I think it is baffling to write a book about World War 2/grappling with the legacy of war, and to not at all mention the Holocaust.
It didn't need to bI think it is baffling to write a book about World War 2/grappling with the legacy of war, and to not at all mention the Holocaust.
It didn't need to be the primary focus, obviously. I think the book is probably better served without it being focused on, actually! A part of the theming of the glorification of war and all, and it's hammered to us over and over again how Trevor sees WW2 as an epic adventure just like in his video games. I can see how he'd come away without wanting to focus on the Holocaust. But if you have the dad character who really just exists to say "war is bad and awful" and who is literally a history teacher, why couldn't he bring this context?
I dunno. All of the modern day sections were poorly written and one note, but the flashbacks were interesting at least....more
i found the history itself to be very compelling and well presented, but far too much of the runtime is taken up by the framing narrative. and while ai found the history itself to be very compelling and well presented, but far too much of the runtime is taken up by the framing narrative. and while a part of me thinks the idea of "i guess my neighbor is a wizard and he'll use his magic powers to give us a vip tour through history where we actually get to see it" is wildly fun, i think this book is so short that it can't really afford to be bloated in this way. it felt very abrupt. ...more
Calling this a graphic memoir is... odd, considering that the subject of the story did not write or illustrate this book. I feel like that accounts foCalling this a graphic memoir is... odd, considering that the subject of the story did not write or illustrate this book. I feel like that accounts for the weird tone/infomercial vibe of the whole thing. It felt much more like a book explaining an important historical figure to a child then it felt like anything personal about Jay Jay's life and story.
An extremely enjoyable middle-grade read with a very fun narrator. I do have to agree with goodreads user Karen about my major complaint with the bookAn extremely enjoyable middle-grade read with a very fun narrator. I do have to agree with goodreads user Karen about my major complaint with the book, when she writes:
> there isn't much in the way of dramatic tension. you learn pretty early on that any time something negative could happen, it is like there is a teflon bubble of groovy sixties optimism that just protects him from bad times. and this despite the backdrop of the vietnam war.
Like... the formulaic approach to conflict is kind of fascinating. The entire Cream Puffs Or You're Dead thing just felt so overwrought? And everything Does get magical teflon bubble solution'd. The New York Yankees were there and literally everybody clapped.
I hope Holling's parents get divorced. It'd be good for the mom. It'd be bad for the dad, but I don't think he can be saved by this point....more
Picked this up at the library and it is... shockingly bad. Doesn't understand what made the show work whatsoever. Also, the art was really uncanny. Picked this up at the library and it is... shockingly bad. Doesn't understand what made the show work whatsoever. Also, the art was really uncanny. ...more
A very cute book! The art is gorgeous - and in full color too, which is insane. Lots of very loving details in the artistic choices and little plottin A very cute book! The art is gorgeous - and in full color too, which is insane. Lots of very loving details in the artistic choices and little plotting choices. It felt like a very well thought out world.
My biggest critique is that it doesn't feel like it really... ended? All of the individual chapters were good. But it doesn't feel like a cohesive story. Despite being an inciting incident in the story / a reoccuring problem, Lia having these dangerously awful period cramps is never really resolved. And lots of other details which felt like they were leading to something.
Also, Wan Yin deserves better. that was the most eye rolly plot of all time. FIND A BETTER FRIEND I PROMISE YOU CAN DO BETTER !!! GIRL STAND UP!!...more
This book made me realize like... how little I knew about WW1. I knew some very broad strokes, but I had some major gaps in my knowledge that I'm gladThis book made me realize like... how little I knew about WW1. I knew some very broad strokes, but I had some major gaps in my knowledge that I'm glad I was able to fill.
It's a daunting task to try and summarize all of WW1 as a middle grade graphic novel, but I think it was achieved pretty well. I think the Ares stuff was a bit too pretentious, IMO - you already have the frame narrative of telling this information to people from the revolutionary war + the animal metaphors for the nations, and I just think it's one layer too far. Characters in the book would even point out how out of place it felt....more
very fun - a bit heavy handed with it's messaging at time, but also i am reading middle grade fiction, so it can come with the territory. yeah sure thvery fun - a bit heavy handed with it's messaging at time, but also i am reading middle grade fiction, so it can come with the territory. yeah sure the 13 year old can have a parasocial relationship with a staffer at her favorite representatives office. good for her.
really nice to see dyscalculia represented in this way - it didn't feel stereotypical and felt very authentic....more
the idea of reviewing an I Spy book is just really funny to me.
anyway, this one wasn't that good. I know how amazing this series can be (or maybe it'sthe idea of reviewing an I Spy book is just really funny to me.
anyway, this one wasn't that good. I know how amazing this series can be (or maybe it's just childhood nostalgia...?) but this one did not hit. The difficulty felt really variable - sometimes it was way too easy and sometimes it felt deeply unfair. And the theme wasn't pleasant to look at....more
An exceptional work of middle grade fiction. I really enjoyed the narrative voice of Bud - he was such a rich character and a great point of view for An exceptional work of middle grade fiction. I really enjoyed the narrative voice of Bud - he was such a rich character and a great point of view for this world. He wasn't oblivious to the world around him, but he was still limited in his perspective in the ways a 10 year old would be... there was something really impactful about seeing these adults around him try and help him. And he brushes them off in many ways, but as an adult reading it, you just keep thinking *holy shit*.
Also, he shares my birthday, which is a fun detail!
This was a much stronger showing for Kanani - which was refreshing coming off of her abysmal first book.
It touches upon a lot of the same themes as boThis was a much stronger showing for Kanani - which was refreshing coming off of her abysmal first book.
It touches upon a lot of the same themes as book 1, it just... does them much better. It does feel like it's retreading old ground a bit, though.
Pika is everything that Wayne from Maryellen's series ought to have been. It never felt like he was specifically bullying Kanani - he was just an annoying pest in general, and she was able to give it as good as she could take it. And his turn to his more sympathetic side just felt a lot more realistic. He was a highlight.
Another highlight: the Akina parents! It was really subtle, but I LOVED what the Dad did at the start of this book. He listens to his daughters idea, and says "hey, it's a good one - if you can prove to me that you actually understand the logistics behind this and can give me a business plan, you can do it". He's making sure that she can actually follow through, while also supporting her....more
i don't have much special to say about this - very good, but it did feel a little less cohesive then kirsten's world. i don't have much special to say about this - very good, but it did feel a little less cohesive then kirsten's world. ...more
This book... hm. It was entirely focused on friendship drama - which I don't find to be within AG's strengths. And the friendship dra2.5 rounded down.
This book... hm. It was entirely focused on friendship drama - which I don't find to be within AG's strengths. And the friendship drama itself was... weird. Rachel was either giving microaggressions or she was just having valid complaints which got retconned away.
Rachel is uncomfortable sleeping in a room with a dog (she's just like me for real!!), but Kanani insists upon bringing the dog with them as they hang out. A couple of chapters later, suddenly Rachel wishes she had a dog too.
Rachel makes it clear she doesn't like the ocean or swimming. But then Kanani decides to surprise her with... an ocean-related activity. But don't worry it turns out she REALLY LIKES this one so it's okay that Kanani tried to cheer her up with something that, by all accounts, she really shouldn't have liked.
And the diary thing at the end... if Kanani had been characterized as a dumb girl prior to this, then I guess I could forgive this sort of stupid plot contrivance. But she seems like a perfectly intelligent young girl. I just can't believe she'd do something THIS stupid.
I thought the setting was well done, at least, and the two illustrations we got were gorgeous. But overall I wasn't a fan of this one. ...more
its insane how much better this book is about representing native americans when comparing to the main series. its night and day.
this is AG at it's bits insane how much better this book is about representing native americans when comparing to the main series. its night and day.
this is AG at it's best. historical details explained in a way a 9 year old can understand. the ending peak into the future was also just... so sweet....more
an interesting read. the captions in a lot of the photos seem to imply they took the photos at a re-enactment community...? or something like that...?an interesting read. the captions in a lot of the photos seem to imply they took the photos at a re-enactment community...? or something like that...? i wish we had more context on that. are these people actually living as if in the 1850s or is this more like a ren faire situation. ...more
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