Book Reviews

Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

| Tasha

seraphina

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina has a secret that she can tell no one.  It’s a secret that is marked on her very body, permanently and from birth.  Her mother was a dragon.  Her father had not known her mother’s true identity until she died giving birth to Seraphina.  So Seraphina has lived her life mostly in secret, tutored by her dragon uncle.  But someone as talented as Seraphina is difficult to hide.  Her music draws people to her.  She joins the royal court as a music teacher just when a murder happens that points directly at the dragons.  Seraphina starts investigating things, using her special mental abilities that even she doesn’t fully understand.  That’s how she meets Prince Lucian, who is also captain of the royal guard.  He’s also a person who seeks to solve every mystery he encounters, and what a mystery Seraphina is!  Now decades of carefully constructed peace between the humans and the dragons may be at an end.  The question is where a girl who is half human and half dragon fits into a world at war.

Hartman has created a book for teens that has all of the detailed world building of an adult fantasy novel.  The politics of the society are complex and pivotal to the plot.  The heart of the book is a mystery that is complex with many possible villains.

Her dragons are a delight.  They can change into human form, but never quite understand humans and their emotions.  They are beings that are purely intellectual, carefully structuring their minds to be in balance at all times.  Love is forbidden; music and art is something they cannot create.  They are a wonderful foil to the humans of the story who are awash in teen emotions.

But it is the humans who make this story work.  Seraphina is a heroine who is a mix of human and dragon in many ways.  She is prickly yet feels emotions fiercely.  She’s a study in contrasts.  She wants to be accepted, yet pushes people away.  She wants to perform and yet needs to stay hidden.  She is drawn to the prince and yet has to lie constantly to him.  Prince Lucian too is a complex character who is a worthy pairing with Seraphina.  Their relationship grows and shrinks, changes and matures throughout the book.  It’s organic and slow, unlike the many lightning-bolt love stories we see in teen novels.

This is a book that took me a long time to finish because I never wanted it to end.  Immerse yourself in this tale of dragons, music and mystery.  Appropriate for ages 13-16.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Review: It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle

| Tasha

its a tiger

It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

The story starts in the jungle filled with vines and trees.  You can look at the monkeys swinging around, but wait!  That’s not a monkey.  It looks like… a tiger! Run!  Whew.  Now we are safe inside a cave.  You’ll have to watch for bats and duck your head.  Wait, some of those shadows look like… a tiger!  Run!  The escapade continues through the jungle with snakes, but then you head on a boat to a deserted island.  Sure you are safe there.  Right?  Roar!

This fast-paced race through the jungle is exactly what squirmy toddlers need at the end of a story time.  The book has a great sense of timing and plenty of action.  The repetition of the tiger appearing over and over again, will have children merrily joining in and shouting along.  This is not a quiet book for contemplative reading, but instead a jolly book that will have children making plenty of noise. 

Tankard’s art is a huge part of the appeal here.  The thick-lined, orange ferocity of the tiger plays against the finer lines and subtler colors of the background.  The little boy who joins you in your trek through the jungle is also drawn in the thicker lines and pops on the page.  There is a feeling of motion and action throughout the book that brings the story even more fully to life.

A great pick for toddler story time, this is one book to have in your pile for when kids get restless.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Chronicle Books.

Review: Don’t Squish the Sasquatch by Kent Redeker

| Tasha

dont squish the sasquatch

Don’t Squish the Sasquatch! by Kent Redeker

This is one zany ride of a picture book.  When Sasquatch gets on the city bus, he expresses to the driver, Mr. Blobule, that he hopes it doesn’t get crowded because he doesn’t like to be squished.  Immediately, things start to look like the bus may be crowded.  There’s Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Octo-Rhino, Miss Goat-Whale, and Miss Loch-Ness-Monster-Space Alien!  Each one bigger than the last and the bus is filling up fast!  You will have to read the book to see what happens when Sasquatch actually gets squished.

Children will enjoy the slow build-up to the actual squishing of Mr. Sasquatch.  As each weird animal combination gets larger and larger, you just know that it’s going to happen.  Then when it does, it is completely worth the wait.  The book is very funny and the timing of the humor is perfect.  Add a very neat twist at the end and you have a unique picture book that is worth sharing.

Staake’s art is modern, bright-colored and adds to the strangeness.  The different animal combinations don’t seem to phase him at all, as he merrily creates a pink elephant shark and a purple octo-rhino.  Mr. Blobule has the feel of a Muppet sitting behind his steering wheel.

This is a weird and rowdy picture book that is sure to add zest to a story time.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: I, Galileo by Bonnie Christensen

| Tasha

i galileo

I, Galileo by Bonnie Christensen

Told in the first person, this look at Galileo’s life is made all the more personal through the unique point of view.   Galileo tells the tale from the house and walled garden he is imprisoned in.  Blind and aging, he recalls his childhood and the way that he helped his father with his musical experiments after leaving the university with no degree.  He was offered a teaching position in the same university a bit later, but he refused to be traditional and instead wore what he liked and tested Aristotle’s laws of physics.  He was soon let go of his teaching role and headed to another university where they were more interested in his experiments.  There he invented the compass and the telescope.  Looking through his telescope, Galileo discovered that the sun is the center of the universe.  It was then that his troubles truly began.  For seven years, he was bound to silence about his findings until a new man became pope.  When Galileo finally published his findings, they so incensed people that he was tried for heresy before the Inquisition.  And so the story comes back to the old man imprisoned in the walled garden.

Through a brief preface, Christensen sets the stage for the time period of Galileo’s life.  It will help modern children understand the technology that was not available in that day.   Her afterword is equally intriguing and helpful, explaining that it took almost four centuries (until 1992) for the Catholic Church to admit they were wrong to condemn Galileo.  Christensen paints a picture of the world around Galileo well.  His discoveries, his world of academia, the political and religious powers at play, and his mistreatment at their hands.  This book is exceedingly readable.

It is also lovely.  The illustrations are done in jewel tones that have a depth and richness.  They almost recall stained glass with their thicker black lines and the light that shines in each of them.  Even the image of Galileo before the Inquisition plays with light and color. 

A choice pick for libraries looking for a readable and interesting biography of this heroic scientist.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House Children’s Books.

Review: Chloe, Instead by Micah Player

| Tasha

chloe instead

Chloe, Instead by Micah Player

When Molly heard that she was going to have a younger sister, she wanted one that was just like her.  But she got Chloe, instead.  Molly likes to color with crayons.  Chloe likes crayons too, but she likes to eat them.  Molly likes to read books.  Chloe likes books too, but she likes to rip them apart.  She won’t leave Molly’s things alone either.  So when Chloe pushes Molly a bit too far, she yells at her.  But then Molly thinks a bit and calls Chloe back to dance along with her music.  Suddenly, they feel just like true sisters.  In the end, Molly is happy that Chloe is not just like her, instead Chloe is herself and that’s wonderful.

As the narrator, Molly nicely explains exactly how her little sister drives her crazy.  Any older sibling will recognize these behaviors.   It’s good to see a child lose her temper in a picture book and then move on to regain her composure and become positive again.  The ending is too pat and easy, and I wish there was a glimpse of a bit of tension in the end.  That said, the connection formed over music really worked for me as a plot point. 

As you can see from the cover, Player has created a vibrant palette for this picture book.  The bright colors combine with a modern vibe, creating a book that is great fun to read.  The text is simple and quick with pictures that will work well with a crowd.

Modern, dynamic and addressing sibling issues, this book will be welcomed into many families and into story times about siblings.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Chronicle Books.

Review: Olympig by Victoria Jamieson

| Tasha

olympig

Olympig by Victoria Jamieson

Boomer has decided to be the first pig ever to compete in the Animal Olympics and gained attention of the news.  He practiced hard and at night dreamt of Olympic victory.  The next day, he lined up for the race against cheetahs, rabbits, and greyhounds.  He lost, of course, much to the delight of the news.  Boomer was heart broken until he realized he had other events to compete in.  He lost at weightlifting, hurdles, high jump, wrestling and more.  Then came the diving event, and Boomer knew that he had the best dive in the animal world: the cannonball!  But even then, he lost!  Boomer quit before the final event, storming off the field.  But then he saw his mother on the news saying how special he was and how much she loved him.  So he put on his costume for the final event, and off he went!

Jamieson portrays Boomer as an eternal optimist, someone who has been told that all it takes to succeed is to practice and do your best.  Unfortunately, it sometimes takes some natural talent too.  But Boomer remains that optimist.  He may get bruised and battered, but bounces back.  Jamieson has created an underdog that everyone will be rooting for, but who is also doomed to fail. 

The illustrations are done in a silly, cartoon style.  Jamieson creates engaging pairings for each event: Boomer weightlifts against an elephant, jumps against a flying squirrel and dives against a seal.  Adding to the jolly feel of the book are the endpages that have a silhouette of a round pig doing a range of Olympic events.  They have just the right feel, mocking the Olympic signage.

Silly and yet heart warming, this picture book is nicely timed with the Summer Olympics and will be enjoyed by all of us who yearn to be Olympic victors but just aren’t built for it.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Dial Books for Young Readers.

Review: The Roller Coaster Kid by Mary Ann Rodman

| Tasha

roller coaster kid

The Roller Coaster Kid by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by Roger Roth

Zach loves spending time in the summer with his grandparents.  They go to the beach, fly kites, find shells, and go to Oceanside Park.  The only thing Zach doesn’t like there is the rollercoaster.  He waits in line with Grandpa but then always changes his mind at the last moment.  Instead, he rides the Big Wheel with his grandmother.  Zach knows that the next time, he will be able to ride the rollercoaster.  But the next time he visits, everything is different: his grandmother is no longer there.  His grandfather is not like he used to be at all.  Zach knows one thing that is sure to cheer up his grandfather, and that’s the rollercoaster.  But will Zach be able to ride it this one, very important, time?

Rodman tells this story with clarity and gentleness.  It’s a story of the deep connection between grandparents and grandchildren and how that connection can help with grief.  It is also a story of bravery thanks to love.  Children will relate to the connection with grandparents, though the jolly cover may not warn parents that this is a story of loss. 

Roth’s illustrations have a subtle vintage quality to them, something that hearkens back to yesteryear though it is solidly set in the modern day.  The illustrations of Zach on the rollercoaster are wonderful, showing the fear, the doubt and finally the exhilaration. 

A roller coaster book that shows the roller coaster ride of life as well, this book addresses the loss of a grandparent with a shining heart.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Viking.

Review: The Mother of Monsters by Fran Parnell

| Tasha

mother of monsters

The Mother of Monsters: A Story from South Africa by Fran Parnell, illustrated by Sophie Fatus

This second in a series of monster tales features a story from South Africa retold for young readers.  It is the story of Ntombi, the mischievous and brave daughter of the chief, who is determined to see the dangerous Ilulange River with her own eyes.  Her father allows her the trip to the river as long as she takes the other girls along with her.  When they finally reached the legendary river, the girls are disappointed.  Instead of danger, they have found a river that looks perfect for swimming.  Leaving their clothes on the bank, the girls splash in the water.  Then they discover that their clothes are missing.  It could have been the Mother of Monsters who took them!  One-by-one the girls pled with the monster to return their things, and the monster does.  But Ntombi is not willing to beg for her clothing, so the monster swallows her whole.  But that is not the end of the story!  You must read this book to find out how Ntombi survives the Mother of Monsters.

Parnell has broken the story into chapters, making it all the more pleasant for beginning readers who can take the story a bite at a time.  The chapters are short and filled with action.  The star of the book, Ntombi, is both brave and foolish, often at the same time.  Throughout the story, she learns about humility but also about love.  The book is clearly from another culture, which makes it all the more interesting to read.

Filled with bright colors, the paintings by Fatus have an intriguing folk quality to them.  The scenes of the girls without clothing are handled with skillfully placed leaves, hands and flowers.  The illustrations have humor to them, which makes the book very playful, something that is welcome with a monster devouring people.

A welcome addition to folktales, this is a story I had never heard before and really enjoyed.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Barefoot Books.

Review: The World’s Greatest Lion by Ralph Helfer

| Tasha

worlds greatest lion

The World’s Greatest Lion by Ralph Helfer, illustrated by Ted Lewin

This is the story of Zamba the lion, one of the most well-known animal actors in film history.  Zamba appeared as the MGM Lion as well as in many commercials and shows.  Here, the focus is on how Zamba lost his parents and his survival as an orphan cub in Africa before being found by a woman and rescued.  Zamba was allowed to roam free and grew larger and larger until she could no longer safely care for him.  Happily, she had heard about Africa USA, an organization looking for a lion.  Africa USA offered a safe haven and trained animals to not be aggressive.  Zamba arrived at the ranch owned by Ralph Helfer and slowly grew gentler.  The family’s children used him as a warm place when watching TV and his best friend was one of the dogs on the ranch.  Thanks to his rare gentle nature, Zamba worked in television and film.  Then one day, a flood hit the ranch and forced Ralph to release all of his wild animals in an attempt to save them.  Zamba led all of the animals to safety, proving himself to be the world’s greatest lion.

As author of the book, Helfer tells his own story as well as Zamba’s here.  It is the story of the organization he founded, the one that saved Zamba’s life.  Through his training, Zamba was able to live a full life, filled with danger, learning and gentleness.  The details Helfer shares add depth to the story.  His moments of adventure are exciting but it is those moments of Zamba just being a lion that really are special.

Lewin gives us gold-hued images filled with the dust of Africa.  His illustrations celebrate the connection of animal and human, especially during the chaos of the storm.  Beautifully realistic, these illustrations fully capture the love between Helfer and Zamba.

This is a picture book biography that animal-loving children will enjoy immensely.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Philomel Books.