Seventh grader Eleanor Dross has never really taken her grandfather's preparations for the apocalypse seriously. But when she stumbles upon an articleSeventh grader Eleanor Dross has never really taken her grandfather's preparations for the apocalypse seriously. But when she stumbles upon an article online from a Harvard astrophysics professor predicting that an asteroid will strike the planet in April, she becomes increasingly obsessed with this doomsday scenario. She shares what she's learned with her best friend, Mack, who is visually impaired and considering moving to a different school that caters to others like him. But Mack shares what Elle has told him, and the news spreads to other classmates. Elle ends up starting a nature club, a thinly-disguised extracurricular activity designed to help her classmates get ready for life after the asteroid arrives. Strangely enough, Elle's enemy, Londyn, joins the club, and helps her write a newsletter about the approaching end of the world as we know it. Readers will feel quite a lot of empathy with Elle as she becomes caught up in this topic, and even when her father assures her that everything will be and this is all a hoax, she refuses to believe it. It's hard not to like Elle with all her earnestness and attempts to educate and inform those around her. Elle makes some mistakes, disappoints her classmates, and realizes that some changes are inevitable and there is no way to get ready for every change that comes our way. Sometimes all we can do is sit back and let it happen. I really enjoyed how the characters develop in this book and how patient Mack is with Elle. In case there are readers who will be caught up in the drama of the scenario described here, the author has provided reassuring asteroid facts and information about the impact of these forms. ...more
While this picture book might be a bit too ambitious with all the territory it covers, it still made me smile and might offer a gentle rebuke to thoseWhile this picture book might be a bit too ambitious with all the territory it covers, it still made me smile and might offer a gentle rebuke to those purists who prefer that their book genres be kept separated. The opening page features a letter A preparing to proclaim what it stands for--an apple, of course--when it's interrupted by Little Red Riding Hood and then a cast of other characters most likely to be found in a fairy tale or a science fiction story. They converge on a schoolhouse where they meet Hedgible T. Hedgehog, who's waiting for her new classmates and future friends. But Hedgible is a character in an animal story, and these new characters just don't fit the bill. Nor is this "that kind of book" (unpaged), a refrain that is uttered constantly throughout the story even as a banana, a pirate, and a detective join in the fun. Eventually, of course, Hedgible realizes the error of her ways and embraces these newfound friends. The digital artwork adds to the fun as does the little green apple that keeps asserting itself all along the way, proclaiming its identity. Metafiction titles such as this one offer chances to stretch the imagination and dream of the literary possibilities. ...more
Twins Olivia and Viola are just as close as one might guess that sisters would be. After all, they've followed their scientist parents from one part oTwins Olivia and Viola are just as close as one might guess that sisters would be. After all, they've followed their scientist parents from one part of the universe to the next and are often the only comfort each other has. Viola has a rare genetic disease, which keeps her in the family compound while Olivia attends school. But here on Zagreus, the planet that Olivia hopes will be her xenobiologist parents' last step before returning to Earth, Olivia feels on the outs with her classmates, who tend to judge her because she's not from their planet. As Olivia takes the first steps in wooing Kora, the daughter of the planet's leader, her father leaves on a mission to check out a shuttle. He sends a message warning Olivia to leave as soon as possible before dying, and the next thing Olivia knows, the shuttle has crashed, bringing with it creatures that are more deadly than anything in her wildest imagination. The girls race for shelter in the dome the planet's citizens have erected. After warning their fellows, Olivia and Kora return to the outer perimeter to find Viola, who has been snatched by one of the creatures. There are horrors aplenty waiting for the girls, who often seem one step away from death. While many of the scenes described here are chilling, they bring to mind other sci fi books and films, and I found myself wondering how it was possible that the creatures could have killed so many and left their deposits so quickly after crashing. I can understand that these living things were like nothing anyone had seen before, but I would expect some of this to take a little longer than the hours described in the book. ...more
Having enjoyed both the Mighty Jack series and Zita the Spacegirl, it was cool to see Jack and Zita team up in this graphic novel as they and their frHaving enjoyed both the Mighty Jack series and Zita the Spacegirl, it was cool to see Jack and Zita team up in this graphic novel as they and their friends mount a last-ditch effort to save the world from the giants who stand ready to destroy it. Can a small band of humans and some otherworldly creatures actually hold back those giants? Readers will enjoy watching them try to do so even while being particularly impressed with the character development and world building and the levels of betrayal the heroes face as well as their loyalty to one another once things get sorted out. I'm sure this one will be gobbled up by middle graders who will want even more from Ben Hatke. These characters might be imperfect heroes, but heroes they clearly are. ...more
Danny and Lin have their fun at the town's Tomato Festival, complete with rides and a big concert, interrupted when a lab mistake results in three tinDanny and Lin have their fun at the town's Tomato Festival, complete with rides and a big concert, interrupted when a lab mistake results in three tiny dinosaurs being super-sized and running all over the place. The two friends follow Bruno, Pizza, and Cornelia as Bruno charges into anything red--and since this is a festival dedicated to celebrating those juicy fruits, there's a lot of red to see. Fans of the series will want to read the book to see if the dinosaurs make it back to the lab so they can be shrunk to a smaller size or if their existence will be revealed to everyone. The story is supported by plenty of illustrations that show what's going on. ...more
Happy Conklin Jr. is in a battle to the death with his grandmother, something he never wanted to have happen. With the elderly woman trying to play boHappy Conklin Jr. is in a battle to the death with his grandmother, something he never wanted to have happen. With the elderly woman trying to play both ends against the middle in her efforts to gain control over the galaxy, Happy and his siblings are her pawns in her efforts toward not just world, but universal domination. And really, all Happy wants to do is win the science fair. Fortunately for Happy, he has some help from Squeep! and a special ring that he steals from his grandmother. Anyone who enjoys aliens, monsters, odd situations such as being carried in a creature's mouth, or bathroom humor will find this book satisfying. It might be better enjoyed after reading the previous titles in this series, but readers who are new to the series can easily sort out what's happening without much trouble. While some pages are largely text, others feature comic strips, making reading the book a breeze. Every time I looked at ten-year-old Happy sporting a robust beard, I found myself laughing....more
This second installment of the Last Pick graphic novel science fiction series is just as engaging as the first one, and I'd give it a 3.5. After alienThis second installment of the Last Pick graphic novel science fiction series is just as engaging as the first one, and I'd give it a 3.5. After aliens took all the humans they deemed worthy four years ago, including the parents of Wyatt and Sam, they left behind those they considered to be too weak, old, or defective to be of much use. A year later, they returned to Earth and scooped up the rest they considered worthy. Those left behind--the last picks who weren't selected--band together behind Wyatt (Bird One) and his band of imperfect heroes. While he and the others concoct a plan to fight against the aliens who are overrunning the planet, Sam and her new friend Mia are aided by Linda, a long-time prisoner, on another planet as they escape. Mia is lovely in her innocence and trust as she is certain that she and the others are being used as pawns in a battle that isn't theirs and that they should not be fighting. The artwork is stunning, and the ethical dilemmas are tense and meaningful as these so-called "misfit" turn the tables on those who have underestimated them. Wyatt still has plenty of challenges and quirks, but he rises to the occasion and inspires others to follow him on what could be certain death. And yet, what else can they do but try to rally against their oppressors? There are powerful lessons about assumptions, acceptance, and compassion within these pages....more
I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 for this lovely story featuring a most unlikely heroine and a brave and wonderful elephant. Nitty Luce is on the lam, escI'm torn between a 3 and a 4 for this lovely story featuring a most unlikely heroine and a brave and wonderful elephant. Nitty Luce is on the lam, escaped from the orphanage where she's been living under draconian conditions with Miz Ricketts who judges her due to her eye color. But life on the street is hard, and she is desperately hungry. When she swipes a pouch of seeds from a vendor, she also becomes a thief. In her desperation to escape those who want to catch her, she stumbles upon an elephant about to be hanged because she killed her trainer. Nitty senses that Magnolious is a good elephant and one that couldn't have done what she's accused of doing. Together, they flee, and eventually arrive at a down and out farm in a town that is about as down and out as it's possible to be. Windle, the farmer, is nursing a broken heart, but he still is capable of some kindness toward the girl and the elephant. Eventually, he realizes that Nitty is a treasure, and he opens his home and his heart to her. The dust-covered, desolate town is plagued by Neezer, a man who epitomizes the very meaning of the word "pessimist," and whose ambitions to profit from the town's destruction and the depression of its citizens are eventually revealed thanks to detective work by Nitty and her friend Twitch. There are many parts of this story that appealed to me, but I particularly loved when the farm is plowed and those seeds are sown, and new life and hope began to spring forth once again. As I read this book, I kept thinking about how easy it is to give up and how precious are those who believe the best in those around them and those who have an eternally optimistic view on life. I really enjoyed meeting Nitty and Mag and was enthralled by their bond and how they help rescue a town and a man who didn't realize that he needed rescuing. ...more
I'm sure many readers can relate to Piper Maclane's wishes to have a pet of her own. Since she is allergic to just about every animal imaginable, she I'm sure many readers can relate to Piper Maclane's wishes to have a pet of her own. Since she is allergic to just about every animal imaginable, she can't have one and has nothing to share with her classmates. All that changes when she somehow--with the help of a little space dust--brings a slime pet to life. Although it's wonderful to be able to share her life with her new pet, some problems ensue when she brings her pet to school, including some drama with a classmate. This one isn't my cup of tea, but some young readers will enjoy it and look forward to more books featuring Piper and her slime. ...more
In the third and final book in this beetle-filled series, readers will follow Darkus and his friends Virginia and Bertolt into the Amazon rainforest. In the third and final book in this beetle-filled series, readers will follow Darkus and his friends Virginia and Bertolt into the Amazon rainforest. There, Lucretia Cutter continues her plans to control the world through the aid of her biologically-engineered beetles. All the loose ends from the previous books are tightly neatly, and readers will be pleased to see Novak, Lucretia's hybrid daughter, return. There are plenty of hair-raising moments that will have readers on the edge of their seats, and the youngsters will rely heavily on assistance from their own beetle friends to bring Lucretia to her knees. All the suspense is leavened by the humorous cluelessness of Humphrey and Pickering, who have somehow made their way to the jungle but are bumbling through the jungle. I have to say the ending is perfect as life goes back to normal--or as normal as it can possibly be when you're known as the Beetle Boy. As I said about the previous two books, I came away from this one with an entirely new appreciation for beetles. ...more
When his spacecraft is damaged by a meteorite, Ijon Tichy attempts to repair the vessel but is unable to do so since the job requires two people. TichWhen his spacecraft is damaged by a meteorite, Ijon Tichy attempts to repair the vessel but is unable to do so since the job requires two people. Tichy becomes increasingly frustrated, and worried about where the vessel will go. Over the course of the next pages, he is visited by first one and then another version of himself from previous and future days. The spaceship becomes increasingly crowded with various versions of Ijon, some doing damage to one another, and quickly eating up the food supplies. As the ship moves from one vortex to the next, its habitants are affected. Although much of this is humorous, parts are also downright frightening as readers consider what it might be to feel this helpless and to be fighting against oneself. The graphic novel Jon J Muth has created here is based on a story by Stanislaw Lem, a Polish science fiction writer. Readers won't want to miss the Author's Note as well as seek out Lem's short stories, something I certainly plan to do. I'd never heard of him before. WOW! This book has blown me away and made me think about the possibilities if someone were caught in a time loop like this. ...more
While it took me a bit of time to get into the story since the beginning seemed slow to me, once Christopher had been kidnapped, I became intrigued anWhile it took me a bit of time to get into the story since the beginning seemed slow to me, once Christopher had been kidnapped, I became intrigued and couldn't stop reading. The plot revolves around a group of mechanical creatures who are extremely loyal to each other. In fact, they don't seem to care what happens to them as long as they can help bring Christopher home. Along the way, each one of these friends--Jack, Round Rob, Gripper, and Estelle--learns what he/she is made of. I got caught up in the story and forgot that these were machines as the story moved to its climax. The author makes it clear just how devastating loss can be and what pride can make someone do. Although this book won't be to everyone's taste, I can certainly see many middle grade readers fascinated by technology, inventions, and alternative history enjoying it. ...more
Seventeen-year-old Rose Montgomery is on the run from the secrets of her past. To protect her younger brother Charlie and to find a fresh start, she dSeventeen-year-old Rose Montgomery is on the run from the secrets of her past. To protect her younger brother Charlie and to find a fresh start, she drives the family's trailer to Fort Glory, Oregon. Hardly have they settled in, than disaster strikes, and the area where Charlie and her mother are staying while she makes a trip to town, disappears. Rose is determined to get back to her family, and as she tests her limits, she encounters others who are just as determined. As it turns out, a hole into another dimension has been created by a scientific experimentation group, and a wormhole with a dark presence has been formed. This presence causes the town's citizens to behave in violent ways. As Rose works with Ian, Blaine, and Jeremy to find her brother and to stay alive, pressure continues to build. Some teen readers will love the futuristic possibilities of this book and its plot while rooting for Rose to find her brother. It is doubtful that there will be much surprise once they learn her secrets and the monster(s) in the family's past. I was curious to know more about her missing father, though. The book held my interest until the last quarter, and then I just wanted Rose to find Charlie and wrap things up, probably because I knew how things would end. Charlie's unique abilities were never explained to my satisfaction, which detracted from my interest in the story. ...more
When Jakob stumbles upon a space train while exploring the space station where he lives with his grandmother, he decides to repair it. with the help oWhen Jakob stumbles upon a space train while exploring the space station where he lives with his grandmother, he decides to repair it. with the help of his grandmother, Derek the robot chicken, and ToolBot, they figure out what to do. The work goes smoothly, but they don't succeed right away. Eventually, they blast off and travel to three galaxies and 39 other planets where Jakob gets his wishes met and makes many new friends. The colorful illustrations, including diagrams on the end papers and an image of a very cool star whale, will surely catch the eyes of young readers. The idea of traveling through space in a train is pretty cool too. The images fill each page, and there isn't a lot of white space to be found on the pages....more
Readers will want to read the first book in this science fiction series before dipping into this one since they are probably going to need that backgrReaders will want to read the first book in this science fiction series before dipping into this one since they are probably going to need that background. Still, with enough thinking between the lines, they should be able to fill in the blanks in the story. In this installment, Dany continues to use her magic sketchbook to her advantage, this time creating a clone of herself to do her homework and allow her some freedom. But things don't go according to plan, and Dany has plenty of messes to clean up, especially when her mother finds out what's been going on. With a school dance approaching and friend drama as well as a mysterious canine and odd behavior from a classmate, Dany has her hands full. Middle grade readers and some in fourth and fifth grade are sure to enjoy this one with its colorful panels and situations that mirror those in which many youngsters find themselves. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me because I enjoyed how imaginative it is and loved the idea of friendships formed through sharing art and art supplies. Young This one is a 3.5 for me because I enjoyed how imaginative it is and loved the idea of friendships formed through sharing art and art supplies. Young readers will probably enjoy the picture book because it features a school bus that lands on the moon as part of a field trip. The youngsters leave tracks everywhere they go, leaping over trenches and venturing into craters while their teacher points out noteworthy aspects of the terrain. As often happens on field trips if teachers aren't careful, one youngster lags behind to draw the Earth from this unique vantage point. When he grows drowsy and falls asleep, the others leave, not realizing that he's been left behind. To his credit, he doesn't panic. Instead, he knows that they'll be back and continues to drawn. After a little time has passed, he's joined by moon creatures with whom he shares his crayons. They have a blast drawing on each other and on the moon rocks. When his teacher returns, he is forced to erase the artwork the aliens have created. But no matter since he leaves behind those crayons, all except the gray one, which will come in handy for sketching what they looked like. The illustrations, created with acrylic paint, do an excellent job of telling the story in this wordless picture book that is fun to read more than once. This is one field trip that the main character will never forget. I should note that while I have interpreted him as a boy, that isn't necessarily the case. ...more
In this second volume of the Time Museum graphic novel series, Delia leads her crew to Versailles in 1778 to make sure the United States and France agIn this second volume of the Time Museum graphic novel series, Delia leads her crew to Versailles in 1778 to make sure the United States and France agree to an alliance. There are the usual problems with time travel and various personalities as well as unrequited romances, but the appeal here is the appearance of President Richard Nixon, who leads the Epoch squad and helps train Delia and her friends. There is plenty of fun on these pages, but readers will also learn a tiny bit about history while getting a kick out of seeing Delia and Company in proper attire for their appearance in France. ...more
Although he tries to be brave, a young boy feels anxious when it's time for bedtime. After all, who knows what might be hiding in the closet or makingAlthough he tries to be brave, a young boy feels anxious when it's time for bedtime. After all, who knows what might be hiding in the closet or making those strange sounds? His stuffed toy, Floppy, lets him in on a little secret: The bed is actually a time machine. The two of them travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and have many adventures. The boy even plays with an affectionate dinosaur who licks his hair and wont let go of his sock. He conquers his fears, and then, the next morning when he wakes up, the boy has some pretty compelling evidence that all of this wasn't a dream but actually happened. Some little ones will like this and find reassurance within its pages, but it didn't really work for me. Why did it take Floppy so long to tell him about the time machine and why does he have no memory of other travels back in time?...more
It wouldn't be far off to declare this book to be a depiction of Disneyland's Magical Kingdom gone amuck. As the book opens, it quickly becomes clear It wouldn't be far off to declare this book to be a depiction of Disneyland's Magical Kingdom gone amuck. As the book opens, it quickly becomes clear that there's been a murder, and Ana is accused of the killing. Moving backward and forward in time, readers learn about her existence as one of the Fantasists, seven princesses who are android/hybrids, and have been programmed to please those around them. The theme park is set up as something of a virtual reality experience with once-extinct species being brought back to life. Hers might seem to be an idyllic life, filled with pleasure and beautiful gowns, but there are problems in the Kingdom since many of the security guards seem to treat Ana and the others as something less than human. There are hints of sordid acts with a group of individuals called the Investors and with some unsavory guards, and Ana is disturbed by the cruelty she sees toward the animals and the increasingly odd behavior of two of her sisters. Because of the way the story unfolds, readers won't be sure exactly what happened to Owen or whether he actually betrayed her. While I liked a lot about this story, including the world that was created here and the science taken to extremes, I found it hard to believe that Owen, someone who was nineteen, would be entrusted with such an important role in the Kingdom. I wanted to know more about how this theme park got its start and how its secrets were kept. The book brings to mind The Stepford Wives with the expected obedient behavior of the Fantasists whose whole purpose was to please. How emotionally exhausting that would be! I found the book strangely compelling and disturbing even though I finished it with plenty of questions, both trivial and of an ethical nature. Teen readers will surely find it interesting to ask themselves what they might have done in Ana's situation and how far our current ways of entertaining ourselves mirror those found in the Kingdom. When I read a book like this, I can't help but ask myself how far off in the future is the reality it depicts. Or, for that matter, whether a hybrid such as Ana truly can feel anything. ...more
This one is a 3.5 for me since it continued to hold my interest just like its predecessor, The Flooded Earth. Having struck out in finding Spinner, thThis one is a 3.5 for me since it continued to hold my interest just like its predecessor, The Flooded Earth. Having struck out in finding Spinner, their father, Annalie and Will Wallace continue to follow the clues they have about his possible whereabouts and track down various scientists who were involved with the Collodius Process. In this book, Annalie, Pod, and Graham, Spinner's talking parrot, spend much of the time in Dasto Puri where they are forced to help some pirates in stealing some technology, while Will and Essie, washed overboard during a storm, struggle to survive in the sea and on the uninhabited island where they eventually land. The friends are eventually reunited and continue their search, always seeming to be just a step ahead of the relentless and Beckett and the Admiralty and a step or two behind Spinner. Just as action-packed and original as the first title in this trilogy, this book contains careful world building and descriptions of the havoc wreaked by science gone wrong 40 years ago. While it might seem unlikely that youngsters could continue to outsmart the adults around them, it makes for riveting and breathtaking reading. It is interesting to see the characters continue to grow and evolve as well even while never taking their eyes off their ultimate goal. ...more