The repetitive nature of the writing and the soft, colorful pictures make this book really appropriate for young readers. Nice mini-lesson, too, aboutThe repetitive nature of the writing and the soft, colorful pictures make this book really appropriate for young readers. Nice mini-lesson, too, about working out your differences....more
An emotional read with a feel-good message about forgiveness and redemption. Amelia Richards is a beautician in 1944 who finds herself pregnant out ofAn emotional read with a feel-good message about forgiveness and redemption. Amelia Richards is a beautician in 1944 who finds herself pregnant out of wedlock with her husband-to-be gunned down in the Philippines. Alone without the support of her own mother and step-father, Amelia turns to the only people she can think of to help her out of this situation: her fiance's parents. Not only concerned about the social stigma attached to being an unwed mother, but also concerned for the stigma her son will face throughout his life, Amelia is reticent to tell her baby's grandparents the truth and concocts a scheme to ensure her son gets the life he deserves.
The book paints a very honest picture of the poverty and shame in which unwed mothers found themselves. It also shows the importance of owning up to mistakes and offering grace and forgiveness. All of the characters are sympathetic, and nobody comes across as a villain (okay, except for the Japanese).
The reason I knocked down a point was just a general lack of verisimilitude especially towards the end, but it is a Christmas book. So I guess we can't fault the author too much for wanting to wrap up the story with a neat bow....more
Cute sequel to the Caldecott-honored book. It wasn't quite as funny as its predecessor, but it still gave me a few chuckles and can teach kids all aboCute sequel to the Caldecott-honored book. It wasn't quite as funny as its predecessor, but it still gave me a few chuckles and can teach kids all about the "elephant" of surprise found in most books (also known as the plot twist)....more
Cute sequel to the book Rosie's Walk. Written and illustrated in a very similar manner to its predecessor, Where, Oh Where, is Rosie's Chick? shows RoCute sequel to the book Rosie's Walk. Written and illustrated in a very similar manner to its predecessor, Where, Oh Where, is Rosie's Chick? shows Rosie once again narrowly escaping harm's way as she searches for her newly hatched chick. Perhaps the most surprising detail is the fox's story woven throughout the pages of illustrations. While it looks like the fox is up to her old tricks in chasing after Rosie and her new chick, you soon find out that the fox was actually searching for her own cub, who was hiding out in the hay. Colorful illustrations and minimal text makes this a great book for young readers....more
I'm not going to lie: books like this make the aspiring writer in me rather salty. If I had tried to get an agent to look at a slipshod book like thisI'm not going to lie: books like this make the aspiring writer in me rather salty. If I had tried to get an agent to look at a slipshod book like this, I would have been firmly rejected, but because Melody Carlson is an established author with a contract to crank out Christmas novellas each year, she gets a pass. The books spends little time developing characters. You have the cliched knight-in-shining flannel, the hackneyed mean girl/rival for said-knight's affections, and an obligatory cute animal. The lead character Wendy frankly got on my nerves with her constant refusal to tell her son the dire financial situation they're in. She had no money in the bank, yet she kept letting her son talk her into staying longer and keeping a stray dog, etc. I just wanted to yell at her, "Woman, get a backbone!" Obviously, she was worried about adding unnecessary pain to her kid's life, but he needed to know the truth. It was especially irritating at the end of the book when the son admits that he knew they were broke and was emotionally manipulating her the whole time.
The ending was possibly the most rushed of any of the Christmas books by Carlson that I've read. The story goes from Wendy and her son Jackson deciding they're going to leave the cozy town of Seaside to Caleb proposing she work for him and then just proposing marriage all in the span of a page. While I'm all for a happy ending, I didn't feel Caleb and Wendy's relationship had been developed properly enough to have them engaged by the end of the novella. Perhaps if Carlson had spent less time telling me in minute details how Wendy refurbished old linen bandannas into curtains and had shown me their relationship developing, I would've bought the ending better.
A harmless way to pass a few hours, but nothing too special. Check out some of Carlson's other contributions if you want a really good Christmas book....more
This book is an odd duck, pardon the pun. Some stories really hit their marks while others meander with sight gags going on for too long. Plus, there'This book is an odd duck, pardon the pun. Some stories really hit their marks while others meander with sight gags going on for too long. Plus, there's some 1940's sensibilities that are cringe-worthy when viewed with historic presentism, which I've seen several reviewers go on about. But perhaps the strangest part for me is the lack of sympathetic characters. I will admit, I am used to the representation of Huey, Dewey, Louie, and "Unca Donald" from DuckTales (Whoo Hoo!). In Carl Barks' comics Donald is a neglectful, if not abusive parent, the triplets are brats, and Daisy is a witch with a capital "B." These comics are definitely not the wholesome, "golly gee," tooth-rotting saccharin of the Mickey Mouse Club.
My favorite part of this book was definitely the comments at the end by other authors, which might show what sort of nerd I am. I also loved picking up on references that were used in the current DuckTales reboot. The creators are huge fans of Barks' Scrooge comics, and it shows in their work. ...more
The pacing and characterizations of this book seem...off. The first chapter is a whirlwind as the story starts in earnest without any introduction toThe pacing and characterizations of this book seem...off. The first chapter is a whirlwind as the story starts in earnest without any introduction to the characters or the setting. Then the book slows down to a snail's pace as the lead character spends more time worrying about healing a giant than worrying over her predicament of being turned into an ogre. By page 50 the plot starts to even out, but Evie remains a rather unremarkable heroine. I'm not really sure what her personality is other than she likes to heal people.
There's also the questionable metaphor of "tingling" over someone. Evie's mother told her that she knew she loved her father because he was her best friend and made her tingle. Evie, looking for someone to break the ogre enchantment, proceeds to tingle over every human, male and female, for the remainder of the book. So I guess the belabored moral to this middle-grade book is that you need lust and friendship to make a marriage work, and one or the other won't suffice? I mean I totally agree, but I'm not sure I want my ten-year-old walking away with that message...
Definitely one of Gail Carson Levine's weaker outings. I love Ella Enchanted and was happy to return to its universe, but if feels like this companion book was not a labor of love so much as a book Levine was forced to write by her publishers. The companion novel to Two Princesses of Bamarre was much better....more
Sweet book with beautiful pictures and a healthy message of what love is. Love isn't just "feeling good" and someone affirming your every action. It'sSweet book with beautiful pictures and a healthy message of what love is. Love isn't just "feeling good" and someone affirming your every action. It's self-sacrifice, compromise, letting go. ...more
The second book in the Thunder Girls is a fun look at the story of Loki and the dwarves' treasures. Of course, since this is a series aimed at girls aThe second book in the Thunder Girls is a fun look at the story of Loki and the dwarves' treasures. Of course, since this is a series aimed at girls about girls, Sif and Freya play an important role in getting those famous treasures, such as Odin's staff and Thor's hammer, as well.
This second outing is much more enjoyable than the first. As I mentioned in my other review, the first book was slow to take off. The authors add some depth to Sif's personality (which, admittedly in the legends is basically, "I'm the pretty wife of Thor!"). She's a seer, but she's dyslexic, so her rune reading abilities are a bit sketchy. Also, the authors develop the Thor/Sif relationship in an adorable and authentic manner. They're only eleven, so they're both totally awkward. Hehehe
Loki, of course, is still the high point of the book. The god of mischief is just too enjoyable no matter what version. #sorrynotsorry...more
I read this book because I enjoyed the HER Interactive video game of the same title. The video game is a very faithful adaptation of the book. The booI read this book because I enjoyed the HER Interactive video game of the same title. The video game is a very faithful adaptation of the book. The book has more characters and a couple of more "high-stakes" moments, which make it a fun romp. I would recommend it to any ND fan, but especially if you're into the video games....more
I honestly don't know what to make of this graphic novel. It reminded me of a mix between the Clue books designed for kids from the 90s (those were awI honestly don't know what to make of this graphic novel. It reminded me of a mix between the Clue books designed for kids from the 90s (those were awesome!), the Clue movie from the 80s, and someone trying too hard to be edgy and relevant. The end result is uneven and forgettable. Plus, there was no one to cheer for. They were all horrible people. At least in the 80s movie you had some characters to root for, depending on the ending you got. Also, there were some meta, breaking-the-fourth-wall moments that just didn't gel for me. Stick to the 90s Clue books (if you can find them). ...more
This book seemed like it would be right up my alley. A graphic novel about the Renaissance faire? Sign me up! And the parts with the Renaissance faireThis book seemed like it would be right up my alley. A graphic novel about the Renaissance faire? Sign me up! And the parts with the Renaissance faire were the most enjoyable. HOWEVER, the way the family treated their middle-school daughter/sister, who was going through a rough time at school was absolutely appalling! The parents LITERALLY refused to talk to her for days because she got into trouble at school and then destroyed her brother's favorite stuffed animal. And then the brother refused to forgive the sister and treated her like crap for WEEKS and the parents were totally okay with it. WTF? That's not how forgiveness works. You don't make your lost, struggling eleven-year-old earn her way back into your good graces. And you definitely don't let your six-year-old demon spawn get away with treating her like crap as she struggles with her identity. You punish her, but then remind her that she is loved and that you will help her through her emotional trauma. Did the parents even bother to find out what was going on? Nope. Just gave her the silent treatment. Worst. parents. ever....more
Cute, if uneven, introduction to Norse mythology. The book didn't get really interesting until about halfway through, partly due to all the world-builCute, if uneven, introduction to Norse mythology. The book didn't get really interesting until about halfway through, partly due to all the world-building in the first half. Freya herself was also lacking in personality, which I guess is somewhat understandable since we know very little about most of the female gods, and Freya's main role in mythology was to look beautiful and have men fawn over her. Once Freya met the other gods and goddesses (including the always entertaining Loki) and found a purpose beyond fashion and deciding who had a crush on whom, the story picked up. I liked how the authors made some of the myths more kid-friendly and attempted to flesh out the Norse goddesses more. I think the next book should be even better, as it is focused on one of my favorite stories from Norse mythology! ...more
Really cute middle-grade book that captured the voices of the characters from Tangled well. My one complaint which lowered the rating is that the dramReally cute middle-grade book that captured the voices of the characters from Tangled well. My one complaint which lowered the rating is that the drama for Rapunzel and Cass seemed overdrawn and at times over dramatic, but I guess younger people do have a tendency toward histrionics. I look forward to the next book, which purportedly has more Eugene. :)...more
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