALL grade school libraries.

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Review: Wolf in the Snow

Wolf in the Snow Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awww. Sweet picture book with no words (except for sounds) that reminds older readers of other books. Little ones will just wonder how the little girl and little wolf help each other get home. Very deserving of the Caldecott award for illustration!

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Review: Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I stopped on Disk 3 of the audiobook--I was bored. I was interested in learning more about Anna working at the Brooklyn Naval Yard and the gangsters, but nothing seemed to be happening in the novel. The production of the audio was great, but I was eyeing the copy of Carnegie's Maid in my passenger seat.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Review: My Fairy Godmother Is a Drag Queen

My Fairy Godmother Is a Drag Queen My Fairy Godmother Is a Drag Queen by David Clawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a cisgender white woman, so I'm not exactly the authority about how to talk about about gender identity, but there were parts of this book that made me uncomfortable. I understand that the main character would have questions about what it means to be a drag queen, but there were comments made BY the drag queen that I questioned. So many demeaning comments that were said in jest. Would they be? I don't know.

I appreciated the quirkiness and the modern take on Cinderella. But I didn't appreciate the Kennedy-ish family drama, and the constant put-downs, even if they were meant to be funny.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Review: Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 by Albert Marrin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Get your damn flu shot, folks. Love the scary cover, and, whoa, the flu sucks. A picture or illustration seems to be on every page, and I loved finding out more about the black plague and how the fly has changed over the years, all the way up to the recent bird flu problem in Asia. Footnotes are included, and the author puts in his own voice occasionally to lighten things up. Probably not the best book to read at the airport as I'm coughing and sniffing. :) Recommended for junior high and high school.

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Review: A Cold Day For Murder

A Cold Day For Murder A Cold Day For Murder by Dana Stabenow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Loved the Alaskan setting, but this isn't my type of mystery. Lots of talking things through and the female detective setting off to solve things on her own without thinking about the safety of others.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Review: This Impossible Light

This Impossible Light This Impossible Light by Lily Myers
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Young adult novel in verse about a 15-year-old with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder.

Reading this made me think bad thoughts--she's just so depressed, and then wonders why no one wants to hang out with her. Sad spiral of everything in her life. But, really, girl, your parents divorcing isn't the end of the world. Sad though that her parents didn't get their own help for themselves and for her.

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Monday, February 5, 2018

Review: Genuine Fraud

Genuine Fraud Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable romp through a wannabe rich white teen girl's fantasy life that she creates herself, thanks to stealing another person's identity. Totally unbelievable, but enjoyable enough for me to read in one evening, so I call that a young adult book success.

I wanted to hurt all the teenagers in this book though. Seriously, it brought out the violent thoughts. There's some good quality English professor snobby time twisty stuff going on though.

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Review: Educated: A Memoir

Educated: A Memoir Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review to come in SLJ Adult Books 4 Teens.

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Review: You Bring the Distant Near

You Bring the Distant Near You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a lovely generational audiobook! Full of Bengali and American accents--a joy to listen to. I enjoyed listening to the details of the Das women, and their struggle to become American or to become more Bengali--it's a struggle when you're not sure where you fit.

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