Alba Arango's Blog, page 5
April 9, 2019
My review of Smile by Reina Telgemeier
This book is a little different than most books I review because it is a graphic memoir. The author recants her struggles through middle school while following her experiences with braces. Raina is just a normal sixth grader until an accidental fall severely injures her two front teeth and, for the next few years, she is forced to endure everything from braces to a retainer with two fake front teeth…while also dealing with all the other normal issues of middle school!
What I liked: the author does an amazing job of showing the trials and tribulations of trudging through middle school: awkwardness, self-consciousness, friends (who turn out to be toxic), family relationships, and secret crushes. The illustrations are fun and engaging, and the woven storyline of her orthodontia experience is humorous and relatable.
What I didn’t like: a few parts of the story seemed a little slow, but as it is a memoir, that’s quite excusable.
I would highly recommend this for any kid about to get braces, or even for any kid about to enter middle school.
5 out of 5 stars
What I liked: the author does an amazing job of showing the trials and tribulations of trudging through middle school: awkwardness, self-consciousness, friends (who turn out to be toxic), family relationships, and secret crushes. The illustrations are fun and engaging, and the woven storyline of her orthodontia experience is humorous and relatable.
What I didn’t like: a few parts of the story seemed a little slow, but as it is a memoir, that’s quite excusable.
I would highly recommend this for any kid about to get braces, or even for any kid about to enter middle school.
5 out of 5 stars
April 4, 2019
Review: Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania Del Rio
12-year-old Warren is the 13th Warren to own the magnificent Warren Hotel. Unfortunately, the hotel has fallen into shambles since lazy Uncle Rupert and his new (evil) wife, Aunt Anaconda, had stepped in to run the hotel after Warren’s dad died seven years ago. When Anaconda’s two creepy sisters suddenly show up, Warren realizes the three of them will stop at nothing to find the hotel’s hidden treasure, the All-Seeing Eye. Determined to find the treasure before his aunt, Warren befriends a strange girl named Petula, and begins following the clues only to discover that the hotel, and his new friend, have more secrets and mysteries than he could ever have imagined.
What I liked: just about everything! The illustrations are bizarre and intriguing; the characters are unique and enjoyable; and the plot is interesting and holds your attention.
What I did not like: not much. The beginning is a bit slow, but the story picks up quickly and becomes interesting.
Definitely worth a read.
5 out of 5 stars.
What I liked: just about everything! The illustrations are bizarre and intriguing; the characters are unique and enjoyable; and the plot is interesting and holds your attention.
What I did not like: not much. The beginning is a bit slow, but the story picks up quickly and becomes interesting.
Definitely worth a read.
5 out of 5 stars.
April 2, 2019
World Autism Awareness Day
For World Autism Awareness Day, I would highly recommend The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd to anyone who knows a kid with autism that likes to read (or even ones who don't). The main character is an autistic boy who solves a mystery that even the police cannot. So cool.
My review of the book is here on Goodreads if you'd like to know a little more.
Happy Tuesday!
My review of the book is here on Goodreads if you'd like to know a little more.
Happy Tuesday!
March 12, 2019
Free Word Searches, etc.
Looking for something to keep your kids (or yourself) busy? My first recommendation would be to find a cool book to read. There are so many amazing new books available at your local bookstores, and even more available on Kindle.
And, if you already have a cool book but want something different to occupy your mind, then hop on over to my website (AlbaArango.com) where I've got a whole bunch of free activities to print out. I've got word searches, mazes, crossword puzzles, and even some (kinda hard) word scrambles. They're all free and perfect to keep your kids (or yourself) busy. (They're also great for teachers, so pass them along!).
Enjoy!
And, if you already have a cool book but want something different to occupy your mind, then hop on over to my website (AlbaArango.com) where I've got a whole bunch of free activities to print out. I've got word searches, mazes, crossword puzzles, and even some (kinda hard) word scrambles. They're all free and perfect to keep your kids (or yourself) busy. (They're also great for teachers, so pass them along!).
Enjoy!
March 6, 2019
Olga: Cute and Silly! (review)
Olga is a girl who loves, I mean LOVES animals. People, not so much. When she discovers a weird creature that no one has ever seen before, she becomes absolutely fascinated by it. Naming the creature “meh,” Olga decides to use scientific observation to learn and deduce everything she can about it. As she sets out on the road to discovery, she meets a number of interesting people, some that she actually likes.
What I liked: amazing illustrations! The pictures are cute and silly and add so much character to the story. Olga also grows as a person as the story progresses. Even her relationship with the neighbors she didn’t like evolves throughout the book. I also like that it shows the scientific method.
What I didn’t like: the story may be cute and silly, but it did feel a bit long. I know the illustrations take up a lot of room, but I felt the story could’ve been a little tighter.
All-in-all, a cute read.
4 out of 5 stars
What I liked: amazing illustrations! The pictures are cute and silly and add so much character to the story. Olga also grows as a person as the story progresses. Even her relationship with the neighbors she didn’t like evolves throughout the book. I also like that it shows the scientific method.
What I didn’t like: the story may be cute and silly, but it did feel a bit long. I know the illustrations take up a lot of room, but I felt the story could’ve been a little tighter.
All-in-all, a cute read.
4 out of 5 stars
February 4, 2019
Black Butler
Review of Black Butler, vol. 1.
I have a confession. I watched the anime first, and then decided to read the manga (so I was a little biased going in). Black Butler is about a 12-year-old boy (later 13) named Ciel Phantomhive whose parents are murdered and he decides to make a contract with a demon to avenge his parents’ death. The contract stipulates that the demon (Sebastian) will perform any command given to him by his master (Ciel) while working as the boy’s butler, and in return, once Ciel’s parents have been avenged, Sebastian gets to devour Ciel’s soul. Complicating things is the fact that Ciel is also an Earl, and as such, inherited his father’s obligation of being Queen Victoria’s Guard Dog―the one the queen calls on to solve more… delicate problems (like Jack the Ripper).
What I liked: the two main characters are amazing. Ciel is such a complex character, and Sebastian makes you want your own demon butler. The well-structured storylines are intricate and full of small details, essential to a good manga.
What I did not like: not much. Although, it does end on a cliffhanger, which I am not a super fan of, but I know it’s typical in series manga.
Warning: this is not for a young middle grade audience. I would put it in the young adult category (maybe older middle grade).
5 out of 5 stars
I have a confession. I watched the anime first, and then decided to read the manga (so I was a little biased going in). Black Butler is about a 12-year-old boy (later 13) named Ciel Phantomhive whose parents are murdered and he decides to make a contract with a demon to avenge his parents’ death. The contract stipulates that the demon (Sebastian) will perform any command given to him by his master (Ciel) while working as the boy’s butler, and in return, once Ciel’s parents have been avenged, Sebastian gets to devour Ciel’s soul. Complicating things is the fact that Ciel is also an Earl, and as such, inherited his father’s obligation of being Queen Victoria’s Guard Dog―the one the queen calls on to solve more… delicate problems (like Jack the Ripper).
What I liked: the two main characters are amazing. Ciel is such a complex character, and Sebastian makes you want your own demon butler. The well-structured storylines are intricate and full of small details, essential to a good manga.
What I did not like: not much. Although, it does end on a cliffhanger, which I am not a super fan of, but I know it’s typical in series manga.
Warning: this is not for a young middle grade audience. I would put it in the young adult category (maybe older middle grade).
5 out of 5 stars
January 26, 2019
NEW BOOK ALERT!!
Finally! The 6th book in the Decoders series, The Miner's Gold, is available for pre-sale. Release date is February 1st. Check it out here...
https://amzn.to/2RRr9ZR
https://amzn.to/2RRr9ZR
January 3, 2019
Great characters, interesting plot! Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind descended from a family of wealthy criminal masterminds. After the family fortune is lost, his father mysteriously disappears, believed dead, and his mother goes mad from grief. Artemis decides to get the family fortune back in the most unusual way―by kidnapping a fairy and holding her for ransom. But as it turns out, Artemis may have underestimated the power of the fairies, and the lengths they would go to hold on to their gold. He also may not have anticipated the cunningness, and intrigue, of his captive fairy.
What I liked: great story! So unusual and compelling. The characters are so well written and diverse, everything from goblins to centaurs, and they each have their own unique personalities and attributes. The plot is outlandish, but so interesting and different.
What I didn’t like: the main character comes off a bit stoic, especially at first. True, he is an anti-hero, but he was almost too unrelatable at first. Still, his character improves as the book progresses, and by the end, the reader wants to know what happens to him (and the other characters) in the next book.
5 out of 5 stars
What I liked: great story! So unusual and compelling. The characters are so well written and diverse, everything from goblins to centaurs, and they each have their own unique personalities and attributes. The plot is outlandish, but so interesting and different.
What I didn’t like: the main character comes off a bit stoic, especially at first. True, he is an anti-hero, but he was almost too unrelatable at first. Still, his character improves as the book progresses, and by the end, the reader wants to know what happens to him (and the other characters) in the next book.
5 out of 5 stars
December 5, 2018
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
After accepting a free ride ticket from a mysterious man, Ted and his sister Kat give the ticket to their cousin Salim to ride the London Eye. The brother and sister watch carefully as their cousin boards the Ferris wheel, they watch his pod go around, then they watch his pod open and everyone disembark. Everyone except Salim. He has literally disappeared. When the police find no evidence of the boy, it’s up to Ted, whose brain works slightly differently than most, and his older sister to follow the clues and find their cousin before it’s too late.
What I liked: LOVE the characters. The main character Ted has autism, and it’s this unique trait that helps him spot the clues that the police miss. Since the story is told in first person, from Ted’s point of view, the author really gives the reader a great insight into the mind of an autistic child. And, along those lines, Ted’s sister Kat is a great representation of what having a sibling with autism is like.
What I didn’t like: not much. There were a couple scenes that I thought were a bit long, but the story is quite enthralling, so I’ll let that slide.
Overall, a great read and a fun mystery!
5 out of 5 stars
What I liked: LOVE the characters. The main character Ted has autism, and it’s this unique trait that helps him spot the clues that the police miss. Since the story is told in first person, from Ted’s point of view, the author really gives the reader a great insight into the mind of an autistic child. And, along those lines, Ted’s sister Kat is a great representation of what having a sibling with autism is like.
What I didn’t like: not much. There were a couple scenes that I thought were a bit long, but the story is quite enthralling, so I’ll let that slide.
Overall, a great read and a fun mystery!
5 out of 5 stars
November 12, 2018
Cute. My review of The Penderwicks, Book 1, by Jeanne Birdsall
The Penderwicks is a light read for girls ages 8-10 (boys would probably be bored with it). It revolves around the four Penderwick sisters and their adventures at a rented summer home named Arundel. Heavily character driven, the book is charming and has an old-fashioned feel to it. You get to know the personalities of each of the girls and appreciate the relationship they have with each other.
What I liked: The book is well-written, innocent, and enchanting. For young girls, especially those with sisters, I could see this being a fun read.
What I didn’t like: the lack of actual escapades. The kids experience adventures that are realistic and that could indeed happen at a summer cottage on vacation, but (and this is a total personal preference) I wanted to see more adventures, ones that are bigger than life. So, even though it is charming, parts of it seemed to drag on and I found myself flipping pages to see if something more exciting was coming up.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I liked: The book is well-written, innocent, and enchanting. For young girls, especially those with sisters, I could see this being a fun read.
What I didn’t like: the lack of actual escapades. The kids experience adventures that are realistic and that could indeed happen at a summer cottage on vacation, but (and this is a total personal preference) I wanted to see more adventures, ones that are bigger than life. So, even though it is charming, parts of it seemed to drag on and I found myself flipping pages to see if something more exciting was coming up.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
