Thursday, December 5, 2013

Book Review - Zombie Tag by Hannah Moskowitz

In this novel the reader finds a boy named Wil whose older brother died six months ago.  Wil's family is falling apart - his mother is distant and his father drowns himself in work.  He feels that if his brother could just come back, everything would go back to normal.  When Wil discovers that there is a secret bell that, if rung, can bring back the dead, he makes it his mission to steal it and bring his brother back.  He knows there is a chance that zombies can terrorize the town and kill everyone, but it is a chance he is willing to take if it means he could have his brother back.
However, when Graham returns, he is not the same.  Graham is not a brain-thirsty zombie bent on annihilating the human race.  Far from it - he doesn't seem to care about anything.  He cannot feel emotions.  Graham - the brother that was so full of life and excitement - is now a hollow shell of his former self.  He doesn't feel anything, and he acts as if he is oblivious to anything in the outside world.
At first, Wil and his parents are euphoric about Graham's return.  However, once Graham shows no sign of becoming his former self, Wil decides he must take matters into his own hands and bring Graham back from oblivion.  He will do whatever it takes to bring Graham back from the dead emotionally.
I have to say, this book exceeded my expectations.  Many books I have read about zombies that are geared towards junior high students have been gory or creepy.  This is actually a very interesting portrayal of death. Graham tries to articulate what it means to die - how a person is changed - without getting spiritual.  And it helps you to think about if you were given the opportunity to bring back a deceased loved one, would you do it?  In Stephen King's Pet Cemetery we are faced with the same moral dilemma - but, you know, it has A LOT more horror.  Whereas King freaked you out and got you scared, Moskowitz actually made you think about the Zombie and how it would affect them.  It is a great twist to a "zombie" book!
I also like the "growing up" idea implanted in the book.  Before Graham died, he and Wil made a promise to never grow up.  When Graham comes back, he is indifferent, unconcerned; more like a "grown-up" in Wil's eyes.  The transition from kid to adult is evident in the living to dead relationship and adds a great layer to the story.  Loved it!
Now, for my issues - after Graham died, his family moved across town to a new house.  When Graham "woke up" he went to the new house and not the one he actually lived in.  How did he know?  Where did he receive the information that his family moved?  That really, REALLY bothered me.  Also, what was up with the zombies wanting tea?  Anthony's Grandma asked for some, and Graham was drinking it when he returns from the dead.  Moskowitz made a point of letting the reader know that, but never explained why.  It felt as if that was something important and would be explained later, but it never was.
Overall, I would give this book a good 8 out of 10 stars.  It was nice to see zombies in a new light.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Book Review: Fortunately, the milk by Neil Gaiman

Hello, all!
I was very excited when I received this book in my last book order, and I must say I was not disappointed!
This is a story of a father - a father who must get some milk from the corner store after his children realize they are out.  They MUST have their breakfast, and it MUST be cereal! (The father also realized that if there were no milk for the children's cereal, there would also be no milk for his tea, and that would be a complete and total travesty!)
The children wait....and wait...and wait.  When he finally returns, he explains why it took him so long to get the milk.  He has just returned from an adventure through time with a dinosaur in a hot air balloon (which, we discover, is actually called a "Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier").  He has encountered all manner of creatures including, but not limited to, aliens, pirates, and piranhas (although the last group is certainly suspect, since the father did not give a rational explanation as to how he came to cross their path).And fortunately, he had the milk, which is the quintessential piece in his extraordinary adventure.  Without it, he would not have survived - in fact, the whole world was at stake!
This book was fantastic! Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller (very much like the father in the book), and the illustrations by Skottie Young gave the book a great whimsical feel.  My kiddos that have enjoyed A tale dark and Grimm, Origami Yoda, and Diary of a wimpy kid will find this an enjoyable read.  Two thumbs up!

Monday, November 18, 2013

The hostage prince by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple

In this first installment of the Seelie Wars, Yolen and Stemple introduce us to the main characters that we will follow in the trilogy.  Aspen is a Seelie prince living as a hostage in the Unseelie court, his freedom is the price paid to prevent a war between the two.  Snail is a midwife apprentice with a mysterious past (I am sure we will learn more about that later).  The unlikely pair are on the run after circumstances beyond their control cause the two countries to be at war.  They must escape dungeons and traverse the wild countryside, encountering trolls and merfolk on their way to Aspen's homeland and freedom - or so they hope.
This book was a good introduction to the characters and world of the Seelie and Unseelie.  However, it was plainly an introduction.  The action really does not begin until two thirds of the way through the book, and by then I had already begun to lose interest.  I like series, in fact I LOVE series, but I love it more when the books can stand alone and make a good story - especially the first in the set.  If the first set is nothing but setup for the rest of the series, I feel a little disappointed.  And that was this book.  It was a setup, and it was discouraging to read.  I wanted to love it - I love Yolen and I love series, but this one missed the mark for me.  
 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Book Review: The Path of Names by Ari Goelman

Dahlia is a 13 year old girl who loves all things related to magic.  She enjoys a good slight-of-hand and spends her time trying to master the art of misdirection.  One thing she is not interested in is Camp Arava - the Jewish summer camp that her parents are forcing her to attend.  She is dreading three weeks of outdoor activities, sing-alongs, and announcements in Hebrew.  Worst of all, her older brother happens to be one of the camp counselors, and by the end of the first day has all of the campers calling her "Squirt".  
So when she arrives and sees two young girls walk through the walls of one of the cabins, she thinks she has found someone who shares her affinity for magic.  She soon discovers that Camp Arava has a dark and mysterious past.  Children have disappeared from the area before, and Dahlia is the only one who can stop the disappearances from happening again.
This book is interesting.  I do not know much about the Jewish religion or the Hebrew culture, so I found the information about Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, very interesting.  I did get lost when it came to numbers for letters, different words having the same meaning, and mazes spelling things, but I tried to keep it together. Dahlia's character was likable, but she was a bit too forward thinking for a normal 13 year old.  She thought about consequences, and put two and two together much quicker than your average junior high student.  I also know nothing about summer camp other than what I learned in the movie The Parent Trap, so I had a hard time envisioning some of the situations.  
Overall, I found the story to be decent and the characters, although a bit predictable, enjoyable none the less.  This is a book that I would recommend to my more steady readers (and I already have).

Monday, October 21, 2013

Book Review:  A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix


Imagine that you have always been told that you are far superior than everyone else.  Your entire life you have been led to believe that when you become of age, you will be a full-fledged prince of the empire, held in high esteem and able to get and do whatever you want.  Your body has been enhanced with machinery, telekinetic powers, and all the advanced technology available.  
Then imagine that you become of age, and the first thing that happens is someone tries to kill you.  This is the life of Prince Khemri, a prince of the Empire, who discovers that being a prince is not all it is cracked up to be.  He finds that he is one of millions of princes who constantly backstab, duel, form alliances, double-cross, and kill to get what they want.  They are able to be reborn into a cloned adult version of themselves if they are deemed worthy by the "Imperial Mind", the omniscient and omnipresent being that can see everything in the empire, but in some situations they never come back.
Khemri dreams of being a prince that has adventures all over the universe, but he finds that being a prince is more about doing what you are told by the imperial mind, superiors, and even his Master Of Assassins.  When Khemri is given an offer he cannot refuse, he must shed all of his princely powers and technology, and learn how to survive as a human.  Khemri must learn the value of life and what it means to be human if he ever wants to return to his rightful place as a prince of the empire.
Overall, I liked the book.  The narration was great - Khemri is recounting his life and adds little snipits here and there that show his sarcastic and humorous side.  The storyline is unique - I found it interesting how princes are "created" and not "born" and anyone, male or female can be a prince.  I also liked the transformation Khemri undergoes from cocky prince to helpful human.  I must admit, however, space-y sci-fi is not my forte.  I had a hard time with the names and explanations of various types of star cruisers, solar systems, worm holes, and the like.  But I could see the story underneath all of that, and I liked it.  
So, if you are a space-y sci fi kind of person, try this book out!

Monday, September 30, 2013

Book Review:  The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

Every once in a while I find a book that I enjoy NOT because it has lots of action or a suspenseful plot, but rather because of the simple truths that the author conveys in a timeless story.  This is one of them.  The Weight of Water is the story of 12 year old Kasienka, a Polish girl who has immigrated to Coventry, England with her mother.  Told in verse, this story illustrates the hardships that she and her mother face from day one.  They have left the familiarity of Poland to try to locate Kasienka's father, a man that abandoned them several months before.  Kasienka feels that perhaps he does not want to be found, but her mother clings to the hope that they will reunite and begin life anew together.  In the meantime, Kasienka begins going to school, and must endure the bullying and awkwardness of "junior high".  She discovers first love as well as cruelness in her classmates as she tries to understand the complexities of friendship and acceptance.  Kasienka's only reprieve from the stress of her home and school life is the community pool.  She is a powerful swimmer and feels most confident while in the water.
This book is simple yet very powerful at the same time.  Many students, no matter what their background, can relate to Kasienka's predicament - she is not in control, and she feels like she is being pulled from all sides by puppet strings.  The prose writing style conveys the emotions perfectly - if this had been a full-fledged novel, I feel like it might have been bogged down.  This is a great novel that I would highly recommend to anyone!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Welcome back!

Welcome back to school!
I hope everyone had a fantastic summer!  I cannot wait to share more books with you this year!
Over the summer I began thinking about "old" media (books and movies).  So, in an effort to cross things off of my bucket list, I began watching old films and reading old books that I have heard of but never actually seen or read.
As far as books go, I would like to highlight Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers.  I picked it up because of the movie coming out this fall, Saving Mr. Banks.  I wanted to see how the "Mary Poppins" we all know and love is different from the original "Mary Poppins" written by Travers.  Let me tell you, they are as different as they come!  In the book, Mary Poppins comes to 17 Cherry Tree Lane after a nanny has quit.  She does not get a letter penned by Jane and Michael, and no other nannies are turned away by the wind.  She is strict, and a bit cross with the children - almost mean - which is something I was not expecting.  She endears herself to the children by showing them a world unlike any they have ever experienced.  She tells them of a cow that cannot stop dancing, takes them to meet her Uncle that floats on his birthday (this one was in the movie), shows them what goes on in the zoo at night, takes them on a trip around the world, that sort of thing.  With each adventure, the children wonder if what they have experienced actually happened or if it was just a dream.  She is still strict with the little ones (by the way, there are FOUR Banks children - Jane and Michael have twin siblings, John and Barbara), but she does seem to care about them.  The wind changes at the end of the book and she just up and leaves without saying goodbye.
Now, I may make P.L. Travers roll over in her grave when I write this, and it is against all I believe as a librarian, but I liked the movie version much better.  In the book, Mary Poppins is mean.  She snaps at the little ones, she is sarcastic, and she fusses at them quite a bit.  Now, this could be a generational thing - maybe that was how nannies treated children in early turn of the century London, I do not really know.  It must be that I need to read more installments of the Mary Poppins series in order to see how she changes the lives of the Banks family members.  I might try the next book, but I am in no rush to continue the series.  I do love the movie, though!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Book Review:  Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
This suspenseful novel, set in 1890's New York City, tells the story of Carver Young, an orphaned boy with a penchant for detective stories and a quick mind.  Carver is "adopted" by a former Pinkerton Detective, Albert Hawking, who sees promise in the young boy.  Carver is on a quest to locate his birth father, yet at the same time Jack the Ripper has turned up in New York and is wreaking havoc in the city.  Carver learns a terrible secret about his father and must save the city before Jack kills again.
Overall I found the pacing to be good, and the action was fast-paced. Some of the historical inaccuracies can be explained away when reminded that this is a work of fiction - the author never declares otherwise.  I enjoyed the book, in all of its dark and suspenseful glory.  The characters were engaging, but I do have to admit that there was not enough distrust for me.  I felt like the "secret" agents were a bit too forthcoming with their "top secret" information, and Carver readily believed anything that anyone told him - he did not have a distrustful bone in his body.  And the fact that everyone listened to a bunch of teenagers is a bit surprising - it almost made the book Scooby Doo-esque.  With all that in mind, the author does pull it together well, and his storytelling is top notch.  I feel like he wants to continue the storyline, but it is a very good stand alone novel as well.  Either way, if you are a fan of thrillers and Jack the Ripper stories, you should try it out!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Book Review:  Splendors and glooms by L.A. Schlitz
Have you ever read a book, and at the end you felt like you needed to process for a bit?  That was this book for me.  I honestly cannot say whether I liked it or not.  The premise is interesting - two orphans (Parsefall and Lizzie Rose), working for an evil magician-puppeteer (Grisini), are called on by his nemesis (Cassandra) to break a curse that is slowly killing her.  At the same time a privileged young girl (Clara) disappears, and only the magic of Grisini or his Cassandra can free her.  Parts of the story are quite intriguing - what deep dark secret is Clara hiding, how did Parsefall lose his finger, and how can Clara be freed?  I also enjoyed the characters - they are not one dimensional.  All, except for Grisini, have good and bad characteristics.  Clara acts the role of the proper British child, but she secretly resents her home life.  Parsefall loves Lizzie Rose like a sister, but, because of his upbringing, shows his love in abusive ways.  Lizzie Rose is a kind and gentle soul, but she explodes with emotion when cornered like a feral cat.  This makes them much more realistic.  The issue I have is with the story line.  When Grisini disappears, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall must fend for themselves.  As they try to survive without a guardian, they receive a letter in the post from a mysterious dowager who wants to leave her fortune to them.  Believing they will be inundated with riches, they leave their life in London to go to Strachan's Ghyll, the woman's home.  However, the old woman has an evil ulterior motive - the curse that has been plaguing her for her life can only be broken by a child, and she can use one of Grisini's foolish orphans to break her dreaded curse.  The story takes a long time to "rev up", but once it gets going it is quite good.  The ending, however, is lacking.  Too neat and tidy.  The dreariness of the entire book was erased with an ending as cliched as "and they all lived happily ever after".  Overall, the book had great characterization and description, but I feel the story line could have been much better.  It's a "meh" for me.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013


Ungifted: by Gordon Korman

Sometimes I feel like authors try too hard to speak to junior high level kiddos. It is akin to someone's mother saying things like "get jiggy with it!" or "word up!" - these sayings have their place (the years 1999 and 1987, respectively), but not in a junior high in 2013. This is why I like Gordon Korman so much. He writes novels for young readers that do not hide behind flashy literary trends or what’s the latest fashion – he writes timeless good fiction.  Take Ungifted, for example.  In this book we meet Donovan, a screw up with a good heart.  Because of an administrative error, he is sent to a magnet school for gifted students instead of being expelled for a prank that got way out of hand.  Donovan must convince the students and teachers that he is a genius, but instead teaches the others about friendship, heart, and loyalty.  Each chapter is told from a different point of view – either Donovan, his sister, the students at the magnet school, teachers, or the superintendent give us their perspective on the events and situations that transpire throughout the novel. 

Korman does a great job making each character believable and helps the reader to understand that sometimes one person’s rash decision can cause an entire community to change their perception on life; and sometimes the strangest people can become your closest friends.

Kudos to Korman for creating characters that show that junior high students still have heart!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Book Review:  Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
Foster McFee loves to bake.  No matter what is going on in her life, she knows a cupcake can make anything better.  One day she will have her own cooking show on the Food Network and help the world to understand the power of baked goods.  She and her mother have recently moved from Memphis, Tennessee to  Culpepper, West Virginia.  Whil in Culpepper, Foster befriends a budding documentary filmmaker, a "defender of all thats right and true", a famouse movie star, and a restaurant owner named "Angry Wayne".  With her friends, Foster discovers the strength within herself and helps the town get their fighting spirit back.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit.  There are realistic characters and situations to which many readers can relate.  Foster is a likable character, as are her mother and the people of Culpepper.  There are words of encouragement throughout the novel that help the reader to realize that even when things look their worst, you can always turn them around - all you need is a few ingredients and an oven!

Friday, April 5, 2013

A change of pace - Awesome Apps

Today as I was clicking through my current e-dition of School Library Journal, I found this list of awesome apps for students K-12.  They range from picture books to fiction to non-fiction; as well as educational games.  I found the list to be of interest, and thought I would share it with you guys!
Click here to get to the SLJ list!


L and R:  Some of the awesome apps mentioned in the article

Monday, March 18, 2013

Book Review: The True Adventures of Charley Darwin by Meyer

The True Adventures of Charley Darwin by Carolyn Meyer

In this novel, Meyer writes as a young Charles Darwin, inscribing his memoirs in a journal.  This would be historically accurate in that Darwin filled many a journal with scientific discoveries, ideas, and personal thoughts.
The novel begins in 1818 when Darwin is nine years old and beginning school.  It then traces his life up to his marriage to Emma Wedgwood in 1839.  This time frame includes his voyage on the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836.
I must say, what I love about Meyer is she is authentic.  I very much felt like I was reading Darwin's voice.  I could feel every lurch of the boat and every bout of illness.
At the same time, I felt the pacing was a bit off.  Many pages were devoted to South America, where Darwin spent many months collecting and examining flora and fauna, but only a few pages were devoted to the Galapagos and Tahiti.  I was expecting a bit more meat on those pages.  I would have liked to have seen a bit more of how Darwin would have reacted to the finches and boobie birds - this was the area where the seed of an idea was planted, but very little attention was given to this part.
I did enjoy seeing an awkward Darwin in social settings while he was in England.  I could imagine him tucked away in a corner, praying for a swift end to the evening's frivolities.  And his courtship (or lack thereof) of his cousin also gave him a human side that we often forget when learning about men of science.
Overall, I would give this book a seven out of ten.  I found the content and situations intriguing, but the build up was a bit slow, and I would like to have more information from his time on the Beagle.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Two book reviews - because I am behind...

Hello, all!
I am a little behind - I have been reading like no one's business but I have not been posting!  What is wrong with me??!!  Anywho, I will briefly review two outstanding books that I have read over the last week and L-O-V-E-D.
Book the First:  Here Lies Arthur by P. Reeve

As I was pacing the shelves trying to find something a little action-y in my adventure section, I stumbles upon this tome.  My first thought was, "Oh, man...I put this in the wrong section." Then I began reading.  And I kept reading.  And I continued reading.  Next thing you know I was half way through the book!  This is the story of Gwyn/Gwynna, a girl whose home is detroyed by Arthur and his men.  She is picked up by Myrddin, a bard who spins fantastical tales about the savior of the realm, Arthur.  Arthur does not act or look like the savior of the realm, but thanks to the tales of Myrrdin, people all over have heard of his bravery and general awesomeness.
Myrrdin takes Gwynna under his wing and makes her his page - he also tells her she must act like a boy so that no one is suspicious of her (she becomes Gwyn).  As she gets older, Myrrdin sends her to live with Gwenhwyfar, Arthur's Christian wife, as a Lady in Waiting.  She must learn how to be a girl again and blend in with the "royal" family.
This novel is the story of Arthur through the eyes of  Gwynna/Gwyn.  She sees him not as the hero that Myrddin portrays throughtout the countryside, but as the flawed human who is a great fighter but also an intimidating leader.  It also shows how the myth of Arthur is continued even after bad situations occur, and it justifies why we need the lie of Arthur in the first place.  The flawed hero is one of my favorite types of hero in books, and for this reason I loved the story.  Along the same lines, the folks who love the myth of Arthur might find this book a bit disconcerting - they might not like to see Arthur portrayed as a brute.
This novel was greatly researched and greatly written.  I loved the use of the Welsh names for the people around Arthur - it gave the book a very authentic feel. 

Book the Second:  Divergent by V. Roth

Let me start this review by saying I have not been living under a rock for the past year.  I do know about this book, but I have refrained from reading it because I like to read series when all of the installments are in - this way I can seamlessly work my way through the story.  Once I have finished one book, I simply move to the next one in line without batting an eyelash.  With that said, I thought I would just wait until September when the last installment of this book was published and I could read the whole thing in one week.
I must have a weak will, because I could not take anymore buzz surrounding this book.  I had to read it just to see what all the fuss was about - I made it through Twilight virtually unscathed, so why not this?
Awesomeness, thy name is Roth.  This book is great - great premise, great story, great characters, and lots of awkward teen moments.  Awesome. 
This is the story of a future world where 5 factions live in peace - Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, Dauntless, and Candor.  Each of those factions are in charge of something that helps the city function - I will let you read to see what they all do.  On the day Beatrice must choose which faction she would like to join (based on an aptitude test, among other things) she decides to go into a faction completely different from where she was raised.  As she is training under the new faction, she finds romance, heartbreak, questions herself, questions her leaders - pretty much runs the gamut of teen emotions.  She also discovers that there is a plot to overthrow the government.  She must save the world and get her first kiss at the same time!!  Now THAT, my friends, is what you call good YA lit!!!
I found this book awoke my inner giggly teen, and I cannot wait to read Insurgent, the next book in the series.  I just have to wait for it to come back into the library - it is ALWAYS checked out!