Only somebody with the clout of Lois Lowry could pull this off, and only someone with the mad skillz of Lois Lowry could do it. This is part archaeoloOnly somebody with the clout of Lois Lowry could pull this off, and only someone with the mad skillz of Lois Lowry could do it. This is part archaeology and part historical fiction, with commentary by the author, about the Windeby Child, a 2,000 year old "bog body" that was initially thought to be a thirteen-year-old girl, and then later judged to be a boy a couple of years old older.
Who was this young person? What was their life like? Why did they die like this? Lowry lays out the known facts, and then puts together a narrative for both the girl and the boy, in piece of fiction that reminded me of the stories of Britain by Mollie Hunter or Rosemary Sutcliiffe that I've always loved. The stories are sad (we know that, no matter what, this person died) but Lowry takes these fragments and makes a narrative that is vivid and lovely even as you know they are headed straight toward the end. ...more
Nary a brutal murder to be found, but instead the story of a young boy struggling to figure out the world. Between school bullies, his absent mother, Nary a brutal murder to be found, but instead the story of a young boy struggling to figure out the world. Between school bullies, his absent mother, and his taciturn father, it's not easy. It takes place mostly at night, as Joel sneaks out at midnight in order to find a dog he believes is making it's way to a star, so the book has a dreamy quality, harshly contrasted with the asshole behavior of the real people he finds himself among during the day. ...more
Equal parts charming and infuriating story about a young girl who is told by everyone around her: family, schoolmates, beauty ads, that her natural haEqual parts charming and infuriating story about a young girl who is told by everyone around her: family, schoolmates, beauty ads, that her natural hair is wrong and bad. She suffers through weekly visits to the salon to get it painfully straightened, and suffers through the scolding and condemnation of those around her during the week if she dares to sweat or get her hair wet. She had "bad hair," she is told, but how is that her fault? And how is it bad just because it's . . . not white people hair, to be blunt?
I was rooting for this darling heroine all. the. way.
Also, her cousin really is SUCH A BITCH, and I would not have apologized, either!...more
Starts strong with The Fezziwig Christmas Party, got maudlin with Andersen's The Fir Tree, and then . . . piddled about with some of the most banal, mStarts strong with The Fezziwig Christmas Party, got maudlin with Andersen's The Fir Tree, and then . . . piddled about with some of the most banal, maudlin, or downright weird copyright free Christmas stories I have ever heard. So many children giving up their only shoe or bent penny to an even poorer child, only to find it was really the Christ Child all along. The collection is padded out by no less than three excerpts from A Christmas Carol.
You know, in her Christmas story collections, Connie Willis talks about the dreadful old Christmas movies like All Mine to Give, and children being cast for their ability to cough and look pitiful, and she talks about The Fir Tree specifically, but I hadn't really understood what she was talking about, until now!...more
Well, all the female characters were named things like Bessie and Flossie aL. Frank Baum at his L. Frank Baumiest.
Don't know what I'm talking about?
Well, all the female characters were named things like Bessie and Flossie and Lottie (except for Queen Verleen, of course) and all the boys were named TukTuk and Weekins and Nup. There were creatures called Rills and Nuks (what, no winkies or munchkins?), and of course there was The Chief Woodsman, Great Ack.
Because of course there was.
I think when I was a kid I would have gone hard for this, but as an adult, and one who has read a lot of Santa Claus origin stories, this one was so incredibly twee, and so very, very much like the Oz books, just with Santa instead of Dorothy, that was was not all that impressed.
The audiobook is read with great verve by Tony Hale, though, so that was fun. ...more
Really fun! We loved the movie, so I thought I would try the book, which I've always heard good things about. And rightly so! Her descriptions, especiReally fun! We loved the movie, so I thought I would try the book, which I've always heard good things about. And rightly so! Her descriptions, especially of the clothes, are wonderful. And Enola's reactions to everything from her brothers to the streets of London were great. A lot shorter than I thought it would, but a nice set up for the series. ...more
I've always wondered about Roderick's band! We never hear much about the other members, if they play many gigs, etc. And here it all is, the Full DiapI've always wondered about Roderick's band! We never hear much about the other members, if they play many gigs, etc. And here it all is, the Full Diaper, the dirt, if you will. And Greg is witness to it all, thanks to being strong-armed into being a roadie, and then a member of the band! ...more
Dreadfully adorable, with the titular Ham encountering friends, and more friends, as he gently and cheerfully attempts to salvage his family's honor bDreadfully adorable, with the titular Ham encountering friends, and more friends, as he gently and cheerfully attempts to salvage his family's honor by killing the vampire who has been terrorizing a small village. Clever twists, humor, and delightful illustration make this a perfect graphic novel for those who have graduated from early chapter books but maybe don't want to dive in to something bigger yet. ...more
For some reason I always thought this was just a collection of Bradbury's more Halloween-centric stories, a la The October Country, but it's actually For some reason I always thought this was just a collection of Bradbury's more Halloween-centric stories, a la The October Country, but it's actually it's own thing, a story set on Halloween night about a group of friends traveling through time, seeing Halloween/harvest festivals/Dia de los Muertos/Samhain, as they search through the centuries for their missing friend. Very unusual, well- very Ray Bradbury- and the narration of the audiobook by Kirby Heyborne is excellent. ...more
Fascinating origin story of Santa Claus and Christmas As We Know it. Really unusual, extremely whimsical! I especially loved Eggnog, and the Carols, eFascinating origin story of Santa Claus and Christmas As We Know it. Really unusual, extremely whimsical! I especially loved Eggnog, and the Carols, especially Blanche's Carol and her relationship with her Captor.
I do feel like a lot of the threads of the story got cut short; she introduced so many ideas, and we had some questions still about the end. But it made me crave mince pies! ...more
The Pied Piper fairy tale is weird and fascinating and frankly does not get enough attention. Just think about it: someone charmed away the rats of thThe Pied Piper fairy tale is weird and fascinating and frankly does not get enough attention. Just think about it: someone charmed away the rats of this town with a FLUTE, and then they dared not pay him, so he took their children . . . where?! As a kid I loved Gloria Skurzynski's What Happened in Hamelin (if you can find a copy, enjoy!) which put a historical fiction spin on it. So I was very excited to be offered an advance look at this new version, and I was NOT disappointed!
Instead of going the realistic root that many fairy tale retellings take, Cypess has added even more magic. A fairy queen, a secret realm, lost children wandering among the fae. There is magic aplenty, as well as mystery, and an ending that surprised me. This book deals with the aftermath, with the why the children were really taken, and what the piper was going to do with them, all questions I have always had about this story!...more
Very cute, anime-style comic about twin witches who play hooky when they miss the bus to magic school on the first day. Witches, mortals, kings, princVery cute, anime-style comic about twin witches who play hooky when they miss the bus to magic school on the first day. Witches, mortals, kings, princesses, street urchins, all mingle together as they uncover a mysterious prophecy and a potential plot for world domination. The episodic nature of this meant that some chapters ended very abruptly, or didn't have anything to do with the overarching plot, but overall this was super fun. ...more
I had this sort of vaguely on my radar, because I really liked the first one, and I think the movies are darling. But then I discovered who the villaiI had this sort of vaguely on my radar, because I really liked the first one, and I think the movies are darling. But then I discovered who the villain is and that there's a large purple dragon involved, and I had to read it ASAP. These characters really are so darling, and I do enjoy reading about Auradon. I find the actual Isle of the Lost kind of gross and depressing, and could really read whole books that are set entirely at Auradon Prep and involve studying and sports ball games. I was indeed delighted by the villain (or at least, the villain really behind the plot), and wish the ending had been a bit longer. ...more
This is classic DWJ! Very British, very mysterious, with magic that seems to come from the earth itself. Men in green coats keeping the ancient ways, This is classic DWJ! Very British, very mysterious, with magic that seems to come from the earth itself. Men in green coats keeping the ancient ways, women hunched around cauldrons-- well, a silver teapot, anyway! ...more
Through the Looking-Glass: and What Alice Found There is my favorite of Carroll's two Alice books. It contains the Jabberwocky poem, the Red and WhiteThrough the Looking-Glass: and What Alice Found There is my favorite of Carroll's two Alice books. It contains the Jabberwocky poem, the Red and White Kingdoms battling for control of their chessboard world. Most people know Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and most newer sequels/references/retellings stick to it as well. I was VERY pleased that Savage decided to take on the second book in this sequel, and very pleased with how he did it. Loved the inventiveness of the world, the puns, and the fleshing out of the characters. Also really loved the psychological aspect of it, as the main characters from our world deal with their perceived notions of themselves, and what they really want from the world. ...more
Really fun middle grade mystery that reminded me of Encyclopedia Brown, but more sophisticated. There's an art heist, Romanian mafia, kidnappings, andReally fun middle grade mystery that reminded me of Encyclopedia Brown, but more sophisticated. There's an art heist, Romanian mafia, kidnappings, and delicious-sounding food . . . what more could you want in a mystery?...more
Absolutely charming story of a young girl moving to America with her family and struggling to adjust. A sweet stray dog comes along to give her hope, Absolutely charming story of a young girl moving to America with her family and struggling to adjust. A sweet stray dog comes along to give her hope, and affection, and leads to opportunities for for friendship, among other lovely things. ...more
If you, like me, love the movie Into the Spiderverse, this is the book for you. A fun adventure with Miles and Co. ("Co" being his roommate, but also If you, like me, love the movie Into the Spiderverse, this is the book for you. A fun adventure with Miles and Co. ("Co" being his roommate, but also the Young Avengers like Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl), some tricky villains, and some real world struggles, too. The art is to die for, and there's set up for a sequel. ...more
This was always my favorite. The magic rings, and the wood between the worlds, the birth of Narnia, the planting of the lamppost, and Uncle Andrew's "This was always my favorite. The magic rings, and the wood between the worlds, the birth of Narnia, the planting of the lamppost, and Uncle Andrew's "She was a dem fine gel!" All of it is just perfect to me. The Christian imagery hits REAL hard here, with the tree and the fruit and all that, but still, a dem fine book!...more
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