It's not anything that hasn't been done before, but the delivery with the soft watercolor pictures really makes it worthwhile. There are opportunitiesIt's not anything that hasn't been done before, but the delivery with the soft watercolor pictures really makes it worthwhile. There are opportunities to explore counting, rhyming, and onomatopoeia with your little ones....more
Ginny Moon seems to be garnering reviews from people who either sympathize with the titular character and can't stand her adopted parents or who can'tGinny Moon seems to be garnering reviews from people who either sympathize with the titular character and can't stand her adopted parents or who can't understand Ginny and sympathize with the parents' plight of adopting an atypical child. Honestly, I find myself seeing both sides of the equation. Perhaps it is due to my own experience of living with an Asperger sibling, or perhaps it is due in part to my having taught a child diagnosed with the now defunct PDD-NOS. (The fact that "experts" now lump all forms of autism into one blanket diagnosis but still list ADD/ADHD as various different versions just goes to show you how little people care about understanding autism, but I digress).
(view spoiler)[Ginny would rank very high on the autism spectrum. Coupled with the physical, verbal, and heavily implied sexual abuse she experienced when living with her birth mother, she is even further developmentally delayed. I saw similar self-harming behavior from my student with PDD-NOS. It didn't matter that her birth mother was a drug addict and had allowed reprehensible things to happen to her. She still wanted to return home, and she tried time and time again to upset her adopted parents on purpose so that they would kick her out. Fortunately, she had parents that loved her no matter how much trauma she put them through, but it was a very sad situation that wasn't going to magically go away. I still think about her to this day and pray that she's doing okay.
In the same way, Ginny thinks that if she gets Brian and Maura upset enough, they'll hand her over to the state so she can run away and be with her "Baby Doll." Ginny at least has the good sense to see that her birth mom is nothing but trouble, which is actually a bonus for her. I've seen reviews that are horrified at the lack of remorse Ginny shows for her actions. Many (not all) autistic people have trouble processing remorse and empathy because it isn't a black and white issue. In their mind, they have a goal to accomplish, and they set out to accomplish it, not realizing that it could hurt people's feelings along the way. I felt Ginny's struggles were realistic and palpable. Despite the trouble Ginny causes, she is actually a very empathetic girl. She honestly thinks her little sister is in danger, which is why she is fighting so hard to get back to her throughout the book. It's the adults (with the exception of Patrice) who fail to realize that everything Ginny is doing comes from a place of love for her sister.
Which brings me to the second sticking point for some readers. They seem shocked and alarmed that two adopted parents could be so "heartless" to a young girl. Number one, Brian almost died because he was so stressed out about taking care of this girl. He also does a great job trying to make Ginny fit in. Secondly, I'm suspecting Maura might be suffering from postpartum depression. Naturally, it wouldn't be written in plain English, because we're reading the book from Ginny's limited POV. But think about it, after Wendy is born, she spends ALL DAY in her bedroom. Ginny tells Patrice that Brian is doing all of the cleaning and cooking and at one point makes a comment about how Maura's hair has grown really long, a sign that someone no longer cares about her appearance. She also mentions how Maura has changed since the baby, and everyone quickly shushes her. Maura is definitely going through some mental issues, whether it's postpartum or not. (hide spoiler)]
At the end of the day, the book gives us a realistic portrait of imperfect people trying to do what they think is best for each other. I knocked off a star mostly because I found Ginny's POV "tedious" at times. While I understand the creative reasoning behind the repetitive and completely stark language, it got on my nerves after a while. Also, the adults were so stupid not to figure out the mystery of Ginny's "Baby Doll." I figured it out after ten pages. If you want to talk about bad parenting, that part would be it....more
The Agent of Asgard series started out so well. It was fresh and funny, rife with pop cultural and mythological references, showing a different side tThe Agent of Asgard series started out so well. It was fresh and funny, rife with pop cultural and mythological references, showing a different side to Loki and examining such heady topics and fate vs. free will. But then it was as if author Al Ewing bit off more than he could chew, and in the last two volumes, the story-line starts to unravel. That's not to say there aren't some great moments in the final volume. We get some touching moments between Odin and Loki. The humor, which was largely missing from Volume 2, is back. But there are plot points that are confusing.
For instance, Loki dies for a third time and comes back, making him Loki #4, god of stories. Just to clarify, OG Loki died saving the universe from the Void. Then he was reborn as innocent Kid Loki, and all of his evil was stored in the crow Ikol. Then Ikol tricked kid Loki and killed him, and their two bodies converged to create Loki: Agent of Asgard. In this final volume Loki, agent of Asgard is killed by an ancient OG Loki who wandered in from an alternate timeline where he didn't die. Got that? Good.
Then Loki, god of stories, is born, finds his friend Verity, changes into a woman, and kills her best friend in an effort to take her along because the universe is ending. In the final showdown, Loki, now a man again, stops Ragnorak by becoming ultra-meta and hopping into a different comic book series where people aren't all killing each other. Because he's learned that it's his own story, and he can make the ending he wants. Literally.
Is it original? Yes. Does it make any sort of sense? Umm, nooo. It's almost as if Ewing is making a mockery of all of those comic series where Iron Man or Captain America die only to be resurrected in some alternate universe. It's as if Ewing is saying, "Nothing matters. No actions have any consequences in comics. They can always be rewritten." That's not a bad philosophy per se, especially if you're going for the satirical route. But considering the story started out with a huge quandary of how Loki was going to escape his fate, the ending feels like a cop out.
I give this volume a 3.5. I rate the whole series a 4 out of 5 stars. It could have been amazing, but some of the execution just went astray....more
I read this series just to make sense of the "Good Loki" plot line in Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume II. It seemed a bit chaotic, and not in an intentioI read this series just to make sense of the "Good Loki" plot line in Loki: Agent of Asgard Volume II. It seemed a bit chaotic, and not in an intentional way, but in a "I've crammed way too many characters into one story and now they're all vying for the limelight" way. I'm also not a huge X-Men fan, so some of the characters and side plots with them were confusing. (e.g who's Havok and why is he with with Janet? What happened to Hank Pym?). Despite these minor issues, it was fascinating to see what would happen to each of the characters if the heroes and villains switched places. I especially appreciated Loki's and Carnage's transformations, and Deadpool was a self-aware hoot as always. I wanted to kill Sam Wilson and Tony Stark, but I think that was the point. Overall, it was an entertaining read....more
Volume two is a prime example of the commercialization of comic books and why I have never been into the genre. At the the end of the first volume LokVolume two is a prime example of the commercialization of comic books and why I have never been into the genre. At the the end of the first volume Loki was all primed to go on a mission with his brother and his new best friend Verity. When volume 2 begins, the story jumps ahead in time and quickly fills in what has transpired with a measly opening paragraph. If I wanted to find out more, I was told to read Original Sin: Thor and Loki. It wasn't as though I wouldn't be able to understand the story without reading the other comic series, but it did leave out a chunk of Loki's tale. Fortunately, I had a free digital download from Amazon available, so I downloaded the comic and read a pretty fun story where Loki played an instrumental role in saving the day.
Then I went back to reading I Cannot Tell a Lie only to be informed after another chapter that a big chunk of Loki's story line took place during the series Avengers and X-Men: AXIS. I tried to ignore this second interruption, but when a chapter ended with Loki turning into a unicorn and confronting his now evil brother and the comic didn't tell me how the scenario panned out, I gave up. I went searching for the Avengers and X-Men: AXIS and was luckily able to find a free digital rental of this now third comic title from my library. I read the entire series then went back to Agent of Asgard, which I was now able to finish.
And this is the problem I have with comics. The publishers reel you into one story in one particular series and then toss the story line into a different series until you're chasing your favorite characters around in multiple comic book serials, trying to piece together what the hell is going on. I managed to do it without spending a cent, but I imagine for many comic readers, they invest hundreds of dollars just to get to the end of a story line with one of their favorite characters. What a racket.
The story in this volume was also tepid, opening with a Doctor Doom story that really had no point to the rest of the story. It also featured really angular, scratchy artwork which is not my fave. Sorry, Loki. Better luck in the next volume. ...more
The first entry into the Agent of Asgard series is about as perfect as you can get. We see Loki at his most mischievous, snarkiest, and most endearingThe first entry into the Agent of Asgard series is about as perfect as you can get. We see Loki at his most mischievous, snarkiest, and most endearing. There are plenty of nods to Norse mythology as well as to the Marvel lore that has been built up for decades. We also see some fun pop cultural nods and non-too-subtle homages to Tom Hiddleston's god of mischief. Loki actually has friends for once and is even getting along with his brother Thor! Overall, a lot of fun....more
Having read this book once as a child and once now as an adult, I can honestly say that The Secret Garden holds the interest of both children and adulHaving read this book once as a child and once now as an adult, I can honestly say that The Secret Garden holds the interest of both children and adults. At its core, it's actually a simplistic story about how attitudes go a long way in reviving the health and spirits of the downtrodden. Mary and Colin are both miserable and unhealthy creatures when the story starts, but through positivity and perseverance (what they label "Magic"), they are able to grow and thrive as happy, healthy children.
When I was a child I don't remember the message being so blatant. All I remember was the "magic" of watching the neglected garden and children grow and the happy ending with Mr. Craven. Perhaps that is one of the charms of the novel: to be able to view it with wonder and amazement as a child and then to later view it with the wisdom and understanding of an adult.
The book does have it flaws. For me, the Yorkshire accents get a bit grating, especially when I don't even know what the author is trying to write. Maybe if I was more fluent in actual Yorkshire this wouldn't be an issue. Mary also starts out as a racist, so for some this might be too triggering. (view spoiler)[In one early scene, Martha admits that she was hoping Mary would have been "brown-skinned" like the native Indians, to which Mary takes a personal offense, as if not being white is the worst punishment in the world. IMHO, while the scene in question is uncomfortable, it shows just how horrible Mary really was before she underwent her metamorphosis, and I don't see the author condoning her behavior at all. If anything, Burnett condemns the behavior. At the beginning of the book Mary views everyone, whether English or Indian, as beneath her. Slowly, as the story unravels, Mary realizes there is beauty in everyone. This seems especially evident when later in the novel after Mary's transformation, we see her praising the culture of the very people she was deriding pages earlier, and she even uses Indian tales and songs to entertain and comfort Colin! (hide spoiler)]
Overall, an enjoyable read, though I still prefer A Little Princess. It's a much tighter book....more
A delightful story set within 1920s Harlem, this early book by Gail Carson Levine might be short on fantasy, but it makes up for it with interesting dA delightful story set within 1920s Harlem, this early book by Gail Carson Levine might be short on fantasy, but it makes up for it with interesting depictions of 20th century Jewish American and African American culture. Some parts seemed a little implausible. The villain, in particular, was rather cartoonish for an otherwise very realistic book. Also, I'm not sure why Irma Lee was up all night at parties. Especially since her mother seemed so overprotective of her, wouldn't she make sure she was safe in bed before hosting her extravagant shindigs?
Besides these minor quibbles, I enjoyed the story immensely. It might not have ended "happily ever after," but it ended hopeful. And for millions of orphans, including Carson Levine's own father, whose real story inspired this book, that's not a bad place to be. ...more
Not one of their better outings. Story lines were weird, and the characterizations for the nephews were off. Note to the comic book writers: the nepheNot one of their better outings. Story lines were weird, and the characterizations for the nephews were off. Note to the comic book writers: the nephews have unique personalities on the new show and are not interchangeable. You might want to research that....more
This is probably my least favorite so far of the Mary Poppins books. It's very repetitive, which is saying something, since the second book was almostThis is probably my least favorite so far of the Mary Poppins books. It's very repetitive, which is saying something, since the second book was almost a carbon copy of the first in terms of plot lines. But in this fourth outing, every chapter reads like a gigantic curtain call. Zany and weird things happen to Jane and Michael while they're in the Park (hence the book's name), and every character who was ever in the series shows up to remark about the odd situation. When it looks like everything is about to spin out of control, Mary Poppins arrives to set things right and take the children home. She then tries to deny that anything happened, but some souvenir from the experience gives her lie away. This scenario was interesting the first time. The second time, I paused for a moment and wondered if I was experiencing deja vu. By the third time, it just felt lazy and that P.L. Travers was just going through the motions to make some quick cash. It probably explains why none of these story-lines featured in Disney's movie or its sequel. ...more
Whether you love or hate the ubiquitous Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies, you've probably seen enough to understand the tropes that permeate theWhether you love or hate the ubiquitous Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies, you've probably seen enough to understand the tropes that permeate the flicks. This book playfully lampoons all of those cliches while also making an amusing choose-your-own adventure. I was busting a gut while creating my own story with heroine Chrissy (short for Christmas) Kristen Christopher, a businesswoman who loves doing business things and hates small towns and Christmas.
Yes, this is satire. No, it's not meant to be taken seriously. Enjoy the holiday romp!...more
I have a complicated relationship with Richard Paul Evans. Some of his Christmas books I found very enjoyable (Like Mistletoe Inn, Lost December, and I have a complicated relationship with Richard Paul Evans. Some of his Christmas books I found very enjoyable (Like Mistletoe Inn, Lost December, and A Winter Dream), while others I was ambivalent towards (Mistletoe Secret) or downright detested (Grace *shudder*). This book joins the ranks of Mistletoe Secret as "not that great, but diverting for a few hours."
The plot, like most of his books, is paper thin. You can tell where it's going from the very beginning. (view spoiler)[When the book starts with the protagonist visiting a grave site, you know what the outcome is going to be, which leaves you just waiting for the death to happen. I guess I should be grateful that I wasn't broadsided by the ending? (hide spoiler)] The romance was super cheesy and rushed. Nathan's in love with Addison after one night. Addison's declaring her love for him after one week. I don't buy it. There's a really awkward massage scene that is supposed to be sexy, but comes off cringe-worthy.
So why isn't this book in my detestable pile? Firstly, I was interested in the information about Tourette's Syndrome, and I liked the story line with Nathan's job. But mostly, Collin is adorable, and I want to give him lots of hugs. He makes the book and saves it from a two star rating....more
Loading...
