**spoiler alert** A poem about a long flight and everyone on it.
The poem doesn't sugarcoat the flight. Nor does it try to magic flying seem magical, t**spoiler alert** A poem about a long flight and everyone on it.
The poem doesn't sugarcoat the flight. Nor does it try to magic flying seem magical, though it does offer the possibility that it can be. It also, though, shows difficult it can be. It can be uncomfortable, scary, irritating, boring. What makes a flight special, easy, comfortable, etc, is the people on board: flight attendants, crew, passengers. It's people being good and caring to others that makes a flight, or any other even, a good thing.
Illustrator Sara Palacios fills the plane with a diverse group of people. Even the main family appears to be a blended, multi-ethnic one.
Puzzle solving, especially in the form of cryptic clues as well as some basic logic, is a big part of this book. These are like those five minute mystPuzzle solving, especially in the form of cryptic clues as well as some basic logic, is a big part of this book. These are like those five minute mysteries that were popular when I was a child in the 1980s. Except here, it's roughly a puzzle a chapter, unless the twins are working together in which case there might be two or more. The inclusion of puzzles, gives this book a similar read to the Winterhouse trilogy by Ben Guterson.
**spoiler alert** Children's literature can absolutely be written as a mystery, even a cozy mystery. The Bowser and Birdie books by Spencer Quinn are **spoiler alert** Children's literature can absolutely be written as a mystery, even a cozy mystery. The Bowser and Birdie books by Spencer Quinn are absolutely cozies for children. But they are focused on the mystery, instead of trying to be a classic children's novel and a mystery at the same time.
Besides the obvious corruption inside the mouse society, once Caro is introduced, there's a clear mystery surrounding her mother's death as well as current baby trafficking happening in the orphanage. That gives this book three distinct plot threads, in a book that's only 220 pages and written for an upper elementary aged audience.
Individually any of these plot threads are interesting and engaging. Together, though, they are a mess. The book jumps from scene to scene and point of view to point of view that it's difficult (even as an adult) to focus on any particular scene.
The chapters themselves are like those in Restaurant to Another World (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Junpei Inuzuka and Katsumi Enami (Illustrations). Each cThe chapters themselves are like those in Restaurant to Another World (Light Novel) Vol. 1 by Junpei Inuzuka and Katsumi Enami (Illustrations). Each chapter is focused on a customer who is going through a rough day or a rough part of their lives. The cat barista serves a drink or a treat based on what will best ease their emotional distress and then he listens to them tell their tale.
**spoiler alert** The cosplay scenario therefor ends with a "humorous" wardrobe failure. Because of course, breasts exploding out of their containment**spoiler alert** The cosplay scenario therefor ends with a "humorous" wardrobe failure. Because of course, breasts exploding out of their containment is funny. Not. It's just cliche and dumb. It also objectifies a much younger character.
What saved this volume for me was the dinner where the two families meet. Nick's brother is an ass and breaks his phone. Nick, though, has grown a lotWhat saved this volume for me was the dinner where the two families meet. Nick's brother is an ass and breaks his phone. Nick, though, has grown a lot in the time Charlie was away and stands up to his brother. Thankfully his mother supports Nick.
The titular cat lives on C St which he thinks spells Cat. It's his home. He lives with a family of four but he's too interested in the fish and the biThe titular cat lives on C St which he thinks spells Cat. It's his home. He lives with a family of four but he's too interested in the fish and the bird who also live there.
**spoiler alert** Spy x Family, Volume 6 by Tatsuya Endo (2020) takes a break from some of the more intense plot threads of recent volumes. This one r**spoiler alert** Spy x Family, Volume 6 by Tatsuya Endo (2020) takes a break from some of the more intense plot threads of recent volumes. This one reprises some of the fun of Anya's dodgeball tournament in Volume Three (2020).
This time, though, the participants are adults: Loid Forger (Twilight) and Fiona Frost (Nightfall). Instead of it being dodgeball, the sport is tennis. But it's like no tennis game you or I have ever seen. Cheating is allowed. Mechanical aids are allowed. All of these things, though, are aimed at making sure the house wins.
**spoiler alert** The anime I genuinely enjoyed. It's like a gendered swapped Milo Murphy's Law but with a love interest. Shikimori and Izumi genuinel**spoiler alert** The anime I genuinely enjoyed. It's like a gendered swapped Milo Murphy's Law but with a love interest. Shikimori and Izumi genuinely love each other. They're cute together and their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other.
The manga, though, being so gagged focus takes much longer to establish the leads' as fully realized characters. I felt like I was reading more into each scene from having seen the anime. Had I just read the manga, I would probably be rating volume one two or three stars.
**spoiler alert** There's a fine line between making someone an interesting murder victim and making them an obvious one. The critic was on the obviou**spoiler alert** There's a fine line between making someone an interesting murder victim and making them an obvious one. The critic was on the obvious side. He also wasn't at all sympathetic, meaning his death had almost no emotional hit beyond creating problems for Willa.
Like the Avery Ames Cheese Shop mystery series, there's a lot of information about cheese, cheese making, and the pairing of foods. While I admit to enjoying learning about new cheeses, I think sometimes the added details served as a distraction.
With the deaths (and thus the mystery) being located at a historic lighthouse, and with a further mystery involving a long forgotten treasure hunt, thWith the deaths (and thus the mystery) being located at a historic lighthouse, and with a further mystery involving a long forgotten treasure hunt, this initial offering has a similar vibe as the Lighthouse Library mystery series by Eva Gates. There is also a discussion of ghosts and curses too, something the Outer Banks seems to engender.
This mystery follows a popular trend, a modern day mystery being tied to a cold case. This time, it's a murder and a missing woman. Tied up in both arThis mystery follows a popular trend, a modern day mystery being tied to a cold case. This time, it's a murder and a missing woman. Tied up in both are some historic trees and an old rail line, now being used as a tourist stop. The dead man had wanted to add a second rail route which would have required taking down the trees.
The narrator needs a remedial class in basic Spanish pronunciation given this book takes place in Oakland, California. Her repeated gaffs were distracThe narrator needs a remedial class in basic Spanish pronunciation given this book takes place in Oakland, California. Her repeated gaffs were distracting.
**spoiler alert** It's set up like a typical isekai, except that it's a chicken — the chicken — in the middle of a country road. At the horizon is tru**spoiler alert** It's set up like a typical isekai, except that it's a chicken — the chicken — in the middle of a country road. At the horizon is truck-kun in the form of a red and white eighteen wheeler.
Turn the page and the remaining plot with the chicken is set at night. The chicken is now a blue ghostly outline of its self. Floating on the other side, or if you prefer, el Otro Lado, are numerous different ghost animals who are there to welcome the chicken and break the sad news that they are a former fowl.
Mostly, this volume is about the nitty gritty of being a serious cosplayer. There are pages and pages about photography: different kinds of cameras anMostly, this volume is about the nitty gritty of being a serious cosplayer. There are pages and pages about photography: different kinds of cameras and lenses, different lighting techniques, different framing techniques, shutter speed, depth of field. If you're not a photography nerd, there's a bunch to skip here.
**spoiler alert** Most of this volume involves people from outside of the station who are trying to infiltrate it for information and sabotage. These **spoiler alert** Most of this volume involves people from outside of the station who are trying to infiltrate it for information and sabotage. These are residents on Hokkaido, protected by seawater and distance. But they'd like to push back on the station's neverending attempt at expansion.
My favorite story, though, is told from within the station. It involves a man with Caucasian ancestry who can read and speak English along with Japanese. He has in his office an English dictionary. To avoid spoilers, I will say that his office is destroyed — though how is a big part of the story.
The most fun, though, was following Mia, Jason, and sometimes Hank as they tried to track down the Chinese team. As this is 1999, finding a team isn'tThe most fun, though, was following Mia, Jason, and sometimes Hank as they tried to track down the Chinese team. As this is 1999, finding a team isn't as easy as tracking them on social media. Instead it means a lot of phone calls from Anaheim to hotels, motels, and restaurants in Pasadena. It means legwork and some out of the box thinking.
What makes Mia's success all the more extraordinary is the fact that her life is heavily inspired by the author's own childhood. The afterword always includes photos from her life. This time it's her story how she found the team and met them.
Leviathan by Jason Shiga (2022) is the first book in the Adventuregame Comics series. Although it feels like it should be the second since it uses theLeviathan by Jason Shiga (2022) is the first book in the Adventuregame Comics series. Although it feels like it should be the second since it uses the same graphical interface as Meanwhile (2011) to turn a comic book into a choose your own adventure.
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