The Last Dragonslayer (2012)

The Last Dragonslayer. Jasper Fforde. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 296 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I liked The Last Dragonslayer. It definitely wasn't love, love, love.

Jennifer Strange is the heroine of this playful fantasy novel. This foundling may not want the job ahead of her, to fulfill her destiny that has been decreed for her for hundreds of years, but she may be the best chance for the world.

The Last Dragonslayer is peopled with some quirky characters. The writing was light and playful, the pacing tended to be just right as well. If I could have finished it in just one sitting, perhaps, I might not have realized the lack of connection I had with the characters and the story.

The characters were just substantive enough to be quirky and interesting at least from a distance. But I didn't feel there was much depth and substance to them beneath the surface. The exception probably being Jennifer Strange, our heroine.

Fantasies depend on world-building, great premises, and good storytelling. Characters are crucial as well. As is pacing. The Last Dragonslayer was entertaining and pleasant but it didn't really make itself unforgettable or memorable.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Five New(ish) Picture Books

Little Bear's Little Boat. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.  2003/2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 30 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Little Bear loved his little boat. 

Little Bear loves sailing his boat on Huckleberry Lane. He loves, loves, loves his little boat. It is just perfect for him. But, as Little Bear begins to grow--slowly but surely--his little boat loses its just right-ness. Little Bear doesn't understand why it is his destiny to grow and his boat's destiny to stay exactly the same. But he does accept this truth and adds to it. It is the boat's destiny to find a new little bear. And it is equally important to let that new little bear know that he too will one day have to part with the oh-so-perfect little boat.  This is a charming story of growing up and letting go.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

Big Bear's Big Boat. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

When Big Bear grew too big for his little boat, he gave it to Little Bear. Now he was building a big boat for himself. 
"I want it to be just like my little boat, but bigger," Big Bear told his mother. His mother smiled, "You loved your little boat, and now Little Bear loves it. You will love your new one just as much."

Big Bear's Big Boat is a sequel to Little Bear's Little Boat. He is now a proper "big" bear, and when the book opens he is hard at work building a brand new boat--a big boat of course. And he does build a perfect boat--just the way he wants it. But. After he's finished, he begins listening to his friend. All of his friends have ideas and give him advice on how to make this boat even better. And Big Bear listens and follows... But will he be happy with his friends' vision of the perfect boat?! This little picture book has a good moral to it: "a bear should never let go of his own dream."

I definitely enjoyed both books!!! I would recommend both books!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

The Invisible Boy. Trudy Ludwig. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Can you see Brian, the invisible boy? Even Mrs. Carlotti has trouble noticing him in her classroom. She's too busy dealing with Nathan and Sophie.

I definitely liked this picture book. It deals with the question: which is worse--being laughed at or feeling invisible?

Brian, our young hero, is the invisible boy. He's friendless. This is noticeable even in the classroom, but especially so in the lunchroom and at recess. But when a new student comes, Brian reaches out to him--via note, I might add--and soon Brian begins to lose his invisibility. It starts with the new kid, Justin, but soon expands to include others. It has a happy ending that may seem sudden and a bit too good to be true. But it makes for a satisfying conclusion. I liked Brian and Justin. I liked the fact that Brian had strengths, that he definitely was worth knowing and worth noticing.

The book is intentional. It is packed with social lessons. It is inviting the visible and invisible kids to think about their actions, their words, their choices. None of the children are "bad" children; some are thoughtless and impulsive, but nobody is vilified into a BULLY, which I thought was a good thing. The focus is on the little things. The little things that are more accidentally thoughtless than purposefully: I'm out to HURT you.   

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

Tiny King. Taro Miura. 2013. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a Tiny King. The Tiny King lived all alone in a big, big castle. 

If I had to describe The Tiny King, I would say it was unusual, but unusual in a mostly good way. This picture book was first published in Japan. Candlewick is publishing it for the first time in the United States. It has a one-of-a-kind feel to it. And you'll pick up on this from the start. The cover says: THIS IS THE ACTUAL SIZE OF THE TINY KING.

The Tiny King is sad and lonely. At least he is in the beginning. But this is a happy fairy tale. He meets a BIG queen and they marry. He's soon the father of ten tiny children. And with the Queen and all ten children: his life isn't so empty and he doesn't feel so tiny after all.

The illustrations are interesting and fun. Very bright and bold. Original storytelling is complemented by original artwork.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

The Silver Button. Bob Graham. 2013. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

At 9:59 on Thursday morning, Jodie drew a duck. she gave the duck a top hat, cane, and boots of the softest leather. On the boots, she put silver buttons: one...two... Her pen hovered in the air before the final button.
Jodie's brother, Jonathan, pushed slowly to his feet. He swayed, he frowned, he tilted forward...and took his first step. He took that step like he was going somewhere.

Some people really LOVE Bob Graham. I am not one who "loves, loves, loves" his books. The Silver Button is an interesting look at one minute of time in the city. In that one minute, many things happen. Some, like the baby's very first steps, seem momentous. Others are very ordinary. For example, in that minute a soldier says goodbye to his mother (definitely emotional) and a little boy stops and has his shoes tied for the second time that morning (definitely not emotional). The book is seeking to capture life: a blend of simple and complex. One review calls it existential. I think this is a hit or miss book. You'll either really like it and think its brilliant or you won't. It has received plenty of starred reviews: Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Loving Will Shakespeare (2006)

Loving Will Shakespeare. Carolyn Meyer. 2006. Harcourt. 272 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]

Loving Will Shakespeare was the very first Carolyn Meyer novel I ever read. It was LOVE. Loving Will Shakespeare was also one of the very first novels I ever reviewed here at SukaYuka's Book Reviews. (To be precise, it was my SECOND review.) So I have wonderful memories of this one. I recently decided to reread it. 

Loving Will Shakespeare is the fictional memoir of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. After a brief framework is provided, the novel opens with the christening of William Shakespeare. Agnes Hathaway is in attendance. (I believe she is seven?) The age difference between these two is obvious from the start. The obstacle for the author to overcome is how to create a romance between the two in a believable way when the time comes.

Why did I love Loving Will Shakespeare? I think one of the main reasons is that it was so incredibly rich in detail. I really got a sense of what it was like to live during this time. Through Agnes (or Anne) readers get a chance to see this world up close. The lambing, the sheep-shearing, the sowing and reaping, the holidays and festivals, Twelfth Night and May Day. There is a great sense of community. Also the uncertainty of life. The health risks of living during this time in history. The recurrence of the plague that proves devastating or heartbreaking. The risks every single woman faces with each pregnancy and childbirth. The need for remarriage, the blending of families, etc. 

The other reason may be the presence of Will Shakespeare himself. Though this is a mixed blessing. Will is presented as having a way with words, a true gift, a BIG dream. He doesn't quite fit in his setting. He wants more. He can be charming and work hard. It's not that he's dreaming so big that he's lazy. Readers see him in cozy friendship with Agnes for many years. What he is thinking of this older woman readers can't quite be sure of. But from her point of view, this friendly young man is good fun but not a potential mate. She isn't wow this fourteen year old boy is oh-so-dreamy.

Will Shakespeare is not Anne's first love-interest. She has been disappointed in the past in her crushes and suitors. One man she truly loved--the two were even engaged--but he died of the plague. The wooing between the two [Will and Anne] occur when he's seventeen or so. He's started writing poems--sonnets--and songs. And he's a great dancer. He is persistent and she's willing.

But if this love story has a romantic ending, it's definitely bittersweet. For after just a few years of marriage...Will Shakespeare leaves his wife and three children to go to London to make himself into SHAKESPEARE. He becomes famous and successful. And his family is largely not a part of his life in any meaningful way. Anne is not a nagging wife; one to beg her husband to stay. She lets him go with grace and courage believing that he will do great things.


If music be the food of love, play on...
To be or not to be...

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Wild Queen

The Wild Queen. Carolyn Meyer. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 420 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Mary, Queen of Scots, has every reason to sing the Blue-Blooded Blues...and I'll tell you for why...

Mary's story is a tragic one for many reasons. It isn't that Mary was a pure, innocent saint. It is the fact that from the time of her birth she was almost always manipulated, used, and abused; she was surrounded by power-hungry people who wanted to grasp power and control through Mary's so-called power. Surrounded by people who wanted to dictate and rule over her. Mary was crowned Queen of Scots before she was one.

The first half of the novel focuses on Mary's time in France. She was betrothed to the French dauphin from a very young age. She was raised in the French court. (She was half-French.) She was well-educated, became quite familiar with the royal household. She also got to see her French relatives (her grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc.) She marries young. All seems to be relatively fine until her husband dies leaving her a widow at age seventeen or eighteen. Then the pressure builds. Who will marry Mary next? Who will decide? Will it be her French uncles? her Scottish brothers? her cousin Queen Elizabeth? Will she decide the matter for herself?

Here, I believe, is where the tragedy begins. For Mary makes some fateful decisions with horrible consequences. Blinded by love, perhaps, or maybe just misplaced trust she chooses abominable husbands, one after the other. The good news, if there is good news to be found, is that Henry Stuart, her second husband, at least left Mary with a baby, James, destined to be James VI of Scotland and eventually James I of England. (And all monarchs ever since have descended from this line.) The last half of the novel traces her fall. If Mary betrayed the trust of Queen Elizabeth, it is perhaps the direct result of almost everyone in Mary's life betraying her first. Every person in Mary's life had an agenda. Mary's tragic flaw is that she didn't see people's not-so-hidden agendas. She trusted those who were unworthy.

I love historical fiction. I do. Carolyn Meyer happens to be one of my favorite writers. I've enjoyed so many of her historical novels! While The Wild Queen isn't my absolute favorite, it is a very good novel, a bit more mature, however, than some of Meyer's previous novels.
 


© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

6 Early Readers...and 1 Early Chapter Book

Squirrels on Skis. J. Hamilton Ray. Illustrated by Pascal Lamaitre. 2013. Random House. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Nobody knew how the mania grew. First there was one, and then there were two. Three more came gliding from under the trees. LOOK! On the hill. Those are squirrels on skis! Below lay the town, snow-covered and still. Not a sound could be heard. All was silent until... 
swwwishhhh swooped the skiers, all dressed for play. Eighty-five squirrels and more on the way! 

Squirrels on Skis is so much fun! It is over-the-top, that's true enough, but it is just so imaginative! Squirrels on Skis tell the story of a town overwhelmed by hundreds of squirrels on skis. The residents of the town are not pleased overall. One or two squirrels on skis is cute enough, but this many?! Well, something has to be done...NOW!!! But the squirrels are at risk too. Their skiing is out of control. They're so busy skiing that they're not eating or sleeping! An intervention is clearly needed...

Sally Sue Breeze is a good heroine. She's a reporter that may just be able to solve the problem and bring about a happy resolution for everyone!

I would definitely recommend this one!

A Pet Named Sneaker. Joan Heilbroner. Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. 2013. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

There once was a snake named Sneaker. He lived in a pet store. It was a nice store. But Sneaker was not happy. He wanted a home. Many people came into the store. They took home fish. They took home birds. They took home hamsters. But they did not take home Sneaker. No one wanted a snake. Then one day, a boy came into the store. His name was Pete.

A Pet Named Sneaker is a fun beginner book. Most of the adventures occur out of the pet store. Readers see Sneaker at home with Pete, attending school with Pete, accompanying him to the swimming pool in the summer, etc. Sneaker is quite a pet! This pet snake even learns to read...

I liked this one. It definitely has more of a story to it than you might suspect.

Dig, Scoop, Ka-Boom! Joan Holub. Illustrated by David Gordon. 2013. Random House. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Here's the site and the crew. They have a mighty job to do! Dozer's blade shapes the land. Push it. Shove it. Move that sand! Digger's teeth bite the ground. Crunch, crunch, scoop! Tracks skid around. Rocks are big. They can't stay. Loader lifts them all away. 

I think Dig, Scoop, Ka-boom! works. I like the rhythm and rhyme. I like the simplicity of the words and sentences, the varying lengths of sentences. I also like the point of view leading up to the surprise ending.

The book is part of Random House's Step Into Reading series. It is a step one book, "ready to read."

Here Comes Super Grover! Sesame Workshop. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. 2013. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Candlewick Press publishes a handful of brand new readers. One of the series in this brand new readers series is Sesame Street. Here Comes Super Grover has four small stories: "Super Grover's Basket," "Super Grover and the Bike," "Super Grover and the Rock," and "Super Grover to the Rescue." A summary of each book is given before the story.

From Super Grover to the Rescue: "Elmo has a wagon. He sees the steps. Oh, no!"
From Super Grover and the Rock: "Super Grover sees a big rock. He tries to sweep the rock. He tries to push the rock."
From Super Grover's Basket: "Cookie Monster puts cookies in a basket. Super Grover pulls the basket up."
From Super Grover and the Bike: "Abby's bike has just one big wheel. "Try this!" says Super Grover. "That is a square," says Abby.

The book is simple and silly. Often stories have a small twist at the end. My favorite is probably Super Grover's Basket.

Abby Cadabby Up and Down. Sesame Workshop. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. 2013. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Abby Cadabby Up and Down features four stories: Abby and Elmo and the Basket, Abby and Elmo's Picnic, Abby's Boat, and Abby Comes To Visit. Each story is summarized before the story properly begins. The stories are very simple, but there are traces of humor in a few of them.

From "Abby's Boat": Abby floats her boat in the pool. Elmo puts an apple on the boat. The boat tilts. Abby puts her apple on the boat. The boat balances...

The book includes eight tips for parents on how to help your brand new reader.

Twin Magic: School Bully, Beware! Kate Ledger. Illustrated by Kyla May. 2013. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Lottie and Mia are twins. Their best friend is named Toby. He lives next door. 

I was not overly impressed by this early reader though I could see why other readers might find it charming enough. Lottie and Mia are twins with (secret) magical powers. These powers come in useful with solving every day problems the pair encounters. This second book in the series is all about a new kid at school, a boy named Max. Max is a mean bully. The book resolves very quickly, a bit too quickly in my opinion. Of course, Max isn't really a bully. He just is having a bad day. And of course, he's super cool and good friend material. The lack of characterization bothered me a bit as did the simplifying of a big problem. This one just didn't feel authentic, even without considering the magic.

Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2013. Harcourt. 44 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, loved to nap in the summertime. They loved napping in the garden. They loved napping on the porch. They loved napping in the car. "It seems that we nap all the time," Mr. Putter said to Tabby one day. Tabby was old and her frisky days were over. She loved napping. "I think we need a sport," said Mr. Putter. Tabby opened one eye. "I think we need baseball," said Mr. Putter...

I loved, loved, loved this one! I love Mr. Putter and Tabby. I love the baseball team they join. I love Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke, who plays quite a big role on the team for better or worse! The team Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry join is the Yankee Doodle Dandies. It's just fun and sweet all at the same time!

 This early chapter book has five chapters.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Three 2013 Picture Books

Lost Cat. C. Roger Mader. 2013. (October 2013). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Ever since Slipper was a tiny kitten, she'd lived with a little old lady in a little old house in a little old town. Slipper was well cared for: tasty food, a brushing every day, and a little rug to sleep on, right beside the lady's bed, next to the fluffy slippers she loved so much. Life was good.

The title says it all. Slipper, the cat, is forgotten on moving day. Her owner whom we simply know as "Mrs. Fluffy Slippers" appears to have forgotten her in her packing. Slipper tries to follow the moving van, but soon tires. Mrs. Fluffy Slippers returns to the house for Slipper, but the cat is gone. Many people see Slipper and want to take her home. But she doesn't want to go with just anyone...

This book has the happiest of endings. A nice twist that adults might predict but might surprise younger readers. I like the story just fine. But I really like the illustrations. The illustrations are so beautiful. Cat lovers should be quite pleased! One thing you'll notice is that they provide a cat's point of view in that everything is seen on the level of a cat. All the humans in the story are only seen from the knees down.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood. Connie Sewell. Illustrated by Elyse Whittaker-Paek. 2013. Tiny Hands Publishing. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

My name is Summer Saltz. My mom says she loves summertime and that's why she named me Summer. My dad says my name fits me to a tee. "Fits me to a tee?" I ask. My mom says that's a figure of speech and it means my name fits me perfectly. Well, I think what fits me perfectly is anything Pink. I love Pink! And another thing that fits me to a tee are my new white sunglasses.

Summer Saltz, our heroine, is given the compliment that she is "so Hollywood." Not quite understanding the figure of speech, Summer decides to be so Hollywood all the time. She loves dressing up and showing off! She wants to be one-of-a-kind. But things don't always go as planned. Her best friend? Well, she has the exact same sunglasses. And when Summer's own glasses break, well, Summer is understandably upset...

The text of this one is quite fun. The repeating trend seems to be Summer not quite understanding all the phrases (the figures of speech) that her parents and relatives use around her. She repeats them quite well, but, interprets them her own way. The illustrations are super-cute. My favorite is probably the illustration of her (big) dog Penelope. The text reads "How do you put a DOG in a purse?" (Summer had a brand new pink cupcake purse!)

I liked getting to know Summer, Penelope (her dog) and Molly (her best friend).

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

The Girl Who Wouldn't Brush Her Hair. Kate Bernheimer. Illustrated by Jake Parker. 2013. Random House. 40 pages.

There once was a girl who wouldn't brush her hair. Her hair was wonderful--bear-brown and wavy. The girl also had a doll that looked just like her, except the doll had no hair and was only a baby. The doll's name was Baby. After the girl's bath every evening, she'd pile a turban upon her head and pretend she was queen. At bedtime, she would unravel the turban and let her hair fall down in a tangled heap. No brushing. "It's just my way," she explained to the grown-ups.

This book has a good premise: a little girl who refuses to brush her hair learns a lesson slowly but surely. She does seem slow in learning it, however. It is not enough for one mouse to make a nest in her hair and take up residence. It's not even enough for three dozen mice to take up residence in her hair. The mice are unruly, bossy, and nocturnal...

It's a fun and playful story starring a very stubborn heroine. The illustrations, in a way, are just as fun as the text itself. I liked seeing what the mice were doing in each picture. The story has a good resolution too. This story reminded me--in a good way--of a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle story.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Middle Ground (2012)

Middle Ground. Katie Kacvinsky. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Middle Ground is the sequel to Awaken. Maddie, our heroine, has had her one last chance to conform. So when she brings attention to herself in L.A. by speaking out against virtual school, she ends up in a detention center; her sentence is for six months. Most of the novel focuses on the detention center, and on how corrupt the system is. Will Maddie survive the torturous rehabilitation process?! Can she hold onto who she is and what she believes in most?

I really have enjoyed this series of books. I liked Kacvinsky's focus on the dangers of technology and addiction. It isn't that technology is bad if used responsibly, but, it can be so addictive. In this future world, technology is used to keep the populace content and conformable--to keep them from thinking, questioning, and possibly rebelling.

There is a romance, but, to me this is a secondary story almost.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Year of the Baby (2013)

The Year of the Baby. Andrea Cheng. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Anna and her friends are back for a second adventure. The Year of the Baby is mainly focused on two things: Anna's new adopted (all the way) from China baby sister AND the fact that their class is participating in a science fair. When Anna's baby sister fails to thrive and starts losing weight, Anna decides her science project will be her baby sister. She teams up with her two best friends and they start their ongoing project. All the adults in her life (her parents, her teacher, the pediatrician) all act as if Anna and her friends "save the day." This bothered me. It's one thing to say "good job," or "great idea" and quite another to say it is because of YOU that the baby has gained several pounds. When the experiment only focuses on one snack of each day, and that snack consists of a handful of banana slices or pieces of Chinese burgers. That one snack is just a fraction of the meals and snacks (or feedings) consumed in a day. And most of the daily calories are coming from the other meals that have nothing to do with the experiment or observation. The experiment was fun and playful and a great chance to bond, but, I'm not convinced that it "saved the day." (The bonding might have led the baby to feel happier and more secure in her new home which might help overall in her health.)

I really wanted to love The Year of the Baby. I definitely enjoyed reading Year of the Book. However, I have hesitations about The Year of the Baby; my hesitations are about the science experiment or science fair.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Four by Helen Lester (2013)

Listen, Buddy. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

 Buddy's father had a beautiful big nose. He was a great sniffer. Buddy's mother had beautiful big teeth. She was a great chomper. Buddy had beautiful big ears. It didn't matter.

Buddy has a problem, a big problem: he doesn't listen. It doesn't bother Buddy a bit, though it annoys his parents greatly! But one day, Buddy finds himself in peril!!! Will he learn his lesson for good?!

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Me First. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Pinkerton was pink, plump, and pushy. He would do anything to be first, even if it meant bouncing off bellies, stepping on snouts, or tying tails. 

Pinkerton gets more than he bargained for in Me First. When asked who wants a sandwich, he is first to exclaim "Me first!" But when the sandwich turns out to be a sand witch, well, Pinkerton learns that selfish people are NOT fun to be around.

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

It Wasn't My Fault. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Things did not always go well for Murdley Gurdson. He couldn't control the toothpaste. He fell into wastebaskets. And he dropped only valuable vases. Whatever happened, it was usually his fault. One day he went for a walk in his one too big new shoe. He had stepped out of the other one. He couldn't remember where. Before long someone laid an egg on Murdley Gurdson's head. 

Who's to blame for Murdley Gurdson's bad day? And Murdley is not the only one having a bad day. There is quite a story to be told. If you enjoyed Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo by Rosetta Stone, then you may appreciate It Wasn't My Fault by Helen Lester.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

A Porcupine Named Fluffy. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

When Mr. and Mrs. Porcupine had their first child, they were delighted. Now he needed a name. Should they call him Spike? No. Spike was too common. Should they call him Lance? No. Lance sounded too fierce. Should they call him Needleroozer? No. Needleroozer was too long. Prickles? Pokey? Quillian? Then together they had an idea. "Let's call him Fluffy. It's such a pretty name. Fluffy!"

One day Fluffy realizes he is NOT fluffy. He tries again and again and again to be fluffy. But he can't escape who he is; he is a porcupine, and porcupines are not fluffy by nature. He's quite unhappy until he meets a friend, a true friend, someone who understands. His friend? A rhinoceros named Hippo. They are a perfect pair!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Shade of the Moon (2013)

The Shade of the Moon. Susan Beth Pfeffer. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

The Shade of the Moon is the fourth 'moon book' by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It is narrated by Miranda's younger brother, Jon, who is now 16. When the book opens, it has been around four years since the moon incident and around two years since Jon, Gabe, and Lisa made it into the Sexton enclave. The events of this novel cover late April through mid-August.

Jon hasn't been a character I've ever really thought about. He's his mother's greatest hope in some ways. In Life As We Knew It, the mom makes clear to Miranda and Matt that Jon is to have every consideration in the world, that he is the chosen one who must survive. In This World We Live In, we see a fourteen year old Jon have a little crush on Julie, I suppose. But honestly Jon has always been uninteresting to me.

Jon is not a nice person. The sad thing? In the enclave, he's still one of the "good guys." The standards have lowered so much that even though Jon is a complete jerk in some ways, in comparison with the other teen boys we see, he's a "nice" guy. Jon has an excuse for why he HAS to act the way he does. He is doing it so he fits in, he's doing it so the family can remain in good standing. (Lisa is coming up for review. If she passes, they'll be guaranteed a spot in the enclave for another three years. If not, well, they'll all be forced to leave unless Lisa allows Gabe to be adopted by an eager childless couple.) Jon thinks he has no choice, that he's not at fault, that this is just how things are.

Sarah Goldman is a new girl in Jon's class. Sarah is instantly drawn to Jon (it seems) and Jon is falling for Sarah just as quickly. Sarah is off-limits according to Jon's "best friends." They want Jon to choose between staying with them, or choosing the different-outsider-girl. He chooses his friends, of course, this is Jon we're talking about! But Jon still is hoping that Sarah will wait for him.

Pfeffer explores the haves and have-nots of the new world; the "grubbers" those who live outside the enclave (the laborers, the domestics, the miners) and the "clavers" those fortunate few who live inside the enclave (the thinkers, the leaders, etc.). The clavers have been taught by their teachers, their parents, their neighbors, their friends that they are THE BEST. They get the best because they deserve the best. They have been equally taught that the grubbers are the worst. The grubbers are a necessary evil. They're necessary because someone has to do the actual work, the dirty work. But to think of the grubbers as more than mere animals is ridiculous.

How does Jon feel about this? You'd think since his own mom, his own sister, his own brother-in-law were grubbers that he would actually KNOW this is complete nonsense. That he would be one of the few clavers with common decency. But Jon tends to think that his family is the exception to the rule. Jon doesn't really like grubbers, he sees them as completely beneath him. He thinks the distinctions are justified in a way.

Does Jon change? Is the Jon we meet in the first chapter the same Jon we say goodbye to in the last chapter? That is the most important thing...

I did not care for Jon, not in the same way I've cared for Alex or Miranda in the past. But his coming-of-age story is interesting in many ways. I found it an absorbing read--difficult to put down. I enjoyed learning more about how the world had changed.

I liked this one better than This World We Live In.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Ladies in Waiting (2013)

Ladies in Waiting. Laura L. Sullivan. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Ladies in Waiting is set during the reign of Charles II, the 1660s. (Be sure to watch the video!) The book is not a romance. The book is about the choices or lack of choices women had during this time period. (Did women have any power over their lives? Were women merely the property of their fathers or husbands?) We see this depicted in the lives of three very different women all named Elizabeth.

Eliza Parsloe does not want to get married. She thinks she has a better chance of manipulating her father than any future husband. She is a thinker. She loves to write. She'd love, love, love to write plays and have them produced. The bawdier the play, the better!

Beth Foljambe will fulfill all her mother's plans...or else. Oh, Beth's mother is creepy and strict and cruel. Beth is at court to get a husband, not of her own choosing, of course, that would be ridiculous. But her mother is determined to protect her daughter's virtue until she can find the right husband for her. Beth secretly and perhaps foolishly is thinking of a childhood friend, a boy, that she hasn't seen in ages. When she sees him again, it's TRUE LOVE, or is it?!

Zabby Wodewose is an intellectual woman interested in science, nature, and medicine. Raised in Barbados, she is traveling to England for the first time. She happens upon Charles II at a very vulnerable time. He is very ill, and she nurses him back to health. He swears her to secrecy, and the whole world perhaps with the exception of Eliza and Beth thinks that Zabby is one of the King's (many) mistresses. As a result of her being in such close contact with him, she becomes obsessed with how in love she is with him.

These three become close to one another since they all serve the same Queen (Catherine of Braganza). All three women have secrets, of course: some they share with the others; some they don't. All three women have strengths and all three women have weaknesses. None of the heroines are perfect. I didn't exactly "love" (if love goes along with the idea of unconditional approval) any of the heroines. However, I found their stories fascinating or entertaining.

The book is full of sexual innuendos and jesting which completely suits the time period.

You might be interested in: Catherine of Braganza, Charles II, Thomas Killigrew, Barbara Palmer, Nell Gwyn, Duke of Buckingham, Samuel Pepys.



© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Year of the Book (2012)

The Year of the Book. Andrea Cheng. Illustrated by Abigail Halpin. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

The Year of the Book has a cozy feel to it, perhaps because of the hopeful outlook. Though Anna, our heroine, isn't absolutely loving all the changes that come with being in fourth grade, she has much to be thankful for. Anna gets great joy out of reading. Almost every chapter in this one includes Anna reading a new book or talking about a new book. Sometimes she's sharing memories of a book she loved, loved, loved long ago like Little Blue and Little Yellow (by Leo Lionni), and other times she's talking about her newest favorite-favorite book like A Wrinkle in Time or From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I love her approach to life, if she has vacation, of course, she's going to spend it reading a new library book each day?! What else would she do?! But a love of book isn't all there is to Anna. She also loves to sew and make crafts. And it isn't hard to see that Anna cares about people deeply too. Sure, at the beginning, Anna seems like she is guarding herself a bit, hesitant to trust her old friend, Laura, since Laura has seemed so different, not quite herself since the start of the new school year. I love how open her heart is, though. How Anna takes time to care for people that may not receive a lot of attention or notice or care. There is something real about Anna and that is what I appreciated most in this tender novel.

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (2012)

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The Story Behind An American Friendship. Russell Freedman. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

I do enjoy Russell Freedman's nonfiction works for children and teens. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass includes a brief biography or introduction to two well-known men; each man, of course, deserving fuller treatment than this one book allows. The book begins with Frederick Douglass waiting to meet the President, Mr. Lincoln. The president has visiting hours every day, and Mr. Douglass is hopeful that he will get the chance to speak with him. Though Douglass hasn't always supported Lincoln's politics completely, or his policies completely. It is because of certain grievances that he is visiting there. He wants the president to be aware of certain conditions facing black soldiers. He wants the president to do something, to act. After that first brief glimpse of a meeting, readers then get the opportunity to learn about both men. There are chapters devoted to Frederick Douglass and chapters devoted to Abraham Lincoln. Through the biographies of both men--well partial biographies bringing the reader up to date, up to the Civil War--readers get a glimpse of the problems facing the nation. There is a definite focus on the war years 1861-1865.


© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Eight Picture Books from 2008

The Odd Egg. Emily Gravett. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. 

All the birds had laid an egg. All except for Duck. Then Duck found an egg! He thought it was the most beautiful egg in the whole wide world. 

The Odd Egg may not be my favorite Emily Gravett picture book, but I still liked it. (I really loved, loved, loved Monkey and Me! And I thought Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears was fabulous!) Duck may not have been able to lay an egg, but that won't keep Duck from being "Mama" by the end of the book. Even if her offspring is...well...a little odd.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

President Pennybaker. Kate Feiffer. Illustrated by Diane Goode. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

On a not too sunny but not too cloudy, not too hot but not too cold Saturday afternoon in May, Luke Pennybaker asked his father one question because Luke Pennybaker wanted just one thing. "Dad," he said. "can I watch TV?" His Dad didn't say yes, as Luke thought he should have. And he didn't say no, as he usually did when Luke asked him if he could watch TV. Instead, he answered Luke's one question with five entirely different questions.

Luke has just realized that life is unfair. He decides to do something about it, something other than complaining. He will run for president. He won't be in the Republican party or the Democratic party. No, he'll be in the BIRTHDAY PARTY. The "political party" that treats everyone like it is their birthday! He has definite ideas on how to improve the quality of life for the ordinary citizen. But can he win the election? He might just be able to do it, even if he can't vote for himself.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Friday My Radio Flyer Flew. Zachary Pullen. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.

One Saturday I searched...and my dad's old Radio Flyer surfaced. That Sunday we went for a stroll. Then on Monday morning I got motivated. Maybe that old Flyer could really move.

A little boy spends a week working on his dad's old wagon, and with a little help, by the end of the week, he is ready to FLY.

I really loved some of the illustrations. Some spreads I just loved; other spreads I didn't like at all. But the story is simple and fun.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Madeline and the Cats of Rome. John Bemelmans Marciano. 2008. Penguin. 48 pages.

From an old house in Paris that was covered with vines
Left twelve little girls in two straight lines,
Their bags were packed, a camera stowed;
They were ready to escape the cold.
The train it leaves at half past nine--
Hurry, hurry, Madeline!

This will be no ordinary excursion to Rome, not with Madeline. After a busy day of seeing all the sites, a day without any mishaps, the worst happens: a thief steals Miss Clavel's camera. Madeline begins a very long, very complicated chase. A chase that reveals dozens of homeless cats--all in need of good homes. What's a girl to do?

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

Utterly Otterly Day. Mary Casanova. Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages.

Little Otter wakes in his safe, snug den, ready to play in an utterly otterly way. He tugs Sister's whiskers, wrestles Mama's tail, then slides out the tunnel--whippidy, slippidy, sail!

Little Otter has a mind of his own. Now that he's a "big otter" he thinks he can look out for himself, that he doesn't have to stay close to his family. But is that really the case? On this Little Otter's "utterly otterly" day, a big crisis is averted and great fun is had. But has he learned any lesson at all? I'm not sure.

The language was very playful, very figurative, I suppose. And I liked the illustrations. But I didn't quite love this one.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. 2008. HarperCollins. 56 pages.

Chapter One
Louise At Sea
Louise longed for adventure. She left the henhouse and went to sea, where the water was deep and dark. Louise stood alone on the deck of the ship and let the wind ruffle her feathers. 

Louise is not your ordinary chicken. She longs for adventure. She dreams of adventures. She's a very restless chicken. Now, she's had plenty of adventures, as you learn in this picture book. She's been at sea, even survived being captured by pirates, even survived a shipwreck. She's joined the circus and survived a lion's attack. And that's just the start...

It was interesting to see a picture book broken down into chapters. But I didn't exactly love this one. I found some of the illustrations a bit disturbing--like the drowning pirate.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

Monsters on Machines. Deb Lund. Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. 2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages.

 Construction crew monsters arrive on the scene. They don hard hats before they go near a machine. Leather work gloves, some earplugs, and big heavy boots are required for safety by all builder brutes. Stinky Stubb's the mechanic. He checks out the grader, the tractor, the cranes, and the big monster-vater. Once engines are greased and the gears start to spin, he shrieks to the others that work can begin.

If your little one loves monsters and construction vehicles, this one is for you. If you don't particularly like monsters or construction vehicles, well, you won't miss much by skipping this one. 

Text: 2 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 4 out of 10

Off to First Grade. Louise Borden. Illustrated by Joan Rankin. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. 

Twenty-one poems celebrating the first day of first grade in Mrs. Miller's class at Elm School. Twenty-one poems celebrating different perspectives; in addition to the perspective of students, we get the perspective of the teacher, the bus driver, and the principal too. The students' views are all different too. They like different things, are excited about different things, are nervous about different things. Some take the bus. Some come by car. Others walk. Some have older siblings that attend the same school. Others have younger siblings who are not ready to start school just yet. I liked the poems. I thought they were very natural.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Seven 2013 Picture Books

Bad Astrid. Eileen Brennan. Illustrated by Regan Dunnick. Random House. 40 pages.

She came into town like five tons of bad luck. She came into town in a big moving truck. Meaner than any girl you'll ever meet--and she and her family moved in down the street. Astrid was at least four feet two, without socks! She was boxy and solid, like a cabinet that talks. 

Is the new neighbor down the street, "Bad Astrid," really BAD or is she just misunderstood and in need of a friend? One dog who is tired of being picked on asks a question few might dare to ask of their tormentors? WHY? 

I'm glad it worked out for these two dogs, but I can't say that I loved their story.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

The Green Bath. Margaret Mahy. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. 2013. Scholastic. 40 pages.

"Sammy!" 
"Look at yourself!" cried his mother. "You're covered with dust and dead spiders."
"But I was sneaking up on pirates," cried Sammy. "How can I have adventures and stay clean?"
"Just forget about adventures for the moment," said his mother. "Your grandma's coming, so stay clean for once."

Well, it's imaginative! Sammy's dad has brought home a new bathtub, a green bathtub. Sammy looks at it closely and notices something no one else seems to: the tub is alive and just aching to go on fantastical adventures. And do these two have an adventure? Yes! And it's quite an adventure with sea monsters, pirates, and more.  

What I liked best about The Green Bath was the playfulness, especially the playfulness of the language. "Then began a wonderful bath-and-buccaneer battle. The buccaneers had swords, but Sammy bewildered them with bubbles and baffled them with soapsuds. At last, every single buccaneer was bobbing in the waves, beaten, bubbling, and blustering." And, "Sammy scrambled out of the bath and gave his mother the sort of smacking kiss a pirate in a good mood might give."

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

When Mermaids Sleep. Ann Bonwill. Illustrated by Steven Johnson and Lou Fancher. 2013. Random House. 32 pages. 

When mermaids sleep in oceans deep inside their coral caves, they lay their heads on seaweed beds, rocked softly by the waves. Those same waves carry sailing ships from shore to distant shore. Abed in bunks, asleep on trunks, the scruffy pirates snore. Inside those rusty iron trunks their stolen treasures gleam, dug up from sands in far-off lands where genies gently dream.

 Do mermaids, genies, pirates, unicorns, goblins, wizards, and fairies sleep? That is the subject of Ann Bonwill's bedtime read aloud. She enters the world of fantasy, fairy tales, and shows that everybody has to get a good night's rest. No one can have fun adventures all the time. The text can be quite beautiful--poetical--in places. 

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Pirates vs. Cowboys. Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by David Barneda. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. 

Burnt Beard the Pirate was the scourge of the seven seas, the four oceans, and several lakes. His scurvy crew had ransacked so many ships and pillaged so many villages that all their treasure had them riding low and slow. It was time to go ashore and bury the booty. Their usual spots were filled to the gills, so those pirates went inland. All the way to Old Cheyenne. Black Bob McKraw was the terror of the Wild West. His gang of rip-roarin' rustlers were nastier than week-old chili, and twice as gassy.

Pirates vs. Cowboys begs to be read aloud. It is rich in figurative language and humor! It's an odd book, to be sure, but it's a FUN book. Burnt Beard the Pirate and Black Bob McKraw and their respective gangs are having a horrible time trying to communicate with one another. They are offending each other greatly. Burnt Beard can't understand a word out of Black Bob's mouth and vice versa. Fortunately, someone in Old Cheyenne speaks both pirate and cowboy. 

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

Giddy-Up, Daddy! Troy Cummings. 2013. Random House. 40 pages.

Once there was a dad who was really good at playing horsey. Seriously, he was the best. He was sure-footed on any terrain--carpet, hardwood, or linoleum. He could scoop up his kids and take them from bed to breakfast before the toast popped up. And he hardly ever bucked, no matter who was riding on his back. 

It was playful, imaginative, full of surprises and dangers. It is a crazy, over-the-top picture book. For their "horse" (good, old dad) is captured by horse rustlers. And that's just the start. Before supper time, their dad will have wowed crowds ALL over the place, he will even have won the Kentucky Derby. But those pesky rustlers won't take no for an answer.... It's a good thing these two know how to make their dad go even faster by tickling.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

Ball. Mary Sullivan. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. 

Ball is the only word in this mostly-wordless picture book by Mary Sullivan. The story is easy to follow, however. A dog LOVES to play ball with the little girl. All is well until it's time for her to go to school, presumably. The dog tries to interest others in playing ball. He tries the mom; he tries the baby; he tries the cat. But, no, it's hopeless. He then tries to entertain himself with the ball, though that isn't quite as much fun. He even dreams about the ball... The book ends with the little girl returning once again. I did enjoy the story sequence. I didn't love the illustrations, but I liked the story they told.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10

Yes, Let's. Galen Longstreth. Illustrated by Maris Wicks. 2013. Tanglewood Press. 32 pages. 

Let's wake up extra early, before the day gets hot. Let's pack a picnic, hurry up--ready or not. Let's get into the station wagon, roll those windows down. Let's sing out loud and wave to cows as we drive out of town. 

A celebration of family AND nature, a combination that is sure to please some readers! IT is an action-packed day of outdoors fun: hiking, swimming, diving, collecting rocks, etc.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Total: 5 out of 10
© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Testing (2013)

The Testing. Joelle Charbonneau. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 344 pages.

I definitely enjoyed this YA dystopia. The novel opens with a big celebration, a day the whole community comes together to celebrate their survival and continued hope for the future. Each member of the graduating class will need to contribute their all in order to help the community thrive. The world has been devastated, and things that were once easy are now a struggle, an achievement. The community has to have a pioneering spirit. Cia, our heroine, has always been proud of her parents and her brothers. Has always enjoyed working with them, learning with them, she values their knowledge and hopes to continue on--in one way or another--with making the Five Lakes Colony something great.

When the novel opens, Cia and her classmates are nervous. Will anyone in the community be chosen for further education? Will any be chosen for the testing? Will any get a chance to go to university and be assigned essentially a new life--if their studies are successful. Being chosen may mean settling down in another colony, another city far, far away and never seeing your family again. But it also may mean that you are a part of a greater community, a community that values restoring life and balance to the planet. Does Cia want to be chosen? Perhaps she wants to be considered smart enough to be chosen.

After a disappointing graduation day--no one was chosen--life settles down into a routine, but not for long! A few days later, visitors to the colony reveal that FOUR graduates have been selected. This news is quite a surprise! But Cia's father does NOT seem pleased with the news. And he will dare to tell her the truth--what he knows of it anyway, for he too was once chosen. Will this information be enough to help Cia in her darkest moments?

I found this one compelling from the start. I definitely found all stages of the testing fascinating. 

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

Rereading Grave Mercy (2012)

Grave Mercy. Robin LaFevers. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 560 pages.

Last summer, I reviewed Robin LaFevers' Grave Mercy. It was LOVE. To sum up Grave Mercy in many words: Politics. Romance. Drama. Dysfunctional Families. Poison. Murder. Betrayal. Mystery. Suspense. To sum it up in just two: assassin nuns. The novel is set in Brittany in the late 1480s.

Ismae, our heroine, is one of Death's handmaidens. She's a trained assassin, trained by a convent of nuns dedicating their lives to serving St. Mortain (Death). The nuns are loyal to the Duchess of Brittany, and the victims are often her political enemies--foreign or domestic--those that pose the greatest threat to Brittany's independence.

While we do see her first few jobs carried out, most of the novel focuses on one job in particular. The abbess wants her to team up with Duval, the Duchess' older brother and her most trusted friend and advisor. She's to pose as his mistress, and travel with him to the Duchess' household. There she will "help him" find any possible traitors...

I wanted to reread Grave Mercy because the second novel in the series, Dark Triumph, is releasing soon. I thought the second novel would read better if I took the time to reread the first novel. And I think this was very beneficial. Especially since this is a novel heavy in politics. While I read Grave Mercy in one night the first time, I took my time for the reread. I think I was better able to absorb the politics at a slower pace. I was able to focus more on the minor characters as well. The first time, it was ALL about the romance--that was the only thing I cared about. This time, I was able to appreciate the story as a whole.

Read Grave Mercy

• If you're a fan of Robin LaFevers
• If you're a fan of historical romance, with a fantasy feel to it (mythology/supernatural)
• Also if you're a fan of mystery/suspense/political thrillers

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Little Prince (1943)

The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 1943/2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 112 pages.

The Little Prince is unique and delightfully odd. A pilot crashes in the desert and meets a strange 'little prince.' They have many conversations together over the course of a week. These conversations make up the heart of The Little Prince. It's a quick little read. I am glad I read it.

Favorite quotes:

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”

“But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.”

Read The Little Prince

• If you enjoy children's classics
• If you enjoy beautiful writing
• If you like quirky, unique stories
• If you like reading books in translation

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Lightning Dreamer (2013)

The Lightning Dreamer. Margarita Engle. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 182 pages.

Books are door-shaped
portals
carrying me
across oceans
and centuries,
helping me feel
less alone.

But my mother believes
that girls who read too much
are unladylike
and ugly,
so my father's books are locked
in a clear glass cabinet. I gaze
at enticing covers
and mysterious titles,
but I am rarely permitted
to touch
the enchantment 
of words. (3)

I definitely enjoy Margarita Engle's verse novels. Her newest is a verse novel about Cuban abolitionist poet, Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, who was nicknamed Tula. For a young girl--a young woman--who dreamed so big, wanted so much, her environment was quite oppressive. Her family wanted, NEEDED, her to marry well. But. Tula had different ideas. She held onto the notion that she could have ideas of her own:

Girls are not supposed to think,

but as soon as my eager mind

begins to race, free thoughts

rush in

to replace

the trapped ones. (4)

 Tula discovers a whole new world within the convent library, and once she begins her journey, there will be no dissuading her...

Opinions.

Ideas.

Possibilities.

So many!

How can I choose?

Between bursts

of lightning-swift energy,

I enjoy peaceful moment

when the whole world

seems to be a flowing river

of verse

and all I have to do is learn

how to swim.

During those times,

I find it so easy to forget

that I'm just a girl who is expected

to live

without thoughts. (41)

The novel is rich and descriptive. I love the writing...

"I feel certain that words

can be as human 

as people,

alive

with the breath

of compassion." (26)

So many people 

have not yet learned

that souls have no color

and can never

be owned. (69)

Love is as tricky as a wall

of mirrors that make

narrow hallways

seem open

and wide. (146)

I would definitely recommend this one! 

Read The Lightning Dreamer

• If you enjoy verse novels
• If you enjoy historical novels based on real people and events
• If you enjoy Margarita Engle's works
• If you are looking for YA books set in Cuba

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews

The Center of Everything (2013)

The Center of Everything. Linda Urban. 2013. Harcourt. 208 pages.

I was not disappointed with Linda Urban's newest novel, The Center of Everything. While I didn't love, love, love it to the same degree as I loved A Crooked Kind of Perfect (a book I read twice in one week because it was just that good), I still found myself loving The Center of Everything.

Ruby Pepperdine is the heroine of The Center of Everything. We meet her on a big day, the day she's part of the town's parade. She'll be reading her winning essay to the waiting crowd. Winning is something that she definitely didn't expect. Then again, a lot of unexpected things have been happening: her grandmother dying, a growing distance between herself and her best friend, her newly developed friendship with a boy, and that's not to mention the wish...

Readers get flashes from the past bringing the story to life. We learn chapter by chapter what is going right and what is going wrong in this young girl's life.

The Center of Everything is a great coming of age story; it captures some of the emotions of being eleven-going-on-twelve.

Read the Center of Everything

• If you are a fan of Linda Urban
• If you enjoy middle grade fiction with a focus on friendship and family
• If you enjoy coming of age stories
• If you are looking for a MG title about grief
• If you are looking for a 'summer' book

© 2013 SukaYuka.com of SukaYuka's Book Reviews