Friday, March 23, 2012

Review - Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw

Wanda Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw
by Deborah Kogan Ray
Date: 2008
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Wanda Gág (pronounced "Gog") is well known as the author and illustrator of Millions of Cats, one of the best-loved children's books ever published. But not many people know how interesting and inspiring her life was.

Following in the footsteps of her beloved artist father, Wanda led an idyllic childhood, drawing and listening to old-world fairy tales. But when her father died, it was teenage Wanda who worked hard to keep her seven younger siblings fed, clothed, and laughing. She never lost sight of her love of art, however, and her tremendous willpower won her a coveted scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City and then led to a gallery show of her artwork -- where an editor of children's books got an idea for a book. The rest, as they say, is history!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When I was growing up, my younger sister was obsessed with cats. She had Millions of Cats (the book... not actually millions of cats), and we both read it numerous times.  As an adult who dislikes cats, the premise of that book freaks me out a little bit... but the illustrations are unique and interesting, and completely different than anything that had been put out for children at the time it was written.  I came across this short biography of Wanda Gág on We Give Books, so I thought I'd give it a try.

While this book is intended for a young reading audience, it doesn't talk down to kids.  The story of Wanda's upbringing, subsequent hardships, and undying love for her art is an inspiring one.  Taking into account the time period in question, Wanda also seems to be something of a pioneer; at a time when most working women would have been pushed into a lifelong career of teaching or nursing, she went and became a professional artist, even studying in New York City at one point!

The illustrations were nice, but nothing amazingly special.  I think I would have preferred to see the story illustrated with Wanda's own works (apparently, she kept many journals and sketchbooks, so there should've been ample material to choose from).  But the story is really what matters, and it is accentuated (quite effectively) with snippets of Wanda's own words.

You don't have to be familiar with Wanda Gág's work to enjoy this book, but it probably doesn't hurt.  Read this one, and then check out Millions of Cats to see the book that's often considered to be the first modern picture book.

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.4 out of 5

Review - Goodnight iPad

Goodnight iPad
by Ann Droyd
Date: 2011
Publisher: Blue Rider Press
Reading level: A
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Modern life is abuzz. There are huge LCD WiFi HD TVs and Facebook requests and thumbs tapping texts and new viral clips of cats doing flips. Wouldn't it be nice to say goodnight to all that? Like the rest of us who cannot resist just a few more scrolls and clicks, you may find yourself ready for bed while still clinging to your electronics long after dark. This book, which is made of paper, is a reminder for the child in all of us to power down at the end of the day. This hilarious parody not only pokes loving fun at the bygone quiet of the original classic, but also at our modern plugged-in lives. It will make you laugh, and it will also help you put yourself and your machines to sleep. Don't worry, though. Your gadgets will be waiting for you, fully charged, in the morning.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When I was a very small child, Goodnight Moon was one of my favourite books. I don't think I even have my copy anymore, as it wore out and fell apart and probably wasn't worth keeping (this was before they came out with the board book edition, I think).

If you remember Goodnight Moon from your own childhood (or if you've shared it with your own children), you'll probably delight in this satirical take on the classic.  With its deceptively simple (but important) message and charming illustrations, it's bound to give you a few giggles... and maybe even make you think about unplugging for a while!

It does seem a bit ironic that I read this book online at We Give Books.  But, actually, the book is only available for purchase in hard copy (there's no e-book edition)... which goes along perfectly with the message.

Premise: 5/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Monday, March 19, 2012

Review - Gossamer [AUDIO]

Gossamer
by Lois Lowry
Date: 2006
Publisher: Listening Library
Reading level: MG
Book type: prose novel
Length: 2 hours 43 minutes
Format: audio book [unabridged]
Source: library

Littlest One is a tiny creature slowly learning her job of giving dreams to humans. Each night she and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman’s home where she softly touches beloved objects, gathering happy memories, and drops of old scents and sounds. Littlest One pieces these bits together and presents them to her sleeping human in the form of pleasant dreams. But the dreaded Sinisteeds, dark fearsome creatures that plague their victims with nightmares, are always at work against the dreamgivers. When the old woman takes in John, an angry foster child with a troubled past, the Sinisteeds go after him with their horrifying nightmares. Can Littlest One, and her touch light as gossamer, protect John’s heart and soul from the nightmare of his dark past?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When I first started listening to this one, I thought it might end up being a good story.  Boy, was I ever wrong!  I couldn't wait for this one to be over; the only reason I even bothered to finish it was because it was relatively short (for an audio book).

The plot was pretty weak.  So there are these little creatures who come at night, gather nice memories from your belongings, and then turn them into dreams which they then bestow upon you.  That's fine.  But that's about all there was to the whole story!  Everything was oversimplified and (I thought) a bit condescending.  The villains weren't seen much, and they weren't that scary.  A horse-like creature (a Sinisteed) breathes its way through your walls (I'm not joking) and gives you a nightmare.  Okay... but why did the other dreamgivers act like this was a matter of life and death?  They couldn't always prevent the nightmares, and even then, nobody died.  So what was the big deal?

The characters were so boring.  I couldn't relate to any of them.  Littlest One was naive and annoying; her mentor, Thin Elderly, had about as much personality as a piece of drywall; the old woman was clueless and one-dimensional; John was a lost cause and downright scary (when a foster kid keeps talking about getting a gun and shooting you -- and your dog -- you should probably be a little bit worried); John's mother was almost an afterthought, and probably shouldn't even have made an appearance if she was going to be so underutilized; and Toby, the dog, was just a boring dog character (and dogs should never be boring).  The only character I was interested in was one of the dreamgivers who'd turned into a Sinisteed.  That was interesting... but that story angle wasn't given much attention.

Overall, the thing that really made me dislike this audio book was the narrator.  In fact, I've made a note of her name so I never have to endure that sort of torture again.  At times, all the characters sounded the same, which was confusing; at other times, she tried to differentiate the voices, only to become even more annoying.  Her attempt at a tiny creature (Littlest One) sounded forced in its attempt to be childlike, and yet near the end of the book her regular narration voice lapsed into this irritating tone.  All the old characters (Thin Elderly, Most Ancient, the old woman) spoke the same way, with a creaky voice that had this weird downward inflection at the end of each phrase.

I have to admit, in the spirit of full disclosure, that I fell asleep numerous times while listening, so I may have missed a second or two here and there.  But, if anything, that only further proves that this story is too boring to be tolerated.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 1/5
Pace: 2/5
Performance: 1/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Saturday, March 17, 2012

This is not acceptable, Google!

I noticed this morning that my blog is now at blogspot.ca instead of at blogspot.com.  What this will do to any links that are out on the Internet is anyone's guess...

But my bigger problem is that the Quick Edit pencil icon is gone.  The settings say it should show up, but it doesn't... which means that I can't edit any of my old posts (like my Reviews page) without searching through 2 and a half years of postings to find the right one.

This is not a unique problem.  Other users have had this happen with the switchover to country-specific URLs.

Message to Google, Blogger, Facebook, and any of these other tech companies who keep giving people what they don't want: knock it off!  It's not enough that Facebook messed everything up with the chaotic Timeline feature, or that Google now requires more steps for me to even access my blog... but now Blogger has broken my blog?!

Sometimes, the things that already exist are good enough.  You know what they say: If it ain't broke...

Review - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #1)
by Ransom Riggs
Date: 2011
Publisher: Quirk Books
Reading level: YA
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 352
Format: hardcover
Source: Indigo

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Let me first say that the synopsis (which is also on the jacket flap) does not do the story justice.  In fact, the synopsis almost makes this book sound boring... and it's definitely not.

At its heart, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a fresh, exciting take on the young adult fantasy genre.  It's a story about some peculiar children at a home in Wales, yes; but it's also a story about family, the nature of reality, and the battle between good and evil.

The narrative is well written -- almost too well written in spots, which made me think of the narrator as an educated, middle-aged man rather than the privileged (yet troubled) teenaged boy he is.  Why is Jacob so troubled?  Because he experiences something terrifying, something out of his worst nightmares (and that actually gives him nightmares), and yet nobody will believe him.  On the advice of his therapist, he takes a trip to Wales with his father, hoping to find the house and children that his grandfather often spoke of... but that nobody believes are real.  They are real, and very much alive...  (Sorry... but I can't say more about the plot without giving too much away.  That's probably why the official synopsis is so cryptic!)

What really makes this book unique is the use of carefully selected vintage photographs.  They're scattered throughout in places that correspond to the text.  As a result, you get to see pictures of all of the peculiar children (or the ones that matter to the narrative, anyway).  This makes the characters and story come alive in a way that's different from most fantasy novels.  And yes, the girl on the cover is actually one of the children.

All in all, this was an interesting, unique, sometimes spine-tingling, and always captivating story.  It's not a stand-alone title (which is obvious from the rather open ending), but the author is working on the sequel so there is more coming!  If you're looking for something that's a little different, why not give Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children a try?

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Editing: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.57 out of 5

Sunday, March 11, 2012

In My Mailbox (52)


Borrowed from the library (audio books):
Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo

When 10-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her father, she doesn't know what to expect -- least of all, that she'll adopt Winn-Dixie, a dog she names after the supermarket where they met.

Right away, Opal knows she can tell Winn-Dixie anything -- like the fact that lately she's been thinking a lot about her mother, who left when Opal was three. And that her father, the preacher, won't talk about her mother at all. And that she's lonely. But with such an unusually friendly dog at her side, Opal soon finds herself making more than a few unusual friends. And ultimately, Opal and the preacher realize -- with a little help from Winn-Dixie, of course -- that while they've both tasted a bit of melancholy in their lives, they still have a whole lot to be thankful for.

First Light
by Rebecca Stead

Peter is thrilled to join his parents on an expedition to Greenland, where his father studies global warming. Peter will get to skip school, drive a dogsled, and –- finally -– share in his dad’s adventures. But on the ice cap, Peter struggles to understand a series of visions that both frighten and entice him.

Thea has never seen the sun. Her extraordinary people, suspected of witchcraft and nearly driven to extinction, have retreated to a secret world they’ve built deep inside the arctic ice. As Thea dreams of a path to Earth’s surface, Peter’s search for answers brings him ever closer to her hidden home.

Rebecca Stead’s fascinating debut novel is a dazzling tale of mystery, science and adventure at the top of the world.

Gossamer
by Lois Lowry

Littlest One is a tiny creature slowly learning her job of giving dreams to humans. Each night she and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman’s home where she softly touches beloved objects, gathering happy memories, and drops of old scents and sounds. Littlest One pieces these bits together and presents them to her sleeping human in the form of pleasant dreams. But the dreaded Sinisteeds, dark fearsome creatures that plague their victims with nightmares, are always at work against the dreamgivers. When the old woman takes in John, an angry foster child with a troubled past, the Sinisteeds go after him with their horrifying nightmares. Can Littlest One, and her touch light as gossamer, protect John’s heart and soul from the nightmare of his dark past?

From We Give Books:
Little Dog Lost
by Mônica Carnesi

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wanders onto a frozen river, and before he knows it he is traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people try to help, but the dog can not be reached. Finally, after two nights and 75 miles, the little dog is saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants
by Giles Andreae & Korky Paul

When King Colin's golden pants go missing, he calls for Sir Scallywag, the bravest knight in the land. But... Sir Scallywag is only 6 years old and with an evil giant to pursue, it's nearly mission impossible! Luckily, it's a story of David and Goliath. With his trusted steed Doofus at his side, Sir Scallywag proves that even the unlikeliest hero can be the bravest knight of all.


What was in your "mailbox" this week?


In My Mailbox was started by Kristi of The Story Siren.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Review - Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants

Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants
by Giles Andreae
illustrated by Korky Paul
Date: 2012
Publisher: Puffin
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

When King Colin's golden pants go missing, he calls for Sir Scallywag, the bravest knight in the land. But... Sir Scallywag is only 6 years old and with an evil giant to pursue, it's nearly mission impossible! Luckily, it's a story of David and Goliath. With his trusted steed Doofus at his side, Sir Scallywag proves that even the unlikeliest hero can be the bravest knight of all.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Oh, my goodness!  Well, this was different.  It's the sort of book that would probably be appreciated most by little boys... but the fun illustrations and jaunty meter would make it fun for most kids (and for the parents who might be reading it aloud).  I found it rather difficult not to guffaw when reading lines such as:

"They're my underpants of glory,
My underpants of power!
My breakfast will be ruined
If they're not back within this hour!"

So, all in all, it's a pretty fun little book.  I'd definitely recommend this one!

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Little Dog Lost

Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic
by Mônica Carnesi
illustrated by Mônica Carnesi
Date: 2012
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wanders onto a frozen river, and before he knows it he is traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people try to help, but the dog can not be reached. Finally, after two nights and 75 miles, the little dog is saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I remember hearing about this story a couple of years ago. As a dog lover, it intrigued me.  It would make an interesting basis for a great picture book.  Unfortunately, this book wasn't what I was looking for.

Yes, it is a picture book intended for a young audience.  However, I found the language much too simplistic, and almost condescending.  And when I read a picture book, I want great illustrations.  The pictures here were nothing special, and I wasn't impressed.

Overall, I'd probably never read this again, and I doubt I'd want to give it to a child.  This version didn't do the original captivating story justice at all.

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.4 out of 5

Review - Because of Winn-Dixie [AUDIO]

Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo
Date: 2000
Publisher: Listening Library
Reading level: MG
Book type: prose novel
Length: 2 hours 28 minutes
Format: audio book [unabridged]
Source: library

When 10-year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida, with her father, she doesn't know what to expect -- least of all, that she'll adopt Winn-Dixie, a dog she names after the supermarket where they met.

Right away, Opal knows she can tell Winn-Dixie anything -- like the fact that lately she's been thinking a lot about her mother, who left when Opal was three. And that her father, the preacher, won't talk about her mother at all. And that she's lonely. But with such an unusually friendly dog at her side, Opal soon finds herself making more than a few unusual friends. And ultimately, Opal and the preacher realize -- with a little help from Winn-Dixie, of course -- that while they've both tasted a bit of melancholy in their lives, they still have a whole lot to be thankful for.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I really haven't had much experience with audio books.  For some reason, I'd viewed them sort of as cheating... like if I didn't actually read a book myself, then it didn't count.  Which is kind of silly, actually.  The last audio book I listened to was an abridged version of Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy way back in the 1990s (on cassette tape -- my age is showing).  I really enjoyed it, so I don't know why I was so hesitant to try audio books again.

Because of Winn-Dixie is a cute story about a girl and her dog.  It's one of those books that evokes the atmosphere of small-town America in a way that seems so real that it can create a sense of nostalgia (even for those who've never been to small-town America).  The cast of characters was colourful and entertaining, and everybody had their own story.  Winn-Dixie was a fun animal character, too, with his unusual but friendly manner of greeting people and his neurosis about thunderstorms.

There's really not much I have to say against the book, though I wasn't crazy about the choice of narrator for the audio book.  Opal was supposed to be a 10-year-old girl, so listening to what sounded like a 40-year-old smoker kind of threw me.  Other than that, the performance itself was good, with lovely inflection and different voices for the various characters.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Performance: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Review - Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival

Jolted: Newton Starker's Rules for Survival
by Arthur Slade
Date: 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: MG
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 240
Format: paperback
Source: Indigo

Newton Goddard Starker lives with a mysterious curse: his family attracts lightning.

Nearly all of the Starker family have died from lightning strikes, including Newton's beloved mother. Fourteen-year-old Newton, the last in the Starker line, is determined not to be next, and he may have found a way to beat the odds. He has enrolled at Jerry Potts Academy for Survival, a boarding school in Moose Jaw, Canada, whose motto is Survival Through Fierce Intelligence. Newton's ready to learn, and to be remembered in the school's Hall of Heroes.

What Newton hasn't counted on is the other students. For a boy who's spent most of his life in a protective dome, making friends is sometimes as challenging as surviving. Especially when he's vying for top marks with the dynamo Violet Quon.
Throw in a supertalented pig, students in kilts, wacky teachers, and some important questions about fate and the universe, and you've got an irresistible story that's as unique as Jerry Potts Academy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this one.  I'd never heard of it, and I only bought it because I found it in the bargain bin and it looked vaguely interesting.

It was a relief to read something that was generally well written, though I would expect as much from a middle grade novel (it's the young adult stuff that usually has the writing/editing/grammar issues).  While I'm pretty sure most 14-year-old boys don't talk the way Newton and his friends did, the style worked well enough in the context of the novel.  Some of the descriptions were really well done, and I'll probably always remember that Newton's great-grandmother was "as friendly as a pickled wolverine" (a phrase like that tends to stick in your head)!  I liked the inclusion of Josephine, Newton's pet pig (even though it was pretty unrealistic), and the academy, with its kilt uniforms and Scottish flavour, was interesting.  However, there were a few points that kind of turned me off.

The Jerry Potts Academy is a school that teaches survival skills, and apparently that includes killing whatever crosses your path and eating it.  There was a particularly disgusting scene about halfway through the book that had me (and many of the students in the book) gagging.  It might be right up a 12-year-old male reader's alley, but it was a bit much for this 30-something female reader.  Later in the book, it's implied that a person might get dizzy, pass out, and hallucinate after not eating meat for a couple of meals.  Aside from being a bit insulting to the intelligence of vegetarians, it's downright ridiculous and untrue.  And since Newton was something of an aspiring chef, I would have expected him to be a little more knowledgeable about food.

The last part of the novel reminded me of The Hunger Games, only much more lighthearted and of course nobody died (although when Newton kept thinking things like kill or be killed, I was a bit worried).  The story was different, with the Starker family curse (lightning!) and some of the characters were interesting... but there were some things that could have been done better.  I would have liked to know more about the school and see more about the teachers (we only really get to know a couple).  Plus, the ending is rather ambiguous and almost seems tailor-made for a sequel... except there isn't one.

Overall, it was fairly entertaining.  I might be more inclined to recommend it to its intended audience, though; some parts were a bit puerile for my taste.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Editing: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Review - Chasing Brooklyn

Chasing Brooklyn
by Lisa Schroeder
Date: 2010
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Reading level: YA
Book type: verse novel
Pages: 412
Format: hardcover
Source: library

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

(synopsis from Amazon)

This was the third of Lisa Schroeder's books I've read (the other two being The Day Before and I Heart You, You Haunt Me).  While they're all fairly good, I found that I Heart You, You Haunt Me and Chasing Brooklyn were too similar for my taste.  Yes, they're supposed to be companion novels (the main character of I Heart You, You Haunt Me even shows up in Chasing Brooklyn), but to me it almost felt as if the author was repeating herself.  Two girls lose their boyfriends, are subsequently haunted, and eventually move on with their lives.  I did enjoy the male viewpoint in Chasing Brooklyn (half of the book is told by Nico), but it wasn't enough to really wow me or make me feel like I hadn't just wasted my time by reading the same book twice!

I guess what I'm saying is that either of the two books is good... on its own.  I just felt like I had dead-boyfriend fatigue by the end of Chasing Brooklyn.  If I could go back and read just one, I'd probably choose this one, because I found the characters just a bit more interesting.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Editing: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5