4.5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in the way I enjoyed books as a kid. It’s intriguing, original, strange, a little cozy and also a little scary. It4.5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in the way I enjoyed books as a kid. It’s intriguing, original, strange, a little cozy and also a little scary. It feels at once familiar and fresh. Pretty sure I would have devoured it several times as a child. Heck, I’d be happy to read it again now. The characters are memorable, and I read a lot that aren’t (admittedly, my book memory is poor outside of books I truly love). While it isn’t a difficult read, I will recommend it to voracious kid readers who just love how books work, just love a satisfying read.
3.5. There’s a very “Goonies” set-up going on here, which the author acknowledges and pays homage to. Exploring secret, hidden territory (tunnels and 3.5. There’s a very “Goonies” set-up going on here, which the author acknowledges and pays homage to. Exploring secret, hidden territory (tunnels and a ship in Goonies, an entire house set up as a series of elaborate escape rooms here) while solving puzzles under pressure and facing bodily peril, all for a chance at a rumored treasure that might help save one of the protagonists’ homes from foreclosure, etc. It took me a while to really get into this book, billed as a mystery, but I was all-in for the last half and eager to get back to it when I had to put it down and do other stuff. The closing chapters were suspenseful; the resolution interesting. I’ll recommend this one to kids who love books with puzzles and/or contests with treasures at stake—like Book Scavenger or The Westing Game.
Also—wow, what a cover. Good ones really DO help a book’s chances, and this one is even more clever when you look back at it after finishing the book.
Thanks to #edelweiss and the publisher for access to the digital ARC...more
Clear, informative graphic nonfic with wry running asides from Scout’s skunk sidekick. I want to remember this series to recommend to patrons. While iClear, informative graphic nonfic with wry running asides from Scout’s skunk sidekick. I want to remember this series to recommend to patrons. While it presents scientific concepts, the framing (survival), tone, and lots of breathing space given to the text this will be far less daunting to anyone daunted by denser graphic nonfiction like the Science Comics series (and still worthwhile and fun to those who aren’t). That breathing space makes it easier on the eyes than Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, too, but it doesn’t feel slight. A good choice for a gift, as these (only two so far) are likely lesser known to devourers of graphic format books geared to kids, but are hard to not like or to open and quickly reject—they look friendly, they’re funny, and they help you know things.
Scout: “Many communities within tsunami hazard zones have maps available to help plan your evacuation. Take the time to find your home or school as well as the fastest route to safety.”
Skunk: “What about a nice place to get snacks?”
The author emphasizes the seriousness of tsunamis and that they have “caused many deaths” in a note at the end.
Thanks due to #netgalley for access to the digital ARC...more
Pretty solid! Stellar illustrations, an all (or at least all depicted) Black cast of characters, and really good character growth, with lots of practiPretty solid! Stellar illustrations, an all (or at least all depicted) Black cast of characters, and really good character growth, with lots of practical lessons (that don’t feel preachy) about working together, putting in hard work if you want to make something awesome, understanding give and take and that relationships can’t (or at least, here, they can’t) function if you’re always the taker or giver, and even the art of making a movie people will care about. Main character Marcus is almost too obnoxious to take for a little while there, but then he gets it; he grows steadily as a person throughout the book. It was good to see a successful single father and son family unit—I’m hard-pressed to think of another in middlegrade realistic fiction (Marcus lost his mom to cancer in the time before the book starts). The cover and illustrations throughout will appeal to reluctant (as well as other) readers—I think it will be a successful handseller (“sales” in my case means library kids will check it out, not dismiss at a glance). I’m not saying “Rush out—you must read this!” but I am saying, yeah, this is good....more
A man boards a commercial flight, lights a cigarette (it’s 1971), and hands a flight attendant a note that reads “Miss—I have a bomb and I would like A man boards a commercial flight, lights a cigarette (it’s 1971), and hands a flight attendant a note that reads “Miss—I have a bomb and I would like you to sit by me.” (How booktalkable is that?) Fascinating graphic-format nonfiction presented case-file style (text in “typewriter” font, maps, images of things like Cooper’s plane ticket and marked dollar bills with an explanation of all of the fields on a dollar) with sweet (1960s?) advertising-reminiscent art. Text nicely chunked up—potential readers who balk at long passages of uninterrupted text opening this to any page won’t automatically dismiss it.
Delightful, clever, naughty, and yes, reminiscent of Roald Dahl—but with more character growth, I think, then most of his books. His nasties mostly stDelightful, clever, naughty, and yes, reminiscent of Roald Dahl—but with more character growth, I think, then most of his books. His nasties mostly stay nasty. I don’t really want to share plot points, because I enjoyed being surprised myself, and if I remember correctly (it was long ago this morning, sigh), I was surprised by the end of the very first chapter—so I definitely want to use it in my First Chapter Fridays library program, where I read the first chapter or so of books and have them available for kids to check out after. This will be an excellent one for booktalking and handselling, too. ...more
Quietly epic, Clan is a coming of age tale of survival, of the power and value of stories, of bitter sibling rivalry passed to the next generation, ofQuietly epic, Clan is a coming of age tale of survival, of the power and value of stories, of bitter sibling rivalry passed to the next generation, of persistence and growth, of pride and its victims, of ritual and of breaking the cycle. Set towards the end of the Ice Age, it follows Atlatl, a boy with a badly twisted leg in a culture where most men are valued for their physical prowess and skill at the hunt. A gifted storyteller who sparkles with intelligence, Atlatl is painfully aware that his father, clan leader Nootau, would much rather have his brother’s son, athletic Powaw, for his own. The story grapples with all of the classic conflicts—human vs human, human vs nature, human vs self—and feels as though it could have been written (or told) in another century. It’s an unadorned, refreshing, satisfying read—I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. It’s definitely one I’ll use for my Catch a Chapter program at the library—where I read the first one or two chapters of a book aloud and have copies available for intrigued kids to check out. Many thanks to #edelweissplus for a digital ARC. ...more
Fabulously creepy and, yes, reminiscent of Stranger Things in some aspects—the town, the lab—though the stories and backstories of the two main characFabulously creepy and, yes, reminiscent of Stranger Things in some aspects—the town, the lab—though the stories and backstories of the two main characters, Caden and Rae, stand out differently and are more developed than the stories of the kids of Stranger Things. As a selector on a small budget I grown inwardly every time I finish a book and know there will be at least one sequel (I can’t buy every series; it’s hard to choose which to continue with)—but this is one where I’m definitely interested in the continuation of the story and spending more time with Caden and, to a lesser extent, Rae. Will purchase and booktalk up the wazoo.
Thanks due to Edelweiss+ for a digital ARC....more
I really enjoyed this—everything from the swampy Southern atmosphere to the character names to the surprise (to me; it may even have been stated elsewI really enjoyed this—everything from the swampy Southern atmosphere to the character names to the surprise (to me; it may even have been stated elsewhere) that it turned out to be a small-town mystery involving bioluminescence and other STEAM-y things. It had echoes of a higher-tech, more sophisticated Scooby-Doo, and slighter echoes of Three Times Lucky (Southern, mysterious, relationship between Kick and the adults in her life, unconventional names—but without TTL’s humor). Kirkus’s review said it plodded, but I didn’t feel that way—though the emphasis on the “Jennas” at the beginning at school (think “Heathers” if you’re of a certain age) seemed a little less important than the attention it was given; there was no resolution that brought the Jennas back towards the end of the book—they kind of disappeared. I have a Mysteries book list for kids at the library and will pop this on it to promote its discovery, as well as ‘handselling’ it in book talks to the right kids. It’s not a must-read, but it’s a good read.
Reviewed from digital arc acquired via #netgalley...more
I chose this as a library staff pick for 2/17. The blurb I wrote for the website:
"What a gripping book! In graphic novel format, author-illustrator NI chose this as a library staff pick for 2/17. The blurb I wrote for the website:
"What a gripping book! In graphic novel format, author-illustrator Nathan Hale tells the story of Harriet Tubman in a way that will enthrall both history-buffs and reluctant readers alike. The selfless, dangerous trips Tubman made again and again to bring other slaves north to freedom pulse with suspense. The pain of seeing one's family members sold to other masters is palpable. Readers will emerge with a new level of knowledge about the Underground Railroad; the slave trade; and Frederick Douglass, Nat Turner, and John Brown in addition to Tubman--all of it acquired while being entertained. Hale's brilliant illustrations bring an extra immediacy to history-telling, and his other Hazardous Tales--including stories about WWI, the Monitor and the Merrimac, and the spy who shares his name--are well worth checking out, too. Grades 4 to 7."
Easily my favorite of the Hazardous Tales I've read so far....more
"This non-stop thriller starts fast and never slows down. When police show up at Ben’s door looking for his paMy blurb for the library's staff picks:
"This non-stop thriller starts fast and never slows down. When police show up at Ben’s door looking for his parents, Ben tells him what he knows to be the truth: they’re still at work at the car-wrecking business they own. But the police say they’ve already looked there, and leave with no message. Then Ben’s parents’ car squeals into the driveway, where they tell Ben and his sister they’re going on an immediate family vacation. There’s no time to pack clothes. Later that day, Ben’s mom cuts off her hair, and Ben’s, too. What kind of vacation requires weird haircuts? Why does his dad take them to a moldy cabin deep in the woods, with no water or toilet or phone service--only spiders and the stench of dead animals? What’s in the canvas bag Ben spies his dad hiding in the ceiling? And what do you do when the spiders, the dark, and the snakes are far less terrifying than the violent, angry man your dad is becoming? Note: Parents should know that there is one instance of “d_mn” in the book. (5th-8th)"...more
My blurb for our library's June youth staff picks, which doesn't capture plenty that's well-done about the book (Nick and his friends' personal lives-My blurb for our library's June youth staff picks, which doesn't capture plenty that's well-done about the book (Nick and his friends' personal lives--including one with a father arguably wrongfully imprisoned), middle school stuff like first crushes (handled lightly, not superfluous) plodding along in a boring relationship because it's convenient, etc. There's humor throughout that at its best reminds me of Daniel Pinkwater.
One thing really disappointed me: a kid character arriving at the garage sale and seeing people from her school--two are simply identified by name, but a third as "a Hispanic kid." I hate it when only one character "has" a race--implying that white is "of course" the default.
The blurb:
"When Nick, his brother, and his dad move into his Great Aunt Greta’s old house, Nick finds the attic full of useless junk. He quickly gets rid of most of it in a garage sale. Then he begins to hear from his buyers about secret powers the “junk” objects have…a shabby reel-to-reel recorder records what people are THINKING rather than what they say. A baseball mitt pulls asteroids out of the sky. An old camera takes pictures of things that will happen 24 hours in the future. When a sinister organization called The Accelerati shows up at Nick’s house desperate to get their hands on the objects, Nick and his friends race to learn the history of the objects and keep them out of The Accelerati’s hands. Suspenseful, smart, plot-twisting, and often funny, Tesla’s Attic is the perfect adventure to kick off your summer. Even better? It’s the first book in a trilogy, and all three are now available from the library."...more
Roan, hoping to go to Pilot Academy for middle school like his older brother, is disappointed when he's assigned to Jedi Academy. Worse, when he gets Roan, hoping to go to Pilot Academy for middle school like his older brother, is disappointed when he's assigned to Jedi Academy. Worse, when he gets there, he finds he's last in his class at mastering The Force. While there are lots of Star Warsy details for Star Wars fans to love (including a Wookiee P.E. Teacher), many of the issues that rise during Roan's first year would apply to any middle school: dealing with bullies and crushes, struggling at some things and rocking at others, having complicated friendships, enduring embarrassment, and finding your niche. In the library, I'll recommend it as much or more to fans of *Diary of a Wimpy Kid* and *Big Nate* than to fans of Star Wars.
One favorite non-Star Warsy bit that hints at Brown's humor: an ad in the school paper reading
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