Tag: art and artists

REVIEW: The Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron Hicks

REVIEW: The Rembrandt Conspiracy by Deron Hicks

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

An iced mocha and 42 steps.

Those were the things that convinced Art that something was wrong and the National Portrait Gallery was going to be robbed. Art had grown up around and in art museums. His dad worked at the Portrait Gallery. And after a week of watching, Art knew something was up. But his hunch was going to be hard to prove.

Art remembered another robbery – one from before he was born. The Gardner Museum. The thieves had explicit inside information. Major pieces of art were stolen – and never seen again. This could be something similar. And it would be devastating – to the art world and to Art’s dad and his co-workers at the Gallery.

So Art and his best friend Camille team up to track down the would-be thieves.

Review

Another fun art-based mystery in the Lost Art Mystery series after The Van Gogh Deception.

Art is brilliant, and Camille is clever and bold, making them a good team to work together and try to thwart a heist. Their parents are appropriately involved and typical parents. There’s an interesting epilogue to this one. I am curious to see where it leads for a third book.

Once again, the use of QR codes that take readers to pictures of the art being discussed is brilliant. My QR reader didn’t care for the ARC on my tablet, but when it worked, it was great. I think this feature will be perfect in print versions of the book.

The mystery here – with ties to an actual real-life heist – was twisty and engaging. Mystery fans and art lovers should be sure to check this series out.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Con Quest by Sam Maggs

REVIEW: Con Quest by Sam Maggs

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Cat – 12 years old. Daughter of 2 famous comics writers. Geekicon pro. And this year at Geekicon, she is determined to win the Quest – an unsanctioned scavenger hunt set at the con. Winners get to do charity work for a week with a major movie star.

Alex – Cat’s twin brother. Artist. Gamer. On the autism spectrum. Megafan of Epic, the comic. Alex would be happy to spend the day in Artist’s Alley talking to other creators. But at Geekicon, he can get the autograph of his favorite artist. The fact that he can use that opportunity to help his sister in the Quest is icing on the cake.

Fi – 14 years old. The twins’ older sister. Charged with watching them at the con. If she can show her responsibility here, her parents might let her go on a camping trip with the cool kids from school. But first she has to survive the wall-to-wall people at the smelly nerdfest – and not lose track of the twins.

Review

This was SO FUN! I am a huge fan of comic and fan conventions. And a huge fan of books set at conventions. This is a great addition to that book niche. The convention here is clearly a SDCC-ish event, although the description easily fit my smaller con experience, too.  Con fans will recognize the cosplay, con food, the thrill of discovering a new artist, and meeting a celebrity experiences. There’s tons to love here!

Alex, Cat and Fi take turns telling the story, which is great. There’s a lot of sibling stuff going on here. Alex wants Cat to treat him as an equal partner. Cat is so used to behavioral hiccups with Alex that she bulldozes over him a lot of the time. This dynamic between Cat and Alex was one of my favorite parts of the book. And Fi is so desperate to fit in with the popular kids, it makes her a tyrant with her younger siblings at this convention. Fi changes the most over the course of the story, but Alex and Cat get to grow as well.

At times, the Quest feels like it’s taking the fun out of the con. Cat gets so driven that she rushes Alex away from things he enjoys but aren’t achieving anything for her. Thankfully, the scavenger hunt is only during one day of the event, so there’s always hope that they will get to just enjoy themselves after it’s over. There’s a lot of push and pull here about the goals of the characters for this event.

I’m not used to middle grade books having romantic plot lines beyond crushes. I read another one this year where there was a romance between the main characters, and for me it felt like it pushed the audience up into the 10-14 range rather than the typical 8-12 for middle grade. I tend to fall on the more conservative side, though, when it comes to dating and boyfriends/girlfriends in elementary school. That said, there is a romantic element here between Fi and a girl she knows from school who is at the convention. The fact that Fi is a point of view character draws the romance a little closer to the reader. But the fact that Fi is older might also give it some distance for the typical middle grade reader. It’s something to keep in mind. Third graders reading middle grade might have a different reaction to the romantic plot than 6th graders. Personally, I would set this for the older 10-14 crowd.

Convention fans should be sure to check this one out. I enjoyed the journey with Alex, Cat and Fi, especially in 2020 when the only cons we are attending are virtual! (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: The Campaign by Leila Sales

BONUS REVIEW: The Campaign by Leila Sales

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Seventh grade is off to a less-than-stellar start for Maddie. And it feels even worse when her favorite teacher, Mr. Xian, tells her that the new mayoral candidate is campaigning on a platform that includes a cut to all arts programs in the public schools. If she wins, there will be no music, no drama, no art – and no Mr. Xian. And since no one is running against her, this is all essentially a done deal.

Maddie convinces her post-college nanny, Janet, to run for mayor. Janet agrees that the arts are important, and she wants to be a voice for people like Maddie who can’t vote. But Janet and Maddie are both in for a steep learning curve over what running for mayor entails.

Review

I enjoyed this! Maddie is quirky, and I liked her. I was amused – and saddened – at how often her mom was off at some seminar to be a better parent rather than actually sticking around and BEING a parent to Maddie. And don’t even get me started on Maddie’s dad. I was happy that the family pieces of this were part of the backdrop to the larger story rather than the focus. Thankfully Maddie had Janet!

The friendship pieces here were also part of the backdrop, but a little more pertinent as Maddie has to face her friendship issues during the campaign. She discovers that it really isn’t just about what the other kids are or aren’t doing, but also about what SHE was doing and not doing in these relationships. It’s a smaller piece of the book, but I liked it. I think kids will find some interesting pieces here to talk about, too.

But the focus of the book is on this local election. And I loved this whole part of the story. A local election has more direct impact on our day-to-day lives. It’s also where citizens can get the most directly involved which is what Maddie and her friends do. Some readers have raised the issue that a mayor wouldn’t have any voice in what the school curriculum includes, but I think as a springboard, that doesn’t matter to the goal of the book or how I would use it with kids. I thought questions could be raised, too, about why the townspeople didn’t ask harder questions of the councilwoman about the issues they had in town. If she hadn’t addressed them as part of the council, why would they think she would as mayor? But, again, this is a springboard to conversation. This book isn’t going to be a perfect illustration of every city government.

Readers get to see Maddie – and Janet – learn how to get on the ballot, how to find and connect with voters, and how to look outside personal preferences to the needs of the larger community. This book is, in my opinion, meant to LAUNCH a conversation, not be the be-all-end-all. Use this to help readers ask questions about the same processes in your community. Get involved in a local campaign as a family. Attend a town hall or a debate. If you are looking for a way to talk with kids about the upcoming election season, start here!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters by Ginger Garrett

REVIEW: Name Tags and Other Sixth-Grade Disasters by Ginger Garrett

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Lerner Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lizbeth and her mom have moved to the other side of Atlanta, which means a change of schools. Lizbeth is certain that, with the right, happy approach, she can pick just the right person to be her new best friend. And that will set her up for a great year.

Instead, she is placed in a classroom with an exhausted and distracted teacher and in a pod with kids called the “weirdos.” Lizbeth’s choice for a new best friend can’t get away from her fast enough. And the only kid who seems to “get” her also seems to be the resident mean girl.

Lizbeth finds herself helping her podmates with the mandatory school talent show while she’s also stuck doing all the work for a partnered science project. On top of all that, she has her quest to sabotage her dad’s latest girlfriend. Lizbeth figures that’s the best way to get her parents back together which will mean Lizbeth can get her old, perfect life back, too.

Review

The ending of this is stellar! There were some ups and downs for me along the way, but the ending was fantastic.

I had a mixed experience here with Lizbeth. She’s a funny, quirky kid, which I loved. She’s a lot to take early on. The scene of her trying to be Hailey’s friend at that first lunch period was almost painful. And when it comes to her dad’s girlfriends, frankly, she’s a bully. She’s mean. For every point she earns in my heart because she defends her podmates at school, she loses several for her horrible, hateful behavior with these women. And her parents don’t seem to do anything about it. This made it hard for me to like any of the family. And it made it hard to root for Lizbeth in the larger story.

With some time, though, Lizbeth starts to mature. She starts to see things from other points of view. She begins to get some personal insight. And that made up for some of the early ugliness in the story.

The art pieces in this were excellent. And the climax of the story was as well. I absolutely adored the end. There’s a lot here for readers to enjoy, and plenty to think about and talk through – labels, bullying, art, friendship, family, dealing with divorce, etc. This could prompt some meaty discussions both at home and in the classroom.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½=Good+

REVIEW: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

REVIEW: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

On a random Tuesday, on her usual mid-day walk, Chloe Brown almost died. If she had been just a couple feet in the other direction, the drunk driver would have hit her instead of that coffee shop. She was unhurt, but in shock. The whole thing sent her chronically ill body into a tailspin. But it wasn’t only physically jarring. She also realized her life is bland, and she has nothing to show for her years on this earth. Maybe it’s time for Chloe to get a life!

Step one is moving out of the family home and getting her own place. Done! The other six items on her “get a life” list are taking longer. Well, actually, the last one – Do Something Bad – she has technically already completed, too.

Redford Morgan is the supervisor for Chloe’s apartment building. And every time she runs into him there’s some drama going on, and she ends up at the center of it, looking like a fool or a shrew. She tries to avoid him whenever possible. But in the evenings, he often paints in his living room with the curtains open. And his shirt off. His apartment is right across from her’s. She couldn’t help but see him. She knew it was a serious invasion of his privacy to keep watching, hiding behind her own curtains, but she was drawn to the sight of him, lost in his work.

When Red finds Chloe stuck in a tree after trying to rescue a cat, they actually have a couple moments of civility with one another. And Chloe starts to wonder if maybe Red could help her check off a couple other items on her Get a Life list.

Review

It took me awhile to warm up to these two characters, especially Red. They were both abrasive to each other early on, and Red was crass even in his own thoughts and perspectives on things. But as the characters warmed up to one another, I started to like them more, both as individuals and as a potential couple.

While Chloe’s bucket list/Get a Life list launches her journey towards Red and helps move the relationship along, I never felt she was really attached to it. She even admits this over time. So it was a plot device that didn’t ever click for me.

But in the end, I loved Chloe and Red together. I appreciated that they recognized they might need therapeutic help with their individual baggage. I loved how attentive Red was to Chloe, almost intuiting at times how her illness was impacting her. It felt like he was the first, maybe ever, to care about her enough to pay that level of attention. It was awesome. I especially liked that this book honestly and thoroughly (at least as much as I could tell as an “outsider”) dealt with Chloe’s chronic illness.  There were several factors in the story that were a lovely departure from a standard, stereotypical romance novel couple (interracial couple, Chloe’s illness, Chloe’s weight, etc.).

This is going to be the first in the Brown Sisters series, so the subsequent books will address Chloe’s sisters. I was happy to see this because I found myself wanting more interaction with the two women as this novel progressed. I think that would have been a great addition to this story, but it will be good for each of them to tell her own story, too. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: A Bittersweet Surprise by Cynthia Ellingsen

BONUS REVIEW: A Bittersweet Surprise by Cynthia Ellingsen

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Emma’s father opened the Sweetery in Starlight Cove over 30 years ago. When he died, her step-mother Gillian used a management company to run it for awhile. But Emma works there now, prepping the chocolates every day, handling sales and supplies. At one time she had some ideas for changing or expanding the business, but Gillian wasn’t interested. Now, Gillian says she wants to sell the shop. And Emma is in no position to buy it.

Emma’s had some tough breaks in life. Her mother gave her up as a baby. When she was a kid, her dad died, and Gillian refused to raise her and left Emma with her grandmother instead. Her fiancé was killed ten years ago while being a Good Samaritan. And a decision to help an unreliable friend left Emma in a credit nightmare.

Helping others. That’s something Emma and her fiancé Joe had in common. Joe’s help sadly got him killed. Emma’s friends are concerned that her efforts to “save the world” could backfire on Emma, too. Like the stranger in town, living out of her car with her son. Emma gives her food, helps her find some work, and gives her a place to stay. That compulsion to help surely comes from the losses in her life. But Emma doesn’t always recognize the risks.

That helpful nature. though, also means others are willing to help Emma when she needs it. An unexpected discovery could give Emma a chance to buy the Sweetery from her step-mother. And her friends are ready to help her make connections and build a business plan. But when the rug is pulled out from under her, Emma is left wonder what her future holds.

Review

This was good! I felt for Emma; her helping thing felt very Enneagram 2-ish to me. So many of her circumstances were no fault of her own. She just had to live with the fall out. But all the things that converge in this story a) get her to do some self-evaluation and b) prompt her to deal with a couple of things that are in her power to influence. This was great.

Apparently this is the third book in the Starlight Cove series. (Book one is The Lighthouse Keeper, and book 2 is The Winemaker’s Secret.) While some of the characters from the first two books play a role in this one, this book completely stands on its own. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything starting with this book.

A few twists in this one, and some emotional ups and downs made for an engaging tale. There’s a LOT going on here. There’s the situation with the store, the situation with Emma’s step-mother, then there’s the woman and her son that Emma helps. Emma’s also responsible for the care of her elderly grandmother. Then there’s also a potential romance for Emma as well as her grief over her fiancé. On top of all of that there’s an art piece threaded through the whole story. There’s a lot here for readers to enjoy – and a lot of threads for the author to track. I never once felt like she didn’t have full control of her story, which is masterful.

If you enjoy a character-driven story with lots of moving pieces which never feel like “too much,” check out the Starlight Cove series and A Bittersweet Surprise in particular.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Star Trek: 50 Artists, 50 Years by Titan Books

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Star Trek Art!! Fifty artists created a piece that reflected something from Star Trek. This book is part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first episode airing on television. Each page includes a 10.5×14.5 inch image of the artwork. There is also an interview with the artist. Interview questions include the artist’s connection to Star Trek and their inspiration and process for creating their piece

Star Trek Art

Review

This book is eye candy for Star Trek lovers! I wouldn’t call myself an art lover in general. I know what I like but I can’t always say why I like it. But I am a Star Trek lover, and I am fascinated by this book. The pieces are mostly from The Original Series (TOS) or The Next Generation (TNG). There are some glimpses of the artist’s other ideas besides the piece they ultimately submitted. After the art itself, my favorite parts are the artists’ stories about their connection to Star Trek. Some are reluctant fans, some watched it because a family member did, and some are huge fans in their own rights.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

If you aren’t sure about purchasing the whole book, you can get a calendar (roughly the same size as the book) with 12 of the pieces included. They are 11×14 and could easily be framed. Star Trek Poster Calendar for 2017.