Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Reading Recommendations
With my PhD thesis out the door, I've actually been reading for fun - shocking! I get sent a lot of ARCs and have the chance to preview a lot of titles because of this blog. I just haven't been able to take advantage of all that much in the last few years. So, I have a lot of reading to make up for. Here are some titles I've finally gotten to and thoroughly recommend...
THE SHADOW AND BONE TRILOGY by Leigh Bardugo. OMG! This is an immersive fantasy series that I wish I'd never had to lift my attention away from. I hear they're making a movie out of the series - be sure to read it first! THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black. This is the first in a series that is just so much fun! Jude is a kick-ass human heroine living in the world of fae. I listened to this series on audio and just loved it! GONE TO THE WOODS by Gary Paulsen. You may know Paulsen's classic title, HATCHET. Reading Gary's work is like eating an endless bowl of chocolate pudding. His words roll around your mind, cool and satisfying. I'm sure he could make the phone book sound good, but when he adds such a wonderful story as this one, which is actually an autobiography - WOW. What a childhood he had, and no wonder he wrote so many survival stories. He himself was a survivor. It's an inspiring tale.
THE SHADOW AND BONE TRILOGY by Leigh Bardugo. OMG! This is an immersive fantasy series that I wish I'd never had to lift my attention away from. I hear they're making a movie out of the series - be sure to read it first! THE CRUEL PRINCE by Holly Black. This is the first in a series that is just so much fun! Jude is a kick-ass human heroine living in the world of fae. I listened to this series on audio and just loved it! GONE TO THE WOODS by Gary Paulsen. You may know Paulsen's classic title, HATCHET. Reading Gary's work is like eating an endless bowl of chocolate pudding. His words roll around your mind, cool and satisfying. I'm sure he could make the phone book sound good, but when he adds such a wonderful story as this one, which is actually an autobiography - WOW. What a childhood he had, and no wonder he wrote so many survival stories. He himself was a survivor. It's an inspiring tale.
Reading Recommendations - February 2021
With my PhD thesis out the door, I've actually been reading for fun - shocking! I get sent a lot of ARCs and have the chance to preview a lot of titles because of this blog. I just haven't been able to take advantage of all that much in the last few years. So, I have a lot of reading to make up for. Here are some titles I started with that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend...
THIRTEEN WITCHES: THE MEMORY THIEF by Jodi Lynn Anderson. It's been a while since Jodi's wonderful May Bird series, so I loved getting into the bewitching story. The witches and magical characters had some wonderful new tropes to them that I hadn't read before, so I loved the imaginative approach of a young witch hunter learning who she really is.
THE SILVER BOX: AN ENCHANTMENT LAKE series book by Margie Preus. This isn't the first book in the series. After enjoying this one so much, I want to go back and start from the beginning with ENCHANTMENT LAKE: A NORTHWOODS MYSTERY. Francie is a marvelous new heroine, a Nancy Drew for modern times.
JUST LIKE THAT by Gary D. Schmidt. I try to read all of Gary's books - he's one of my all-time favorite writers. He wowed me again with Meryl Lee Kowalski and Matt - two young people's whose paths slowly wind together in the most interesting way with the beautiful backdrop of Maine. Don't let the descriptions deceive you - they can't share much without giving the plot away. I won't either, just trust me - it's wonderful.
WARRIOR QUEENS, written by Vicky Alvear Shecter, illustrated by Bill Mayer. Vicky is one of my closest friends and a fabulous writer too. And Bill is a friend and colleague. Put them together with some kick-butt women, and wowsa are you in for a treat!
I'll share more soon!
THIRTEEN WITCHES: THE MEMORY THIEF by Jodi Lynn Anderson. It's been a while since Jodi's wonderful May Bird series, so I loved getting into the bewitching story. The witches and magical characters had some wonderful new tropes to them that I hadn't read before, so I loved the imaginative approach of a young witch hunter learning who she really is.
THE SILVER BOX: AN ENCHANTMENT LAKE series book by Margie Preus. This isn't the first book in the series. After enjoying this one so much, I want to go back and start from the beginning with ENCHANTMENT LAKE: A NORTHWOODS MYSTERY. Francie is a marvelous new heroine, a Nancy Drew for modern times.
JUST LIKE THAT by Gary D. Schmidt. I try to read all of Gary's books - he's one of my all-time favorite writers. He wowed me again with Meryl Lee Kowalski and Matt - two young people's whose paths slowly wind together in the most interesting way with the beautiful backdrop of Maine. Don't let the descriptions deceive you - they can't share much without giving the plot away. I won't either, just trust me - it's wonderful.
WARRIOR QUEENS, written by Vicky Alvear Shecter, illustrated by Bill Mayer. Vicky is one of my closest friends and a fabulous writer too. And Bill is a friend and colleague. Put them together with some kick-butt women, and wowsa are you in for a treat!
I'll share more soon!
Philip Pullman's Daemon Voices
There are a few books on writing that stand out as truly life-changing. For instance, Stephen King's On Writing, Jane Yolen's Touch Magic, Ann Lamott's Bird By Bird, and now Philip Pullman's Daemon Voices: Essays on Storytelling from David Fickling Books. 
Books that should be on your radar
These are some especially good reads I've enjoyed recently...
The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
Kiss Number 8 is a coming-of-age, coming-out story of Mads. She's trying to like boys the way her friends do, but it just isn't working. She's much more interested in her trouble-making friend Cat...
The Book of Boy is set in the post-plague era in Italy through the eyes of a peasant boy who meets the most unlikely companion on a quest to gather relics of Saints. I can't tell you much because of spoilers, but just trust me on this one. It will delight and surprise you. Great read!
Bloom is another coming-of-age, coming-out story that is so honest in its portrayals, and so endearing, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Ari is expected to work in his parent's bakery after high school, which is the last thing he wants to do, until they hire a new employee, Hector, who shakes up all of Ari's plans. You'll be rooting for this couple as much as I was by the end of the book!
The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau
Kiss Number 8 is a coming-of-age, coming-out story of Mads. She's trying to like boys the way her friends do, but it just isn't working. She's much more interested in her trouble-making friend Cat...
The Book of Boy is set in the post-plague era in Italy through the eyes of a peasant boy who meets the most unlikely companion on a quest to gather relics of Saints. I can't tell you much because of spoilers, but just trust me on this one. It will delight and surprise you. Great read!
Bloom is another coming-of-age, coming-out story that is so honest in its portrayals, and so endearing, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Ari is expected to work in his parent's bakery after high school, which is the last thing he wants to do, until they hire a new employee, Hector, who shakes up all of Ari's plans. You'll be rooting for this couple as much as I was by the end of the book!
Book Reviews: Girl in a Cage, The Witches Feast, The Mouse and His Child, and The Stone Book
As part of my PhD research, I do a lot of reading these days! Not all of it is academic (although a good portion of it is). I am constantly looking for stories that reflect my topic. I'm also busily trying to catch up on the UK canon of classics, as they are constantly referred to in my classes. I thought I'd share a few of my recent reads with you. The full reviews are on Goodreads.
Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Girl in a Cage is an exceptionally well-done peek into life in the 1100s and a good history lesson of Robert the Bruce's reign in Scotland, that was hard-won and cost him and his family dearly. The book is historical fiction, so some liberties are assumed with the known history. That said, the story is based on reasonable conclusions. Marjorie, Robert's daughter and only heir, is captured and kept on display in a town as a prize of war. She is regularly visited by King Longshanks (so nicknamed because of his extreme height). Longshanks is dying and his decline is reflected in 'Jo's' decline in the cage. Even so, as his temperament collapses, hers is fortified. Each small kindness she marks as victories towards her own eventual success. For instance, a girl who brings her a comb is named her 'Lady Enid'. When her brothers bring her food, she knights them and names them her army. The monk who brings her food and shows her kindness becomes her clergy. Truly, her determination, hope and positivity is worth the story alone. The story brings history to life and would be an excellent companion to Scottish history studies, although it is an excellent read for its own sake.
Tom & Tallulah and the Witches' Feast by Marta Kissi (illustrator) Vivian French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Vivian French makes writing stories look easy. This is a simple tale, perfectly told and perfect for the early mid-grade or chapter book reader. The witches in this story are assumed to be good, which is a lovely opposite to the approach of most books involving witches. "I thought all witches were good," Tom said, "just like Grandmother." (p94) Indeed, the evil witch is the outlier. The story reads a bit like the witches coven from Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books (beginning with The Wee Free Men) and would make a wonderful companion or precursor to those books. It has a sense of community, family, initiation for Tallulah, while sharing a love of family and cooperation to achieve the necessary goals - in this case, the creation of a witch's feast within a week's time, which would seem an easy enough task. However, Tallulah must figure out the favorite dish of each witch in the coven, and prepare them, even though she can't cook. Part mystery, part adventure, part cookbook, this is a delightful read.
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my new favorite book of all time. It reads as an adventure story - a wind-up toy (a father and son mouse) are purchased from a toy store, and journey through families and Christmases, until they are finally old and broken and end up in a dump where an enterprising but evil rat rebuilds wind-up toys as his personal army of laborers. The son longs for home, for a mother, for a sense of belonging somewhere (his 'territory') and that is his primary directive throughout the story - to achieve that. The father, on the other hand, is cynical and loses hope again and again. It is the son's optimism that keeps them going. As a unit, they represent the dual motivations in any one human being. The nature of their being - being wind-up toys reliant on others to wind them up to make them go, is an obvious allegory to mankind's reliance on fate, economies, war, etc to make any progress in life. It is a statement to our vulnerabilities, or utter helplessness and lack of any real control of our lives. Indeed, each bit of their journey is instigated by an outside force rather than by their own doing. It is only their hope that keeps them alive as they wait for the next thing to occur. This book came into my life at an interesting time - in the midst of Trump and Brexit - when I think most of us feel like wind-up toys, victims to forces greater than ourselves and out of our control. The story does end on a high note, the son's hope is rewarded, friends are reunited and a home/territory is indeed established. As such, the story leaves one with a sense of positive hope alongside an intense awareness of our own fragility.
The Stone Book by Alan Garner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
*spoilers* I think it may be important to read the entire quartet to get the full impact of these stories. As a stand-alone, The Stone Book is a bit odd. The language is a strong unidentifiable dialect perhaps during the 1800s. The race of the characters is unclear, although the girl's desire for a book or to learn how to read might suggest they are recently freed slaves, or poor settlers in a small, but growing town. The father is a stone mason and in response to his daughter's request (she wants a prayer book in which to press flowers as the other girls, who also cannot read, do), he takes her into an old mine. He tells her to follow the malachite, and other types of rock. She knows these after a lifetime of observing her father's love of rocks. In the mine, she finds old cave paintings from long-lost civilizations. The rite of passage (her father saw them too when he was her age - stonemasons in their family only go once to see them) connects her to the earth and to things greater than herself. She leaves the mine a changed person. Still, her father gives her a prayer book, one carved from stone that contains all of the stories in the world. As an aside, her uncle lives in the home with the family. He is a deaf weaver, obviously symbolic of time and the history of mankind. The Stone Book is a very short read, but one that will stick with you for a long time.
Girl in a Cage by Jane YolenMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Girl in a Cage is an exceptionally well-done peek into life in the 1100s and a good history lesson of Robert the Bruce's reign in Scotland, that was hard-won and cost him and his family dearly. The book is historical fiction, so some liberties are assumed with the known history. That said, the story is based on reasonable conclusions. Marjorie, Robert's daughter and only heir, is captured and kept on display in a town as a prize of war. She is regularly visited by King Longshanks (so nicknamed because of his extreme height). Longshanks is dying and his decline is reflected in 'Jo's' decline in the cage. Even so, as his temperament collapses, hers is fortified. Each small kindness she marks as victories towards her own eventual success. For instance, a girl who brings her a comb is named her 'Lady Enid'. When her brothers bring her food, she knights them and names them her army. The monk who brings her food and shows her kindness becomes her clergy. Truly, her determination, hope and positivity is worth the story alone. The story brings history to life and would be an excellent companion to Scottish history studies, although it is an excellent read for its own sake.
Tom & Tallulah and the Witches' Feast by Marta Kissi (illustrator) Vivian FrenchMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Vivian French makes writing stories look easy. This is a simple tale, perfectly told and perfect for the early mid-grade or chapter book reader. The witches in this story are assumed to be good, which is a lovely opposite to the approach of most books involving witches. "I thought all witches were good," Tom said, "just like Grandmother." (p94) Indeed, the evil witch is the outlier. The story reads a bit like the witches coven from Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books (beginning with The Wee Free Men) and would make a wonderful companion or precursor to those books. It has a sense of community, family, initiation for Tallulah, while sharing a love of family and cooperation to achieve the necessary goals - in this case, the creation of a witch's feast within a week's time, which would seem an easy enough task. However, Tallulah must figure out the favorite dish of each witch in the coven, and prepare them, even though she can't cook. Part mystery, part adventure, part cookbook, this is a delightful read.
The Mouse and His Child by Russell HobanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my new favorite book of all time. It reads as an adventure story - a wind-up toy (a father and son mouse) are purchased from a toy store, and journey through families and Christmases, until they are finally old and broken and end up in a dump where an enterprising but evil rat rebuilds wind-up toys as his personal army of laborers. The son longs for home, for a mother, for a sense of belonging somewhere (his 'territory') and that is his primary directive throughout the story - to achieve that. The father, on the other hand, is cynical and loses hope again and again. It is the son's optimism that keeps them going. As a unit, they represent the dual motivations in any one human being. The nature of their being - being wind-up toys reliant on others to wind them up to make them go, is an obvious allegory to mankind's reliance on fate, economies, war, etc to make any progress in life. It is a statement to our vulnerabilities, or utter helplessness and lack of any real control of our lives. Indeed, each bit of their journey is instigated by an outside force rather than by their own doing. It is only their hope that keeps them alive as they wait for the next thing to occur. This book came into my life at an interesting time - in the midst of Trump and Brexit - when I think most of us feel like wind-up toys, victims to forces greater than ourselves and out of our control. The story does end on a high note, the son's hope is rewarded, friends are reunited and a home/territory is indeed established. As such, the story leaves one with a sense of positive hope alongside an intense awareness of our own fragility.
The Stone Book by Alan GarnerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
*spoilers* I think it may be important to read the entire quartet to get the full impact of these stories. As a stand-alone, The Stone Book is a bit odd. The language is a strong unidentifiable dialect perhaps during the 1800s. The race of the characters is unclear, although the girl's desire for a book or to learn how to read might suggest they are recently freed slaves, or poor settlers in a small, but growing town. The father is a stone mason and in response to his daughter's request (she wants a prayer book in which to press flowers as the other girls, who also cannot read, do), he takes her into an old mine. He tells her to follow the malachite, and other types of rock. She knows these after a lifetime of observing her father's love of rocks. In the mine, she finds old cave paintings from long-lost civilizations. The rite of passage (her father saw them too when he was her age - stonemasons in their family only go once to see them) connects her to the earth and to things greater than herself. She leaves the mine a changed person. Still, her father gives her a prayer book, one carved from stone that contains all of the stories in the world. As an aside, her uncle lives in the home with the family. He is a deaf weaver, obviously symbolic of time and the history of mankind. The Stone Book is a very short read, but one that will stick with you for a long time.
Chris Raschka's OTTER AND ODDER - GIVEAWAY!
Today is a straight giveaway since Candlewick sent me a luscious copy of OTTER AND ODDER by Chris Raschka to share with you.
Otter is obviously, well, an otter who falls in love with... a fish. Otter eat fish ordinarily, but oh no. Not this time. Otter has to go and fall in love with his dinner.
The river sparkled the day Otter found love. He was not looking for it (love, that is). He was looking for dinner...
Needless to say, the relationship has challenges. Friends tease, parents rebuke, and Otter and Odder both try to listen to their families and stay away from each other. But love has a sneaky way around what one should do, and this happy couple triumphs in the end. (And Otter becomes a vegetarian.)
If you've ever needed to celebrate a love that society says shouldn't exist, this is a lovely segue into the idea. And Chris gave us many full, off page color spreads in palettes that are soothing and different from his brighter vignette styles. Luscious was my word and I stick by it.
GIVEAWAY!
If you'd like a FREE copy of OTTER AND ODDER, register for my giveaway below. TWO copies will go to two of my lucky commenters! (Must live in the continental US to win. Review and winning copies provided by the publisher.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
EVE AND ADAM - Review
Katherine Applegate and her husband, Michael Grant, have created a wonderful story which I enjoyed as an audiobook (read by Jenna Lamia and Holter Graham) thanks to their publisher, Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan).
It was no surprise that I'd love this story, considering Katherine just won the Newbery for her book THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. She's an amazing writer, as is her husband. (Think Animorphs, Gone, BZRK, etc.)
Eve (Evening) is the daughter of a brilliant and secretive medical researcher. When Eve nearly loses her leg in an accident, her mother whisks her off to recover at the research center. There she meets Solo, a mysterious boy who lives at the research center. To keep her busy, Eve's mother has her design the perfect boy (Adam) using a new software program. But it soon becomes clear that the program is no game...
There's a great interview of the two authors at The Horn Book: Two and one-half questions for Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant.
I must admit, of the audiobooks I receive, I rarely recommend them. That's why it gives me great pleasure to highly recommend this one!
Russian Illustrator Francesca Yarbusova - GIVEAWAY!
Today I have a special treat for you. The publicist, Jennifer B., at ACC Distribution recently got in touch with me. This Spring they are launching several books from overseas on our US shores. (UK too.) Three of the titles are illustrated by Russian artist, animated film art director, and illustrator, Francesca Yarbusova. While she has won many awards in Russia, she may be new to many of us here on the other side of the globe. Let's remedy that, because her work is GORGEOUS!!!
First let's look at HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG written by Sergey Kozlov and Yuri Norstein (her husband). While it reads like a translated book (a little clunky and non-sensical at times) the imagery will suck you in. Owl, bat, horse and snail all appear and disappear into the foggy night. And whatever that creature is in the river, we may never know, but it saves dear Hedgehog who is finally able to join his friend Bear to drink tea and watch the stars. This one line translated beautifully:
Next is MISHMASH by Korney Chukovsky who was also a translator, so this one reads fine. Laugh-out-loud fine as all the barnyard animals decide to make the sounds of the other animals instead of their own. Francesca's brush work really shines in this book, as the figures stand out against the white ground. The images remind me of work by the great artists of the early Golden Books: Gustaff Tenggren's; Garth Williams; and Tibor Gergely.
Finally, my favorite. THE FOX AND THE HARE by Vladimir Dal. This is a Russian folk-tale, a little like a cross between "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" although nobody eats that cute little bunny. (Not sure why - or the Rooster, for that matter.) Again, the artwork shines with a folksy feeling and borders that pull you into the scene. They remind me of a modern-day illustrator's work, Julie Paschkis. This to me is how beautiful picture books can be. CLICK HERE to see more of Ms. Yarbusova's work.
GIVEAWAY!
Each of these titles is cloth-bound and beautifully produced and ACC is willing to give one copy away to THREE of my commenters. How generous! So be sure to enter below... (Must live in the continental US to win.) a Rafflecopter giveaway
First let's look at HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG written by Sergey Kozlov and Yuri Norstein (her husband). While it reads like a translated book (a little clunky and non-sensical at times) the imagery will suck you in. Owl, bat, horse and snail all appear and disappear into the foggy night. And whatever that creature is in the river, we may never know, but it saves dear Hedgehog who is finally able to join his friend Bear to drink tea and watch the stars. This one line translated beautifully:"[The Moon] hung over the roof, right behind the chimney. The stars to the right of the chimney belonged to Bear. The stars to the left were Hedgehog's."How sweet is that!?
Next is MISHMASH by Korney Chukovsky who was also a translator, so this one reads fine. Laugh-out-loud fine as all the barnyard animals decide to make the sounds of the other animals instead of their own. Francesca's brush work really shines in this book, as the figures stand out against the white ground. The images remind me of work by the great artists of the early Golden Books: Gustaff Tenggren's; Garth Williams; and Tibor Gergely.
Finally, my favorite. THE FOX AND THE HARE by Vladimir Dal. This is a Russian folk-tale, a little like a cross between "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood" although nobody eats that cute little bunny. (Not sure why - or the Rooster, for that matter.) Again, the artwork shines with a folksy feeling and borders that pull you into the scene. They remind me of a modern-day illustrator's work, Julie Paschkis. This to me is how beautiful picture books can be. CLICK HERE to see more of Ms. Yarbusova's work.
GIVEAWAY!
Each of these titles is cloth-bound and beautifully produced and ACC is willing to give one copy away to THREE of my commenters. How generous! So be sure to enter below... (Must live in the continental US to win.) a Rafflecopter giveaway
Andrew Drew and Drew by Barney Saltzberg
Remember when I featured Barney for his new book ARLO NEEDS GLASSES? Well, he had another book of brilliance I have to tell you about. It's called ANDREW DREW AND DREW and has an adorable book trailer which gives you the adorable gist...
The Ruby Red Trilogy
I sometimes receive audio books to review. My policy is if I don't like something, I stay quiet on the subject. But I don't want to stay quiet on these! I just finished listening to RUBY RED and SAPPHIRE BLUE, the first two books in The Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier, translated by Anthea Bell, and I am thoroughly hooked! Set in London with all their fun language quirks, Gwyneth Shepherd learns that she inherited the time travel gene in her family, not her cousin - the one who had been training for tromps through time her entire life. Unprepared, Gwyneth literally dives into her new fate with a few surprises of her own, a quirky gargoyle and smart best friend as sidekicks, and an infuriating boy.
I can't wait for the third in the series, as they really do leave you hanging, because I found them completely engaging and delightful. There's some violence and a bit of snogging, but otherwise, this is a mild YA that anybody who enjoys fantasy, time travel, and a bit of the paranormal will like too. Check out the trailer:
Full disclosure: I purchased the first audio-book. The second audio-book was supplied by the publisher (MacMillan).
Great Mid-grade reads
I've been on a roll discovering great mid-grades to read lately, and must share.
The first is A HERO FOR WONDLA. This is the second book in the Wondla series by Tony Diterlizzi. Gotta say, it's just getting better. I think I liked the second book even better than the first. There are aliens, overpowering governments, magic, robots... I can't think of a reason not to like this book!
The second is by the author of ORIGAMI YODA, Tom Angleberger.
I thought Yoda was spot on as a mid-grade read - loved it. But HORTON HALFPOTT was even better! I wish I could crawl in his brain and see the world through Tom's eyes. He's obviously still eleven years old. And his books are perfect for the mid-grade readership!
So if you have some younger readers in your world, here are two books I highly recommend!
The first is A HERO FOR WONDLA. This is the second book in the Wondla series by Tony Diterlizzi. Gotta say, it's just getting better. I think I liked the second book even better than the first. There are aliens, overpowering governments, magic, robots... I can't think of a reason not to like this book!
The second is by the author of ORIGAMI YODA, Tom Angleberger.
I thought Yoda was spot on as a mid-grade read - loved it. But HORTON HALFPOTT was even better! I wish I could crawl in his brain and see the world through Tom's eyes. He's obviously still eleven years old. And his books are perfect for the mid-grade readership!
So if you have some younger readers in your world, here are two books I highly recommend!
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
I just finished reading UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand and must say I LOVED it! I rarely write actual reviews, but here's what I said on GoodReads: The relationships were wonderfully honest, clever, and refreshingly new. I loved the characters. I loved the way the mysteries unfolded. Of all the angel books out there that I've read, this is by far my fave. A great read for even those who don't read angel books! And while completely satisfying - there was room for a sequel which I will be anxiously awaiting. (I seldom read two books by the same author - there are so many books I want/need to read, it takes a lot to read a second.) Bravo Cynthia! Here's the trailer...
LULA'S BREW on the iPAD!!! (a review)
As for the rest of it...
Gotta say, the color, the screen, the sound - all GLORIOUS!!! A few hiccups here and there. Some apps crash (none of the developers were able to test their apps before the iPad became available). When you buy a book in iBookstore, it loads to your bookshelf (tiny icon), and when you click on the book it opens to page 1 - not the book's cover. That's weird.
I was hoping Lula would have more visibility since it's one of THE first picture book Apps available for the iPad, but there are some search features that almost act like 'front of store' placement, hm. (There's a drop down feature as
you type in your key search word that makes 'suggestions.') And of course, books and apps are sold in different places on the iPad - they are currently not treated like the same things AT ALL which leaves me wondering how picture books like mine will be found in this new environment.
iBookstore does have one free 'picture book' - Winnie the Pooh - available. There seems to be a restricted area where an image (obviously a pdf) can be displayed - so it's nowhere near the full bleed luscious picture book look we all love - more like awkward vignettes.
Facebook runs AWESOME on it. The keyboard works great although you wouldn't want to actually write on it (we got a bluetooth keyboard to do that). And you can buy Pages to write, but WORD isn't available for the iPad right now.
Hubbie and I are fighting over the iPad already. It's very, very cool. Obviously still a brand new thing (we feel like beta testers) but very, very cool.
Oh! And Stan is already watching ABC on the thing. (No hulu yet as it runs via flash which Apple refuses to support, and fancast is there but requires a monthly subscription.) He turned off the tv and said "What tv? We'll never use it again!" We'll see.
SO! That is my review so far... I gotta go play with the new toy some more... if I can get it away from my hubbie.
If you'd like to learn more about LULA'S BREW, go to http://dulemba.com/ActivityPage-Lula.html
Read more reviews of the iPad:
Apple iPad Review: WiFi Model from MacNews
The iPad Meets the Children's Book (from PW)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
It's almost here! July 15th. Can you stand it!? Click here to watch a new trailer on myspace! Chills, I say - CHILLS! I Can't Wait!
Invisible Sisters by Jessica Handler
Today marks a milestone. Today is the official release of Invisible Sisters, a memoir by my good friend Jessica Handler. Her home-town launch party is tonight at A Cappella Books in Atlanta (she'll also be at the Margaret Mitchell house next week). Please visit their site for details, but to quote the write-up:Jessica Handler grew up in Morningside in the 1960s as one of three daughters of a progressive Jewish family. By the time she was nine, one of her sisters had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease that would kill her at a young age and the other had died from Leukemia. From this unimaginable family tragedy, Handler emerged and now shares her stirring story in Invisible Sisters, a memoir published by Public Affairs Books.
Based on a Pushcart Prize-nominated essay, this clear-eyed, candid work portrays the immense emotional toll that two daughters' illnesses take on a family living in Atlanta.
The family's move to Atlanta in 1965 allowed the father to support labor unions, and Handler, as the oldest, was alerted to the importance of demonstrations and even taken to the funeral of Martin Luther King. However, with Susie's diagnosis (compounding the worry over Sarah's chronic sickliness), the parents "began the slow and terrible turning away from one another that erodes families facing the death of a child."
Atlanta Magazine's Teresa Weaver compares the book's "lyrical elegance and cool remove" to Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking-- "the highest praise possible for any memoir of loss."
As if that wasn't enough, Jessica also had a recent article in Newsweek: "I Won't Roll the Biological Dice."
I had the great honor of being one of Jessica's readers as she struggled through writing this epic and moving story. It's personal and scary and Jessica and I enjoyed lots of lunches out as she worked through the angst of its creation. However, it's all paying off now and I am so happy for her. Critical response has been incredible as well as the attention she and the book are receiving. Of course, this is no surprise to me as I've been a fan for a long time now.
CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA - well earned, my dear!!!
Terra Elan McVoy's PURE
It's seldom we get to meet real heroes in this world - people who fight against all odds to achieve a dream they've been living and breathing for most of their lives. Terra Elan McVoy is one of those people. And last night was the Decatur launch party for her new novel, PURE. Terra is a former editorial assistant from New York. Lucky for us, a few years ago she moved to Atlanta and became the manager of our local independent children's book store Little Shop of Stories.
I've spoken about the kismet of the store opening a week before I moved here. Well, more kismet occurred when Terra became the manager. She oversees several of the teen and younger reading groups, helps parents and kids pick out books they will love, and basically keeps our little book store one of the best and strongest in the country - turning Little Shop into a true hub of our local community.
She has some serious support here - especially when she went through a very tough time with her health last year. It was a testament to her strong will when she not only came out the other side completely well, but with her first novel too!
We are all so incredibly happy for her - it seemed all of Decatur came out to help her celebrate the release of PURE last night. Truly, I've never seen the store so jammed packed - even the balcony was full. When Terra arrived, a cheer rang throughout like a homecoming parade.
A talented musician entertained us, and then Terra read from her book - she did a great job.
Some of the questions were tough, and some were about her great shoes. They were from a particular designer - anybody remember the name?We enjoyed cupcakes and champagne (with cherries, of course). Several of my favorite writing buds were there as well. Here are Liz Conrad, me, and Vicky Alvear Shecter (my hubbie is taking the picture). We all went out for pizza beforehand. Jessica Handler was there with her husband, Mickey, too. (More about Jessica soon!) Even Terra's editor flew down from New York!
I imagine there weren't many copies left by the time the party ended - the signing line went on and on. (That's my drawing of "Rosebud" from Paco and the Giant Chile Plant keeping an eye on the books before the mayhem got underway - gotta luv it.)
Truly, it was a dream release party - the kind you rarely hear about anymore. And nobody deserved it more than Terra. Bravo chickie - bravo!
So, what about PURE? It reminded me so strongly of my own high school experience - being involved with Young Life and everything being so dramatic. Friendships are pushed to limits under the pressures of normal growing up and all the trials that puts us through. It's an uncomfortable thing to live through once, and uncomfortable to go back. But wow, will it feel familiar. The young teens in your life will completely connect with Tabitha and her friends as they navigate their own moral positions for the first time and their friendships through first loves, first kisses, and the first real changes on their way to discovering who they really are.
Video Book Review - Wondrous Strange
Welcome to my very first Video Book Review! Today I'm reviewing "Wondrous Strange" by Lesley Livingston and relating it to other good reads to give you an idea of what it's like.
Now I know the sound isn't too great (gotta work on that), but for a first run, I hope it's not too bad. Leave me some comments and let me know what you think!
Now I know the sound isn't too great (gotta work on that), but for a first run, I hope it's not too bad. Leave me some comments and let me know what you think!
e's news - november 2008
I just sent out my latest newsletter which you can view in full HERE, but here are some of the highlights:
Hi Y'all!
Christmas is coming and the goose is . . . tightening it's belt. It's important that you spend your money thoughtfully this holiday season. Buy locally and from industries you'd like to strengthen. Books make fantastic gifts - dollar for dollar they are one of the best entertainment values available AND they promote literacy and give back long after the holidays are over.
I hope you'll consider my books when shopping. (Click on a cover to learn more about each title.)
If you order through my local independent bookseller, Little Shop of Stories, I can personalize your copies and add a bookmark. (Click their logo to send them an email.) I also have tons of free stuff you can download on my website to include with your gift!
EVENTS:
I'll be at the Savannah Children's Book Festival this coming weekend (November 15th) speaking at the brand new tent for the Georgia Center for the Book and Read it Loud - an organization that encourages parents to read to their children.
I'm honored to be a last-minute addition to the incredible line-up of speakers this year. (Click the banner for more info.) The festival is FREE to the public, so I hope you'll stop by!
Planning for our Illustrators' Showcase, now called "Storybook Look: Illustrations by Southern Artists" is going well. My art has been picked up (leaving blank spaces on my studio walls) and they are scheduling venues now. If you're interested in hiring the show for your gallery, library, or venue, visit the Southern Arts Federation for more information.
BOOK NEWS:
I'm currently working on my first picture book as author/illustrator, "Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabón, jabón, jabón" and about to dive into the fourth book in the ParentSmart/KidHappy series. More information soon!
AWARDS!
Paco and the Giant Chile Plant has been awarded a Bronze Medal in the 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. Woohoo!
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I often listen to audio books while I'm illustrating and I've just finished THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. I can't recommend it highly enough.
It presents a believable and engaging scenario set sometime in the future (at least 100 years as it's after a war we have yet to fight). It's a reality show to the death, a game invented by the Capital to keep down the losing side. Part game show, part love story, part survival story, both boy and girl teens (and adults) will love this book.
I love audio books, but I kind of wish I had read this one rather than listened to it, as it's one of those books you can really curl up with and disappear into.
I also talk about school visits and coloring pages. Like what you see? Want to subscribe? Sign up to receive e's news HERE.
Hi Y'all!
Christmas is coming and the goose is . . . tightening it's belt. It's important that you spend your money thoughtfully this holiday season. Buy locally and from industries you'd like to strengthen. Books make fantastic gifts - dollar for dollar they are one of the best entertainment values available AND they promote literacy and give back long after the holidays are over.
I hope you'll consider my books when shopping. (Click on a cover to learn more about each title.)
If you order through my local independent bookseller, Little Shop of Stories, I can personalize your copies and add a bookmark. (Click their logo to send them an email.) I also have tons of free stuff you can download on my website to include with your gift!
EVENTS:
I'll be at the Savannah Children's Book Festival this coming weekend (November 15th) speaking at the brand new tent for the Georgia Center for the Book and Read it Loud - an organization that encourages parents to read to their children.
I'm honored to be a last-minute addition to the incredible line-up of speakers this year. (Click the banner for more info.) The festival is FREE to the public, so I hope you'll stop by!
Planning for our Illustrators' Showcase, now called "Storybook Look: Illustrations by Southern Artists" is going well. My art has been picked up (leaving blank spaces on my studio walls) and they are scheduling venues now. If you're interested in hiring the show for your gallery, library, or venue, visit the Southern Arts Federation for more information.
BOOK NEWS:
I'm currently working on my first picture book as author/illustrator, "Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabón, jabón, jabón" and about to dive into the fourth book in the ParentSmart/KidHappy series. More information soon!
AWARDS!
Paco and the Giant Chile Plant has been awarded a Bronze Medal in the 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. Woohoo!RECOMMENDATIONS:
I often listen to audio books while I'm illustrating and I've just finished THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. I can't recommend it highly enough.It presents a believable and engaging scenario set sometime in the future (at least 100 years as it's after a war we have yet to fight). It's a reality show to the death, a game invented by the Capital to keep down the losing side. Part game show, part love story, part survival story, both boy and girl teens (and adults) will love this book.
I love audio books, but I kind of wish I had read this one rather than listened to it, as it's one of those books you can really curl up with and disappear into.
I also talk about school visits and coloring pages. Like what you see? Want to subscribe? Sign up to receive e's news HERE.
Little Brother
Probably my favorite book so far this year is Corey Doctorow's "Little Brother," followed by Sherman Alexie's "Diary of a Part-time Indian."
Savvy, smart, cutting edge, and edge of your seat - I loved this read. Cool thing is, Corey Doctorow is all about open-source. So, you can actually download the book for free from his website, although I prefer holding it in my hot little hands. At his website you can also view him reading some excerpts of "Little Brother."
He said some really nice words about writing Young Adult fiction recently in this article for LOCUS online.
Add to that he's got a page in my latest obsession: facebook. Gotta luv this guy!
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