Book Reviews

Review: The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum

| Tasha

twins blanket

The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum

Two twin girls look just alike and share everything, especially a blanket that they have had ever since they were born.  But now the blanket has gotten too small for them to share.  Neither girl wants to give it to the other though.  Their mother tells them that they are going to be moving to big kid beds and that she will make each of them a new blanket.  They each pick out a fabric, one yellow with flowers, the other pink with birds and flowers.  They wash the fabric, dry it on the line, and then their mother sews the blankets.  When they are done, they have two new blankets that each have a piece of the original as well as their own personality.  Then they have to see what sleeping apart for the first time is like!

Yum has created a charming story about twins that shows the sibling relationship in all of its complexity, yet remains accessible for small children.  The girls both want to be alike and together, yet yearn to be different and apart at the same time.  Down to their stuffed animals that are alike but different, the story is really about their relationship rather than the blanket which is more of a symbol.

Yum’s illustrations are done in deep, rich colors and strong lines.  They have hints of color in unexpected places, creating an additional richness.  The girls while identical are always seen separately and uniquely in the art.

Charming and honest, this book about twins has a clever storyline and lovely illustrations.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

| Tasha

all these things ive done

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

This is the first book in a new dystopian science fiction series by the author of Elsewhere.  In the year 2083, the United States are in a darker time.  Coffee and chocolate are illegal, water is rationed, phone calls are very expensive, and paper books are antiques.  Anya Balanchine lives with her grandmother who is kept alive with machines, her older brother and her younger sister.  She is the daughter of New York’s most powerful mob boss, who unfortunately was killed years earlier right in front of Anya and her sister.  Her mother is dead too, murdered in her car which is how her older brother received his brain injury.  But Anya is determined to stay clear of her family’s connections and have a real life.  Yet everything comes back to chocolate, crime and family, and what Anya will have to do to protect the people she loves.

Zevin has created a book that takes place in a dystopian world.  While she gives lots of details about that world and about New York City as a decaying giant, the focus is on Anya, her family and her friends.   The book has such focus and is so well written, readers won’t miss the larger world being explained.  Instead this is about an insular world inside of a dystopian setting.  The focus is powerful, creating a gripping reading experience.

In Anya, Zevin has created a protagonist who is razor sharp, very tough, yet melts like chocolate too.  The romance in this book is beautifully built.  It reads as real, poignant, and star-crossed.  Anya is a young woman carrying far more than her share of the weight of the world.  This first book in a series reads as a complete and satisfying story, yet as a reader I was thrilled to see it was only the beginning.

Get this into the hands of fans of Holly Black’s White Cat.  The combination of mob and dystopian make this a thriller that is sure to surprise and delight.  Appropriate for ages 15-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar Straus & Giroux.

Also reviewed by:

Review: Hocus Pocus by Sylvie Desrosiers

| Tasha

hocus pocus

Hocus Pocus by Sylvie Desrosiers and Remy Simard

This wordless picture book has the feel of a graphic novel, but one designed for very small children.  It tells the story of Mister Magic who heads home with his pet dog, feeds the dog, and then settles in listening to music with his headset.  Once he has fallen asleep, the rabbit jumps out of his hat.  On the counter is a grocery bag and he spots some carrots up there.  But he has to sneak past the sleeping dog to get there.  He has the great idea of wearing slippers to be quieter, but then he crunches on a peanut.  The dog wakes up and discovers the rabbit’s activity, but the rabbit is able to soothe him back to sleep with some violin music.  But that is only the first round, as the dog and rabbit try to outwit each other.

This is a very funny picture book that emerging readers will enjoy.  It’s not a wordless book for toddlers who would miss the humor of the story, but rather one for slightly older children who will read this book like watching a silent cartoon.  The humor is pure slapstick fun, channeling the Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny feel with plenty of physical gags. 

The art here is crisp and clean with a modern vibe.  The colors are vibrant, bright and very appealing.  Children who pay close attention to the illustrations will see some of the jokes coming, making it all the more fun to read.

A modern picture book that is full of classic humor, this book has great appeal.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Kids Can Press.

Also reviewed by 100 Scope Notes and Sal’s Fiction Addiction.

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

| Tasha

lola boy next door

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Released September 29, 2011.

Lola’s clothes are beyond fashion, they are costume and she is proud of it.  She has a hot rocker boyfriend, who is 5 years older.  She has two great dads who may be strict, but they adore her.  The only trouble is they don’t adore her boyfriend at all.  She also has a mother who struggles with addiction and homelessness, and whom Lola tries to minimize contact with.  But Lola has things pretty much under control until the Bell twins move back in next door.  There is Calliope Bell, the famous ice skater, but even more devastating is the return of Cricket Bell, who broke Lola’s heart two years ago.  Now Lola has a life she’s built for herself, but there’s no denying that her feelings are still there for Cricket along with a tingly connection that she feels only with him.

Perkins returns with another gem of a romantic novel that is sure to be very popular with teen readers.  She once again features a strong and unique heroine who is a charming mix of confidence and doubt.  Lola is also smart and funny, making her a pleasure to spend time with.  Perkins also excels at having sexually active characters who don’t regret their sexuality.  Her female protagonists feel lust as well as love, making them very believable teen characters.

Lola is a great lead character, and Perkins surrounds her with other strong characters as well.  From her fathers who are gay men written without any stereotyping to Cricket himself to her best friend, all of them are well-rounded and interesting.  There are a couple of characters who are written less positively, like Calliope Bell and Lola’s mother.  Even these characters are well developed and reach beyond what could have been cardboard depictions.

If you loved Anna and the French Kiss, you must get your hands on this companion novel and meet Lola.  Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from ARC received from Dutton Books.

Also reviewed by:

Review: A Donkey Reads by Muriel Mandell

| Tasha

donkey reads

A Donkey Reads by Muriel Mandell, illustrated by Andre Letria

This adaptation of a Turkish folktale features Nasreddin Hoca, a 13th-century teacher, judge and imam whose writings are well known in the Middle East.  This is the story of a village in Anatolia that was conquered by the Mongols.  The Mongol leader demanded that every family pay tribute, but one family had only a worthless donkey to offer the leader.  When the Mongol leader reacts with fury at the tribute, Nasreddin speaks up and tells the him that the donkey is worth something, in fact Nasreddin will teach the donkey to read.  Everyone is shocked, but Nasreddin is calm and confident that it will happen.  The ending will have reader giggling at the humor and courage of Nasreddin’s solution.

Mandell has adapted this tale with a great feel for storytelling.  Her pacing is adept and her wording easy to share aloud.  The tale is universal in its appeal, thanks in particular to the humor that pervades it.  The end of the book has a page where the story of Nasreddin is shared with the reader.  It’s a trickster tale with only a donkey as an animal.

Letria’s art is filled with textures and colors.  The pages have backgrounds that are rough with brushstrokes, peeling and colors.  They add a feeling of age to the book, giving it a strong organic quality as well.  The characters pop on the page, especially Nasreddin with his towering headwear.  The illustrations add a great appeal to the story.

A window into another world of folktales that many of us have not experienced, this book offers plenty of humor and an appealing package.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by Planet Esme.

Review: Dot by Patricia Intriago

| Tasha

dot

Dot by Patricia Intriago

This concept book uses dots to demonstrate opposites and follows the course of a day into night.  It opens with a big yellow dot that is very sun-like.  Then the simple but very strong graphic design creates a zippy, fun feel as the opposites are demonstrated.  Lines are added to show motion and direction.  Then chunks are taken out to show additional opposite pairs.  The simplicity lends the entire book a vibrancy and sense of humor.  Most of the book is done using black and white.  When color is used it is done specifically to show a concept, like red for stop and green for go. 

The text is just as simple as the illustrations, offering the concepts being shown.  It also has a nice rhythm that moves the book forward easily. 

Ideal for toddlers and for teaching opposites, this book is simply perfection.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.  Pair this with Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier for a story time filled with great illustrations and plenty of dotty fun.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Also reviewed by:

Review: The Quite Contrary Man by Patricia Rusch Hyatt

| Tasha

quite contrary man

The Quite Contrary Man: A True American Tale by Patricia Rusch Hyatt, illustrated by Kathryn Brown

In 19th-century New England when people lived and dressed plainly, Joseph Palmer most certainly did not.  It was his beard that made him different, since all the other men were clean shaven.  But Joseph did not just have a normal beard, his was huge, long and wide.  His neighbors were scandalized and tried to shame him into shaving, eventually trying to shave him by force.  His attackers headed to court before Joseph could get there and claimed that he had attacked them.  The judge fined him $10, but Joseph refused to pay it.  So he was jailed for a full year.  The rule in the jail was that prisoners had to be clean shaven, and you can guess how that went with Joseph.  As the tale twists and turns, readers will be in turns inspired by Joseph Palmer’s strength of conviction and appalled by the system that persecuted him.

Hyatt has found a true story that really speaks to what being an American means, down to the most basic rights of deciding how you appear.  While modern children may be shocked by the fact that beards were scandalous, this is a great book to start discussions about what sorts of things are taboo today that may also not make any sense.  Hyatt’s writing is engaging and rollicking.  The spirit of the book matches Palmer’s own strength and humor.

Brown’s illustrations are done in fine lines and soft colors.  They depict the glory of Palmer’s beard with enthusiasm.  On alternate pages, she creates a rustic frame from illustrations of branches tied together with vines, which adds to the feeling of the book being set in an earlier time.

An American hero, Joseph Palmer’s is an inspiring story of a regular man who stood up for his rights.  He would also make an intriguing hero to discuss in units.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by

Review: Celebritrees by Margi Preus

| Tasha

celebritrees

Celebritrees: Historic and Famous Trees of the World by Margi Preus, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

This book carries readers through the stories of fourteen “celebritrees” which have made a name for themselves.  Many of the tress are very old, some are special in different ways, and all are fascinating.  Here you will visit Methuselah, the oldest known single living organism on earth, and General Sherman, the biggest living inhabitant of earth, and Hyperion, the tallest tree in the world.  There are trees famous for events around them, trees that have objects stuck in them, and even a tree that owns itself.  This is an inviting book of trees that is a pleasure to spend time in.

Preus paints pictures of moments in history to help tell the amazing stories of these trees.  From the events they witnessed to the events they were at the heart of, the trees are much more than simply largest, oldest, and tallest.  Here they have stories that bring them fully to life. 

Gibbon’s art has a simplicity that is almost that of folk art.  There is a richness to the color palette and a flatness to the perspective.  The trees are central to the art, as they should be, and the book celebrates them in browns and greens.

It is great fun to wander through this a veritable forest of famous trees.  Enjoy the journey, I certainly did!  Appropriate for ages 7-10.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina

| Tasha

tia isa wants a car

Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina, illustrated by Claudio Munoz

A little girl’s Tia Isa wants to get a car in order to take the family to the beach.  She wants one that is the color of the ocean with pointy wings at the back.  But Tio Andres laughs at the idea, calling it “ridiculous.”  They don’t have much money, but head to a car dealer where they find out they need to save more.  So the little girl sets out to help.  She stacks fruit at the store, feeds people’s pets, and teaches Spanish.  She waits until her money sock is bulging full and then surprises her Tia Isa.  Immediately, they run to the car dealer where they find just the right car way in back near the fence. 

A story of family and the importance of saving money for your dreams, this book will resonate with children who are saving their money for a large purchase as well as children from families where saving money is difficult but vital.  Medina writes with lovely imagery that creates a very vivid reading experience.  Readers discover that Tia Isa smells of lemon pies from the bakery where she works, that the car dealer smells of tar, and that work boots resemble ogre shoes. 

Munoz’s illustrations depict an urban neighborhood of apartments where neighbors help one another.  There is a feeling of safety in the illustrations, offering that rare glimpse in picture books of urban life without urban decay.  The illustrations of the family have that same feeling of warmth and belonging.

Dreams, savings, waiting and helping: this book speaks to all of those and ends with a refreshing ocean breeze.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by There’s a Book.