kidlit love

When You Reach Me

2012-02-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

When You Reach Me
written by Rebecca Stead

I'm often wary of books that have won awards. They are so filled with tropes and, in my opinion, undeserving of the prestigious awards and attention they receive. This book honestly wasn't terribly different, other than one major plot twist near the end. Same old flowery descriptions, story that drags on, "ordinary" young female narrator with missing daddy issues narrating her way through her "ordinary" life. The twist at the end literally had me jumping out of my chair, screaming "WHAT??" in public repeatedly, but besides that, an ordinary, boring read. I recommend you read A Wrinkle in Time instead.

I got this book from...:Chatham University's JKM Library

This Book is Not Good For You

2011-07-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

This Book is Not Good For You

written by Pseudonymous Bosch

Bosch is back with the third installment in the Secret series, and it's a strong return! I still maintain that the first book was the best in the series thus far, but I did enjoy this one more than I enjoyed the second book in the series. The parallels between Bosch's series and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events are uncanny--both are whimsical and often break the fourth wall, with the author mysteriously inserting themselves into the plot. The book often resorts to using quirky formatting, which makes it all the more enjoyable (and might, in fact, be my favorite thing about these books). The ending definitely leaves you wanting to know more, and I'm excited to get my hands on This Isn't What It Looks Like

Also in this series:

The Name of this Book is Secret

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late

Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road, Book 3

2011-06-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Till Death Do Us Bark: 43 Old Cemetery Road, Book 3

written by Kate Klise

illustrated by Sarah Klise

Have I mentioned my never-ending love for these sisters in a while? No? Well, it always needs repeated. I am a 20 year old senior in college. I was introduced to their books in the 5th grade. How is it that they are still two of my absolute favorite writers? I'm pretty sure I'm no longer in their target demographic. So, this particular series. You may recall I wasn't the greatest fan of the first book in the series. The second one was a huge improvement. And then came this. Seriously, Klise sisters, how do you do this? This surpassed any and all expectations. It's the same epistolary story pattern that the two of them have worked hard to perfect, and perfect it they have. We still have an abundance of plot twists, endearing characters with funny (and punny!) names, and in the end, a story that truly resonates with people of all ages and walks of life. Never stop, Klises, never stop.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...: Amazon Vine

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony

2010-06-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

The Lost Colony
written by Eoin Colfer

My beef with the Artemis Fowl series is big, but simple: It's not easy to understand all of the elements of the cluttered story, and therefore, the story is not very memorable. I just feel like there are some fantastic elements in every book in the series, but seriously? Colfer should have lumped them all together in one hugely fast-paced book and been done with it, instead of cranking out entirely too many [desperate-looking] sequels. Just...give the characters the rest they and the readers deserve already instead of entangling our minds and sensibilities in these strange mazes of indecipherable stories! There really does come to be a time when it's pretty obvious this is just being done for money now (especially with the new reprinted fancy covers, graphic novels, etc.). Give it a rest! I was very glad to actually see a little bit of character development in Artemis in this one, as opposed to the usual endless action. Artemis and Holly are the only characters I can bother caring about, and I liked the focus on them in this story, and would like more. I also did enjoy meeting the female Artemis Fowl and am certainly intrigued by her appearance, although it would have been great if she'd been introduced in, oh, say the 2nd book, or even earlier on. I really would like to know if Colfer has an endgame planned out. This book ended on a ridiculously intriguing cliffhanger, and for once, I'm excited to read more. Overall, probably the best book in the series, but still, a pretty weak series with the potential to be so much more.

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book from...:Used book store

The Landry News

2010-06-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

The Landry News
written by Andrew Clements

I have really fond memories attached to this (and other Andrew Clements) books. I first read this one in a 4th grade book club, and absolutely fell in love with Clements' ability to create realistic characters just dealing with school situations, something kids will definitely be able to relate to, since school is pretty much where they spend most of their lives. There's humor everywhere making your way through this book. It also introduces, through simple characters and their interactions and activities in the classroom, a much bigger, more sophisticated and complicated concept: censorship in print publications. Not only does the story toy with the day-to-day goings on of a classroom environment, it touches on issues like divorce and classroom politics. One of the things that I really like, as someone who is on track to become a teacher, is the demystification of a teacher's life, telling the students, hey, you know what? Your teacher's not this huge scary power figure at the front of the classroom, he/she's a human being, just like you. It's very cool to see the evolution and growth of one girl's creativity alongside the evolution and growth of her teacher. It's incredibly obvious that Andrew Clements taught, and I'm going to say that's what gave this novel its realism and appeal to such a wide audience.

I got this book from...:Swaptree

Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road, Book 2

2010-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Over My Dead Body: 43 Old Cemetery Road
written by Kate Klise
illustrated by Sarah Klise

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In my review of the first book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, I didn't have many kind words for the book, and I expressed serious doubt about the integrity of this new series launched by the Klise sisters. So it was quite a strange surprise to find a sequel that I liked immensely more than its predecessor! That never seems to happen; one usually likes the first book in a series more or the same as any sequels. This book flowed much better than the first, back to the original plot-twisty heartwarming spirit that I'd come to expect from Kate Klise. Some time is given to a recap of the first book's events, which I liked very much, as it was interactive, short, and quickly led in to the fast paced story ahead. It's another tangled tale by Kate Klise, where random objects and people are introduced throughout the story, only to come together at the end for a spectacular, cheer-inducing ending. I'm re-energized and looking forward to reading more by Kate Klise.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Pleasing the Ghost

2010-05-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

Pleasing the Ghost
written by Sharon Creech

I understand that this book is for younger readers, but I did feel like it was not a very well-written book. It reels the reader in with short, snappy sentences and a catchy concept--a boy who can talk to ghosts. It's an overly simplified plot, but again, just a kid's book. I did wonder, while reading, if kids would be patient enough to put up with Uncle Arvie's unique speech patterns. I was also highly unsettled in reading and seeing such a strong emphasis put on money in a children's book. That's not really something I want kids to prize... I don't know. The whole book seems rushed, unresolved, and disconnected. It's just not much of a story, but it for younger readers, so some of this would probably not be so unsettling to them. I do know Creech is capable of putting together a much better quality story for children, as she's done in the past, so I think I would just wait until the kids were a little older and let them read Creech's much better works like Absolutely Normal Chaos and Walk Two Moons.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Bridge to Terabithia

2010-05-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Bridge to Terabithia

written by Katherine Paterson

My biggest issue with Bridge to Terabithia? I don't know why, but somewhere along the way as I grew up, I heard of this book, and I somehow gained the impression that it was a fantasy novel, where these two kids travel to a magical land. Granted, Jess and Leslie do travel to a magical land, they only do so through their imagination. So while I was thinking this was a fantasy novel, it is a realistic fiction one. So uh. That kind of ruined the book for me. Big time. One of the first comments I made after figuring this out is one that I have made for Newbery winners repeatedly: "Is this a popular book because kids like it, or is it a popular book because teachers like it as a tool for analysis?" Having finished it, I think one would be hard pressed to a find a child who really loved this book, and instead would find teachers who love it, because of exactly what I said. Considering that this book was read by me for an environmental lit class, obviously it's a favorite for teachers. It's a very dry book, with not much action until the very [depressing and hard to handle emotionally] end. There is some language in this book that is objectionable and has supposedly led to the book being banned, although many argue that the bannings are more for the "controversial" religious content. The foreshadowing in this book is painfully bad. I did really love hearing some of the sentiments expressed in this book, particularly Leslie's views, but in the end, not a fan of it. May Belle's role at the end of the book and just the ending in general are too convenient, and the big climax just ticks me off.

side note: See the cover? Does anyone else think Leslie looks like Luna? They are, I would say, very similar characters...

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

2010-02-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

Bartholomew and the Oobleck
written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss

Another childhood favorite--please tell me I'm not the only one who loved making "oobleck" out of cornstarch and water (and still do!). It's another classic Seuss story for kids to love and enjoy. This one actually doesn't contain much out of the ordinary, in comparison to other Seuss books, that is. It's humorous and the writing is pretty advanced, but still makes sense, a great highway to learning new vocabulary. The pictures are pretty neat, all black and white, except for the highlighted green oobleck, nonsensically whimsical as ever. Great for Seuss fans--I do recommend starting off with The Cat in the Hat, for obvious reasons, but I see no reason not to build upon that :)

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Science Verse

2010-02-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

Science Verse
written by Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith

This is a really wonderful and unique collection of poetry created by the amazingly original Jon Scieszka and his partner-in-crime, Lane Smith. It's sort of a companion book to the duo's previous work, Math Curse, although that one is not required to be read beforehand in order to understand this volume. Scieszka and Smith find a way to make science be an exciting subject, without some of the boredom that can sometimes creep its way into the subject, through humor and some good old poetry. Hopefully, the book will serve as a jumping point for classroom activities, and children will get a kick out of seeing topics they've covered in poetic form. Not only are concepts of science conveyed well, children will receive a poetry lesson, as many well-known poems are parodied throughout the book. As always, Lane Smith's illustrations are a hilarious addition to the story, conveying simple but hysterically funny thoughts. The readers will love the hilarious bug-eyed depiction of our narrator and his scientific misadventures.

I got this book from...:BookMooch

Allie Finkle!

2010-01-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

I'm featuring two Meg Cabot books today, part of the charming middle grade Allie Finkle series!

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Stage Fright

Stage Fright comes out strong, setting a very powerful and perfect tone to a great story. This series really is great for fans of Barbara Park's snarky Junie B. Jones. It's the same brand of humor, and fans who may have outgrown Junie and are looking for something new to read will definitely find the same type of honest outlook on the world from Allie. Cabot is really good at keeping up with current pop culture and putting in age appropriate references, which would make the books all the more appealing with her target audience. This book is not only adorable and kid-friendly, it also contains simple environmentally-friendly facts for them to learn and hopefully adapt in their own lives. We need more books telling our children how to be environmentally friendly in this day and age, so kudos to Cabot for blending it in with the plot so well! This book, like its predecessors and sequel, carries out fantastic characterization and is just as humorous, too! The ending's a little anticlimactic and predictable, and I do not think the title fits even slightly, but it's a cute read and I'm sure kids would really enjoy it.

Glitter Girls and the Great Fake-Out

Allie Finkle may just be written for kids, but the humor will be appealing to readers of all ages. There's great characterization done by Cabot, including older characters such as Missy and Allie's parents, that is perfect for attracting both young and old audiences looking for a laugh. Cabot is amazing at capturing all these diverse personalities of these crazy little characters. She portrays Allie and her family together so well, and having siblings, she was able to write the best scenes including realistic interactions between Allie and her brothers. The cool thing about these books is that even though they're part of a series, they can totally be read as stand-alones and make sense at the end. Allie's "rules" provide a great base of solid repetition to keep the younger readers solidly interested. I'm hoping we do get to see Courtney again in future Allie Finkle books; she makes a great addition to an already wonderful cast of characters. Overall, a completely cute read--loved it!

I got these books from...:the author

May I Bring a Friend?

2010-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

May I Bring a Friend?
written by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
illustrated by Beni Montresor

May I Bring a Friend? is another fun sequential story for children to enjoy. This one is all about any child's favorite thing--animals! It combines aspects of a fairytale fantasy world with a regular child's world, sure to delight young children Kids will definitely relate to the young child and his menagerie of friends. They'll find it funny and learn their days of the week at the same time. I'm not really a fan of the illustrations at all. I know the book won a Caldecott, but the images are extremely dull and blurred, hard to make out what is even being depicted. Not all that great.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The House in the Night

2010-01-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

The House in the Night
written by Susan Marie Swanson
illustrated by Beth Krommes

In the vein of stories like Goodnight Moon and This is the House that Jack Built, The House in the Night is a calming sequential story for children to enjoy. This book serves as a perfect bedtime story, lulling children to sleep with its melodious, repetitive words. Preschoolers would love this simple book as a read-aloud, or a book with which to learn to read. Cute, short, and simple, sure to grab and keep a young child's attention! Just as the text carries with it simplicity, so do the illustrations. Everything is done in only two colors, black and gold, with various levels of shading to darken/lighten various areas. The golden areas really jump out at the reader, grabbing their attention immediately.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

2010-01-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein

This is a great book to memorialize both the Twin Towers as well as an amazing feat performed by Philippe Petit. Children will get to experience the thrill and wonder of what the towers embodied while reading and looking at the amazing pictures. It's a good way to bring up a really difficult emotional subject with younger children who may not fully comprehend what happened on 9/11 Even without that element, it's a fantastically inspiring story of one man and his adventurous nature. The illustrations are done dramatically to portray a sense of grandeur. Some of the pages expand outwards, adding further drama to the book. The colors are pretty subdued, but they all swirl together, creating a sense of tranquility.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Higher Power of Lucky

2010-01-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Higher Power of Lucky
written by Susan Patron,
illustrated by Mike Phelan

The Higher Power of Lucky is a charming small-town story about a girl named Lucky looking for a "higher power" as her guidance in life. It is a book that emphasizes the love of a caregiver and the doubt that comes with it. The narration is flowery, filled with insightful thoughts that can only come from a snarky ten-year-old girl. While often unrealistically written, there are moments where you just shake your head, knowing that that one particular thought could only come from a child. There are many non-essential elements written into the story, such as the whole reason this book has been banned in many places. Many of the situations and subject matters feel horribly overdone, as if hundreds of authors have already written about them. Fans of Beverly Cleary's Ramona series will love this down-to-earth book, and will probably want to check out its sequel, Lucky Breaks. There are small sketch-like illustrations throughout the book. They don't really add much to the text, and the book could have done without them.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Three Pigs

2010-01-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

The Three Pigs
written and illustrated by David Wiesner

David Wiesner's The Three Pigs is a hilariousu take on a traditional fairy tale. With simple writing and interactive (to say the least) illustrations, a child will easily be drawn into the story. It requires a familiarity for the traditional story, and should probably be read in conjunction with that tale, but both kids and adults will go crazy for this new adaptation. It's dialogue centric and kid-friendly. Children may be reluctant to pick this one up, thinking it's just a retelling of the traditional story, so it's important to encourage them to read it, letting them know there's a different story ahead for them. This is a fantastic book for children to really get to sit down with the story alone and have time to pay really close attention to and examine the illustrations, as they provide half the story that is untold in the dialogue. The variety found in the various styles of illustration are integral to the story, which is why I would not suggest this as a read-aloud, as those don't typically allow for great examinations of the images.

I got this book from...:Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

2010-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
written by Julie Andrews Edwards

This is such a classic children's fantasy book! I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get to read it as a kid, but I am glad that I found it later on. It seems like it would make a really great read-aloud to a group of students. As often seen in children's fiction, a lot of it is really convenient, parts of it are really predictable, but it all makes for a great story, and there are some great suspenseful bits along the way. There are a lot of smaller conflicts that quickly get resolved, under the umbrella conflict of finding the Whangdoodle, and then the greatest conflict of all that isn't revealed until near the end. A really cool part of this book is its exposition to vocabulary through the Professor's narration. I'm really glad we didn't get the cop out "it was all a figment of their imaginations/a dream" ending. I'm also really glad that in the end, it's a story about the Professor and the realization of his dream, rather than a focus on the kids, although they are still a big part of the story. There are parts of the book near the ending that do get a little preachy, but it's still a fantastic fantasy read for kids and their parents/teachers.

I got this book from...:Bookmooch

Sweet Valley Jr. High--Get Real

2009-12-30T09:16:00.000-08:00

Sweet Valley Jr. High--Get Real
created by Francine Pascal

I wish I'd been aware of this book when I'd gone through middle school; it would have been such a great time to get into this series instead of starting off with the age-inappropriate Sweet Valley High series. This is the only Sweet Valley series that I haven't read, so naturally, the curiosity got to me. I only read the first book and loved it a lot more than some of the other SV series, I can tell you that. The characters are more real, and, as of book 1, although I don't know if it changed or not, this series seems like it might lack the unrealistic and/or supernatural elements found in some of the other SV series. Say what you will about the writing and plot in the Sweet Valley universe, and we all know that they are subpar, props to Francine Pascal for creating such a wonderful circle of characters that we've all come to know very well and love (or hate, depending on the character!). That being said, I wish some of the old characters were included in this series to provide at least a bit of continuity. As much as I dislike her, I was glad to see Lila make an appearance, just as a connection to the other books. I did like the new character Salvador, and I think he fits in with the universe perfectly. Wouldn't he and Winston Egbert be a laugh together? Anyways, yay for more teen angst, or something along those lines?

Rating: For an SV book, this one gets a high rating. I'm going with a 4/5.

I got this book from...:BookMooch

Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch

2009-12-29T10:40:00.001-08:00

Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch
written by Barbara Park

This, among the other Junie B. Jones books, is a fantastic example of children's literature. The journal entries as well as the first-person narration make for a very relatable book for this age level. I know when I was a child, I completely related to Junie B. Jones, despite her love of over-exaggeration. It's childish in a charming way, and I can't wait to keep these books in my classroom when I'm teaching. The series is funny for all ages, and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing through this reading of Boss of Lunch. I thought the humor would all be for the kids, but even as an adult, it's hilarious how insane Junie B's mind is. It's just a funny book, possibly even funnier to an adult than to a child!

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Swaptree

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy

2009-12-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy
written by Wendelin Van Draanen

The awesome thing about Sammy Keyes is that unlike her literary counterparts Cam Jansen and Encyclopedia Brown (nothing against the two of them, really, they both have their wonderful stories that I love and adore), her mysteries are not easy to figure out. The stories are filled with more plot twists and amidst the unpredictability is room for a lot of characterization, which is done wonderfully by Wendelin Van Draanen. The mysteries are, as I mentioned, a lot more complex. They're not just "hey, look, I've found a minor discrepancy in your story that solves this case" simple, there's actual sleuthing on Sammy's part, with false trails everywhere, never quite sure who the culprit is until the final big reveal. The Sammy Keyes books are descriptive in a witty, not annoying way, unlike most books. The description is all very true to the narrative tone. Another great thing about the books is that they really are a series, they work as stand-alones, but you miss out on some great subplots that run through the entire series that make it a really dynamic set of books. The greatest thing about this series is that it deals with real issues. There are children in foster care, really poor foster care at that, kids who take up smoking at a really young age, and things like neglectful parents do exist. They're not major issues in the story, but they're there in the background, dealt with in extremely tactful and age-appropriate ways. And yet, in spite of the hardships the characters have thrown at them, they do act their age. For instance, a majority of this book focuses on Sammy's tangential softball adventures, and her and her group of friends simply being kids. It's a fantastic series for kids that I highly recommend.

Rating: 4/5 for this installment of the series,
5/5 for the series overall

I got this book from...:Swaptree

Walking Backward

2009-12-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Walking Backward
written by Catherine Austen

Walking Backward is a great book for children who are dealing with a death of a loved one. The narrator is a really perceptive character whose thoughts are interesting to follow along with, as long as one is prepared to be depressed. There are subtle happy moments in the book, but for the most part, it's a serious-toned book with a purpose. There is only one conflict through the entire book--a child and his family dealing with his mother's death. It portrays different coping strategies, but that's pretty much it. There's not much else storywise, and what the readers are given is really predictable. It would have been good as a short story, but as a book, I think I'd only recommend it to kids who are going through a similar point in their lives. It's really not interesting if you don't know the emotions that go along with the death of a loved one.

Rating: 3/5

I got this book from...:LibraryThing Early Reviewers

The People of Sparks

2009-11-24T17:48:00.001-08:00

The People of Sparks
written by Jeanne DuPrau

I found this book to have many of the similar problems that other sequels encounter--there's not much interesting. The odd thing is, this is typically due to a sequel serving as a bridge between books, but honestly, I'm not seeing very much that'll come in use for future books. We'll see though. Although Lina and Doon are still characters, I felt like they didn't get nearly enough page-time. Too many new secondary characters were introduced, and while some of them had personalities that were interesting enough, others did not. We still don't have any new information about the mythology, which is disappointing. The book's boredom was aggravated by the fact that it moved slower than the first fast-paced book. A lot of time was dedicated to necessary but overly preachy social and political commentary. I don't know if a child would have the patience to sit through this, particularly when I can see many of the social/political references completely going over their heads. I would love to see a return to Ember, or something that somehow connects to the first book, other than the characters. It's easy to understand: this book was too simple and too predictable to truly have been enjoyable.

Rating: 1.5/5

I got this book from...:Waldenbooks

The City of Ember

2009-11-24T09:51:00.001-08:00

The City of Ember
written by Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember was an easy but enthralling read, so ridiculously easy to love. The characters were so real in this unreal world, presented with plenty of exposition. Plotwise, the book excels, with plenty of fast-paced suspense carrying the reader steadily through the book. The characters act so realistically—like the children they are, but with unambiguous bravery. It’s full of the characterization symbolism, and other literary elements that teachers crave, but also filled with wonder, suspense, and just an amazing plot that kids of all ages will enjoy. It ends on a cliffhanger, so I strongly suggest having the second book on hand to immediately jump into—trust me, you’ll want to have it.
Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Waldenbooks

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

2009-11-22T15:26:00.001-08:00

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
written by E.L. Konigsburg

I'm not sure there was much to like about this book. The writing was dreadfully dull and overly descriptive, not at all realistic to what a 12-year-old narrator would sound like. There was nothing captivating about the plot, and most of the characters, with the possible exception of Jake, were horribly two dimensional. It's bad enough that the story was boring and unappealing, but the fact that it moved slowly with no subplots made it even worse. The characters seem cute and quirky, but turn out to be ridiculously simplistic, reminding me of Juno. It seems overall like the kind of book written to be read and analyzed endlessly and pointlessly in classrooms. I did enjoy the fact that there was a wrap-up at the end, allowing for some quick closure and letting the story come full circle, but it's a little disappointing when the only thing you like is the very end of a book.

Rating: 1.5/5

I got this book from...:Bookmooch.com

Artificial Snow

2009-11-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

This reminds me so much of Kate Klise's Regarding the Sink.

Luv Ya Bunches

2009-11-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

Luv Ya Bunches
written by Lauren Myracle

Luv Ya Bunches, although written for a younger (target age group: 9-13) audience, is a book that will easily be enjoyed by readers of a wider span of ages. Speaking as an 18 year old, I genuinely enjoyed this book for what it was, not in a "aw, look at the cute younger kids!" way. I think I was most excited about seeing a Muslim girl portrayed not as the "token Muslim girl" (even though in some ways, that was still her role), but as a genuine character in a group of 4 entering fifth graders. All of the characters are fantastically well-developed for a group of 11 year olds, which is a real testament to the amazingness of Lauren Myracle's writing. The social networking site, SomethingSomethingBlahBlah.com (it needs a better name!) brings the girls all together in a really cute way-something you do actually get to see in the day of Facebook, Myspace, Ning, and the like. I was very glad to see she did an IM-format book featuring a younger generation, though the nod back to the original Internet Girls was adorable! The fact that the book was written in present tense really helped provide a playful edge to the story. The girls are so realistic and, as a result of that, extremely likeable. They are given real-life struggles that are portrayed so elegantly by Myracle, in a way that is not overwhelming at all for 11 year olds to read, but also a way that adds a lot more dimension to both the books and the characters. The situations these girls go through are all things that real girls go through (I can tell you that the incident with the turtle? Yeah, I had that same thing happen to me in the third grade with a beanie baby, being framed to look like I had stolen it and put it in my backpack. SAME story.) and it is important that there are books like this out there to serve as reassurance that their situations are not at all unique, that others are dealing with the same thing, they are far from alone. I am so proud of Lauren Myracle for addressing real life issues, messed up parents, girl fighting, and more, things that we as a society oftentimes fail to prepare our daughters for. This was a story with real life girls dealing with real life struggles in a way that shows friendship as stronger than any difficulties they may be faced with.

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Bookmooch.com

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel)

2009-09-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

x-posted to YA-Bookaholic.

I feel like this is a book that is meant for children but can easily be enjoyed by YA/Adults as well, hence the cross-posting.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel)
written by Ellen Raskin

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel) is an amazing book that can be equally enjoyed by adults and children alike. Adults reading the book see more layers to it than the kids, but the read is just as mysterious and enjoyable (although the idea of marriage at that young an age will be a squicky one). If you have read Ellen Raskin's Westing Game, and even if you haven't, this is a book you really need to get your hands on. I've read some of her other books, but absolutely nothing compares to these two classics. This one comes fully equipped with hysterical characters and plenty of footnotes. It's adorably quirky without trying too hard. Every thing, every hilarious incident, is narrated casually and in a way that just makes it all funnier. Everything is so tantalizingly cryptic, and at times, downright confusing, but it's a huge relief when everything really falls into place and you realize that every event that was narrated is somehow connected to the big picture scheme. Other than all that, it's a very readable book. The chapters are divided up into small sections and just style-wise, it's an easy but really worthwhile read. It really emphasizes the reason why we love Ellen Raskin so much--plot twists and surprises everywhere! The other really nice thing is that the mystery is not at all obvious. Nobody would ever suspect the outcome, but it's such a compelling one! It's got snark, puzzles, humor, definitely not just a kids' book. It is also really nice, at the end, to get closure from all of the characters, so I do appreciate it when authors like Raskin do things like that.

Rating: 5/5

A House Called Awful End

2009-08-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

A House Called Awful End
written by Philip Ardagh

I was sorry to have wasted my time with this book. I thought it'd be a fun, whimsical book, something like a cross between Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket, both of whom I adore. Unfortunately, this one is just...too random, has no apparent plot, and is just ultimately dull. There are so many storylines, each one more absurd than the next, and everything's everywhere and disjointed and Ardagh just tried too hard to be funny and failed miserably. It was a pointless book, all 2D characters with nothing to keep them or their situations interesting. There was certainly potential for a plot, but nope, nothing. Just a frustratingly pointless, plotless read. Not a fan, not a fan at all.

Rating: 1/5

Dying To Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road

2009-08-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Dying to Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road
written by Kate Klise, illustrated by Sarah Klise

So the diehard Kate&Sarah Klise fan inside me has been sadly disappointed. These lovely ladies have written many a fantastic book, definitely my favorite ones out there, but this one just fell short. It seemed like a lot of it was aimed towards much younger kids than the other novels, and it just really seemed to lack a plot. It had all the elements of the other books, stylistically, but there were no secondary plots (and like I said, I had trouble locating a dominant plot, not just secondary), and no powerful plot twists, two things that made their other novels absolutely spectacular. Typically, their books involve lots of characters with brilliantly punny names, leading very separate lives and over the course of the book, the connections grow stronger and stronger, until you realize they are all involved in whatever the main dilemma may be. In this one, there's just one main dilemma, very minor secondary characters (by which I probably just mean his parents), and no clear hook. Everything was incredibly predictable. I'm not sure what the sequel will contain, and I'm also not sure if I really want to read it. I want more of the old Klise stuff, the spine-tingling, gut-busting mysteries that I immersed myself in, reread after reread. I just...I was disappointed. I expected much better from these two. Again, maybe it's been dumbed down so younger kids would understand what's going on, but it certainly doesn't make for an interesting story.

Rating: 3/5

Anything But Typical

2009-08-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Anything but Typical
written by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Now that I've read Anything but Typical and Googled Nora Raleigh Baskin, I have realized that I've read another book of hers, it seems like it was in another lifetime, really. This was back when I first got into YA, really got into reading frenzies, and picked up a promising book entitled What Every Girl (except me) Knows. This was when I was trying to figure out life and growing up and changing schools and your typical middle school crud. It's just really intriguing to me that she wrote that book, and then years later, I pick up another of her books without even realizing it. Anything but Typical is another story of a misfit, but this time, our main character is autistic. I almost feel like this book needs to come with a warning: you will absolutely love love love the main character and want to hug him as much as humanly possible, and then probably forget to realize that he's not actually real. I've never had any experience with autism, so this was not only a good read, but an enlightening one. It was really neat seeing just how brilliant this boy was, but how much trouble he had expressing himself. You'll relate, and very quickly forget that there's anything different about him, he'll just be an incredibly interesting kid you wish you knew. And that's the point. If more kids read about autistic children, they'd learn that they require a little more patience and understanding, but are just kids like them in the end. This book is a methodical lesson in writing, in autism, and in life. Absolutely wonderful!

Rating: 5/5

Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake

2009-08-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake
written by Louis Sachar

As much as I adore Louis Sachar, this book was pretty pathetic, and quite obviously a marketing ploy. While I was glad that there wasn't excessive recappage, mostly everything found in this book could have either been inferred from Holes, or was directly out of the book. There are some really neat extra tidbits that are worth reading, but it's not worth paying the $4.99 just for those, when I'm sure they could be found online. I just feel like this was written to ride the wave of Holes hysteria after the movie came out. No surprise, they were released the same year. It's like someone's saying, "hey, don't wanna read through the big thick book? Read this condensed version instead!", which is, quite frankly, frustrating. On the other hand, I would have loved to read Pendanski's book, much more so than Small Steps, which was what came after.

Rating: 1.5/5

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

2009-07-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
written by Donald Sobol

Thanks to my awesome friend Talitha for making me revisit such an amazingly influential childhood book. I know this series inspired me to read many other mystery series, like Cam Jansen, Nancy Drew, and The Boxcar Children. It's probably why I still like suspenseful mystery novels today. I remember being frustrated over not knowing the solution--well, funnily enough, rereading the book, I still rarely ever knew what the solution to the case was until I read it! I love the do-it-yourself element to the mysteries, although all the page turning always got on my nerves. It gives kids this great feeling of, hey, look, Encyclopedia can be a detective and SO CAN I! This is definitely a favorite worth introducing to your kids, so both you and they can have fun trying to solve the mysteries! If you're not a kid, still worth the revisit, see how many of the old cases you can crack now.

Rating: 5/5

Gertrude the Albino Frog and her Friend Rupert the Turtle

2009-07-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

Gertrude the Albino Frog and her Friend Rupert the Turtle
written by Marcia Silvermetz, illustrated by Ginger Doyel

While Gertrude was a really great read, I feel like the book should come with a warning label: Read Only To Children With Attention Spans. I made the mistake of reading it to a group of kids who were ages 3-6. The 3/4 year olds really couldn't care less and would not sit still long enough. Even some of the 5 year old kids got bored. The 6 year olds (and there were only two of those) were the only ones who really seemed interested. They did enjoy the story, though, as did I. Gertrude is a great story of acceptance and tolerance, and while that point may just fly over some kids' heads, it is one that will hopefully stick in some and make them realize that it's no good to be a "bully frog". Some of the rhyming got excessive (there is one section of rhyme that lasts a page, is very rambly, and lost everyone's attention, including my own) but overall, good book, if not too wordy. The illustrations are gorgeous as well!

Rating: 4/5

The Night the Scary Beasties Popped Out of My Head

2009-06-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Night the Scary Beasties Popped out of My Head
written and illustrated by Daniel and David Kamish

I would absolutely love to start this blog off with some thoughts about my favorite children's book. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this book until about last year, so I never got to experience it as a child. However, at the children's museum, I've been pushing this book at random kids, making sure it's displayed in prominent places, offering to read it to them, etc. I think some of them really love it, but some of the older kids have been slightly indifferent. I still absolutely adore it. The story has the coolest illustrations ever. From what I've read, and I could be wrong, but I've heard that in this father-son duo, the child did the illustrations, but some of the more complicated backgrounds (e.g. one that looks like Van Gogh's Starry Night) were done by the father. They are astoundingly complex images, and grab the attention of both children and adults alike. The other thing is the subject matter itself, vanquishing nightmares. But it's done so atypically, telling the child that they can go out there and, well, basically imagine their nightmares away. You've got to love it, and I do personally know many children on whom this strategy would work, without a doubt. Just a fantastic read.

Rating: 5/5

Welcome!

2009-06-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

What people sometimes fail to realize is that children's books can be just as amazing as any other books. So this is a blog dedicated to picture books, young readers, and easy chapter books. I do hope you enjoy reading my thoughts, and I look forward to hearing yours!