By book twenty of the Culpepper Adventures, we know what to expect. An entry or two along the way managed to surprise, but Dunc and Amos Meet the Sla By book twenty of the Culpepper Adventures, we know what to expect. An entry or two along the way managed to surprise, but Dunc and Amos Meet the Slasher isn't one of them. When Amos Binder's parents suffer the misfortune of their car stereo being stolen in the parking lot at Pioneer Mall, his best friend Dunc Culpepper wants to investigate. There's been a rash of stereo thefts at the mall, and Dunc believes he can track down the culprit.
A new school year is rarely fun, but Amos's experience is particularly harrowing with the introduction of Slasher Davis, a kid years older than the rest of class who targets Amos for bullying. Dunc suspects Slasher and his pals are behind the stereo thefts, so he begs Amos to pretend to join their gang. Can Dunc and Amos uncover evidence that Slasher is culpable for the missing stereos? The two boys have fallen in with a rough crowd this time, and their outcome is bleak if they don't get a last-minute assist.
Dunc and Amos Meet the Slasher isn't terrible, but reeks of low effort by the author. Dunc as a character has begun devolving into a Flanderized OCD version of himself. The same tired old jokes are trotted out, and if there weren't a small, peculiar comfort in engaging with a familiar series even when it's not a good one, there'd be no reason to read the Culpepper Adventures. Still, I rate this book one and a half stars; there are worse ones in the series....more
Arthur Read versus Binky Barnes: it's a familiar theme of Marc Brown's Arthur Adventure books. The rivalry would later be softened in the PBS televisiArthur Read versus Binky Barnes: it's a familiar theme of Marc Brown's Arthur Adventure books. The rivalry would later be softened in the PBS television series, but Arthur and Binky had their battles before then. April Fool's Day is coming, and with it the school talent show, but Arthur can't get excited. He's afraid Binky, a huge, mean bully, is going to beat him up. At rehearsal for the talent show, Binky pushes Arthur around as usual, and Francine and Buster are helpless to stop him. How will Arthur focus during his magic act tomorrow? He spends a restless night imagining what Binky might do. Arthur reads up on bodybuilding and fighting techniques, but he knows he can't hold his own against Binky.
Buster promises to assist Arthur during his act so he doesn't get nervous and forget his tricks, but Buster is sent to the principal after pulling an April Fool's prank on Mr. Ratburn, so that plan is out. At the show, when Arthur requests an audience volunteer, Binky hops onstage, and Arthur knows he's in for trouble. Binky just wants to disrupt the performance and laugh at Arthur when he messes up, which Arthur unhappily proceeds to do. But Arthur has different strengths than Binky, and he'll have a chance to finish his act on a high note and make Binky think twice about harassing him in the future. Can Arthur conjure up a trick to send Binky running for the exit whenever Arthur enters the room?
Marc Brown's books feel simple, but there's more to them than meets the eye. Arthur is at Binky's mercy as long as he tries to equal the bully's brawn, but it's another story when Arthur challenges him to a battle of wits. We also see in this book how good D.W. is at reading Arthur; his parents have no idea what's bothering him, but it's obvious to her. Their parents ignore D.W.'s statement that "He's worried about getting pulverized," but they should listen to her. A little sister is often more attuned to the details of her brother's life than parents are. Arthur's April Fool is a comeuppance tale with the old Marc Brown charm I've always loved, and I'll undoubtedly read it on many April Fool's Days to come....more
In 2017, the fortieth year since Elvis Presley's sudden passing, two illustrators each released a picture book version of the Elvis song "Love Me TendIn 2017, the fortieth year since Elvis Presley's sudden passing, two illustrators each released a picture book version of the Elvis song "Love Me Tender" from the 1956 movie of the same name. In this version, illustrator Stephanie Graegin frames the lyrics not as a romantic love song, but one of family devotion for a newborn baby as it grows.
Seeing your baby for the first time is a revelation. You burp the infant as needed, read to him or her, feed and play with the child. Enjoying nature together is a nice way to decompress, and by the time the baby has its first birthday you'll feel you've been together forever. Through activities practical or whimsical, and all seasons of the year, a consistent loving relationship keeps the child's feet on the ground so he or she is confident venturing out and discovering life.
Love is best conveyed through actions. It's more important to behave in loving ways than express lovely sentiments, but when carefully crafted words support one's actions to affirm love, they are a blessing. The recipient of eloquently declared love has those words as reminder of precisely what they mean to that person. It's a gift from the heart and mind, and "Love Me Tender" is a shining example.
The version of the song in this book has a different ending than most people know, but Stephanie Graegin's cute, warm illustrations depict the love of parent and child to exquisite effect. I appreciate the various Elvis "Easter eggs" hidden in the pictures, such as the children being dropped off at Graceland Preschool, and the endnote from Priscilla Presley is a perfect fit. I believe Elvis would be happy to see his music used as it is in this book. I hope it ends up in the hands of many parents and children....more
In 2017, the fortieth year since Elvis Presley's sudden passing, two illustrators each released a picture book version of the Elvis song "Love Me TendIn 2017, the fortieth year since Elvis Presley's sudden passing, two illustrators each released a picture book version of the Elvis song "Love Me Tender" from the 1956 movie of the same name. In this version, illustrator Tom Browning frames the lyrics not as a romantic love song, but one of a father's devotion.
"Love me tender, love me sweet; Never let me go. You have made my life complete, And I love you so."
Sons and daughters need their dads equally, though in different ways. Sitting outdoors and communing with nature, learning to ride a bike, reading a book together, or celebrating a birthday with cake and presents are all occasions made better by a father's presence and unconditional love. Through activities practical or whimsical, and all seasons of the year, a consistent loving relationship keeps the child's feet on the ground so he or she is confident venturing out and discovering life.
"Love me tender, love me true, All my dreams fulfill. For, my darlin', I love you, And I always will."
Love is best conveyed through actions. It's more important to behave in loving ways than express lovely sentiments, but when carefully crafted words support one's actions to affirm love, they are a blessing. The recipient of eloquently declared love has those words as reminder of precisely what they mean to that person. It's a gift from the heart and mind, and "Love Me Tender" is a shining example.
"Love me tender, love me long; Take me to your heart. For it's there that I belong, And we'll never part."
The version of the song in this book is slightly truncated, but Tom Browning's understated, serious illustrations depict the love of parent and child to exquisite effect. I believe Elvis would be happy to see his music used in such a manner. I hope this book ends up in the hands of many parents and children.
"Love me tender, love me dear; Tell me you are mine. I'll be yours through all the years, Till the end of time."...more
Unique plot styling is the clearest marker of a Shaun David Hutchinson novel. In Howl, fifteen-year-old Virgil Knox's parents are divorcing and his daUnique plot styling is the clearest marker of a Shaun David Hutchinson novel. In Howl, fifteen-year-old Virgil Knox's parents are divorcing and his dad has just moved with Virgil from metropolitan Seattle to small-town Merritt, Florida. His dad grew up in Merritt and Virgil's grandparents live here, so the plan is to live with them and earn money to buy a home. Virgil sees the people of Merritt as hayseeds, but resentment morphs into panic on the night of a party when Virgil is attacked by a monster and left bleeding. No one believes a razor-clawed monster assaulted him, not even his dad or grandparents. Virgil longs to return to Seattle where his best friend and boyfriend are, but his dad make it clear that isn't an option.
Those who don't care either way about Virgil's monster story despise him for being gay or his leftist cultural attitude. At least he has drama class with Mr. Hilliker, who understands his craving to disappear into the arts. Virgil's emo cousin Astrid is a decent sort, and he makes friends with quirky Tripp Swafford, whose family history of mental illness helps him understand Virgil's angst. Virgil can't seem to forget the monster, how it slashed his body and left ghastly lingering wounds. Jarrett Hart, a popular high schooler, tries to befriend Virgil, but there's cause to suspect Jarrett had something to do with the monster attack. And what of Jarrett's friend Finn Duckett, whose motives are equally dubious? The monster is still stalking Virgil, and if he can't catch the beast in the act, Merritt will never be a safe place.
"Memories have a unique power...They're not just records of our past that we file away. They're living, breathing bits of us that we can revisit whenever we want. Memories fuel the engine of our souls."
—Mr. Hilliker, PP. 100-101
I usually like Shaun David Hutchinson's stories, but Howl was not enjoyable. Certain repeating scenes that detail Virgil's injuries are gratuitously gross; they upset my stomach and hindered my sleep. The book as a whole confuses me; was there a literal monster, or is it entirely metaphor? The sepsis of politics also infects the novel, resulting in a town and its populace who feel like caricatures instead of authentic characters. I'm not sure Hutchinson can write about small-town America fairly. I rate Howl one and a half stars; it could have been terrific, but carries too many self-inflicted wounds....more
Time loops are a well-worn story device, but a fresh spin can make the old feel new, and Robbie Couch infuses If I See You Again Tomorrow will all kinTime loops are a well-worn story device, but a fresh spin can make the old feel new, and Robbie Couch infuses If I See You Again Tomorrow will all kinds of new energy. We first meet seventeen-year-old Clark Huckleton at a session with Ms. Hazel, his therapist. After his parents' divorce it was deemed wise that Clark receive professional guidance, but he seems jaded with Ms. Hazel. We soon learn why: Clark has been living today, September 19, on repeat for more than three hundred days. Clark isn’t sure he hasn't already gone insane, and he has no idea why the loop is happening, but the next day at school something new hits the timeline.
A transfer student in Mr. Zebb's math class. Clark has never seen handsome Beau Dupont, with his rich-brown skin and foppish style. Everyone is stunned when Beau hops onto the desks and jumps around, definitely a new occurrence in Clark's time loop. Before Zebb can phone security, Beau has jetted from the classroom and Clark impulsively follows. Beau is as unflappable up close as during his impromptu dance show, and asks Clark to join him as he steals Zebb's car to go on a string of "chores" in and around Rosedore, Illinois, where they live. Knowing that the day will reset at exactly 11:16 P.M. and he'll wake up in bed at 7:15 A.M. on September 19 again, Clark goes along for the ride. He’s perplexed by where Beau takes him: to Ben's Everything Blue Bakery in Chicago for a visit with the owner, Otto, on the anniversary of his son's death; to Splendid Cinemas, a retro movie theater, for a conversation with Emery, the teen guy who works there; and last, to meet a girl named Dee whose relationship with Beau is complicated. Clark is falling in love with Beau, but what happens when 11:16 arrives and everything reverts to how it used to be?
Outlier though Beau has been, Clark resolves to somehow find him. Will he return in the morning as a "transfer student" to torment Mr. Zebb? Why did Beau appear on this iteration of September 19 and none before, when everyone else in the time loop seems bound to the actions they took on the original day? Beau is a mystery that challenges everything Clark thought he knew about the time loop, but he can't invest all his resources into finding and wooing that charming boy. Clark needs to confirm the mechanics of the time loop and figure out what can be done to escape its gravity. Could he be forced to repeat September 19 an infinite number of times, never growing older or closer to anyone because only he can build new memories? What if the time loop has a shelf life, and Clark will die or disappear if he doesn't get out soon? New facts that Clark uncovers suggest he needs to work out a solution fast before the life he knows—happiness, heartbreak, and all—vanishes.
When sadness or tragedy victimize you, it can feel as though time has frozen and daily survival is an unmanageable burden. You feel isolated because no one else is stuck in the loop: they all have ambitions, expectations, and know tomorrow will be a new day. But what happens when you find that special person who restarts your engine, someone else who feels as though time has stopped...and you're the only one who can get them going again? You can either avoid each other—denying that the solution is in your mutual embrace—or recognize that, while stepping out of the time loop will be jarring, it's the only way to move forward. Take each other’s hand and step into destiny together; life is better when you have someone to help unsnarl your messy existence. You'll never be perfect, but taking steps to improve is better than looping forever. Life’s adventure is more exhilarating than anything you hoped for or planned.
Robbie Couch knows just when to inject surprise, sincerity, deep emotion, humor, and narrative innovation. If I See You Again Tomorrow reinvigorates the time loop sub-genre with beautiful pacing and suspense that isn't resolved until the book's final sentence. I'd consider rating If I See You Again Tomorrow three and a half stars; as a literary artist, Robbie Couch gets the blend of colors just right. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading him yet, you can't go wrong starting with this book....more
What jumps out about this edition of Spot's First Easter is the vibrant colors. Eric Hill always had a knack for occasional splashes of brightness to What jumps out about this edition of Spot's First Easter is the vibrant colors. Eric Hill always had a knack for occasional splashes of brightness to please the eye, but it marks this book beginning to end as Spot and his friend Helen the hippo search for eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. Will they find all six?
The eggs can be anywhere in or around the house. Spot finds one under a flower pot, and Helen sees an egg in the garden. Spot notices one nestled under a bluebird in a tree. Will Helen find an egg behind the feed sack? Within the house, Spot retrieves an egg tucked into a bowl of fruit, and the last egg is inside the grandfather clock. It's been a fun Easter.
Reasons abound to like this book. It doubles as a tutor for learning to count, with the Easter Bunny now and then reminding us how many eggs remain. I like that not every liftable flap reveals an egg; some places checked are dead ends, so the game feels more real. I love the bright colors in this particular edition: the green cover, red garden bench, and luminescent multicolor shed are just a few items that visually pop. Helen herself is a nice shade of blue. I rate Spot's First Easter two and a half stars; it's as good as any book to that point in the series....more
You could say The Language of Seabirds is a departure from what Will Taylor had written to that point in his career, but venturing beyond one's comforYou could say The Language of Seabirds is a departure from what Will Taylor had written to that point in his career, but venturing beyond one's comfort zone is often the most rewarding part of being an artist. Twelve-year-old Jeremy Ryden's parents recently divorced, but that isn't the only matter he's stressed about. Jeremy has realized he's attracted to boys, not girls, and though he doesn't believe his parents will be upset about that, he isn't ready to tell anyone. For the next two weeks Jeremy is staying with his dad at a rental house by the Pacific Ocean in Rosemont, Oregon, while Jeremy's mother moves out of their house. For those two weeks he just wants to get along with his dad and not let it slip that he's gay.
"Knowing your own secret was one thing, but speaking it, opening your mouth and saying those words to the huge, cold, crashing world, that was dangerous. That could hurt. And there would be no turning back."
�The Language of Seabirds, P. 141
Jeremy's uncle Becker, who owns the beach house they're staying at, seems to keep his dad from falling into depression, though Jeremy notices his dad drinking more alcohol than before. Wanting to avoid father-son angst, Jeremy takes his opportunities to explore Rosemont, and gets a surprise at a shop called Tidepool Knickknacks. Twelve-year-old Evan Sandford, who works at the store, catches Jeremy's eye. Evan's relaxed beach-boy demeanor and earnest personality dazzle Jeremy. He has seen Evan going on runs along the beach, and here's his chance to get to know him. Self-doubt floods Jeremy's mind, but he finds himself with plans to join Evan on a run tomorrow. Can Jeremy find a way not to screw this up?
The boys are natural friends, and Jeremy is careful not to reveal that his feelings for Evan go beyond platonic. At first Jeremy doesn't tell his dad about Evan, but as the two weeks speed along, the secret is impossible to maintain. Jeremy's dad angles for him to spend less time with Evan and more with him, but the excessive alcohol consumption isn't a point in his favor, and the allure of Evan’s friendship is strong. Surely Evan doesn't reciprocate Jeremy's romantic feelings, but being around him is a reward too sweet to pass up. As the two weeks draw to a close and Jeremy's dad behaves in increasingly erratic ways, Jeremy and Evan have to discover what they want their relationship to be. Is there any way this trip will end without Jeremy feeling more lonesome than ever?
Coming-of-age issues dominate The Language of Seabirds, creating an experience that oozes drama and spark. Now and then in life, a relationship pops up that you didn’t see coming, and it pulls you onto a new, exhilarating path. The decisions you make, combined with luck, decree how long you get to keep that relationship. It may crumble within hours or days, chug along steadily for a while only to dissolve just when you feel it will be yours forever, or endure well beyond your most ebullient hopes. Fear may stay your hand from advancing the relationship, finding its natural boundaries, but it's better to take a chance and lose than never meet your full potential with that special person. Taking risks is what it means to grow up, as Jeremy, Evan, and all of us learn via the bumps and ruts of life's highway.
Will Taylor is a quiet writer even in The Language of Seabirds, which is filled with conflict. There are different kinds of love, from parent to uncle to friend to romance in early bloom, and we need them all to flourish in life. That leads to some rough preteen and teen moments as you learn your own personality, proclivities, and desires, as well as dealing with issues that aren't your fault such as Jeremy's dad's drinking, but every day you survive proves your ability to make it in this world. I rate The Language of Seabirds three and a half stars; its energy is different from most middle-grade reads of its era, but I gained a lot from it. Many thanks, Will Taylor....more
Respectful religious observance is a strong suit of Tomie dePaola's. That's what My First Passover is all about, a brief immersion in the Jewish cultuRespectful religious observance is a strong suit of Tomie dePaola's. That's what My First Passover is all about, a brief immersion in the Jewish culture that has celebrated the holiday for thousands of years around the world.
Under the star-studded sky a Jewish man and his two kids ponder why tonight is unlike others. They're about to participate in the Passover Seder, a ceremonial meal complete with a reading from the Haggadah and the Four Questions posed by the youngest child. Passover commemorates the Hebrew slaves being freed by Moses long ago, a reminder that God is the ultimate liberator from evil. Someday all injustice will be set right.
Balancing historical information with specifics about contemporary Passover celebration isn't easy in such a short book, but Tomie dePaola does well. We see the pride that Jews have in their history as a people and a religion, as well as their hope for the future. I rate My First Passover two and a half stars; it may be the best of dePaola's "My First" board books....more
One of my go-to book series when I need to destress, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has produced some of the funniest material in the history of youth literaturOne of my go-to book series when I need to destress, Diary of a Wimpy Kid has produced some of the funniest material in the history of youth literature. The Long Haul sees the Heffley family embarking on a summer vacation road trip; Greg, Rodrick, and their parents have different opinions about where to travel, but Mom decides they'll just drive, finding fun activities along the way. The minivan is packed with "essential" luggage, but they manage to cram it all in with Greg squashed in the backseat.
As longtime fans will expect, trouble ensues. Mom wants the family to listen to a set of CDs that teach Spanish, but Greg and Rodrick have zero interest. A stay at a fleabag motel gets Greg into a confrontation with a boorish family who, by coincidence, show up everywhere the Heffleys go. A day at the country fair adds a new problem when Greg's toddler brother Manny guesses the weight of a pig...and wins the pig. The animal is a terrible road companion, so Mom and Dad dish it off to a petting zoo. At this point Manny becomes a nightmare, outraged at the ejection of his pet. An ill-fated excursion to a water park leaves Mom and Dad without their wallets or any money, but they hope to limp home in the car before anything else goes wrong. Will Greg's family survive their summer of fun?
The Long Haul has funny moments, but nothing hysterical like most earlier Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I like the subtle theme that however wonky a family trip goes it isn't a total loss because you made memories with parents and siblings, but near the book's end its plausibility falls apart. The Heffleys also turn out to be more the bad guy than that family from the fleabag motel; I kept waiting for something to justify our siding with Greg, but no such luck. I only rate The Long Haul one and a half stars, but it's entertaining enough. I'll be back for book ten, Old School....more
Middle-grade books on topics of sexuality were rare ten or fifteen years earlier, but by 2020 that changed. Phil Stamper aided the process with the reMiddle-grade books on topics of sexuality were rare ten or fifteen years earlier, but by 2020 that changed. Phil Stamper aided the process with the release of Small Town Pride that year, a novel exploring what it means to have pride in oneself. Eighth-grader Jake Moore has already told his parents he's attracted to boys rather than girls. Jake's best friend, Jenna Thomas, had encouraged him to tell his parents the truth for a while, and it was easier than he thought. Jake's dad is so supportive that he hoists a rainbow pride flag in their yard, which Jake isn't so sure about, but it's nice to feel accepted. He wishes all 2,000 residents of Barton Springs, Ohio were that receptive, but maybe they only need an invitation. What if Jake helped organize a pride festival the whole village can have fun with?
Jake and Jenna have doubts that Mayor Miller will permit a pride festival in Barton Springs, so Jake is surprised when Brett, the mayor's eighth-grade son, voices his support. He and Jake were never friends, but Jake finds himself liking Brett. At first Jake worries Brett might be a secret saboteur sent by his mother, but he seems so earnest as the days pass before the town council meeting where Jake, Jenna, and Brett will propose the pride festival. Jake has no concrete reason to believe Mayor Miller is anti-pride, but she's careful about avoiding controversy in the village. Is Barton Springs about to enjoy its first taste of pride, or will Jake's passion project go up in smoke?
Phil Stamper has talent, and Brett is an engaging character, but Small Town Pride falls way short of its potential. Gay or straight, everyone's teen years are stressful as you discover who you are. Instead of guiding Jake to focus on that personal journey, developing principles and priorities that define his unique identity so he has reason for pride, his parents push him to worry about whether the neighbors approve of his lifestyle. That story would make sense if Jake's "coming out" were met with hostility, but it isn't. He’s better off not expending energy convincing strangers to celebrate his sexuality, and instead growing up quietly alongside his friends as they pass their vulnerable teen years together. I so wanted to love Small Town Pride, but its preoccupation with politics, and strawman characterization of those with dissenting views, prevents me from embracing the story and its characters. I rate it one and a half stars; Phil Stamper is capable of much better....more
Could Flamer, Mike Curato's first young-adult graphic novel, be any more different than his picture books about Little Elliot the elephant? It's one oCould Flamer, Mike Curato's first young-adult graphic novel, be any more different than his picture books about Little Elliot the elephant? It's one of the grittier, grosser YA offerings I've read. Aiden Navarro is fourteen years old the summer before high school. His effeminate mannerisms have always made him an object of ridicule, and starting high school is nerve-wracking. But first he's spending summer with his Boy Scout troop at camp. The guys treat him okay for the most part, though some are quietly nasty and label him with gay slurs. His bunkmate Elias, despite being a football star, refuses to join the harassment. Aiden can let his guard down with Elias, let him see Aiden's offbeat sense of humor. He helps Aiden feel safe.
At camp, gay slurs fly with abandon. Aiden can't imagine what it's like to be attracted to other boys in a world that reviles you for it. His own feelings toward boys make him nervous, but Aiden is adamant he's not gay; he'd never survive that crucible, so he can't be. Despite it all, he enjoys being a Boy Scout; he takes archery tips from Elias, and Aiden's skills sharpen. Pop culture conversations tend to go askew because Aiden has a different mind than his fellow scouts—who among them would name Jean Grey as the X-Men member they aspire to be?—but Aiden tries not to color so far outside the lines that his quirks draw anger from the more masculine scouts. Ted, a scoutmaster, is a big help; he has a fresh sense of humor and doesn't play along when guys torment Aiden. Camp can be rough, but Aiden is surviving and even having fun.
"I'm not ACTING like anything. I'm just doing whatever it is I do. I don't know how to be the way everyone wants me to be."
—Aiden, P. 184
Hiding your true self forever is impossible. Aiden's feminized manner rubs some guys the wrong way, and he gets into a physical fight. The scoutmaster is disappointed, but Aiden is sick of being sneered at as a closeted gay even though he denies that identity. Perforations in his carefully built façade multiply; friendly as Elias is and close as they grow, he isn't prepared when Aiden pushes it a notch too far, revealing his attraction to boys. A typical teen like Elias hasn't the maturity to handle the situation. What if he tells the entire camp, and Aiden's fear of being hated and ostracized comes true? Aiden has written to his friend Violet every day from camp, but when he admits to her his confusing feelings for Elias, she ceases to reply. Violet was the only person who seemed to accept him; has he burned that bridge too? Has she concluded Aiden is a lunatic pervert? Rumors burn through camp that scoutmaster Ted was fired because leadership discovered he's gay, and the walls close in as word spreads about Aiden's indiscretion with Elias that ruined their friendship. The world is hostile to Aiden, full of enemies and no advocates. It's better to die today than live a century as a pariah...but will Aiden take that final step and pull the plug on his fourteen years of existence?
Making public anti-suicide statements is easy, and your social credit will get a positive bump. But what do you say to a boy whose identity centers him as a public enemy, who has been outed and faces a future despised by all? Perky words about tomorrow being a new day exacerbate the pain. He sees the bleakness of tomorrow, next week, next year, a life sentence of torture. Flamer captures this existential dread as the dominoes all fall at the wrong time for Aiden. That he reaches for the knife should be no surprise; how would one even try talking him out of it in a way that doesn't sound hollow? Perhaps the only effective counterpoint is what happens in the book: each domino that fell, heavy as they were with their weight added together, wasn't as permanent as Aiden's pessimism told him. Life's pendulum swings in ways that appear to defy gravity; if you're counting on predicting the next swing, your road ahead may be impassable. Permanently dousing the spark of life in you seems a relief when all you feel is the poison of anxiety in your veins, but if you live to tomorrow there's no telling how things will rearrange. Dreadnoughts with artillery aimed at your face may move on to other ports, and you'll find that maintaining a heartbeat one more day in this uncertain world is more gratifying than you believed it could still be. As long as you’re alive, anything is possible.
Flamer is an ugly, raunchy book and at times I wavered in my commitment to see it to the end, but I'm glad I did. The last hundred pages or so is a climax of unique emotional volatility, a piece of Mike Curato's soul I identified with as uncomfortably as anything I’ve read. It is elegant, raw, and foul, something you have to read yourself to apprehend its potency. I rate Flamer four and a half stars, a book no human but Curato ever could have birthed into the world. The experience wasn't pleasant, but I needed it, and I hope the story fills the same need for other readers....more
Debut authors are a mixed bag. Some can be perfectly polished, turning in a literary masterpiece most writers go their entire career without producingDebut authors are a mixed bag. Some can be perfectly polished, turning in a literary masterpiece most writers go their entire career without producing, while others are still struggling to get the machinery operating at peak efficiency. Which do we get with Erik J. Brown's All That's Left in the World? Sixteen-year-old Andrew is lucky to survive this long in a world gone to hellish places. Only a couple years after the real-life COVID-19 pandemic led to millions of deaths and the rise of authoritarian regimes worldwide, a superflu has ravaged earth, one with a kill rate dramatically higher than COVID. It is so contagious that quarantines don't slow its spread, but Andrew is among the lucky few immune to it. As the book opens he's staggering across the northeastern United States, his leg grievously injured in a bear trap. Andrew won't last long without medical intervention...and that's when he happens upon a cabin in the woods.
Jamie, a guy Andrew's age, meets him at the door with the business end of a rifle. Jamie isn't bitter like most people Andrew has met since society broke down, and he takes Andrew in and administers lifesaving care. Jamie manages to save the mangled leg, tugging Andrew back from the brink of death. It's like a fantasy to Andrew: an attractive young guy nursing him to health. He can't help falling in love, though he conceals his feelings because he’s sure Jamie isn't like that. The two teens share their supplies as days stretch into weeks, hoping no one will harass them in this isolated cabin, but evil comes knocking. Andrew and Jamie are forced to flee in hopes of finding safety somewhere out there.
Rumor has it that Europe enjoyed better luck quarantining against the superflu and that the European Union is sending a fleet to Washington, D.C. to rescue American survivors. Andrew and Jamie hike in that direction. Andrew wants to pass through Alexandria, Virginia for a dark reason he keeps hidden. He has committed acts he isn't proud of, but believes there's a way to make amends in Alexandria. It may lead to his death at the hands of righteous revenge seekers, but Andrew can't dodge culpability forever. Gangs of looters and murderers, wild predators escaped from the zoo, and cult-like mini societies with chilling ideas how the new world should run are only a few perils Andrew and Jamie face as they cut across the barren land. Their survival odds are grimmer than they'd like to believe.
"You have to trust people sometimes. The good in this world might surprise you."
�All That's Left in the World, P. 136
Who's to blame for a virus like COVID, or the superflu in these pages that boasts a 99.99 percent mortality rate? All That's Left in the World isn't concerned with the hows and whys of the superflu, but with what we do after the apocalypse mugs mankind. Depraved human nature is to turn on one another, to sort our limited resources using violent means, but homicide isn't going to free us from the nightmare. We must cling to and guard the people we love, find families who share that goal, and use our combined strength to resist evil parties. After civilization collapses we have to build from scratch; hoping for some government or bureaucracy to swoop in and save us is a fool's dream. Community is constructed one family at a time, as Andrew and Jamie endeavor to do while their relationship grows closer than either expects. If the modern world is to be saved, people like them will be the reason.
All That's Left in the World is an excellent first novel. Erik J. Brown cultivates genuine emotional connections, and the rate at which he generates new plot is indefatigable. The book fills multiple genres, from romance to adventure to science fiction and more. It teeters on tasteless politicization now and then, which is the biggest threat to the book, but Brown reins it in fast enough to prevent the reader from feeling like a pupil in an unwanted lecture. All That's Left in the World gives us good characters, emotion, action, and writing; I can hardly wait for book two, The Only Light Left Burning....more
Though "I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog" was written by singer Leslie Braunstein, the beloved folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary were first to record itThough "I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog" was written by singer Leslie Braunstein, the beloved folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary were first to record it, on their seventh studio album. Released in 1967, Album 1700 had at least one bigger hit, but "I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog" is an all-time favorite of mine. Said to be intended as a lampoon of the illegality of interracial marriage in the United States at the time, the song adapts well as a children's book because of its wacky imagery and evergreen message of acceptance.
How should you comport yourself if your love interest is a blue frog who dresses in human clothes and is six foot three inches tall? You're sure to draw funny looks when you're together, but there are advantages to loving a mutant amphibian. Your offspring might be attractive like a human but with a frog's swimming skills. If your blue frog is intelligent, charming, entertaining, and instructive, who wouldn't covet such a mate? The neighbors may regard you with a jaundiced eye and resent the life you build, but embrace the chaos and you'll do fine.
I love the blueprint in this book and song for dealing with bigotry. It's stressful when others look at you with disgust because you're different in some way that should be irrelevant. It’s easy to react with bitterness and anger, rendering your argument unattractive. Instead, this song counters irrational prejudice by amplifying its ridiculous claims, proudly wearing the label that was meant as pejorative. If there are positives to marrying a man-sized amphibian, how ludicrous is it for outsiders to get upset about a relationship with a human of different skin color, or who is outside the norm in some other superficial way? Being a happy warrior and wrong-footing your detractors with silly metaphor is the best way to make your case while staying above the fray.
This book includes a music disc of Peter, Paul, and Mary performing "I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog", and it wouldn't be complete without that. I often hold this song close when I'm harassed for a being a little different, the boy with his head in the clouds, and I treasure its message. Joshua S. Brunet's illustrations are a delight, and I champion this book for music fans or literates of any age....more
Shifting the first-person perspective from Alexander Armsworth to his friend/rival Blossom Culp, we revisit Bluff City, Missouri in 1913 to experienceShifting the first-person perspective from Alexander Armsworth to his friend/rival Blossom Culp, we revisit Bluff City, Missouri in 1913 to experience history through the eyes of a young spiritualist. Blossom, in her early teens, has been less than close with Alexander since the events of The Ghost Belonged to Me, but circumstances draw them together via Miss Gertrude Dabney. She is a middle-aged woman of traditional English manner, who asks Blossom to placate the ghost of a Dabney family servant named Minerva who hanged herself decades ago. Blossom's success earns Miss Dabney's undying gratitude.
Blossom and Alexander are pulled into a con game by a Professor Regis, who publicly conjures a “spirit� to absolve Miss Dabney’s guilty feelings over her father's death. Blossom doubts the charade, and discovers Regis’s British preteen helper, Sybil, who knows every trick in the book of feigned spiritualism. Blossom's revelation of the scam boosts her own popularity but leads to demands that she prove her gift of Second Sight…a demonstration even Blossom is shocked to see materialize in front of witnesses. Blossom’s spirit is teleported aboard the ship Titanic during its final hours nearly two years ago, into the same passenger cabin as a troubled blonde child named Julian Poindexter. What is Blossom to do with detailed knowledge of his dying moments?
"There is nothing more real than fear, fight it though you may."
�Ghosts I Have Been, P. 125
Miss Dabney is elated beyond outsider comprehension when England's Queen Mary invites Blossom, as a result of her Titanic vision, to Buckingham Palace. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean with Miss Dabney and Alexander in a vessel much like the Titanic, Blossom waits for her Second Sight to put her aboard the doomed ship again to sit with young Julian while his parents abandon him to death at sea. Blossom hasn't the power to alter his fate, just hold his hand in the moment of whelming fear. Perhaps that is Blossom's purpose with Miss Dabney, Alexander, and for all her remaining days.
"I wonder why in storybooks only three wishes are offered, when in real life they are never enough."
—Miss Dabney, P. 75
Ghosts I Have Been is an improvement on The Ghost Belonged to Me. Blossom is a more interesting narrator than Alexander, and the story has better variety. The most compelling person is Julian, who cannot escape his doom no matter how Blossom intervenes. On this basis Ghosts I Have Been could have turned out to be a great novel, but it is too distracted by competing plots. I rate it two and a half stars, but I like how the series is trending and am open to The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp being the best entry so far....more
The late 1960s are considered the golden age of Peanuts; did this book live up to the hype? January 19, 1967 (page nine) we get a Linus gag featuring The late 1960s are considered the golden age of Peanuts; did this book live up to the hype? January 19, 1967 (page nine) we get a Linus gag featuring his calligraphic lettering when playing tic-tac-toe against Lucy. He sure won't be the one to mess up the board! January 22 (page ten) is a Sunday strip about Sally adamantly not touching Snoopy after she washes for supper. Her hysterical reaction to Snoopy's mischievous teasing is hilarious, but people do get worked up about trivial matters. January 31 (page fourteen) is a classic Lucy-Schroeder bit about his fixation on all things Beethoven, and February 23 (page twenty-four) is a nice spot of humor about the human impulse to resist imposition on our leisure time. February 27 (page twenty-six), Charlie Brown asks Linus how to deal with being universally disliked. Charlie Brown's aversion to Linus's call for honest introspection is a reaction we all tend to have. I love Charlie Brown's simile on March 15 (page thirty-two) after his baseball team loses. His comparison of defeat to dropping your ice cream cone on the sidewalk is fitting. When Lucy strikes out in a baseball game March 26 (page thirty-seven), Charlie Brown's frantic struggle to not clear his throat and make her think he's going to criticize her is a perfect Peanuts- joke.
Linus and Charlie Brown converse on April 15 (page forty-five), Linus asking if it's best to solve problems immediately or delay. Charlie Brown's response is an earnest glimpse at the wishful nature of humans. Snoopy as the "Cheshire Beagle" acts as centerpiece for a week's worth of jokes, with April 21 (page forty-eight) being the funniest. I love Schroeder's sardonicism at Lucy's expense on May 1 (page fifty-three), about how "drab this world would be without the sound of children's voices�. In my edition of this book, the May 1 strip is repeated in error where May 3 should be. A series of jokes about using a "NYAAH!" taunting sound has begun by May 4 (page fifty-four), and that day's final panel is vintage, hilarious Charlie Brown. May 5 is deceptively insightful about the damage innocuous teasing can do in a relationship if it inflicts a wound that festers, and May 15 (page fifty-nine) is another smart Charlie Brown simile, comparing receiving a chain letter to finding gum on the bottom of your shoe. It's much the same as being infected by a computer virus.
A storyline launched May 22 and 23 (page sixty-two) sees Linus patting Woodstock-like birds on the head. His patting makes them happy, but others look at him funny because most boys don't find satisfaction patting birds on the head. Lucy is outraged that Linus has turned her into a laughingstock, but May 27 (page sixty-three), she approaches the birds herself for a pat. They scatter before she gets close enough, calcifying her resentment. Not everyone has Linus's radiant, welcome touch; in his own words on May 23, "I think I've found my calling!". May 31 (page sixty-five) may be the finest strip of this story, Linus arguing that if he and the birds are happy because he pats them on the head, people have no cause to object. The whole story arc may be the best in the first twenty years of Peanuts. June 6 (page sixty-eight) sees Linus and Sally musing over what it might be like to have a do-over in life; do we ever really learn enough that a do-over would succeed? July 4 (page eighty) is a great visual gag, Linus's hair blown back by Lucy's shouting, and July 11 (page eighty-three) forwards the concept with a superb final line from Linus about his sister's yelling. Linus threatens Snoopy on August 17 (page ninety-nine) if the beagle won't unhand his blanket, and Snoopy's reflection on his own decision to back down is intriguing. How many of us lead lives "full of unsuffered consequences" because we avoid things that probably would never occur? We get a great meta Sunday strip September 17 (page one hundred twelve), the cast of characters on Charlie Brown's baseball team turning a mound conference into a debate on the nature of human suffering.
Shades of the 1972 animated special Snoopy, Come Home are evident in the "No dogs allowed" September 21 (page one hundred fourteen) strip. Charlie Brown and Frieda trade words on a beautiful afternoon October 7 (page one hundred twenty), but Charlie Brown concludes that the best way to preserve such a day is to hide in bed so no bad memories mar it. October 15 (page one hundred twenty-four) is an insightful Sunday. After feeding Snoopy, Charlie Brown comments that he ran out of dog food so he had to give cat food instead. Snoopy is sickened, imagining what gross things the crude food is doing to his insides...but Charlie Brown reveals he'd only been joking. It's funny how we coerce ourselves into false sensations that fit our narrative priors. 1968 begins on a note of frankness as Lucy asks Charlie Brown on January 3 (page one hundred fifty-eight) how it feels to know he'll never be heroic. He protests that he may well be a hero someday...but deep down haven't most of us resigned to a life that's less than we aspired to? A joke from the 1975 animated Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown shows up February 13 (page one hundred seventy-six), and February 27 (page one hundred eighty-two) Charlie Brown makes pertinent observations about chronic anxiety. Sometimes I feel "My stomach hates me" too, Charlie Brown.
April 14 (page two hundred two) makes no direct mention of Snoopy as the "Easter Beagle" but has him dancing around hiding eggs like in the animated special. April 28 (page two hundred eight) is a Sunday that sees Snoopy fretting because he saw a bug in his supper dish earlier. Charlie Brown brings his meal, but surely he removed the bug carcass...right? Snoopy goes crazy worrying, but we know Charlie Brown won't leave him in limbo. I love this particular day’s good heart. April 29 (page two hundred nine), Snoopy leaves for the World's Wrist Wrestling Championship in Petaluma, and Charlie Brown's reflection on his departure feels so true. "(Goodbyes) always make my throat hurt...I need more hellos." I hear that, Charlie Brown. July 23 (page two hundred forty-five), Charlie Brown gets knocked upside down on the pitcher's mound by a batted ball, and Lucy casually hangs his cap over his shoes that are pointed skyward. No one reacts to Charlie Brown being upside down as the game progresses, which often happens in life: something knocks us topsy turvy and others expect us to carry on as usual. A historic day for Peanuts arrives July 31 (page two hundred forty-eight) with the first appearance by eventual series regular Franklin, and August 11 (page two hundred fifty-three) gifts us a classic Lucy the psychiatrist Sunday strip. She presses Charlie Brown to encapsulate a philosophy he can guide his life by, and his off-the-cuff answer�"Life is like an ice cream cone...you have to learn to lick it!"—is now one of my favorite Peanuts quotes.
Ah, yes...August 15 (page two hundred fifty-five), Charlie Brown has a chance to pitch a stellar baseball game and earn the admiration of the Little Red-Haired Girl. His neuroses turn him into a mess of jitters, incapable of starting the game. How often do deep-seated insecurities betray us in nasty ways? August 24 (page two hundred fifty-eight) is our first actual glimpse of Lila, the girl who Snoopy has been carrying on about for most of this book. Their interaction here is the basis for Snoopy, Come Home. Linus eloquently describes his sentiments for his blanket on September 11 (page two hundred sixty-six), offering insight into why we treasure things beyond objective value. We're treated to one of the funniest strips in the collection December 11 (page three hundred five), Sally delightfully flubbing a line in the A Visit from St. Nicholas poem. December 31 (page three hundred fourteen) is a comment on how the years slip out of our grasp one at a time without any real improvement to how we live. What is it like to be "stupid old Charlie Brown"? Most of us know the answer all too well.
Following a stumble in the 1965-1966 volume, The Complete Peanuts bounces back in �67 and '68 with some of the slyest, funniest, wisest, most resonant material Charles Schulz ever created. The storyline about Linus and his little bird friends stands out for its nuanced exploration of the need to be assertive when you find the thing that gives your life meaning. Some of us Linuses win the confrontation and others lose, but we must take advantage of our one chance to get behind life's controls and play. The �67 and '68 Peanuts collection is on par with or better than any of the first eight volumes, children's literature that can be appreciated by anyone. It's hard to believe Schulz could do any better in 1969....more
Memorability is key to an author's debut novel, and The Taking of Jake Livingston has that for sure. Jake, a sixteen-year-old student at St. Clair PreMemorability is key to an author's debut novel, and The Taking of Jake Livingston has that for sure. Jake, a sixteen-year-old student at St. Clair Prep in Clark City, Georgia, has been different all his life. By age fourteen he realized he's interested in boys rather than girls, which ostracized him from peers. More important than that is Jake's ability to see ghosts caught in death loops in the place they died, repeating the same activity forever. Jake's older brother Benji has reacted with severe negativity when Jake claimed he sees dead people, so these days Jake keeps his gift a secret.
"I'd like to be happy and leave people alone. Why don't other people want the same thing?"
�The Taking of Jake Livingston , P. 111
Staying mum may not be an option when Sawyer Doon, a teen school shooter who took his own life after the slaughter he inflicted, shows up on Jake's radar. A couple of local teens who survived the school shooting are found murdered in their homes, but only Jake could dream that ghost Sawyer is the guilty party. He stalks Jake, framing him for acts of betrayal against his friends and family. Jake uses astral projection to investigate Sawyer and predict who he wants to murder next, but Sawyer is a cold-hearted monster. Even as Jake makes a pair of new friends at St. Clair Prep—something that never happens to him—Sawyer could snatch it away by killing them. To save himself and his friends, Jake has to win a life-or-death round of combat against the ghost.
"There are many things about life I've yet to understand, because some resist clear definitions."
�The Taking of Jake Livingston, P. 221
I like a lot about this book. Corey Brickley's original cover illustration is one of the best of its era for a YA novel. Author Ryan Douglass has a smooth, sensuous vocabulary, sets atmospheric scenes, and knows how to write a sweet ending chapter. Where this book runs off the rails is execution. Its action sequences are hard to follow, including the crucial climax. Jake is meant to be antisocial, but some of his reasons for anger are puzzling. He writes people off as racist or otherwise discriminatory whether or not they've clearly done anything to deserve it, and the book portrays this response as more justified than not. Regardless, The Taking of Jake Livingston shows wonderful potential; I rate it one and a half stars, and would read the author again....more
Basic concepts of exploring the world and making friends define the first few Spot the Dog books, and Spot's First Christmas expands into the arena ofBasic concepts of exploring the world and making friends define the first few Spot the Dog books, and Spot's First Christmas expands into the arena of holiday fun. It's hard for a young pup to focus as Father Christmas's arrival nears, but Spot and Sally have much to do before the big day.
A Christmas tree has to be selected, of course. Gifts need to be wrapped with care, and the tree decorated artfully. Carolers show up at the door to perform a song. Can Sally corral Spot into bed before he tracks down his present hidden in the tree's boughs? With Spot finally snuggled in bed, Father Christmas can enter the scene. Come morning, our favorite pup is ecstatic to find his stocking filled with gifts. Spot's first Christmas is one he'll cherish always.
The vocabulary is a notch more complex than previous books, but nothing extreme. The story premise is less original, but spending Christmas with an excitable youngster is a blessing. Counting down the hours with Spot will help prereaders bond with him closer than ever....more
Cover blurbs are something I rarely take note of, but Tim Federle's debut, Better Nate Than Ever, is an exception. If your book is praised by Alan MenCover blurbs are something I rarely take note of, but Tim Federle's debut, Better Nate Than Ever, is an exception. If your book is praised by Alan Menken—perhaps my all-time favorite composer of movie music—and James Howe—one of my favorite authors—you can count on my attention for what's inside the book. Thirteen-year-old Nate Foster is making a bold move to shake up his small-town existence in Jankburg, Pennsylvania. After hearing about auditions in New York City for E.T.: The Musical, Nate's best friend Libby helps him sneak away from home and board a bus to the Big Apple. Nate's parents are on an all-day outing for their wedding anniversary, so with luck he can make it home before they know he's gone. If Nate earns the role of Elliott in the musical, it could be his life's defining event.
Not only do Nate's parents look at him askance for his passionate interest in musical theater, they're overprotective. He's never traveled, so every aspect of his solo trip to New York throws him for a loop. Purchasing bus fare, keeping his Nokia flip phone adequately charged, and finding the audition site prove more difficult than anticipated. Nate hopes Libby can stall his parents if they discover he's missing, but he can't worry about that once he's at the casting call with a hundred kids more experienced than he. The showbiz types in charge of tryouts are ruthless professionals, so Nate has to stand out in a big way if he's to get a second glance.
Allies aren't impossible to find. Jordan Rylance, a theater kid friend of Libby's, is friendly enough. Nate's aunt Heidi lives in New York City and can be called upon for backup in an emergency, a plan Nate will have need of to circumvent the unexpected requirement for an adult guardian. Auditioning for a major musical is dog-eat-dog, as Heidi discovered when she left Jankburg years ago to fulfill her own acting ambitions, but Nate can navigate this road if he's afforded a small amount of understanding. He's not your typical boy, favoring song and dance over sports, but he may have found his people here on Broadway. Can Nate prove his name belongs in lights on the marquee?
I like Tim Federle's fun, sassy energy. He's got the juice to write a good middle-grade novel, the insight to craft a character like Nate, and the instinct to create a journey that's realistic without stopping the plot short of where it wants to go. I rate Better Nate Than Ever two and a half stars; it isn't profound enough for more, but succeeds as entertainment. The cliffhanger it ends on has me curious what Five, Six, Seven, Nate! will be about....more
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