During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a professor of physics is beaten to death. Skipping ahead many years, his daughter Ye is working in a labor camp when she is caught with contraband material (Rachel Carson's Silent Spring) and essentially banished to a government base. Flash forward to now and a scientist named Wang is playing a video game called The Three-Body Problem about a made-up civilization that descends into chaos periodically due to limited resources. But perhaps there is more reality to this virtual reality than original meets the eye ...
This book has much acclaim and I just don't get it. I felt like the narrative was so jumpy. I honestly found almost every part with Wang, most especially the video game, the most boring stuff to possibly read. Ye's parts were overall more interesting and I wished the story had just started with her (maybe flashback to her father's murder later since it is a crucial moment for her character development) and stayed with her throughout. Starting with Ye's father made the book just feel like historical fiction and then by the time sci-fi came it, it was such hard science that I didn't enjoy it (cosmic microwave radiation, anyone?). I think there are some interesting thoughts / prompts for discussion about climate, resources, and humanity's role but there's other books that do this far better. (Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower series for example.)
The audiobook narrator was pretty good overall; he definitely had a variety show more of voices to use for the various characters. However, that couldn't save a book that was too dull for my taste. show less
This book has much acclaim and I just don't get it. I felt like the narrative was so jumpy. I honestly found almost every part with Wang, most especially the video game, the most boring stuff to possibly read. Ye's parts were overall more interesting and I wished the story had just started with her (maybe flashback to her father's murder later since it is a crucial moment for her character development) and stayed with her throughout. Starting with Ye's father made the book just feel like historical fiction and then by the time sci-fi came it, it was such hard science that I didn't enjoy it (cosmic microwave radiation, anyone?). I think there are some interesting thoughts / prompts for discussion about climate, resources, and humanity's role but there's other books that do this far better. (Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower series for example.)
The audiobook narrator was pretty good overall; he definitely had a variety show more of voices to use for the various characters. However, that couldn't save a book that was too dull for my taste. show less
An artist explains the concept of a still life to the reader while in the background various chaotic things happen across the canvas.
This is the type of book that I usually love -- the text and the images subvert one another, and it's ends up being silly fun for the reader. Add in that it's an art concept being played with instead of the alphabet or fairy tales, it should be golden and right up my alley.
But for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't enjoy it and don't see myself recommending it to anyone. A shame since it had such potential and has a talented illustrator attached to the project.
This is the type of book that I usually love -- the text and the images subvert one another, and it's ends up being silly fun for the reader. Add in that it's an art concept being played with instead of the alphabet or fairy tales, it should be golden and right up my alley.
But for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't enjoy it and don't see myself recommending it to anyone. A shame since it had such potential and has a talented illustrator attached to the project.
The family from How to Love a Pony is back, and this time they discover a family of cats under their porch!
Told in rhyming text, the story is set from the point of view of the unnamed narrator -- the little girl of the family. As the families tries to do the right thing and look for the owners of the lost mother cat, they -- and we alongside them -- get to see the little kittens frolic, play, and grow.
As with the previous title, the illustrations are lovely -- warm and comforting, full of little details to keep noticing on each read through. The multigenerational family is Black and they interact with a white family in this book, so there's plenty of diversity.
Told in rhyming text, the story is set from the point of view of the unnamed narrator -- the little girl of the family. As the families tries to do the right thing and look for the owners of the lost mother cat, they -- and we alongside them -- get to see the little kittens frolic, play, and grow.
As with the previous title, the illustrations are lovely -- warm and comforting, full of little details to keep noticing on each read through. The multigenerational family is Black and they interact with a white family in this book, so there's plenty of diversity.
In a beautiful "coffee table"-style book, Ben Rothery introduces readers to butterflies and moths from all over the globe.
Informational overviews talk about the differences between butterflies and mothers, how they eat, what camouflage they use, etc. Then he digs a little deeper into different classes of butterflies/moths and then deeper still into a few specific examples of each of those classifications.
All throughout, detailed and eye-catching illustrations accompany the text. In some cases, there's also a little ruler to the side so you see how large the butterfly/moth being discussed really is. Some examples also have a little chart showing what months you would expect to see that specific insect as an egg, caterpillar, pupa, or butterfly.
Although I know a fair amount about monarchs specifically and a little bit about butterflies/moths more generally, I definitely learned a lot from reading this title. I kept stopping to share little fun facts I was gleaning. I definitely recommend this title for youth and adults who like learning about the natural world around them.
Informational overviews talk about the differences between butterflies and mothers, how they eat, what camouflage they use, etc. Then he digs a little deeper into different classes of butterflies/moths and then deeper still into a few specific examples of each of those classifications.
All throughout, detailed and eye-catching illustrations accompany the text. In some cases, there's also a little ruler to the side so you see how large the butterfly/moth being discussed really is. Some examples also have a little chart showing what months you would expect to see that specific insect as an egg, caterpillar, pupa, or butterfly.
Although I know a fair amount about monarchs specifically and a little bit about butterflies/moths more generally, I definitely learned a lot from reading this title. I kept stopping to share little fun facts I was gleaning. I definitely recommend this title for youth and adults who like learning about the natural world around them.
Mid-way through seventh grade, Will McKeachie is diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It's bad enough finding out he has a chronic illness, but he's also told he needs to take a break from being on the soccer team until his symptoms are under control. With all of his friends being on the team, he doesn't know what to do with himself -- until he makes a new friend in Griffin, who introduces Will to Mirror Realms, an immersive video game. But, Griffin is rumored to be gay and some of Will's soccer team friends -- as well as his fellow youth group members at church -- don't have nice things to say about gay people. Will feels torn between just wanting to fit in and doing the right thing -- and frankly, knowing what the right thing is.
This was a very refreshing middle grade read. While there are certainly several heavy topics of discussion, it never feels bogged down. The first-person point-of-view narrative always feels conversational, and the reader gets to know Will's inner thoughts from confusion to guilt to jealousy to disappointment to optimism to happiness and everywhere in between.
Set in a small town in Georgia, the book doesn't shy away from the idea that not everyone is open and welcoming -- but many others are striving to be more inclusive. I feel like I've read a bunch of middle-grade and even teen books where everyone is wonderfully accepting (which, while would be nice, isn't reality) or where everyone is just unrelenting awful. This was a more realistic look that show more allowed the main character to reflect more and not make a snap decision about anything.
The book mentions a lot of different folks in Will's sphere between his medical personnel, classmates, and fellow churchgoers. This includes people who homeschool, people who use religion to shut people out, people who use religion to lift people up, female and male doctors, "traditional" nuclear families, families with two mothers, families with single parents, etc. On the flip side, there's not a ton of racial diversity in this book; Will has one classmate who, by naming conventions, is likely Indian American -- and that's basically it for indicating any non-whiteness.
Still, it's a good book for middle schoolers who are thinking through a lot of tough topics and who appreciate an empathetic read. show less
This was a very refreshing middle grade read. While there are certainly several heavy topics of discussion, it never feels bogged down. The first-person point-of-view narrative always feels conversational, and the reader gets to know Will's inner thoughts from confusion to guilt to jealousy to disappointment to optimism to happiness and everywhere in between.
Set in a small town in Georgia, the book doesn't shy away from the idea that not everyone is open and welcoming -- but many others are striving to be more inclusive. I feel like I've read a bunch of middle-grade and even teen books where everyone is wonderfully accepting (which, while would be nice, isn't reality) or where everyone is just unrelenting awful. This was a more realistic look that show more allowed the main character to reflect more and not make a snap decision about anything.
The book mentions a lot of different folks in Will's sphere between his medical personnel, classmates, and fellow churchgoers. This includes people who homeschool, people who use religion to shut people out, people who use religion to lift people up, female and male doctors, "traditional" nuclear families, families with two mothers, families with single parents, etc. On the flip side, there's not a ton of racial diversity in this book; Will has one classmate who, by naming conventions, is likely Indian American -- and that's basically it for indicating any non-whiteness.
Still, it's a good book for middle schoolers who are thinking through a lot of tough topics and who appreciate an empathetic read. show less
Ten-year-old Alice and her parents live on the campus of the college where her mother is a professor, and they are sent to a new home next door to an abandoned house after several other moves. Alice, who is unschooled, decides her new project will be to restore the neighboring house. But she soon learns that the house has a dark secret -- it is haunted by several ghosts! Instead of being frightened, Alice decides to help the ghosts complete their unfinished business so they can move on. But ghosts apparently have a terrible memory and some of them have been haunting this house since the 1700s, so this task is even harder than it sounds.
I really wanted to like this book. I had previously read and enjoyed the author's Lemonade War, and the idea of a not-scary ghost story was definitely appealing. But this book was just far too long and far too dull.
The author really wanted to make something out of how quirky the characters were, particularly Alice's parents, but it really had nothing to do with the story and it made the beginning slog on forever. We also waste time on passages about how the college president dyes her shoes to match her outfits; this is a character we literally see for one scene, was that really necessary? It added nothing to the story.
Even the ghost themselves are kind of boring. There was so much rule setting to how many different types of ghosts there are and how they act and so on. Once the story finally got going in the last third of the book, it was a show more little more interesting to see how Alice was going to help resolve the various issues for the ghosts.
The "twist" at the end was very predictably from early on but so much nothing happened in the middle of the book that it almost surprised me merely because I had lost interest in wondering how that thread would be pulled eventually.
I feel like the book was trying for the vibes of A Series of Unfortunate Events but was absolutely failing as it lacks the same page-turning action and tries to cram all of that quirky world-building in one longer book instead of a bunch of shorter ones where you can slowly introduce new characters. It just really felt like this book needed a lot more editing to reduce it down to the parts that were actually somewhat enjoyable. show less
I really wanted to like this book. I had previously read and enjoyed the author's Lemonade War, and the idea of a not-scary ghost story was definitely appealing. But this book was just far too long and far too dull.
The author really wanted to make something out of how quirky the characters were, particularly Alice's parents, but it really had nothing to do with the story and it made the beginning slog on forever. We also waste time on passages about how the college president dyes her shoes to match her outfits; this is a character we literally see for one scene, was that really necessary? It added nothing to the story.
Even the ghost themselves are kind of boring. There was so much rule setting to how many different types of ghosts there are and how they act and so on. Once the story finally got going in the last third of the book, it was a show more little more interesting to see how Alice was going to help resolve the various issues for the ghosts.
The "twist" at the end was very predictably from early on but so much nothing happened in the middle of the book that it almost surprised me merely because I had lost interest in wondering how that thread would be pulled eventually.
I feel like the book was trying for the vibes of A Series of Unfortunate Events but was absolutely failing as it lacks the same page-turning action and tries to cram all of that quirky world-building in one longer book instead of a bunch of shorter ones where you can slowly introduce new characters. It just really felt like this book needed a lot more editing to reduce it down to the parts that were actually somewhat enjoyable. show less
Being a bird of prey is difficult when you just want to be friends with smaller birds and insects who view you as a scary predator. But things start looking up for Owly when a friendship is formed with Wormy and then their friend group is extended to two hummingbirds named Tiny and Angel. But can friendship weather all the ups and downs of the seasons? Read this book to find out!
This is an adorably sweet book that I'm sorry I slept on for so long. I saw it circulating among young readers in my library but had no particular strong feeling about reading it myself until I heard the author speaking on a library podcast. It became obvious that the author is a person with great empathy skills and sought to imbue the book series with those. I particularly loved that he explained how he decided to make Owly a character who uses only pictures to communicate and not words so that Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and other nonverbal children could see themselves represented in books.
The story of friendship is evergreen and there are actual facts about hummingbirds interspersed in the text, which I appreciated. The adventures of the friends are compelling, keeping the reader wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next. The book is broken up into two stories so there is a nice logical place to pause mid-way through, but it is short and sweet enough to be pretty much read in one sitting if you have a little bit of free time to do so.
The illustrations are quite charming, especially with show more Owly's wide eyes inviting the reader in. show less
This is an adorably sweet book that I'm sorry I slept on for so long. I saw it circulating among young readers in my library but had no particular strong feeling about reading it myself until I heard the author speaking on a library podcast. It became obvious that the author is a person with great empathy skills and sought to imbue the book series with those. I particularly loved that he explained how he decided to make Owly a character who uses only pictures to communicate and not words so that Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and other nonverbal children could see themselves represented in books.
The story of friendship is evergreen and there are actual facts about hummingbirds interspersed in the text, which I appreciated. The adventures of the friends are compelling, keeping the reader wanting to turn the pages to see what happens next. The book is broken up into two stories so there is a nice logical place to pause mid-way through, but it is short and sweet enough to be pretty much read in one sitting if you have a little bit of free time to do so.
The illustrations are quite charming, especially with show more Owly's wide eyes inviting the reader in. show less
Cesaria, a child who is Deaf, loves to dance by feeling the beat through her toes. But when the dance director insists that everyone must wear shoes on stage during Carnival, she tries to sign her displeasure to no avail.
This is a very nice book in many respects. It is definitely great for representation, with a Black, Deaf child engaged in a specific holiday celebration. The illustrations are very vibrant, and I particularly love the peacock costumes the dancers wear. Backmatter includes notes from both the author and the illustrator explaining their connections to the Deaf community, which helps with understanding the thought processes behind the book.
That all being said, while I intellectually understand that Cesaria is trying to communicate her differences and her need to not wear shoes to feel the beat, I feel like the way she is portrayed in the book comes across almost as a tantrum -- she signs at first that peacocks don't wear shoes but doesn't explain more, then throws the shoes and storms off. Later, she could easily have created a problem by again taking her shoes off -- this time on stage. Luckily, all's well that ends well when the other dancers follow her lead and the crowd cheers, but I'm not sure it's the best message to send to kids: 'If you can't get your way, don't use your words, just throw a fit and then do what you wanted to do anyway.' I wish the real message of 'Make sure your needs are met, and proper accommodations are in place.' could have been show more presented better. show less
This is a very nice book in many respects. It is definitely great for representation, with a Black, Deaf child engaged in a specific holiday celebration. The illustrations are very vibrant, and I particularly love the peacock costumes the dancers wear. Backmatter includes notes from both the author and the illustrator explaining their connections to the Deaf community, which helps with understanding the thought processes behind the book.
That all being said, while I intellectually understand that Cesaria is trying to communicate her differences and her need to not wear shoes to feel the beat, I feel like the way she is portrayed in the book comes across almost as a tantrum -- she signs at first that peacocks don't wear shoes but doesn't explain more, then throws the shoes and storms off. Later, she could easily have created a problem by again taking her shoes off -- this time on stage. Luckily, all's well that ends well when the other dancers follow her lead and the crowd cheers, but I'm not sure it's the best message to send to kids: 'If you can't get your way, don't use your words, just throw a fit and then do what you wanted to do anyway.' I wish the real message of 'Make sure your needs are met, and proper accommodations are in place.' could have been show more presented better. show less
As a young girl, Brenda Berkman enjoyed being active and wanted to do things that she was told only boys could do -- like playing football. When she grew up, Brenda wanted to be a firefighter and did become one of the first female firefighters working for FDNY but not without having to struggle to make her place -- and to make space for other women to follow.
The (recent) history in this book was very interesting. I particularly loved the backmatter that had more details about Berkman and her fight for equal rights. The main text isn't particularly notable (i.e., not particularly colorful or flowery language) but it breaks down the main ideas into kid-friendly content.
I ranked this book lower than I might have otherwise for two reasons. First is that the title doesn't really match the book so well. It's really a picture book biography but the title doesn't bother to name the subject, and also the book talks about how bigots always wanted men, never anyone saying, "Send a girl!" (and point of fact, the female firefighters are women, not girls). Second, the illustrations were too cartoon-y for my liking, especially for a book on such a serious topic as discrimination on the basis of sex.
The (recent) history in this book was very interesting. I particularly loved the backmatter that had more details about Berkman and her fight for equal rights. The main text isn't particularly notable (i.e., not particularly colorful or flowery language) but it breaks down the main ideas into kid-friendly content.
I ranked this book lower than I might have otherwise for two reasons. First is that the title doesn't really match the book so well. It's really a picture book biography but the title doesn't bother to name the subject, and also the book talks about how bigots always wanted men, never anyone saying, "Send a girl!" (and point of fact, the female firefighters are women, not girls). Second, the illustrations were too cartoon-y for my liking, especially for a book on such a serious topic as discrimination on the basis of sex.
On the last day of school, a young Black boy reflects on what he learned this past year and what more he has ahead of him.
This is a really sweet book that I'm sure will be making the rotation at kindergarten graduations. The language is simple enough for beginning readers, using a large font size and limited words per page. Brightly colorful illustrations also provide context clues for each page's short sentence(s). Illustrations also continue the diversity with a Muslim teacher and a classmate using a wheelchair.
This is a really sweet book that I'm sure will be making the rotation at kindergarten graduations. The language is simple enough for beginning readers, using a large font size and limited words per page. Brightly colorful illustrations also provide context clues for each page's short sentence(s). Illustrations also continue the diversity with a Muslim teacher and a classmate using a wheelchair.
A bunch of young animals learning to become luchadores want tacos during their lunch break. But their dreams are dashed when they realize they only have a few cents among them. What will they do now?
The story of this book is cute enough and showcases some ingenuity on the part of the young luchadores as they figure out how to earn their lunch -- with a mutually beneficial show in front of Taco Square that drives more business into the taquerias.
Despite only having a few sentences per page at most, this is a slightly more advanced early reader as it contains less repetition and more difficult/uncommon words such as "performance" and "witness." It also mixes in some Spanish words, clearly delineated by purple text rather than the black text used for the English words. Many of these words and phrases can be understood by context clues or an occasional re-iteration in English (not exactly a translation), but there's certainly no glossary. This makes me thinks this book would be best suited for children who are already to some degree bilingual, rather than children trying to learn either English or Spanish for the first time.
Like with the World of ¡Vamos! series by the same creative pair, I find the illustrations overwhelming. There is SO much going on with every scene on every page that I find it difficult to land on a place to focus. Your mileage may vary on this, and some children may love the action-packed feel this gives to the book. There's certainly plenty to look at, show more which might warrant a re-read and thus reinforce children's reading skills. show less
The story of this book is cute enough and showcases some ingenuity on the part of the young luchadores as they figure out how to earn their lunch -- with a mutually beneficial show in front of Taco Square that drives more business into the taquerias.
Despite only having a few sentences per page at most, this is a slightly more advanced early reader as it contains less repetition and more difficult/uncommon words such as "performance" and "witness." It also mixes in some Spanish words, clearly delineated by purple text rather than the black text used for the English words. Many of these words and phrases can be understood by context clues or an occasional re-iteration in English (not exactly a translation), but there's certainly no glossary. This makes me thinks this book would be best suited for children who are already to some degree bilingual, rather than children trying to learn either English or Spanish for the first time.
Like with the World of ¡Vamos! series by the same creative pair, I find the illustrations overwhelming. There is SO much going on with every scene on every page that I find it difficult to land on a place to focus. Your mileage may vary on this, and some children may love the action-packed feel this gives to the book. There's certainly plenty to look at, show more which might warrant a re-read and thus reinforce children's reading skills. show less
For 11-year-old Kemi Carter and her family, a lovely weekend brunch is ruined when the TV broadcasts the news that an asteroid large enough to destroy the entire Earth is on course to hit in the next four days. Now they must prepare for the end of the world, and Kemi has a plan to create a time capsule of all their favorite mementos and memories.
I really hated this book. For more than 240 pages, it is just repetition of how they are all going to die. There are variations, but that's basically it over and over again. Let me reiterate, in a book for children, 200+ pages are about how all life on Earth is going to end, with a countdown on the number of days and hours.
Then comes the twist. I won't do this book the favor of hiding it behind spoiler tags. It turns out there is no asteroid. This is just a metaphor for how Kemi feels about her father's upcoming funeral -- that it's the end of the world. Oh, and her father was murdered in her front of her eyes during that weekend brunch from back in the beginning.
Honestly, this second story would have been the better one to lead with and carry for the majority of the book instead of just the final quarter. Yes, it is also sad. But it's sad in a specific way, not giving kids existential dread about the idea that the whole world could end in one moment. I don't even mind the metaphor of the asteroid for Kemi's grief, but not for three-quarters of the book. That's just ridiculous. I frankly think most children won't stick with the show more book long enough to get to the reveal anyway.
While there were some clever bits worth going back to after the twist is reveal (e.g., the opening scene as well as parts where you thought Kemi's father was present and part of a conversation but you now realize was not), overall this book wasn't particularly well written enough to overcome the fact that is just about death and destruction over and over and over with no relief. Who wants to read 300 pages of pure despair? Particularly what child? show less
I really hated this book. For more than 240 pages, it is just repetition of how they are all going to die. There are variations, but that's basically it over and over again. Let me reiterate, in a book for children, 200+ pages are about how all life on Earth is going to end, with a countdown on the number of days and hours.
Then comes the twist. I won't do this book the favor of hiding it behind spoiler tags. It turns out there is no asteroid. This is just a metaphor for how Kemi feels about her father's upcoming funeral -- that it's the end of the world. Oh, and her father was murdered in her front of her eyes during that weekend brunch from back in the beginning.
Honestly, this second story would have been the better one to lead with and carry for the majority of the book instead of just the final quarter. Yes, it is also sad. But it's sad in a specific way, not giving kids existential dread about the idea that the whole world could end in one moment. I don't even mind the metaphor of the asteroid for Kemi's grief, but not for three-quarters of the book. That's just ridiculous. I frankly think most children won't stick with the show more book long enough to get to the reveal anyway.
While there were some clever bits worth going back to after the twist is reveal (e.g., the opening scene as well as parts where you thought Kemi's father was present and part of a conversation but you now realize was not), overall this book wasn't particularly well written enough to overcome the fact that is just about death and destruction over and over and over with no relief. Who wants to read 300 pages of pure despair? Particularly what child? show less
Makeda's classmates usually bring in cupcakes on their birthdays, but Makeda wants to share her family's coconut drops at school for her birthday instead. Once she makes them though, Makeda worries that others won't enjoy her special treat as much as the anticipated cupcakes.
This is a very sweet (no pun intended) story about fitting in versus being yourself. Makeda learns that she can indeed share her family traditions and culture with her classmates, despite initial skepticism. Food can really be a great unifier, as all the students (and teacher!) start talking about their own special treats.
As you can probably tell, this is a great book for talking about diversity and different cultures. I loved seeing a book where the majority of the characters were Black or other people of color.
Makeda's use of words like "marvelous" made me think that fans of early readers like the Fancy Nancy series will also enjoy this title. I hope to see additional "Makeda Makes" books coming in the future!
This is a very sweet (no pun intended) story about fitting in versus being yourself. Makeda learns that she can indeed share her family traditions and culture with her classmates, despite initial skepticism. Food can really be a great unifier, as all the students (and teacher!) start talking about their own special treats.
As you can probably tell, this is a great book for talking about diversity and different cultures. I loved seeing a book where the majority of the characters were Black or other people of color.
Makeda's use of words like "marvelous" made me think that fans of early readers like the Fancy Nancy series will also enjoy this title. I hope to see additional "Makeda Makes" books coming in the future!
Lily and her family have a country farm where they raise horses. Lily takes the reader through the whole year of caring for their animals.
This is a very sweet book that just feels warm and cozy throughout. The kindness of the family shines through, along with the love for animals and nature. The illustrations really help to sell this, with vibrant full color bursting on every page.
The short sentences and the many rhymes make this book ideal for beginning readers. I love the diversity of a Black family in a rural setting, as we don't often get to see that in children's literature.
This is a very sweet book that just feels warm and cozy throughout. The kindness of the family shines through, along with the love for animals and nature. The illustrations really help to sell this, with vibrant full color bursting on every page.
The short sentences and the many rhymes make this book ideal for beginning readers. I love the diversity of a Black family in a rural setting, as we don't often get to see that in children's literature.
Even though she is only in third grade, Astrid already knows what she wants to do -- become an astronaut. She even has a step-by-step plan of how she'll get there, starting with joining an astronomy club after school with her best friend. But what happens when her best friend suddenly doesn't seem interested?
This is a cute enough story with themes around perseverance, adaptability, understanding, and problem solving. The main character uses hearing aids, her best friend is Asian, and there are other children of color seen in the illustrations, so it certainly does well from a diversity standpoint.
The story is fairly basic, but given it's for a young audience, that makes sense. It is the first in series so there might be more of a dive into the space theme over time, which would be nice given the cover image that seems like it's going to be all about outer space, rather than elementary school friendships.
This is a cute enough story with themes around perseverance, adaptability, understanding, and problem solving. The main character uses hearing aids, her best friend is Asian, and there are other children of color seen in the illustrations, so it certainly does well from a diversity standpoint.
The story is fairly basic, but given it's for a young audience, that makes sense. It is the first in series so there might be more of a dive into the space theme over time, which would be nice given the cover image that seems like it's going to be all about outer space, rather than elementary school friendships.
A scientist convinces a professional musician who regularly visits the aquarium with his sons to play the flute for the two orcas there. The group learns that the orcas react to the music.
This informational picture book has an attractive cover, with appealing illustrations throughout, and an intriguing premise. I found the story a little thin though; I guess I would have liked to know more about the scientific aspects, like what they thought the orcas were communicating, and how that was used to push for orca release. Backmatter provides a little more detail on the people and events but still not an overwhelming amount.
Children who are really interested in oceans, ocean animals, and perhaps even music might like this book. I didn't feel like it did much for me. Spoiler alert for sensitive readers: One of the orcas does die ("off screen" but it's a pivotal moment) and another is depressed to the point of death afterwards. This may not make this seemingly sweet book for everyone.
This informational picture book has an attractive cover, with appealing illustrations throughout, and an intriguing premise. I found the story a little thin though; I guess I would have liked to know more about the scientific aspects, like what they thought the orcas were communicating, and how that was used to push for orca release. Backmatter provides a little more detail on the people and events but still not an overwhelming amount.
Children who are really interested in oceans, ocean animals, and perhaps even music might like this book. I didn't feel like it did much for me. Spoiler alert for sensitive readers: One of the orcas does die ("off screen" but it's a pivotal moment) and another is depressed to the point of death afterwards. This may not make this seemingly sweet book for everyone.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
In her memoirs, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau tells of her life from young girl in New Orleans to celebrated beauty in Paris to scandal-causing portrait sitter.
This book was a rather interesting read. The initial framing device didn't seem all that necessary, but I appreciated how the fake memoir made the tone so conversational and frank. While the main character is fairly frivolous and shallow, concerned almost entirely with looks and high society, it was a neat peek into the cultural milieu of Paris, France during the time -- specifically the upper class and artists' worlds.
An author's note at the end explains how she was intrigued by the famous painting of "Madame X" and wanted to learn more about the subject but couldn't find enough historical documents about her, so she wrote this historical fiction novel rather than her usual biographies. There were times when that transition was obvious, with some rather expositional parts relaying dates and numbers, but overall it's an engaging novel.
The audiobook read by Lorna Raver was exceptionally done. She made it seem even more so like you were sitting down with this person and hearing her story. Raver spoke with passion and bravado when needed, with laughter in her voice for humorous parts, and so on. She also did a great job with all the French pronunciations.
There was a weird glitch in my copy at least, where several tracks on disc 7 were out of order so that a party never before mentioned was being canceled, then we show more enter the salon with the portrait being exhibited for the first time before hearing it's the end of the disc -- and then three or so more tracks pop up in which the story of the party being planned is presented. Disc 8 begins in the middle of the salon again. Certainly an oddity but not a major inconvenience. show less
This book was a rather interesting read. The initial framing device didn't seem all that necessary, but I appreciated how the fake memoir made the tone so conversational and frank. While the main character is fairly frivolous and shallow, concerned almost entirely with looks and high society, it was a neat peek into the cultural milieu of Paris, France during the time -- specifically the upper class and artists' worlds.
An author's note at the end explains how she was intrigued by the famous painting of "Madame X" and wanted to learn more about the subject but couldn't find enough historical documents about her, so she wrote this historical fiction novel rather than her usual biographies. There were times when that transition was obvious, with some rather expositional parts relaying dates and numbers, but overall it's an engaging novel.
The audiobook read by Lorna Raver was exceptionally done. She made it seem even more so like you were sitting down with this person and hearing her story. Raver spoke with passion and bravado when needed, with laughter in her voice for humorous parts, and so on. She also did a great job with all the French pronunciations.
There was a weird glitch in my copy at least, where several tracks on disc 7 were out of order so that a party never before mentioned was being canceled, then we show more enter the salon with the portrait being exhibited for the first time before hearing it's the end of the disc -- and then three or so more tracks pop up in which the story of the party being planned is presented. Disc 8 begins in the middle of the salon again. Certainly an oddity but not a major inconvenience. show less
Nat the Cat is stinky and needs a bath but keeps making excuses for why he can't take one.
This book presents a fun story around a common routine -- bath time. As many little kids find a myriad of excuses for not going to bed (and the various routines leading up to it), they will be able to relate with Nat and his stalling. In this case, Nat and the book's narrator are at odds, with the narrator trying to coax Nat into the bath. For young ones reading aloud, it will give them the impression that they are telling Nat what to do. In that way, this book seems interactive. It will appeal to kids who like picture books such The Pigeon Needs a Bath! that are also interactive, as well as those who enjoy the meta humor of early readers like See the Cat.
The illustrations are colorful and bold, with limited background details, allowing readers to really focus on the cat character and try to interpret his feelings. As with the other book I read in this series, I was disappointed to once again find no female characters.
This book presents a fun story around a common routine -- bath time. As many little kids find a myriad of excuses for not going to bed (and the various routines leading up to it), they will be able to relate with Nat and his stalling. In this case, Nat and the book's narrator are at odds, with the narrator trying to coax Nat into the bath. For young ones reading aloud, it will give them the impression that they are telling Nat what to do. In that way, this book seems interactive. It will appeal to kids who like picture books such The Pigeon Needs a Bath! that are also interactive, as well as those who enjoy the meta humor of early readers like See the Cat.
The illustrations are colorful and bold, with limited background details, allowing readers to really focus on the cat character and try to interpret his feelings. As with the other book I read in this series, I was disappointed to once again find no female characters.
A cat nap is repeatedly interrupted by the narrator discussing what is happening on the page.
This is a silly book appropriate for youngsters learning to read on their own and who have a sense of humor within the conceit of how books work. The narration keeps preventing the cat from sleeping, resulting in increased frustration. The illustrations show the big emotions that keep occurring, making this a good tool for enhancing emotional intelligence as well.
There's only two characters in the book who are both animals and still are both male. Do better, authors and publishers.
This is a silly book appropriate for youngsters learning to read on their own and who have a sense of humor within the conceit of how books work. The narration keeps preventing the cat from sleeping, resulting in increased frustration. The illustrations show the big emotions that keep occurring, making this a good tool for enhancing emotional intelligence as well.
There's only two characters in the book who are both animals and still are both male. Do better, authors and publishers.
An anthropomorphic elephant tries to ride a bike, with several missteps before it takes.
This is a simple story for young readers, either to be read aloud to listeners with short attention spans or for beginning readers working on learning how to read to themselves. The language is pretty simple and straightforward; there aren't many words per page and several of them either repeat or are in the same word family (i.e., "ride" and "glide"). The illustrations are also relatively sparse, but they are brightly colorful and therefore attention-grabbing. The theme of perseverance is a worthy message to relay and the specifics of trying to ride a bike will be relatable to many youngsters.
This is a simple story for young readers, either to be read aloud to listeners with short attention spans or for beginning readers working on learning how to read to themselves. The language is pretty simple and straightforward; there aren't many words per page and several of them either repeat or are in the same word family (i.e., "ride" and "glide"). The illustrations are also relatively sparse, but they are brightly colorful and therefore attention-grabbing. The theme of perseverance is a worthy message to relay and the specifics of trying to ride a bike will be relatable to many youngsters.
Cornbread has a real affection for the museum and its unusual exhibits, so he's thrilled to get an invitation to the unveiling of a new exhibition. He wants to bring his friend Poppy to the gala event as well, but she's resistant to the idea of a visiting a museum because she prefers adventurous outdoorsy pastimes instead. However, there's a series of unexpected events that show just how interesting the museum can be!
I really enjoyed the first Cornbread & Poppy a great deal and was excited to pick up another title in the series. However, this one didn't quite live up my expectations. I can't quite place a finger on it, but there was something about the tone that didn't sit right with me. It did feel like it was trying to say museums are actually pretty cool, but somehow that didn't really come across. As someone who really loves museums, that was pretty disappointing.
Also, I didn't like the bartering/negotiating that Cornbread and Poppy engaged in -- she ultimately wouldn't agree to come to the museum with him unless he promised to go on a future camping trip with him. In a series that is all about friendship and how wonderful friends can be (even when they have different interests than ours), this felt kind of slimy and manipulative. Either go with your friend because you support them (even when it isn't your cup of tea) or stay home; don't make it a 'tit for tat' scenario.
The illustrations are really sweet, with a gentle palette of watercolors filling in tons of small show more details on every page. show less
I really enjoyed the first Cornbread & Poppy a great deal and was excited to pick up another title in the series. However, this one didn't quite live up my expectations. I can't quite place a finger on it, but there was something about the tone that didn't sit right with me. It did feel like it was trying to say museums are actually pretty cool, but somehow that didn't really come across. As someone who really loves museums, that was pretty disappointing.
Also, I didn't like the bartering/negotiating that Cornbread and Poppy engaged in -- she ultimately wouldn't agree to come to the museum with him unless he promised to go on a future camping trip with him. In a series that is all about friendship and how wonderful friends can be (even when they have different interests than ours), this felt kind of slimy and manipulative. Either go with your friend because you support them (even when it isn't your cup of tea) or stay home; don't make it a 'tit for tat' scenario.
The illustrations are really sweet, with a gentle palette of watercolors filling in tons of small show more details on every page. show less
Worm loves being so similar to best friend Caterpillar, but Caterpillar points out the many ways they are different – especially now that Caterpillar feels a change coming on. But if they end up being unalike in their forms and ways, can they still be friends with one another??
I love butterflies so I can’t resist a good caterpillar metamorphosis story, and I also really enjoy the trend in early readers particularly of unlikely animal pairings becoming best of friends (e.g., Fox and Chick, Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, Unicorn and Yeti, etc.). This particular title is extra sweet as Worm and Caterpillar examine their relationship only to discover that true friendship isn’t built on surface-level similarities but instead on caring for and communicating with one another while understanding and embracing differences.
The pastel illustrations of the natural world (e.g., pink-imbued skies, meadows, and flowers) are truly beautiful. The book is presented in a bit of comics-style with conversation bubbles and panels, which are explained at the front of the book for readers new to graphic novels. Therefore, this book is perfect for kids who are intrigued by comic books but are still learning to read on their own. Backmatter includes a how-to-draw section and illustrations of the life cycles of butterflies and worms.
I love butterflies so I can’t resist a good caterpillar metamorphosis story, and I also really enjoy the trend in early readers particularly of unlikely animal pairings becoming best of friends (e.g., Fox and Chick, Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, Unicorn and Yeti, etc.). This particular title is extra sweet as Worm and Caterpillar examine their relationship only to discover that true friendship isn’t built on surface-level similarities but instead on caring for and communicating with one another while understanding and embracing differences.
The pastel illustrations of the natural world (e.g., pink-imbued skies, meadows, and flowers) are truly beautiful. The book is presented in a bit of comics-style with conversation bubbles and panels, which are explained at the front of the book for readers new to graphic novels. Therefore, this book is perfect for kids who are intrigued by comic books but are still learning to read on their own. Backmatter includes a how-to-draw section and illustrations of the life cycles of butterflies and worms.
Twelve-year-old Mia lives with her Jewish mother and stepfather in Los Angeles, where she attends a Hebrew school. But she wonders a lot about her biological father, who she hasn't seen in many years, and his Muscogee heritage. She doesn't really feel super-connected to those traditions, but she also doesn't entirely fit in with her classmates either. So, Mia concocts a plan to visit her father in Oklahoma on the sly without her mother knowing ... what could possibly go wrong?
This book had a really compelling story and engaging characters. I liked Mia and her family, especially her sassy, cosplaying cousin Nova. The themes of identity and not quite fitting in fully will be relatable for many kids, even if the specifics of Mia's situation are different from their own. I also felt like there were good lessons within the story about forgiveness, responsibility, etc.
That all being said, I couldn't rate this book higher because the illustrations were so awful. The style is more cartoon-ish than I prefer, but that is pretty "en vogue" right now. However, in this case it also just a lot of poorly drawn images, especially hands that are somehow terrible every time. I don't get why an illustrator wasn't brought on when the author's work was clearly not up to snuff.
This book had a really compelling story and engaging characters. I liked Mia and her family, especially her sassy, cosplaying cousin Nova. The themes of identity and not quite fitting in fully will be relatable for many kids, even if the specifics of Mia's situation are different from their own. I also felt like there were good lessons within the story about forgiveness, responsibility, etc.
That all being said, I couldn't rate this book higher because the illustrations were so awful. The style is more cartoon-ish than I prefer, but that is pretty "en vogue" right now. However, in this case it also just a lot of poorly drawn images, especially hands that are somehow terrible every time. I don't get why an illustrator wasn't brought on when the author's work was clearly not up to snuff.
Best friends Pencil and Eraser introduce themselves and quickly realize there’s a problem – Pencil’s point isn’t sharp anymore. Can the pair get to a pencil sharpener and back before recess is over? Who knew finding a pencil sharpener could be such an exciting adventure?!
This humorous book has a fast-paced story interspersed with punny jokes. The unlikely friendship between two such opposite-seeming characters will appeal to readers of book series like Elephant & Piggie, Fox + Chick, and Snail & Worm. This book is the perfect advancement from early readers like those to slightly longer graphic novels.
The brightly colored and expressive comics-style illustrations are eye-catching and engaging, while helping to build emotional intelligence with the focus on facial expressions. A “how to draw” section at the end gives clear step-by-step instructions for young artists on re-creating the two title characters, with each step using red ink to show the new part being added (as opposed to black ink for the components already accomplished).
It was definitely nice after some duds and heavy topics to have such a delightful and fun read. I look forward to more adventures of Pencil and Eraser in the future!
This humorous book has a fast-paced story interspersed with punny jokes. The unlikely friendship between two such opposite-seeming characters will appeal to readers of book series like Elephant & Piggie, Fox + Chick, and Snail & Worm. This book is the perfect advancement from early readers like those to slightly longer graphic novels.
The brightly colored and expressive comics-style illustrations are eye-catching and engaging, while helping to build emotional intelligence with the focus on facial expressions. A “how to draw” section at the end gives clear step-by-step instructions for young artists on re-creating the two title characters, with each step using red ink to show the new part being added (as opposed to black ink for the components already accomplished).
It was definitely nice after some duds and heavy topics to have such a delightful and fun read. I look forward to more adventures of Pencil and Eraser in the future!
Sixth grader Noah is devastated after his best friend dies in a car crash and becomes obsessed with doing his science fair project on proving the existence of Mothman, the cryptid with whom his friend was obsessed. Noah begins writing letters to Mothman daily and is convinced they are being read by the elusive monster.
So first off, I have to say the reason I rated this title lower than I might have otherwise is thatMothman is real in this book. I just couldn't get passed that. I felt there needed to be a real, practical answer behind everything Noah experiences, or perhaps I could have even tolerated a more open-ended elusiveness. This reveal was too absurd for me.
The writing in this book is overall very good, although perhaps not for all readers. The book is technically a novel in verse, although it is a mix of poems and letters, with some other items occasionally interspersed (e.g., drawings/doodles, survey responses, to-do lists, news articles). I did feel like towards the middle there was a lot of repetition of the same thoughts and feelings so it was starting to drag a little, but the start was strong and the ending ... well, it was there (as noted above) but at least it was a little more fast-paced again.
The story touches on themes of identity and belonging that will be relatable to many middle schoolers. Specifically, Noah is a trans boy who is struggling with coming out in addition to his grief about his friend, who was also trans although only Noah knew that. show more Noah is also noted as being autistic, although that is brought up far less often. show less
So first off, I have to say the reason I rated this title lower than I might have otherwise is that
The writing in this book is overall very good, although perhaps not for all readers. The book is technically a novel in verse, although it is a mix of poems and letters, with some other items occasionally interspersed (e.g., drawings/doodles, survey responses, to-do lists, news articles). I did feel like towards the middle there was a lot of repetition of the same thoughts and feelings so it was starting to drag a little, but the start was strong and the ending ... well, it was there (as noted above) but at least it was a little more fast-paced again.
The story touches on themes of identity and belonging that will be relatable to many middle schoolers. Specifically, Noah is a trans boy who is struggling with coming out in addition to his grief about his friend, who was also trans although only Noah knew that. show more Noah is also noted as being autistic, although that is brought up far less often. show less
By complete happenstance in the immensity of New York City, 17-year-old Natasha meets Daniel, a cute boy who could maybe, just maybe, be her soulmate -- except that they first encounter each other on the day she's set to be deported back to Jamaica. Can true love endure such a trial?
This was an interesting book, although I must say the concept isn't entirely new. Many, many romances go for the "meet cute" of serendipitous encounters, and there's quite a few stories of having just one day together. I have to admit that these are not my cup of tea; I don't believe in love at first sight or that something enduring can develop in just one day. I also rolled my eyes a little (sometimes metaphorically, sometimes actually) at Daniel's earnestness regarding fate and destiny. Then this all gets subverted by the asides about other couples in the teens' sphere; there's affairs and divorces, disappointments large and small, and too-young deaths of beloved ones.
That all being said, I do think this book was well-written overall and it certainly does get under your skin. Eventually the small asides come together in a tidy package that is satisfying. The audiobook is narrated by three separate people (one for Natasha's chapters, one for Daniel's chapters, and one for the asides), who all do a pretty good job of bringing the story to life. I realize I am not the target audience in a variety of ways, and I can see this book being a more pleasurable reading experience for those who are.
This was an interesting book, although I must say the concept isn't entirely new. Many, many romances go for the "meet cute" of serendipitous encounters, and there's quite a few stories of having just one day together. I have to admit that these are not my cup of tea; I don't believe in love at first sight or that something enduring can develop in just one day. I also rolled my eyes a little (sometimes metaphorically, sometimes actually) at Daniel's earnestness regarding fate and destiny. Then this all gets subverted by the asides about other couples in the teens' sphere; there's affairs and divorces, disappointments large and small, and too-young deaths of beloved ones.
That all being said, I do think this book was well-written overall and it certainly does get under your skin. Eventually the small asides come together in a tidy package that is satisfying. The audiobook is narrated by three separate people (one for Natasha's chapters, one for Daniel's chapters, and one for the asides), who all do a pretty good job of bringing the story to life. I realize I am not the target audience in a variety of ways, and I can see this book being a more pleasurable reading experience for those who are.
Young Gigi once again bumps up against a cultural misunderstanding with her grandfather who only recently came to the United States from Japan. This time she tries to make a yummy breakfast for the whole family only to learn that her grandfather isn't used to peanut butter. The next morning, her mother makes a traditional Japanese breakfast for the whole family only for Gigi to find that she doesn't like the fermented soybeans known as natto. Like her grandfather before her though, Gigi initially tries to pretend she likes the meal, resulting in her mother deciding to use natto in more of her cooking. What should Gigi do now??
There were a lot of cute and clever things to like about this book. For starters, the "food for thought" title is just perfect and I love that the author just leaves it there without hammering home the pun. I enjoyed the relationship between Gigi and her family, especially how understanding everyone tries to be, even when sometimes their cultural upbringings result in some confusion or hurt feelings (initially at least). There are some nice lessons tucked away in this story without it being overly didactic about them.
On the flip side, the text is sometimes a little clunky regarding translations/definitions. Ojiji will use a Japanese word, and the next sentence will be something along the lines of, "Gigi knows that means [translation]." I feel like there has to be a slightly more elegant way to do this, especially with a glossary already existing at show more the end of the book for definitions. Also, I know from reading other books in the series that Ojiji only recently came to the U.S. from Japan for the first time, but that is not stated in this particular title. I feel like that is an essential fact to the story, but instead he is just introduced as "Gigi's Japanese grandpa," which isn't quite the same explanation.
Still, all in all, this is a sweet early reader about family and food traditions. The colorful illustrations will appeal to young children and the idea of trying out a new food will be relatable. The language is a little more difficult (i.e., vocabulary such as "impressed") but the sentences are still kept relatively short and with simple structure. This makes the title good for readers who are advancing a little past the early sounding-out stage but aren't ready for longer chapter books yet. show less
There were a lot of cute and clever things to like about this book. For starters, the "food for thought" title is just perfect and I love that the author just leaves it there without hammering home the pun. I enjoyed the relationship between Gigi and her family, especially how understanding everyone tries to be, even when sometimes their cultural upbringings result in some confusion or hurt feelings (initially at least). There are some nice lessons tucked away in this story without it being overly didactic about them.
On the flip side, the text is sometimes a little clunky regarding translations/definitions. Ojiji will use a Japanese word, and the next sentence will be something along the lines of, "Gigi knows that means [translation]." I feel like there has to be a slightly more elegant way to do this, especially with a glossary already existing at show more the end of the book for definitions. Also, I know from reading other books in the series that Ojiji only recently came to the U.S. from Japan for the first time, but that is not stated in this particular title. I feel like that is an essential fact to the story, but instead he is just introduced as "Gigi's Japanese grandpa," which isn't quite the same explanation.
Still, all in all, this is a sweet early reader about family and food traditions. The colorful illustrations will appeal to young children and the idea of trying out a new food will be relatable. The language is a little more difficult (i.e., vocabulary such as "impressed") but the sentences are still kept relatively short and with simple structure. This makes the title good for readers who are advancing a little past the early sounding-out stage but aren't ready for longer chapter books yet. show less
A fast bear and a clever turtle are racing one another towards the finish line; the bear runs across the ice while the turtle swims under it: Who Will Win?
This book will appeal to young readers who like a fast-paced story with a little bit of competition between the characters creating suspense. I think young children will also enjoy the brightly colored illustrations with expressive facial expressions on the characters and limited background details. The text keeps it simple enough for beginning readers to tackle on their own.
I personally enjoyed the bookending of the story by having a child ask an elder to tell a tale at the start and then the elder thanking them for listening at the end. Also, it's nice to see more indigenous voices in children's literature, especially in the early reader format. The book helpfully includes a glossary/pronunciation guide right at the front. I could see this book being used in a classroom setting for curriculum units on fables and comparing/contrasting with other notable racing stories.
On the flip side, I wasn't thrilled with the idea of the turtle winning by cheating but it being brushed off as 'all's well that ends well' because he shares the first-place prize with the bear in the end. Also, the turtle is expressly a "he" and the elder is clearly male. The child is likely male but that's more debatable and I don't think the bear is given a gender.
This book will appeal to young readers who like a fast-paced story with a little bit of competition between the characters creating suspense. I think young children will also enjoy the brightly colored illustrations with expressive facial expressions on the characters and limited background details. The text keeps it simple enough for beginning readers to tackle on their own.
I personally enjoyed the bookending of the story by having a child ask an elder to tell a tale at the start and then the elder thanking them for listening at the end. Also, it's nice to see more indigenous voices in children's literature, especially in the early reader format. The book helpfully includes a glossary/pronunciation guide right at the front. I could see this book being used in a classroom setting for curriculum units on fables and comparing/contrasting with other notable racing stories.
On the flip side, I wasn't thrilled with the idea of the turtle winning by cheating but it being brushed off as 'all's well that ends well' because he shares the first-place prize with the bear in the end. Also, the turtle is expressly a "he" and the elder is clearly male. The child is likely male but that's more debatable and I don't think the bear is given a gender.
Marchioness Shuri von Neuschwanstein was given a second chance at life, returning after her own death back to the day of her husband's funeral to raise her stepchildren while dealing with the vagaries of inheriting the title of "head of the household" of a prestigious family in the parliament.
This volume goes back in time, however, to look at what happened after her death in the previous timeline. It then goes ever further back in time to look at the adolescences of two key figures -- the Crown Prince of the empire and the scheming Cardinal Richelieu who orchestrated Shuri's death previously. However, these two stories are placed in the current timeline when Shuri has been reborn, just to be more confusing. Well, they serve more of a purpose than just confusion, but this particular volume sure does jump around in time -- because next up, we fast-forward from the events of volume 3 to three years later, seeing Shuri and her stepchildren a little older and slightly maturer.
While I did appreciate getting more background knowledge on various events and additional character development with this volume, I also didn't like how it was much darker thematically and was all over the place with the timeline. I almost wish some of these backstories were provided earlier to make more sense of all the various characters and their roles.
I will certainly continue on with the next volume as I am now quite invested in this story and want to see where it goes next. But that being said, show more this wasn't my favorite volume. show less
This volume goes back in time, however, to look at what happened after her death in the previous timeline. It then goes ever further back in time to look at the adolescences of two key figures -- the Crown Prince of the empire and the scheming Cardinal Richelieu who orchestrated Shuri's death previously. However, these two stories are placed in the current timeline when Shuri has been reborn, just to be more confusing. Well, they serve more of a purpose than just confusion, but this particular volume sure does jump around in time -- because next up, we fast-forward from the events of volume 3 to three years later, seeing Shuri and her stepchildren a little older and slightly maturer.
While I did appreciate getting more background knowledge on various events and additional character development with this volume, I also didn't like how it was much darker thematically and was all over the place with the timeline. I almost wish some of these backstories were provided earlier to make more sense of all the various characters and their roles.
I will certainly continue on with the next volume as I am now quite invested in this story and want to see where it goes next. But that being said, show more this wasn't my favorite volume. show less
A misunderstanding of a situation between the Crown Prince and Lady Shuri results in an altercation between the former and Shuri's oldest stepson, Jeremy. Despite an easy explanation being just words away, Jeremy is put on trial with an extreme punishment at stake, so Shuri seeks out various political alliances and avenues to ensure his safety.
This book picks up exactly where the previous volume left off, with no recap at all; there's no point in reading this title if you haven't read the first two volumes. However, if you enjoyed the series so far, this book will be similarly enjoyable overall as it continues to explore this fictional world and the characters who populate it. I do love the art when it's serious as it is quite beautiful and eye-catching; other times, it becomes entirely cartoon-y.
Overall I found this book quick, light, and entertaining enough to want to continue on with the next volume in the series and see what happens next with Shuri, the rest of the Neuschwanstein family, their assorted allies, and their enemies.
This book picks up exactly where the previous volume left off, with no recap at all; there's no point in reading this title if you haven't read the first two volumes. However, if you enjoyed the series so far, this book will be similarly enjoyable overall as it continues to explore this fictional world and the characters who populate it. I do love the art when it's serious as it is quite beautiful and eye-catching; other times, it becomes entirely cartoon-y.
Overall I found this book quick, light, and entertaining enough to want to continue on with the next volume in the series and see what happens next with Shuri, the rest of the Neuschwanstein family, their assorted allies, and their enemies.