I really enjoyed this little story about Riley, a young girl who is dealing with the aftermath of the death of her father. Riley discovers he3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this little story about Riley, a young girl who is dealing with the aftermath of the death of her father. Riley discovers her Dad has left behind a mountain of death, and her and her mother lose their home.
Riley goes from the comfort of a privileged life - private school, parties with her wealthy friends - to sleeping in their car. She tries to hide her new situation from her friends, but the truth has a way of coming out.
This book is a sensitively-told tale of homelessness, grief, family and friendship. It's heartbreaking but also sweet and thought-provoking, and is perfect for readers between the ages of 9 to 13....more
17-year-old Jake is dealing with a lot: he is one of the only Black students at his posh prep school and deals with microaggressions on the daily; he 17-year-old Jake is dealing with a lot: he is one of the only Black students at his posh prep school and deals with microaggressions on the daily; he is gay and dealing with the stress of being closeted; he's a medium and as well as seeing ghosts every day, he is being stalked by the spirit of a troubled teen, Sawyer, who shot up a local high school before committing suicide. Sawyer seems hell bent on possessing Jake's body to carry out further atrocities.
This is a very layered and ambitious novel that deals with a lot of issues. It's horror, it's queer lit, and it touches on racism, suicide, and sexual abuse. Jake's story is broken up with snippets from Sawyer's diary, as the author explores the things that drive people to commit the crimes they do.
The social commentary is interesting, as is the exploration of the things that lead to teenagers feeling isolated and depressed. I would love to have seen more development in crucial parts of the plot and a more detailed delve into the emotive side of this story, but overall this is a spooky and atmospheric read that I have no doubt will be a hit with teenagers....more
My very last read of 2020 and possibly one of my favourites! Everything you have read about this beautiful book is true. It's not overhyped and deservMy very last read of 2020 and possibly one of my favourites! Everything you have read about this beautiful book is true. It's not overhyped and deserves every bit of praise it is garnering.
Will I like it?
In a nutshell, yes. I think everyone will find something to love in this book. It's a gentler and more magical mix of X-Men and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, with a sprinkling of the imagination and originality of Tim Burton and the humour of...Nanny McPhee. Does that make any sense?!
What's so good about it?
So many things! The story is comforting in a familiar way but still so unique. The queer representation is amazing, down to a little garden gnome with a beard who identifies as female. It stands up to prejudice and celebrates the weird. I love that the story is about men who adore and nurture and educate and protect children. In fact, the cast of characters are utterly fabulous, from the two gentlemen in their forties as the romantic leads and a collection of magical misfits who had me laughing and blubbering in equal measure. I actually squealed when "Lucy" was revealed to be Lucifer: red eyes, age - 6 years, 6 months and 6 days, type of magical creature - the Antichrist. Brilliant.
The gist:
Linus Baker is a mild-mannered, rotund, 40-year-old civil servant at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Because he is a loyal and exemplary case worker who writes thorough, unsentimental reports, he earns (or is landed with) an assignment to check out an unusual, top secret foster home on a remote, faraway island on a cerulean sea. And so it begins.
And so...
This is a perfect book. It's heartwarming and romantic and eccentric. It's funny and moving and entertaining. I love the fact that it celebrates the differences in people, the unexpected adventures and unlikely families. It is enchanting and magical and masterfully written. It is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read.
"A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with"....more
"It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."
Wise words, Alice. It has endeared readers for over 150 years: The story "It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."
Wise words, Alice. It has endeared readers for over 150 years: The story of a little girl following a rabbit into a strange land has inspired countless movies, musicals, parodies and even comic books. People young and old continue to fall in love with its eccentric characters and unpredictable plot, but perhaps what makes the story timeless more than anything else are the delightful things that Lewis Carroll and his characters say.
One of my favourite books and my very first experience with the genre of fantasy!...more
I am currently doing #YAmonth on my Bookstagram feed and couldn't do it without featuring Harry Potter, now could I?! Call it a children's book, YA, fI am currently doing #YAmonth on my Bookstagram feed and couldn't do it without featuring Harry Potter, now could I?! Call it a children's book, YA, fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy...whatever; you can't deny the impact this unique, imaginative and truly special tale had on us and the world of literature.
And despite recent controversy around J.K. Rowling and her comments about transgender women (which I won't comment on here), the story of Harry Potter has been so valuable, so meaningful, and so important to so many, I hope your experience has not been tainted. In the words of Harry Potter himself: "It means to you what it means to you"....more
The Weight of Water is a short but stunning novel, written completely in verse, about picking up the pieces and starting over again.
Kasienka and her mThe Weight of Water is a short but stunning novel, written completely in verse, about picking up the pieces and starting over again.
Kasienka and her mother arrive in England from Poland, in search of Kasienka's "Tata" (father), who abandoned them when she was very young. She is enrolled in a secondary school in Coventry, but is treated as an outsider and an intruder by classmates who constantly poke fun at her. She finds solace in swimming and befriends an adult neighbour, both of which bring her comfort and teach her value of persevering in life with the things that bring you purpose.
This is a compelling and poignant book that is sometimes humorous and always charming. The poems have a gentle lyricism and speak to immigration, identity, prejudice, discrimination, bullying, families and first love. It is a unique and special coming-of-age tale and I am so glad I read it. This is my first experience with Sarah Crossman, but it won't be my last....more
I can't say enough good things about Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land. Whether you are a teenager or young adult, grown-up, teacher or parent, yI can't say enough good things about Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land. Whether you are a teenager or young adult, grown-up, teacher or parent, you need to read this book.
The novel is written in free verse and focuses on two teenage girls just shy of their 17th birthdays. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic with her aunt - her mother died when she was a child; Yahaira lives in NYC. They have no idea each other exist but they have the same father. Papi lives mostly with his wife and daughter in New York and spends his summers in DR. When this book opens, however, we learn Papi has died in a plane crash, and despite being separated by distance and their father's secrets, the two sisters are forced to face a new reality in which their lives are forever altered, grappling with grief, confusion and uncertainty.
There are two things that stand out about this book: It brings into focus the tragedies that often go unnoticed, unmentioned and are forgotten. Acevedo states in the Author's Note that this story is inspired by the crash of flight AA587 two months after 9/11. The flight was on its way to Santa Domingo and hit the ground in Queens, NY, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground. More than 90% of the passengers on board were of Dominican descent, but it felt as if they were grieved only by those who knew them. The New York Dominican community was broken but the world moved on quickly.
I also love this book for its depiction of the split lives that many immigrants experience. This topic is excellently rendered, owing to the fact that Acevedo, herself, was born in New York City to Dominican parents and grew up rooted in the rich and vibrant customs of the Dominican community in NYC, but still visited her parents' homestead nearly every summer. Of course, this book also goes beyond the immigrant narrative, depicting teenage girls who are dealing with issues of identity, sexuality and longing.
Clap When You Land is such a beautiful book: a book about sisters, secrets, loss and forgiveness; about finding out that people aren't always who you think they are and, ultimately, about finding out who you are. All of the stars....more
A new addition to the brilliant (and critically-acclaimed) series, Little People, Big Dreams.
A few of the books in this series really stand out fA new addition to the brilliant (and critically-acclaimed) series, Little People, Big Dreams.
A few of the books in this series really stand out for me: I love Rosa Parks, Frida Kahlo and Anne Frank, for example, and very much enjoyed the David Bowie version. Also a musical icon, Dolly Parton and her story are fascinating to me.
Growing up near the Great Smokey Mountain in East Tennessee, Dolly was destined for stardom. She came from a poor family with eleven brothers and sisters but her life was rich in love and musical influence. Soon after graduating high school, Dolly moved to Nashville and began her life in music. What I love about this book is that it also pinpoints Dolly's success in business and her kind heart, paying tribute to her Imagination Library initiative to give books to children in need across the world. This book covers Dolly's fifty year career but is still presented in a way that is very appealing to children and young people.
The illustrations are adorable and I love the story; one of my new favourites!...more
Another release in the Little People, Big Dreams series, which I have reviewed frequently on here.
This edition is on Swedish environmental activisAnother release in the Little People, Big Dreams series, which I have reviewed frequently on here.
This edition is on Swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg. When she was just eight years old, Greta realised human activity was responsible for the climate crisis. This book chronicles her attempts to bring awareness to the issue, including her protests outside Swedish Parliament and the 'School Strike for Climate' initiative. Greta has Asperger's Syndrome and many powerful people believe she is too young to be listened to, but this book does a great job in showing how Greta turns her condition into her superpower and uses her voice for good.
It's not my favourite book of the series but in a similar vein to the other editions, this is a wonderful tool for opening a discussion with young children on important issues....more
A simple but very charming book that captures a father's advice to his young child on living on our planet; how to treat it and how to treat each otheA simple but very charming book that captures a father's advice to his young child on living on our planet; how to treat it and how to treat each other....more
A simple and sometimes funny book about the quest for adventure and the love of home. There isn't a lot of text so it's a bit of a flip-through, but tA simple and sometimes funny book about the quest for adventure and the love of home. There isn't a lot of text so it's a bit of a flip-through, but the animals and illustrations are quirky and colourful. 2.5 stars....more
The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person represented has had an incredible impact on the world, but started life as a child with a dream.
Another wonderful little release from Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara. The book, like all of the series, is very short but given these books are for children, it's completely understandable. In fact, Vegara does a particularly great job in this case of condensing the remarkable and inspiring life of Mahatma Gandhi into a short story.
I loved the cute illustrations and the gentle language used to describe an equally as gentle man. Of course there are parts of Gandhi's life not explored here but this book is for children after all, and the ultimate message reflected here is one of love and humanness.
"And Mahatma, the little boy with the very big heart, gave a single lesson to those who hope for a brighter future: sometimes, the power of peace is greater than the power of fore."
I enjoyed this book immensely and learned a couple of things about Gandhi's background that I didn't know before. What a wonderful way to highlight for children Gandhi's approach to injustice, peaceful protest and resistance. Recommended for your 'little library'!...more
The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person represented has had an incredible impact on the world, but started life as a child with a dream.
And by never being afraid to be himself, little David became the most unique star who ever to Earth.
Well, that just says it all, doesn't it?
I love this new release under the "Little People, Big Dreams" banner. And what beautiful messages for children it holds. David Bowie is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, with his music and magnetic stagecraft having a significant impact on popular music. He was an absolute visionary and his death in 2016 was tragic.
Many people throughout the world, throughout time, have had major impacts on human rights, politics, education and medical research, but it is important that other influential people are represented too, particularly those in the arts, I feel. Music has the potential to speak to people in a very unique way, particularly those who are lonely and misunderstood. Bowie helped those people to find their voice and dare to be different, and it is important for something as worthwhile as that to be celebrated.
This wonderfully quirky and colourful book traces the early years of Bowie and all the experiences that made him who he was. It is a beautifully tender story with some lovely messages for children about friendship, forgiveness, expression, uniqueness, using your voice and believing in yourself no matter what. The illustrations are incredible and I absolutely adored it.
It would be a pleasure to share this book with my children. 5 very heartfelt stars....more
I absolutely love this series. What an incredibly clever way to make history accessible to young children, teaching them about important figures who hI absolutely love this series. What an incredibly clever way to make history accessible to young children, teaching them about important figures who have helped to shape our world.
Everyone knows the story of Anne Frank but it is sometimes difficult to sum up her life or the importance of her experiences for young, curious ears who hear her name. This book is the perfect means of introducing children to both the story of Anne and the horrors of The Holocaust. It also goes one step further in providing a brief overview of World War II.
The prose is very effective, making the story concise yet inclusive and informative, and the illustrations are beautiful. The timeline is both visual and useful, and the glossary of terms is brilliant for explaining any term used that a child may not understand.
A wonderful book that every child will benefit from reading. I will certainly be picking one up for our house. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this....more
The Woods, the newest release from Rob Hodgson, follows the story of three foxes as they go on a quest to track down some rabbits. In a quirky twist, The Woods, the newest release from Rob Hodgson, follows the story of three foxes as they go on a quest to track down some rabbits. In a quirky twist, the clever rabbits in this scenario are leading the foxes into a trap so they can, in fact, capture the foxes. It's amusing...kind of.
I'm a little underwhelmed by this book. Perhaps it will appeal more to children (which I guess is kind of the point) but I just found it a little bizarre. The story seems funny initially, but when you get to the end of the story it all seems a little senseless.
The illustrations are colourful and certainly have the same quirky factor as the story. I especially liked the way the rabbits were hidden throughout and imagine children will have fun trying to spot them. The purpose of the pink worm confused me but I did enjoy all the little underground scenes, such as the bear tucked up in his hibernation spot and the worm enjoying a night in front of the TV.
While this may appeal to some, it is not a book I would be purchasing for our 'Little Library'....more
The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person represented has had an incredible impact on the world, but started life as a child with a dream.
"Instead of looking down at his feet, Stephen decided to look up at the stars."
This brilliant and moving addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the fascinating and remarkable story of Stephen Hawking. Recounting his early days in school in Oxford, England, to his diagnosis while at university, it details his study of physics and the universe, particularly Black Hole theory. This book, although simple, evokes the message that determination and resilience are some of the most important tools one can use in achieving one's dreams.
"...little Stephen made an amazing discovery: no matter how difficult life may seem, there is always something that you can do and succeed at."...more
The Little People, Big dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person The Little People, Big dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person represented has had an incredible impact on the world, but started life as a child with a dream.
This new edition tells the story of 'The Greatest', legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Beginning with his younger years in Kentucky, back when he was called Cassius Clay, we see that having his bike stolen inspires the young boy to want to learn to fight. Quick on his feet, clever and sharp, Muhammad Ali spouted poetry outside the ring that his opponents dismissed as 'trash-talk'. Soon, he was winning every fight he took on and even took home a gold medal from the Olympics.
This book explores how Muhammad Ali was always an advocate of believing in oneself and doing what is right. On top of being a supporter of African-American rights, the boxer was also involved with many charities, helping people all over the world.
Both a factual and a moving book, this account of Muhammad Ali's life is a wonderful addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. ...more
Elaine Mullane
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