This is the first book I've been able to finish since going on mat leave, and holy crap, it's set an INCREDIBLY high standard for the next book I pickThis is the first book I've been able to finish since going on mat leave, and holy crap, it's set an INCREDIBLY high standard for the next book I pick up!
This book is heart wrenching, raw, and visceral in its telling of a teenage girl who has been liberated from a concentration camp at the end of WWII. Zofia has lost most of her family, but she hopes, almost beyond hope, that her brother Abek is still alive somewhere. She begins the overwhelming task of trying to be reunited with him. Zofia proves herself to be an unreliable narrator throughout the novel. Her mixed-up memories of events - and her awareness that her mental facilities are not strong - drives much of its tension and plot.
This book is brutal. Midway through the novel Zofia finds herself in a displaced persons camp, where everyone has stories of death and cruelty, which are told in much detail. The atrocities of war are painstakingly unpacked and left on display. I felt uneasy, and at times sick to my stomach. This book is tiring to read, but not because it is poorly written. It is tiring to read because you feel Zofia's exhaustion over the near-impossible task of finding Abek. You feel the supporting characters' collective mourning and despair over what they have lost. The immediate postwar period is not often explored in YA literature, and certainly not in this way. There is no heroism in this novel. No soldiers happily reuniting with their sweethearts and settling into civilian life once again. This book is a dirge, a mourning song for the people who were freed from unthinkable conditions, and left to figure out how to live again.
I would not recommend this for anyone under 16. It would also make a great read for adults who enjoy YA....more
I LOVED Orphan Island, and was so excited to read Laurel Snyder's follow-up novel. There are a few things in common between the two:
- The emotional coI LOVED Orphan Island, and was so excited to read Laurel Snyder's follow-up novel. There are a few things in common between the two:
- The emotional core. Snyder is incredible at extracting a character's innermost being, and displaying it on the page. She has an uncanny ability to get all the complexities of adolescence: all the fears, anxieties, hopes, dreams, attitudes, etc. She nails it again here. - Magical realism, although far less apparent here than in Orphan Island.
Still, I didn't love it. It's not the book's fault. Orphan Island was so incredibly imaginative and inventive that I tried hard not to compare the two, because it's just not fair on My Jasper June. The plot is something I've read a dozen times: two friends meet and try to hide their tragic backstories from each other, but of course the truth comes out and they're forced to deal with their own demons while trying to help the other out at the same time. It's a good plot. It's just not a particularly unique one, and it left me wanting more. I also didn't love the ending, with everything basically tied up in a neat little bow. I was hoping for something more ambiguous, even though the characters would have suffered for it (does that make me a bad person?).
I would still recommend this book, and I think the girls' backstories could create a lot of conversation about issues that a lot of kids face....more
This was an incredible novel. A story full of magic, loneliness, friendship, and hope, seen through by a resilient, brave protagonist. Set firmly in VThis was an incredible novel. A story full of magic, loneliness, friendship, and hope, seen through by a resilient, brave protagonist. Set firmly in Victorian London, with references to Blake, Labour protests, and countless landmarks, this is a heart-wrenching portrait of a difficult time. Auxier has woven hope and magic into this story, and left me moved and inspired. This novel speaks on issues of child labour, poverty, and anti-Semitism, as well as having great literary and historical references. ~ Emilee ...more
So it turns out Dana Simpson was writing Phoebe & Her Unicorn long before she wrote Phoebe & Her Unicorn. Behold: Ozy & Millie, a comic strip collectiSo it turns out Dana Simpson was writing Phoebe & Her Unicorn long before she wrote Phoebe & Her Unicorn. Behold: Ozy & Millie, a comic strip collection so very similar in many ways to the Phoebe books we know and love. But I will agree with most of the reviews I've seen: this one falls a bit flat. I'm enjoying reading it, but I find myself setting it down often because I'm not enthralled. The main characters are adorable, but they feel like prototypes for... well... Phoebe and her unicorn. The humour is more highbrow and niche, and it seems like a series more catered to adults who like light, adorable reading material with some wit. I would recommend this to kids maybe age 9+ who enjoy Phoebe, but I'm not sure who else.
City of Ghosts is a decent novel. The protagonist nearly drowned earlier in her life, and can now cross the Veil: the curtain between lands of living City of Ghosts is a decent novel. The protagonist nearly drowned earlier in her life, and can now cross the Veil: the curtain between lands of living and dead. Her best friend is the ghost who saved her life by pulling her out of the river. She goes to Edinburgh with her parents, and realizes it has waaaaay more ghosts than her American hometown. Which means way more malevolence and danger.
To be honest, it didn't wow me. I think the foundation for my ambivalence comes from the fact that everything ghost-related now inevitably gets compared to Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. While the book was alright, it's hard to live up to Stroud's near-perfect take on the ghost-hunting genre.
City of Ghosts feels underdeveloped, with not quite enough charm, heart, or suspense to push it over the edge of brilliance. There were some narrative things that bothered me. One being that Jacob (the ghost friend) can read the protagonist's mind - which is fine in itself - but butts in and gives his opinion when she is narrating. Like for example:
But we both know Jacob's not a normal ghost, just like I'm not a normal girl. Not anymore. There was an accident. A bike. A frozen river. Long story short, he saved my life. "Yeah, I'm practically a superhero," Jacob says.
Either the protagonist literally narrates every moment of her life in her head, which Jacob can hear, or... well, or it just doesn't work. Things like that kept pulling me out of the story. Also, she shoehorns in explanations on British words that don't need to be explained, like a drawn-out conversation on how the "chips" in "fish and chips" are actually fries. Give readers some credit that they'll be able to figure that out on their own!
I fully realize these are petty issues, and they didn't affect my rating. I just like to grumble.
Great narrative voice, and it balanced teen romance and gritty contemporary issues really well. I read it over 2-3 sessions aThis book was phenomenal.
Great narrative voice, and it balanced teen romance and gritty contemporary issues really well. I read it over 2-3 sessions and I looked forward to going back to it after every chunk. I like the family dynamics: not often do you have caring and involved parents who don't give a toss about their daughter's grades. The brother was great as well. The story felt very true to me, which of course I'm sure it is, given the author's note explaining why she decided to delve into realistic fiction. I'm looking forward to recommending this when it comes into the store!
- Kelsey
I didn't end up liking it as much - it felt a bit bare bones, like the story and some of the relationships were told much more briefly than they merited (I'm thinking especially of the break dancing team and subplot, and the period of harassment towards the end). The main character's voice was great, though, and it felt very effective as a personal snapshot of a particular time and place. -Angela...more
Two powerhouse contemporary YA authors have come together in this wonderfully adorable (and at times awBecky Albertalli + Adam Silvera = lovelovelove!
Two powerhouse contemporary YA authors have come together in this wonderfully adorable (and at times awkward) novel about two boys who meet in New York City one summer. Despite their overwhelming attraction for each other, they just can't seem to get everything right. Arthur wants his life to be a Broadway play and is pretty sure that the universe always makes great things happen. Ben is cautious after breaking up with his ex-friend Hudson and isn't too sure about the universe at the moment. But they're lovely together and this book was a joy to read.
I think some of the common criticisms I've seen in other reviews are pretty valid. One being the almost insta-love factor between the two, and how quickly things move within the month in which the story takes place. It's a weird criticism to agree with, considering I totally believed the (literally) overnight romance of Adam Silvera's They Both Die At the End.
I think in the end a lot of people will have way too high expectations for this novel, because, let's face it, Becky and Adam are AMAZING. And this book doesn't quite hit those expectations. It's wonderful, adorable, real, and all these great things. But I don't think it's even possible to live up to the hype.
Upon finishing it I wasn't sure what to rate it, to be honest. It's gentle and wholesome and diverse. On the other haAwwww. This book is really sweet!
Upon finishing it I wasn't sure what to rate it, to be honest. It's gentle and wholesome and diverse. On the other hand, it lacks action and the laugh-out-loud factor that many competing graphic novels have. It's really just a day in the life of an average grade four classroom.
I initially wondered who might be the right audience for such a calm, slow-paced graphic novel. And then I immediately kicked myself for thinking that every book has to have lots of action or goofiness to be popular. This graphic novel would be great for primary students reading at or above their grade level, and anyone in general who enjoys school. It's not flashy, but it'll put a smile on your face.
Not bad! A middle-of-the-road primary series about a boy who suspects his next door neighbour is an alien and tries to prove it throughout the book. INot bad! A middle-of-the-road primary series about a boy who suspects his next door neighbour is an alien and tries to prove it throughout the book. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but it's a good recommendation for early readers.
Okay, so I've seen a few reviews dinging this book on its language and general narration. Here's my take on it:
The narrator is a fifteen-year-old homeOkay, so I've seen a few reviews dinging this book on its language and general narration. Here's my take on it:
The narrator is a fifteen-year-old homeless girl living in a tent outside of Seattle with her (possibly alcoholic?) father. She's been homeless since she was ten years old, with no formal education since then. Her mother is gone, and she's the only child in a scattered community of people who call themselves the Winterfolk. She believes she can communicate with rats and squirrels, and she sees a lady in the camp that no one else sees. There are obviously some mental health issues going on.
... And people are expecting a clear-cut, cohesive narrative voice??
Rain is a fascinating narrator because she has no idea what's going on for 85% of the novel. She ventures into Seattle with stars in her eyes and no clue how the world works, and when it comes crashing down around her, how is she supposed to cope? She's been told her whole life to stay hidden, don't be noticed, and never ever wish on a star because it burdens the star and is a selfish thing to do. Hoooooly. Of course this kid speaks in metaphor and is an unreliable narrator. I honestly think that if Rain had a well-adjusted, perky, strong-female-protagonist voice that we see so often in YA books, it would be doing a disservice to the effects that her kind of life would have on her.
So there's my defence of Winterfolk.
I really liked it, and though I did find myself slogging through a few parts because of Rain's confusion, I think this is a really important story to be told and I'd recommend anyone thinking of trying this one to be patient with Rain as a narrator, as it's worth what you'll gain in the end....more
It's whimsical, innocent, funny, and wisecracking. There are elements of Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes, Phoebe & Her Unicorn, and BigThis book is ADORABLE.
It's whimsical, innocent, funny, and wisecracking. There are elements of Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes, Phoebe & Her Unicorn, and Big Nate. It's a comic strip, not a graphic novel, but I didn't enjoy it any less because of it. I'm definitely going to recommend this!
I really enjoyed this one! It would make a good recommendation for a reluctant reader. There's lots of humour, action, sarcasm, and cats in a robotic I really enjoyed this one! It would make a good recommendation for a reluctant reader. There's lots of humour, action, sarcasm, and cats in a robotic dog costume. It gets a bit darker when touching upon some animal testing in a sinister lab, but since that's the backstory and not the main plot it doesn't drive too much of the book.
Ian Boothby is Vancouver-based which is pretty cool. He's the head writer for Simpsons & Futurama comics, which you can tell from the humour in Sparks! But it's definitely appropriate for an intermediate (8-12) audience. Great read overall!
This book is wonderful! It's definitely for teens, as the content doesn't gloss over things like rape, spousal abuse, etc. It features a great range oThis book is wonderful! It's definitely for teens, as the content doesn't gloss over things like rape, spousal abuse, etc. It features a great range of women, most of whom the average teen reader probably wouldn't have heard of before, or at least not in much detail. There's lots of humour, and each story is only about 8-10 pages so it's one that you can stop and start, or flip around, without consequence. The fun little details and sarcastic comments by the women definitely make them come alive. I'm loving this one!
I admit I skimmed it the first time through, and it was a disservice to this very clever and detail-packed book. IThis one is entirely in the details.
I admit I skimmed it the first time through, and it was a disservice to this very clever and detail-packed book. In order to really enjoy this book, you have to slow down and look for all the cameos and hidden bits within each scene.
Tons of comic references are in here, including Calvin & Hobbes, Peanuts, Tintin, Mad Magazine, and plenty more. There are also a few famous people drawn in, like Woody Allen, Vincent Van Gogh, and a very orange Donald Trump, who's looking grumpy and ridiculous on the subway. I liked the detail of Grace having two dads as well.
This is definitely a take-your-time read, because the true gift of this picture book/graphic novel hybrid is hunting down all the little nudges and winks....more
Seriously, this book killed me with its sweetness. Petra is a mighty mountain! Or, at least, she thinks she is untilPetra is too good for our world <3
Seriously, this book killed me with its sweetness. Petra is a mighty mountain! Or, at least, she thinks she is until a dog picks her up one day. Could she really be just a rock? Throughout her journey getting carried or thrown from one place to another, Petra's unshakeable positivity and go-with-the-flow attitude are contagious, and this is one of the happiest and wholesome books I've ever read. Petra is also quite funny, and I think adults will really like reading it aloud. I'm totally sold on this book. It's amazing. 'Nuff said....more
A simple little story about a bossy girl and her attempts to gain popularity amongst her classmates. After suggesting a street fair to raise mNot bad!
A simple little story about a bossy girl and her attempts to gain popularity amongst her classmates. After suggesting a street fair to raise money for a school garden, she ropes in the new boy, Billy, to be her business partner. But all of her "brilliant ideas" go awry, and she has to figure out how to avoid crashing and burning and losing any chance of making a friend.
I liked the tie-in to healthy food and making cooking fun and accessible for kids. It's a pretty strong thread throughout the book, and there are two kid-friendly recipes at the end. Pretty solid overall!...more
Princess Serene (AKA Princess Pulverizer) wants to be a knight, but is stuck doing curtsies and learning how to sew. However, the princess is spoiled Princess Serene (AKA Princess Pulverizer) wants to be a knight, but is stuck doing curtsies and learning how to sew. However, the princess is spoiled and entitled, and doesn't want to do any real work. Her father tells her she can go on a quest to perform eight good deeds, which she doesn't intend on doing (she just wants to wander around for a while) until he asks for proof of each good deed. Then, begrudgingly, she heads out to find people to help. Things go awry when she's captured by an ogre, and her two "rescuers" (a timid knight-in-training and a gassy dragon) get captured with her.
There's definitely a market for this book, although I did have an issue with it. The lessons are unsubtle and heavy-handed (case in point: "Princess Pulverizer was amazed. All Lucas had to do to get what he wanted was ask politely. Wow. Who would have thought that would work?") and it's a bit preachy for my liking. But there are probably a lot of kids out there who might benefit from seeing Princess Pulverizer go from an entitled selfish brat to a conscientious team player.
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