Russell's Reading Reviews
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb
Summary: Joey and his mom move to New York City where his mom hope that she can make a better life for the two of them. When Joey's uncle brings him a welcome gift, things get strange. His gift is a sickly looking rat. When Joey is bitten by the rat, he turns into a rat too. It is up to him to save the rat kingdom. Can he do it? Does this mean he must stay a rat forever?
Impression: I found this book to just be okay, but it definitely has its place in the library. This book will be snatched up by kids who love books with animals and magic. It will definitely has its audience, but it was not a great fit for me. This book is another bluebonnet nominee so is technically appropriate for 3rd grade and up. While this book is appropriate for upper elementary, Lieb's other works are better for an older crowd.
Reviews:
Grades 4-6. Joey’s destiny takes an unforeseen turn when his uncle gives him a pet rat that is anything but ordinary: he is Gondorff, a “ragician” from the realm of Ravalon, which is in dire need of help. Gondorff, who is dying, magically turns Joey into a rat and saddles him with the task of delivering a message to his kingdom. Upon finding Ravalon, hunger leads Joey to pull a spork from a scone, and he is named the hero who will fulfill a long-told rat prophecy. Teaming up with the princess, a loyal guinea pig, a rat knight, and a herd of cats, Joey sets off on a quest to stop the evil Salaman from taking over Ravalon. Full of clever dialogue and hilarious puns, this is a delightful homage to Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, Lord of the Rings, and Arthurian legend. While the plot holds few surprises, the play on the fantasy trope is well done. Expect more to come from Joey and Ravalon. Perfect for readers who enjoy animal fantasy brushed with humor and charm.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Having worked with many of television’s comedy greats, Lieb has a strong handle on humor and parody. Don’t be surprised if this novel achieves best-seller status like his first, I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President (2009).
Ratscalibur. Rev. of Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb. Booklist. Vol. 111 No. 15. 1 April 2015. Web. 23 July 2016.
After the impressive feat of pulling Ratscalibur, the legendary Spork, from the Scone, human-boy-turned-hero-rat Joey is sent on a quest to save the Kingdom Ravalon. Lieb borrows from classic legends and Tolkien with abandon; it's all a bit over-the-top, but the fast pace keeps the plot moving and Joey is a likable reluctant hero. Black-and-white drawings enhance Joey's heroic adventures.
Ratscalibur. Rev. of Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb. Horn Book Guide. Fall 2015. Web. 23 July 2016.
A young New York City newcomer becomes a rat and then a hero in this tale of knightly derring-do.Transformed by the bite of dying Ragician ("Man does Magic. Rats do Ragic") Gondorff the Gray, Joey finds himself in the ankle-height kingdom of Ravalon, where he instantly earns widespread awe by pulling a plastic spork from a dried biscuit: "He's drawn the Spork from the Scone!" A quest into Central Park to seek help from the renowned but difficult mage Squirrelin the Squagician against a shadowy menace leads to furious battles with crows and Berzerker rats, devastating treachery, courageous acts aplenty, and even a kiss from princess/apprentice mage Yislene. Appearing on nearly every spread and ranging from small spot portraits to full-sized melees, Lintern's finely detailed drawings place Joey--intrepidly wielding his glowing utensil--and the rest in urban nooks and crannies only rarely noticed by crowds of human passersby. Along with the parodied names and puns, Lieb slips in gags of more than one sort with a ratcentric view of odors and foods ("Mmm, there's a cockroach leg stuck to the cheese. Bonus!") and a broad range of species-specific "-agics."A crowd-pleasing mix of quick action, true valor, clever wordplay, and gross bits. (Animal fantasy. 9-11)
Ratscalibur. Rev. of Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb. Kirkus Reviews. 1 March 2015. Web. 23 July 2015.
Thread of Hope by Jeff Shelby
Summary: Adult book alert! After Jeff's daughter is abducted and they can't locate her, everything falls to pieces. He loses his job, his marriage dissolves, and he decides it would be best to leave town. In his new life, he works as a private investigator to help other families find their lost children. When he discovers his best friend from home is in the hospital, he's lured back to town to try and help his friend. He quickly discovers that his friend is being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a high school girl which he knows can't be true. When he begins investigating this relationship, the girl goes missing and her parents hire him to find her. Will he find the girl and is his friend innocent?
Impression: This book is FREE for kinde right now. Take advantage before the deal run out. This is the first book in a series and I felt it was very well done. Shelby provides just enough details and clues to keep you guessing and still manages to surprise you. I will definitely be following this series to see what happens next. This was a quick read for me.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
Summary: 12 year old Dashiell and his family are the first to live on a base on the moon. Life is pretty boring for Dash on the moon. That is until things take a turn for the worst and a well respected physician dies. NASA insists that the death was an awful accident, but Dash knows there is more to the story. The night before his death, Dash overhears a conversation the physician is having declaring that he is going to reveal a huge discovery the next morning. As Dash begins to investigate the murder on his own, he begin to receive threats and it looks like his life just might be in danger too.
Impression: This book is a bluebonnet nominee, so technically it is for grades 3+. If my 3rd or 4th grader were reading this book, I would be sure to be talking to them about it since death/possible murder is involved. That being said, this book is wonderful. I found it to be far superior to his Spy School series which was a hit with all the kiddos. This is definitely a must read. Who knew there could be so much action on the moon?
Reviews:
Grades 5-8. Here’s a whodunit set on the moon. The sudden, mysterious death of Moon Base Alpha’s physician threatens the entire underfunded lunar-colonization program. Worse, though the base commander and her NASA superiors insist it was an accident, an overheard conversation leads 12-year-old Dashiell to suspect that it was nothing of the sort. Shrugging off hostility from the powers that be and even an anonymous threat, he enlists the aid of a pair of tech-savvy peers and—encouraged by an oddly elusive new arrival—goes digging. Gibbs stocks the cast with multiple suspects and red herrings, suggestive (if sometimes contrived) clues, hints of secret agendas, and unexpected encounters. Ultimately, the investigation culminates in a suspenseful murder attempt out on the lunar surface, followed by a game-changing revelation. Though relatively standard issue as murder mysteries go, this is notable for its unusual setting and features a narrator who displays a realistic mix of wonder at his location and annoyance at having to deal with the Spartan life on another planet. The exposed killer’s rationale actually has merit, too.
Space Case. Rev. of Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Booklist. Vol.111, No. 1. 1 September 2014. Web. 10 July 2016.
Life is pretty weird living in the moon's first colony. But it gets weirder fast when a scientist turns up dead. Twelve-year-old Dash is determined to solve the mystery, whether or not anyone else believes it was murder. Details about the logistics of everyday life functions, such as eating and exercise, make the lunar setting fully realized, and the mystery is tightly paced.
Space Case. Rev. of Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Horn Book Guide. Spring 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.
As a Moonie, 12-year-old Dashiell has fans that watch his weekly video. While everyone is led to believe that life on the moon is an extreme adventure, Dashiell and the rest drink recycled urine, eat dehydrated food, have small living quarters, and share three bathroom stalls with the community. Their world changes when renowned scientist Dr. Holtz dies; Dashiell believes it was murder. Dashiell thought that everyone respected Dr. Holtz, but he finds many suspects. It is clear to Dashiell that he needs assistance and he receives help from a new resident, Kira, who obtains technology help from Roddy, an enthusiastic gamer. Excerpts from the guide to living on the moon published in 2040 are sprinkled in-between chapters, adding insight. This futuristic space tale, part of Moon Base Alpha, will inspire readers, as did The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Beth McGuire, Librarian, Hempfield Area School District, Wendover Middle School, Greensburg, Pennsylvania [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
McGuire, Beth. Rev. of Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Library Media Connection. March/April 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.
Canary by Duane Swierczynski
Summary: Sarie Holland is a 19 year old honors student with outstanding conduct. She knows how to work a party to fit in without having to suffer the consequences of truly partying. When a cute guy approaches her at a party, she finds herself driving him to a friends house to pick up a book. She quickly realizes it is not a book he after, but drugs. After he picks up his "book," she is pulled over by a cop while she wait for him to grab some food. The officer finds the drugs in her back seat and she is forced into becoming a confidential informant or give up her friend. She must keep this a secret and the last person she would ever want to find it is her father. They are all struggling after the loss of her mother and this is the last thing she wants to add to his or her younger brother's plate. Can Sarie be successful as a CI or will she have to reveal the identity of her friend?
Impression: (adult read) This book was another GREAT read for me. Although it wasn't the best book I have ever read, it had so much action and I didn't want to put it down until I was done. It is full of colorful language which I am typically opposed to, but I imagine it is appropriate for the scene this book is set in.
Reviews:
For nearly a decade, Swierczynski (Point & Shoot, 2013) has been firing off adrenaline-fueled, ultraviolent thrillers that mix pulp fiction, sci-fi, crime, and fantasy into a unique brew. Canary is a change-up, a riveting conventional thriller about Philadelphia’s drug trade; Philly cops, both righteous and corrupt; and Serafina “Sarie” Holland. Sarie is a very smart and conscientious 17-year-old college freshman who innocently agrees to give a friend a ride and ends up forced to be a confidential informant for narcotics cop Ben Wildey. She risks jail by refusing to give up her friend, but she convinces Wildey she can lead him to other dealers. Her efforts toss her into an escalating war over control of the city’s drug trade, corrupt cops, and some of Swierczynski’s signature spectacular violence—and all this goes down as Sarie’s semester finals loom. Sarie is a luminous character, and she’s part of a realistically imagined family grieving over the death of a wife and mother. Her father is bending under the weight of their loss. Her insightful 12-year-old brother, Marty, broods silently and intuits that Sarie is in big trouble. Swierczynski’s Philly is painted in dark and gritty photorealistic detail and includes some hilarious bits of historical arcana. Memorable characters, suspense, a native’s portrait of a fascinating city, eruptions of spectacular violence—fans of hard-edged crime will love this one.
Canary. Rev. of Canary by Duane Swierczynski. Booklist. Vol. 111, No.9. 1 January 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.
When police coerce a whip-smart college student into being a confidential informant, they get more than they bargained for. In a long, rambling and cheeky letter to her mother, Sarie Holland describes her arrest and incarceration on a drug charge. A more prosaic account from the perspective of undercover narcotics officer Benjamin F. Wildey counterpoints segments of Sarie's letter. Wildey gives his catch a cheap burner phone and demands that she become his informant or face harsh prosecution. Shrewd Sarie immediately begins living a double life, lying to her clueless father as she fields persistent texts from Wildey and behaves with uncharacteristic abruptness. Wildey feels guilty but not guilty enough to cut Sarie loose. Meanwhile, Sarie's suspicious brother, Marty, notes the change in his sister's behavior and wonders what she could be up to. Soon after Wildey sets Sarie up to trap users with fake packets of drugs, Sarie, chafing under the officer's control, starts to revolt in little ways. A close brush with mortality pulls her up short. Sensing her skittishness, Wildey begins to monitor her more closely. As the two seem headed for a showdown, Sarie's family begins probing the situation, which can't possibly end well. Inventive Swierczynski, author of the popular Charlie Hardie trilogy (Point and Shoot, 2013, etc.), breathes fresh life into a familiar plot with shifting perspectives, sly humor, puckish chapter titles and a crackerjack pace.
Canary. Rev. of Canary by Duane Swierczynski. Kirkus Reviews. 1 January 2015. Web. 10 July 2016.
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Summary: Foster kid Molly Ayer find herself in some trouble when she steals a book from the library. Her foster mom is already trying to get rid of her and now she is faced with community service hours to make up for her theft. Thanks to her boyfriend, she finds a job with an older lady Vivian Daly. As she helps Vivian sorts through boxes in her attic, she discovers that she isn't the only one with baggage. Will she be able to work through her troubles? What secrets does Vivian's attic hold?
Impression: (adult read) I really loved this book. Set in the mid-nineteenth century during the time the orphan trains ran from the northeast to the midwest, this is great for those who enjoy historical fiction. I think Kline does a great job with character development and weaves together a beautiful story of two young women who are dealt with a hard life and are trying to make it through. This is one I could reread!
Reviews:
A long journey from home and the struggle to find it again form the heart of the intertwined stories that make up this moving novel. Foster teen Molly is performing community-service work for elderly widow Vivian, and as they go through Vivian’s cluttered attic, they discover that their lives have much in common. When Vivian was a girl, she was taken to a new life on an orphan train. These trains carried children to adoptive families for 75 years, from the mid-nineteenth century to the start of the Great Depression. Novelist Kline (Bird in Hand, 2009) brings Vivian’s hardscrabble existence in Depression-era Minnesota to stunning life. Molly’s present-day story in Maine seems to pale in comparison, but as we listen to the two characters talk, we find grace and power in both of these seemingly disparate lives. Although the girls are vulnerable, left to the whims of strangers, they show courage and resourcefulness. Kline illuminates a largely hidden chapter of American history, while portraying the coming-of-age of two resilient young women.
Orphan Train. Rev. of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline. Booklist. Vol. 109, No. 14. 15 March 2013. Web. 10 July 2016.
Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2013)
Kline (Bird in Hand, 2009, etc.) draws a dramatic, emotional story from a neglected corner of American history. Molly is a troubled teen, a foster child bounced from one unsuitable home to another. Vivian is a wealthy 91-year-old widow, settled in a Victorian mansion on the Maine seashore. But Vivian's story has much in common with Molly's. Vivian Daly, born Niamh Power, has gone "from cobblestoned village on the coast of Ireland to a tenement in New York to a train filled with children, steaming westward through farmland, to a lifetime in Minnesota." Vivian's journey west was aboard an "Orphan Train," a bit of misguided 1900s-era social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into Midwest families. Vivian's journey wasn't entirely happy. She was deposited with the Byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Then, as the Great Depression began, Vivian was dumped into the Grote household, where she suffered neglect and abuse. Only after the intervention of a kind teacher did Vivian find a home with a decent, loving family. The story unfolds through chapters set in the present day, with Molly, caught in a minor theft, forced into community service work and agreeing to help Vivian clean an attic. Other chapters flash back to the period from 1929 through World War II. In those decades, Vivian travels West, endures the Byrnes and Grotes, finds a loving home with the Nielsens, reconnects with Dutchy, another orphan-train refugee, marries and is widowed when Dutchy dies in the war. Molly's life story unfolds in parallel--a neglected half--Native American child, whose father was an accident victim and whose mother drowned in drugs and crime--and Molly slowly opens up to Vivian. Kline does a superb job in connecting goth-girl Molly, emotionally damaged by the "toll [of] years of judgment and criticism," to Vivian, who sees her troubled childhood reflected in angry Molly. The realistic narrative follows characters as they change and grow, making a poignant revelation
Orphan Train. Rev. of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Kirkus Reviews. 1 February 2013. Web. 10 July 2016.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Woof by Spencer Quinn
Summary: 11 year old Birdie Gaux lives with her Grandmother in Louisiana. Her father passed away and her mother works off shore. She finally convinces her grandmother to let her adopt a dog for her birthday. Upon returning to her grandmother's bait shop after adopting Bowser, they discover that her prize fish has been stolen. Birdie and Bowser are determined to solve this mystery with or without help from the authorities. Will they be able to safely solve this mystery? Read to find out.
Impression: Readers will love that this book is told through the dog's point of view, and what kid doesn't love a good mystery? The dog narrating can be confusing at times but I think this book will definitely appeal to kids who love a good dog book! (3rd grade +)
Recommendations: How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor, Rain Reign by Ann Martin
Reviews:
Grades 3-5. Since Birdie’s dad died and her mom is often gone working on an oil rig, she lives with her grandmother, who operates Gaux Family Fish and Bait. For her birthday, Birdie gets to adopt slobbery, distractible mutt Bowser, but when they bring him home from the pound, they discover her grandmother’s prized stuffed marlin has been stolen from the wall of their store. After Bowser discovers a cigar butt by the boat dock, Birdie starts investigating the theft. Her prime suspect is Old Man Straker, their family’s archrival, but the sheriff brushes off her concerns. Undeterred, she keeps sleuthing and uncovers stories of a treasure map hidden in the marlin. Narrated by the flighty and unreliable Bowser, much of the book’s humor and foreshadowing comes thorough the dog’s flawed retelling of events. Quinn’s sense of place and cast of eccentric characters really shine through from Bowser’s perspective, and though the dog’s relentlessly poor memory wears thin at times, overall, the story is an engaging, promising start to a new middle-grade mystery series.
"Woof." Rev. of Woof by Spencer Quinn. Booklist. 1 June 2015. Web. 28 June 2016.
As in Quinn's Chet and Bernie mystery series for adults, Woof is written from a dog's point of view. Bowser, a big, lovable mutt, adores Birdie, his new owner, and is determined to help her solve the mystery of her grandmother's missing stuffed marlin. A possible hidden treasure, family secrets, and a hilarious dog combine to make this an entertaining Louisiana-bayou-set mystery.
"Woof." Rev. of Woof by Spencer Quinn. Booklist. Fall 2015. Web. 28 June 2015.
In a Louisiana bayou town, a girl and her dog set out to solve a mystery, battling bad guys and big gators along the way.This original whodunit is narrated by an exuberant dog named Bowser, who has just been adopted by 11-year-old Birdie Gaux. Birdie and her grandmother are shocked to discover that a prized stuffed fish, Black Jack, has just been stolen from the family's fish-and-bait store. How could a stuffed fish be worth stealing? Maybe if there's a treasure map hidden inside. Birdie and Bowser begin to investigate in earnest, their sleuthing involving everything from breaking into rival establishment Straker's World Famous Fishing Emporium, gathering clues at the library and the local assisted living facility, and traipsing through the bayou at night in search of the treasure that Birdie's grandfather supposedly hid there so many years ago. Although it's Birdie and Bowser who keep the plot zipping along, the unlikely detectives are surrounded by memorable characters both good and bad. And despite the villains, silliness and humor are paramount here, thanks to Bowser's playful narration. Utterly charmed by a spunky girl and her charismatic canine, mystery fans will find themselves looking forward to a return to the little bayou town of St. Roch. (Mystery. 8-12)
"Woof." Rev. of Woof by Spencer Quinn. 15 February 2015. Web. 28 June 2016.
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