Review - Eve of Eridu

Eve of Eridu (Eridu #1)
by Alanah Andrews
Date: 2018
Publisher: Michael Terence Publishing
Reading level: YA
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 226
Format: e-book
Source: Kobo

In a world where emotions are forbidden, what happens when you start to feel?

The harvest separates the worthy from the unworthy. Those who pass are destined to continue the human race, and the unworthy are culled.

For years, Eve has been the poster girl for emotional control. But ever since her brother was culled, Eve is finding it difficult to keep the monitor on her wrist an acceptable blue.

The next harvest ceremony is approaching and Eve will do whatever it takes to avoid the same fate as her brother. Gripping and intriguing, Eve of Eridu explores the lengths that humans will go to in their quest for survival.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Wow. I don't think I've ever had this much of a drop in enjoyment between two instalments of a series before.

I read The Harvest (the prequel short story) a week or so ago and was really intrigued by the world the author had built. Eve and Hana were interesting characters, the world was fascinating, and I wanted to know more. Why was Eve's brother, Luc, culled? That was the biggest question I had, and I really wanted to see if Eve of Eridu would answer it. Well, it did... but that answer was less than satisfactory.

It's painfully obvious that Eve of Eridu was written before The Harvest, even though the latter is the prequel. While The Harvest featured distinct characters and an intriguing introduction to the world of Eridu, Eve of Eridu feels incomplete, confusing, and not consistent with its prequel. I kind of liked Eve in The Harvest; she's completely unlikeable in Eve of Eridu. Maybe the author realized she needed to humanize Eve a little more in the prequel so that she didn't come off as a brainwashed sociopath. (Yes, she gets better toward the end of this book, but it's too little, too late... and even then, she's still spouting the cult's sayings like a loyal member. It makes her final actions ring a bit false.) Also, if you liked Hana in The Harvest, you'll be disappointed here; she's little more than a cardboard cutout for Eve to look down upon in this book.

The other way this book seems obviously written first is the writing and editing. The first part is okay, but then the editor seems to give up. The rest of the book is full of comma splices, misplaced action beats, and incorrect punctuation (including a seeming aversion to question marks). If I hadn't wanted so badly to find out how this cult started and what its goal really was, I would've given up.

I can't even imagine reading this book without first reading the prequel. As I was reading Eve of Eridu, I was thinking about how confused I would've been had I not already been introduced to the world and all its terminology. And as for Luc... well, that's probably this book's biggest failing. He's already gone by the time the story starts, so we never get to see his relationship with Eve... and that makes it really difficult to feel anything for her because we don't really know what kind of relationship she's lost. All we know is what she tells us. (Unfortunately, the amount of telling in this book borders on the ridiculous. We're often not shown anything at all, and Eve just explains things to us. At one point, we skip ahead by months, just with one sentence. This transition could've worked... but not stuck in the middle of a random paragraph as it was.)

I'm just disappointed. I so rarely read YA these days, and I thought I'd found a series that I'd actually enjoy. Right now, I'm more annoyed than anything, and hesitant to even recommend the prequel (even though it's far better than this book). Judging by the rating on Goodreads, I'm probably in the minority. Your mileage, as always, may vary. But, if you do decide to read this, make sure you start with The Harvest.

Premise: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing: 2/5
Editing: 2/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 2.25 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Circle Round

Circle Round
by Anne Sibley O'Brien
illustrated by Hanna Cha
Date: 2021
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From one child to ten, hands are extended in an ongoing invitation to welcome all kids into a circle of inclusion, friendship, and play.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is basically a counting book, with various round objects (everything from bike wheels to soap bubbles to cookies) highlighted by each child that's added to the mix.

The mixed-media illustrations are nice. A group of diverse children is represented here. The theme of inclusion and friendship is perhaps a little stronger than the circle theme (I wasn't loving some of the verbs accompanying the various round items; some seemed a stretch).

Overall, this is a nice picture book that celebrates friendship and diversity while also showing various round objects for readers to count.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Group Hug

Group Hug
by Jean Reidy
illustrated by Joey Chou
Date: 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

There once was a slug, / needing someone to hug.

When Slug happens upon a lonely beetle, he knows just what to do. He gives him a big hug--and then the two friends decide to pass it along. They meet Mouse, who's down in the dumps, Skunk, who's a bit smelly, and more and more animals, until their group hug stretches wide and tall. But when Bear comes along, will there be enough hug to share? This delightful picture book encourages kindness and goes to show that a hugger finds happiness 'longside the hugged!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I can see this book being used for a read-aloud storytime. It's got cute characters, a bouncy rhythm, and a nice overall message.

The pictures are just okay for me. Everything's kind of blocky, but I guess that's just the style. They're colourful, anyway.

Overall, a nice book about hugs.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - The Harvest

The Harvest (Eridu #0)
by Alanah Andrews
Date: 2019
Publisher: Deadset Press
Reading level: YA
Book type: short story
Pages: 55
Format: e-book
Source: Kobo

ONLY THE WORTHY PASS THE HARVEST

Ever since WWIII devastated the surface of the Earth, emotions have been strictly forbidden. Childhood friends, Eve and Hana, have grown up in an underground compound, their emotional control monitored at all times.

But the harvest is approaching . . .

In two days, the low-ranked students will be culled and the worthy assigned to their permanent positions in society.

Eve is a high-ranked student, but harbours secret concerns about her brother leaving—feelings that she must conceal from her monitor if she wishes to succeed. Hana has always struggled to control her emotions, and she fears that this harvest will be her last.

Both know there's no place for friendship when they're competing for their lives.

The harvest is coming, and only the worthy will remain.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I don't read nearly as much YA as I should. For some reason, it's my favourite age category.

I picked up this freebie and thought I'd give it a try. I was actually pleasantly surprised. Even though this is a prequel story, I didn't have any trouble getting immersed in the story and the world. It's a kind of standard dystopian with an underground society and people who are forbidden from having emotions. This particular story is told from the points of view of two girls: Eve, whose sections are narrated in the first person, and Hana, whose sections are narrated in the third person. I'm not really sure why this was done, as the first book in the series, Eve of Eridu, appears to be all from Eve's point of view.

Anyway, it's a tantalizing glimpse of a really screwed-up society. I'm curious about what happens to some of the characters now. The story itself is written fairly well, although the present-tense narration does have a few lapses into past tense. The author also repeatedly uses some odd turns of phrase (things like "up the front" rather than "up at the front"), though I'm not sure if this is a regional thing, as the author lives in Australia.

I haven't yet decided if I'll move on and read the actual first book in the series, but it's not because this one didn't pique my interest. If you're looking for a strong dystopian read, give this story a try and see if the world of Eridu might be your cup of tea.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Who Guards My Sleep?

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Who Guards My Sleep?
by Marie Chow
illustrated by Sija Hong
Date: 2021
Publisher: Marvel Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A beautifully illustrated picture book that will explore the fantastical elements of the Marvel Studios film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings while introducing readers to a child-aged Shang-Chi and his family.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The illustrations here are interesting, but the story is confusing and boring. The book is clearly a movie tie-in, and some of it won't make sense unless you've seen the movie. (At least, that's what I'm guessing. Who the heck is Morris? He's not explained here, so I assume he plays a part in the movie.)

Maybe this is great if you've seen the film. But if you're coming to it without knowing anything about the story on screen, you're liable to be as unimpressed as I was.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Duck on a Tractor

Duck on a Tractor
by David Shannon
Date: 2016
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

David Shannon's wildly popular, award-winning Duck on a Bike left children begging him to tell them another story about Duck after seeing him pictured alongside a shiny red tractor. Now Duck is back and turning the farm upside down!

Flushed with the success of his trailblazing bike ride around the farm, Duck decides he's ready to drive the tractor. As in the bestselling Duck on a Bike, all the barnyard animals share their humorous comments as they watch Duck do the unthinkable. Then, one by one, they join him on the tractor for a ride!

But what happens when Duck drives the big red tractor through town, past the popular diner where all the locals are having lunch? What will those folks really think when they see Duck and all the other animals riding around on Farmer O'Dell's tractor? Filled with entertaining detail and sly jokes, readers will pore over each picture again and again. Perfect for reading aloud!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. I read another of David Shannon's picture books back in 2018, and pretty much hated it. The pictures creeped me out. Luckily, this book isn't about the demon child named David, but about a duck who, having mastered riding a bicycle, tries his hand at driving a tractor and takes all his barnyard friends along for the ride.

This is apparently the sequel to Duck on a Bike, which I haven't read (although I kind of want to now). The premises of these books are just silly enough to work, and I can see why they appeal to kids. I thought it got a little tiresome by the time we got to town and heard all the thoughts of the people in the diner, but if you don't mind repetition, you might like this a bit more than I did.

The illustrations are detailed and fun, and all the characters are well defined. I wonder what shenanigans Duck will find himself caught up in next...

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Holi Hai!

Holi Hai!
by Chitra Soundar
illustrated by Darshika Varma
Date: 2022
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Gauri is excited to splash colors on everyone for Holi. But when she doesn't get her favorite color, Gauri gets mad. Will she find a way to overcome her anger and join in the festivities?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This a relatable little holiday story about a girl named Gauri. As her family prepares for Holi, each person is assigned a colour and must make a coloured powder. But Gauri doesn't get the colour she wanted, so she sulks all day and doesn't get anything done. Later, Grandpa tells the kids the story of Holika and Prahlada, and Gauri realizes maybe she's been acting with too much anger in her heart. So she works hard all night to try to make things right.

I've read a few Holi picture books. This is one of the stronger ones. The story is engaging, and isn't just about the festival. I enjoyed how Gauri's childhood anger and entitlement was portrayed, and how the issue was eventually resolved. There's a great author's note at the back that explains more about Holi, and there's even some recipes for making coloured waters, just in case you feel like getting joyfully messy.

Overall, this is a nice picture book about Holi with strong themes of family, compromise, and making the best of things when they don't turn out exactly as you wanted.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5