Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths
Recently one of my coworkers reviewed Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths as author and illustrator. I was interested in it as this coworker and I have one of two things happen when a book is talked about by the other: We both love it. Or one of us hates it. There’s not much in-between. That same day I saw the review for the book and they talked about it in other places, was the same day I received an email with […]
The Gulf by Adam de Souza
The Gulf by Adam de Souza was an interesting read. However, since I have read several similar titles, the theme did not WOW or “Hit me powerfully.” However, it was a great coming of age story with some interesting twists and turns. The concepts might be a bit mature for some readers, but for the most part the content is fine for at least thirteen and up. And as always, older teens and adults should read it as it has an almost all age appeal. […]
My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
After finishing My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang, I texted a friend to tell her I had finally finished the difficult book I was reading. It was difficult as the pacing felt slow to me and the subject is far from easy. The main character is the first generation to be born in the states after her parents fled war-torn Vietnam during/after the war. We, like the narrator Jane, learn about things in snippets with her having to fill in the blanks. […]
The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
If you are looking for a good graphic novelist, Raina Telgemeier is one to check out. However, she usually writes for the 10 and up crowd, but with The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel (along with Scott McCloud) she has hit the slightly younger aged 8 to 12 range a little more solidly. The format is a mixture of a story (four friends, who started out mostly not knowing each other, form a comic book club so they can make comics) and factual information about […]
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I have finally read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. While texting a friend, I said to her I think one of the issues I have with this book is that it has been so popular and pushed so hard as one of the greatest books ever written, that I think my skepticism came to light early on. I mean, how can anything be that good? If you have to force people to think something is good by pushing it so much, it has […]
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich and Chris Raschka
I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea is a lovely, poetic text and soft classical story that also has several modern takes. Author Janice Milusich’s text and Chris Raschka styled illustrations make up this familiar season’s story (we have a child who follows the seasons in the usual ways by talking about the sun, how things feel, colors and more) but this time there is a wonderful twist of having a visually impaired narrator. This narrator must experience these things differently, therefore seems to […]
