I usually like Carol Shields but this one was only ok. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I will be discussing it with my book club meI usually like Carol Shields but this one was only ok. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I will be discussing it with my book club members tonight so I may have a different opinion, but it the story didn't come together as well as it could have. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the changes in style. I will think on it!...more
Initiation is the first book in a new series (Sky Raiders Academy) by middle grade author Kirstin Pulioff. Crossing the science fiction and magical reInitiation is the first book in a new series (Sky Raiders Academy) by middle grade author Kirstin Pulioff. Crossing the science fiction and magical realism genres, Initiation takes us on a journey through the eyes of 11 year-old Tommy, a boy who has just lost his father and moves with his mother to small town America to stay on his uncle Joe’s llama farm. Much to Tommy’s dismay, he has a hard time fitting in with his new classmates and immediately draws the attention of the school’s bully, Devan. When Tommy feels that things couldn’t possibly get worse, a mysterious man with ties to his dead father, Mr. Bellarium, offers him a unique opportunity to attend Sky Raider Academy � a school where children learn how to manage the weather. But more importantly, this is an opportunity for Tommy to discover what really happened to his father.
Struggling with adjusting to his new life, Sky Raider Academy offers a glimmer of hope to Tommy as he makes two new friends (Will and Rachel) and walks in his Dad’s footsteps learning how to study weather patterns, control lightning, and paint sunrises and sunsets. It doesn’t take long for Tommy to realize that Devan is not the only danger he faces. A far more dangerous foe � an unknown saboteur � is interfering with weather dispersal causing devastating storms and floods across the globe. Could this be the same person who killed his father? Tommy must find the courage within himself to pursue the saboteur and uncover their evil plan.
Initiation is a fun-filled adventure transporting the reader into a fantasy realm, the Sky Raider Academy. The input of the author’s students is evident in the capture of the protagonist’s emotions and thoughts; in the descriptions of the schools and classmates; and, in the creative elements of the Academy’s setting and curriculum. I was immediately drawn in and sympathetic to Tommy’s character as we discover that his father has died, he moves to a new school, and then struggles to fit into his new situation. I found myself totally invested in what happens to Tommy. The long list of secondary characters such as his Mom, uncle Joe, Mustang Mountain Elementary school and Sky Raider Academy staff, classmates, and friends all play key roles in the story although I found myself wanting to know more about some of the characters (e.g., uncle Joe, Will, and Rachel). Hopefully more light will be shed on some of these characters in future books.
The plot itself will keep young readers hooked. The opening chapter is a bit dark (we immediately learn of Tommy’s death) but I think that many middle grade children will identify with Tommy’s character as he navigates significant changes in his life and is the victim of bullying. There are many themes touched upon in the story including the impact of bullying; the importance of family and friends; and finding the courage to solve problems despite being faced with obstacles. The only comment I would like to make regarding the plot is that it made me a bit uncomfortable that Tommy (with Leo’s help) decided to seek revenge on Devan (the bully) instead of identifying and using resources to deal with the bullying in a different way. While the action Tommy took was relatively mild, I still feel that this wasn’t the right direction. In real life, seeking revenge (or retaliation) would likely result in an escalation in bullying. This was a tiny part of the story, so I don’t want to blow this point out of proportion. The bullying and its effects were captured effectively.
Overall, Initiation was a fun read featuring an exciting adventure, a sympathetic main character, and just the right amount of intrigue. I’m excited for this new series by one of my favorite middle grade Indie authors, Kirstin Pulioff and I can’t wait to see how the story continues in Book 2. I recommend this book to children ages 8 to 12.
* This book was provided to me by BeachBoundBooks free-of-charge in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. *...more
This book has lots of tips about how to survive in Minecraft. It also tells you things you need to do things in the game,This is my son's (9) review:
This book has lots of tips about how to survive in Minecraft. It also tells you things you need to do things in the game, like going to places that are dangerous. The cover is pretty plain. The pictures in the book are ok, but they are not in color so you can’t tell what blocks to use in the crafting recipes. That’s a bit of a problem.
I really like the whole book because it had lots of good information. The only problem is that it seems like they expect you to have a lot of every material. I think the book is for more advanced players.
I learned a few new things though: 1.how to craft a lot of things; 2.how to build a well-defended base; and 3.how to kill strong mobs.
Overall, I thought it was a really good book. I think just about everybody who plays Minecraft would like this book, but especially those who have been playing for a while.
* This book was provided to us by the publisher free-of-charge in exchange for our honest reviews. All opinions expressed are our own. *...more
In this whimsical children’s fantasy, the sequel to the highly acclaimed A Tangle of Knots, readers are transported back to Lisa Graff’s magic-filled In this whimsical children’s fantasy, the sequel to the highly acclaimed A Tangle of Knots, readers are transported back to Lisa Graff’s magic-filled world where children have special “Talents�: Lily is a “Pinnacle� who has the ability to move things with her mind; Renny has a reputation for being a “Recollector� (i.e., the ability to transplant memories from one mind to another); and, Chuck, much to her own surprise, is about to uncover her own secret Talent.
As the most remarkable children in the world gather at Camp Atropos for summer camp, little do they know that the camp’s director, Jo, has brought them together with her own purposes in mind. When a jar containing a mysterious talent is dropped in Lake Atropos, it sets off a series of events that will change the children’s and the camp director’s perspectives of their Talents forever.
A Clatter of Jars is a delightful fantastical tale weaving together the themes of family, forgiveness, jealousy, and self-acceptance. The story is told through the eyes of four characters (3 children and 1 adult), each of which is struggling with their own issues concerning their family. Children will likely be able to identify with the thoughts and emotions experienced by at least one of the characters, although the change in perspectives may be difficult for some children to follow. I also thought the inclusion of recipes for some yummy summertime drinks was an added bonus!
Also of note, I would recommend reading A Tangle of Knots prior to picking up A Clatter of Jars as I think it would have helped orient me to the story. The Prologue in particular was confusing for me and felt disconnected from the rest of the story. I also felt like it took a bit of time to get into the story, but once it got rolling, it was very enjoyable.
My Bottom Line: I recommend A Clatter of Jars to fans of magical realism looking for a fun adventure and a story with themes which are significant and meaningful to the target audience, 8 to 12 year old children.
* This book was provided to us by the publisher free-of-charge in exchange for our honest reviews. All opinions expressed are our own....more
Psst� do you want to know a secret? Did you know dragons are just like you and me? That is, they love poetry, and dancing, and even love to tell riddlPsst� do you want to know a secret? Did you know dragons are just like you and me? That is, they love poetry, and dancing, and even love to tell riddles and laugh. For far too long now, dragons have had a bad rap for wreaking havoc across the land destroying villages, devouring humans, and stealing treasure. Valarie Budayr and Michael Welply set the record straight and bring to life the fun-loving, whimsical side of the majestic dragons, in the delightful picture book, "Dragons are Real".
In "Dragons are Real", the narrator addresses the reader directly challenging young children to open their imagination to the possibility that dragons, typically depicted as terrible beasts, can be friendly and playful. The illustrations are colorful and kid-friendly � sure to easily keep children’s attention. The notion of a dragon having characteristics not fitting the common stereotype, opens up the possibility of a child thinking outside the box and has the potential of eliciting broader conversations about stereotypes. Thus, "Dragons are Real" would make an excellent read-aloud book in a preschool setting, early elementary classroom, or library reading circle. I recommend this book to children ages 3 to 6....more
I am Amelia Earhart is one of the books in the Ordinary People Change the World series for children by New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer I am Amelia Earhart is one of the books in the Ordinary People Change the World series for children by New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos. In this adorable picture book, the reader is introduced to the incomparable Amelia Earhart, best known for being the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. But that wasn't the only record she set - in fact, she set many more including crossing the Atlantic in the shortest time and breaking the record for highest flying woman at 14,000 feet.
Much of the book tells the story of a young Amelia Earhart who always pushed the boundaries with regards to what was expected of girls and women at the time. She and her family famously built a wooden roller coaster in their back yard, giving rise to Amelia's love of speed and flying. Her early life as an aviatrix is described including an introduction to her FEMALE flight instructor, Neta Snook. The message underlying the book is to never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. With hard work, you can achieve your dreams.
As with other Ordinary People Change the World books, I am Amelia Earhart is wonderfully illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. I very much enjoyed the cartoon-style illustrations and the use of speech bubbles to give it the flavor of a graphic novel. That being said, I was disappointed to see Amelia Earhart depicted wearing a skirt when she so famously was among the first women of that era to don trousers. It was all part of her persona of breaking the rules around gender roles and expectations. She really should have been illustrated with a bomber-style jacket and trousers - it was her signature look.
Overall, I found the information presented in I am Amelia Earhart to lack depth compared to I am Martin Luther King, Jr. I think there is so much more to Amelia Earhart that could have been presented. For parent's information, her "disappearance" is not mentioned at all in the book. That being said, I still recommend this book and the Ordinary People Change the World book series for children ages 4 to 10.
* This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. *...more
I am Martin Luther King, Jr. is the latest offering in the Ordinary People Change the World book series for children by New York Times bestselling autI am Martin Luther King, Jr. is the latest offering in the Ordinary People Change the World book series for children by New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos. Each book in the Ordinary People Change the World series features one notable American (with the exception of Albert Einstein who was born in Germany but lived in the United States until his death). The individuals featured in the series are all "famous" and the reason for the notoriety varies. Included in the series are activists (I am Rosa Parks, I am Martin Luther King, Jr., I am Helen Keller), an athlete (e.g., I am Jackie Robinson), an actress (I am Lucille Ball), a scientist (I am Albert Einstein), an American President (I am Abraham Lincoln), and that famous female pilot, I am Amelia Earhart. Each of these individuals has the potential to be a great role model for children, although arguably, from my perspective, they are not all in the same class.
I am Martin Luther King, Jr. introduces the reader to a young (mustachioed) Martin who, we learn, was a great lover of books. We see the world through Martin's eyes at a time in American history when white children were told by their parents to not play with the "black children"; where white children went to the "good school" with beautiful playgrounds and a large library, and the black children went to the small, decrepit school with no desks; where black people wouldn't be served in restaurants; where black people had to give up their seat on the bus to white people; and so on. This was a moving part of the book and very well done with respect to introducing racial discrimination to children.
As Martin grows up (amusingly, he is always depicted as a young boy with a mustache in a suit presumably so children can identify with him?), we learn about his peaceful methods of activism including protests, speeches, letters, publications, and more. There are even speech bubbles where lines from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s most famous speech are included:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream that one day ... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."
Overall, the quality and depth of the information presented and the tone of the book (which could have been very dark given the facts associated with Martin Luther King, Jr.) were appropriate for children (albeit a bit older, 5 to 10). The messages of justice, peace, and love we associate with Martin Luther King, Jr. are what is presented throughout the book. King's assassination (labelled "killed") is only mentioned in the timeline at the end of the book.
The illustrations in the book are superb and use a graphic novel-style presentation combining text, cartoon depictions of individuals, and speech bubbles. This seems to be a very kid-friendly format giving children lots to look at as they flip through the pages. The book is half the size of a regular picture book though and it may make it harder to use in a classroom setting or library reading circle where someone is reading the book aloud to a larger audience of children. It would be difficult to read the text in the speech bubbles, for example.
I highly recommend this book and the Ordinary People Change the World book series for children ages 5 to 10.
* This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. *...more
In this delightful romp, the early life of Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of the beloved The Tale of Peter Rabbit, comes to life through beautIn this delightful romp, the early life of Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of the beloved The Tale of Peter Rabbit, comes to life through beautiful watercolor illustrations and very Potter-esque prose in Beatrix Potter & the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig. We are introduced to Beatrix Potter and her menagerie of pets when she is a young girl whose writing and drawing skills are blossoming. When she asks her next-door neighbor to borrow a guinea pig for a model, Miss Paget is most flattered when she chooses the most regal of her pigs, “Queen Elizabeth�. With a promise to return Queen Elizabeth unharmed in the morning, Beatrix sets off to paint one of her most famous pieces of art. Disaster strikes when Beatrix gets distracted from her work and the young girl must break the news to her kindly neighbor. The tale comes to a close with a cheeky reminder to readers of what to do if you lend out a pet (you’ll have to read the book to read the author’s advice).
Beatrix Potter & the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig is written by Deborah Hopkinson who chose to write in a style similar to Beatrix Potter, known for developing ideas for stories from picture letters. The story itself contains some snippets of information about Beatrix Potter’s early life. While it is never explicitly mentioned, the author cleverly drops hints as to Ms. Potter’s privileged background. We learn that Beatrix Potter had an unusual menagerie of pets (including lizards, snakes, rabbits, hedgehogs, ducks, and birds) who often meet with tragic endings. You can imagine the fate of the guinea pig, I’m sure. At the back of the book, the reader is treated to the story behind a painting of a guinea pig by Beatrix Potter which sold for $85,000 in 2011.
The watercolor illustrations by Charlotte Voake are inspired by Beatrix Potter’s own style and are the highlight of the book. The combination of full-page scenes depicting life at 2 Bolton Gardens in London, as well as the smaller pictures of Ms. Potter’s many animals, and the re-creations of the picture letters illustrated by Potter herself really help to bring the story alive. Worthy of mention are the sturdy book cover and thick, tear-resistant pages making the book itself likely to withstand repeated page-turning.
I must admit that I have mixed feelings about the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the presentation of the book (i.e., the gorgeous illustrations) and the writing style of the book as well as the story itself, but after reading the P.S. (Author’s Note), I was disappointed. You see, the author changed Potter’s age from 26 to perhaps around 10 (I don’t believe her age is mentioned in the story). That really changed things for me. I can understand that the intent was to tell the (mostly true) story about this famous painting which sold for $85,000 but when I read that she actually wasn’t a little girl but a grown woman � well � I went “Oh.� I felt misled. If I was reading the book to a child, I would just read the story and not share that piece of information with them.
My Bottom Line: Overall, Beatrix Potter & the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig is a light-hearted, whimsy-filled story using Beatrix Potter’s classic story-telling prose and realist style of watercolor painting to capture the imagination of young readers. I recommend this book for children ages 5 to 10 and I think it would make a great read-aloud book for classroom teachers or school librarians.
* This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. *...more
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