Tag: family

REVIEW: Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

REVIEW: Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Elementia is a trilogy of fantasy books written by the late M. E. Thorne. They’re like a female-led Lord of the Rings. The fandom is just as robust and outspoken. And they aren’t sold on the movie version being filmed in Ireland and directed by a woman.

Iris and Ryder Thorne may be the grandchildren of M. E. Thorne, but they didn’t really know her. As far as their dad is concerned, the books are garbage and they should have nothing to do with them except to bank the royalties as they roll in.

But Ryder fell in love with the books. And after a traumatic run in with a fan, the books seem to help him with the emotional fall out. So he begs their dad to go to Ireland for the filming. Since their dad is on a book deadline, he sends Iris to keep tabs on young Ryder.

Iris would love nothing more than to watch the movie crash and burn. She resents having to parent her younger brother, and she’s terrified of another fan making their family a part of his or her psychotic episode. As Iris gets to know the director and actors for the film, she starts to see Elementia, her family, and herself in new ways.

Review

I stumbled across this one at the library and decided to give it a try. What an unexpected delight! I loved the idea of this – the fantasy book series, the siblings in Ireland, the family drama, and the filming. Iris is awesome – so complicated. The development of her character across the book was one of my favorite things about this. She grows and tries and fails and tries again. She struggles to find her own voice under the barrage of her father’s criticism in her head. It was a terrific journey to watch unfold.

There are so many factors stacked against the movie that there were a lot of roadblocks to keep the story in the book moving forward. The actors, director, and film crew made a little temporary family for Iris and Ryder. Their real family – the off-in-her-own space mom and the angry dad with mother and grief issues of his own – were yet another layer to the larger story.

All of the pieces of this worked for me – the two kids finding their way together in their own lives and with their parents, the romance, the fantasy story in the filming, the feminist threads, and the fandom issues. I thoroughly enjoyed this! Hand this to kids who love fandoms or fandom stories. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Even though they were identical twins, Katie always felt like an afterthought where Hannah was concerned. Hannah was the outgoing, energetic, fearless one. Katie was quiet and cautious. The differences between them became even more pronounced when Hannah decided not to be baptized and to leave their Amish community. Katie, the rule follower, stayed. Of course she stayed. This was her home, her family, and her community.

When Katie’s mom got sick, her commitment to home and family was even stronger. Her mother and family needed her. And after her mother’s death, Katie kept the family going. She picked up her mother’s responsibilities in the home and cared for her younger siblings as if they were her own.

When Hannah comes home for the funeral, she discovers Katie’s secret. She’s an artist. She draws in a secret sketch pad. And she’s extremely talented. But the Amish believe that photos or art of people are making “graven images.” A sin. Since Katie was baptized into the faith, she would be shunned if anyone ever found out. And if she chose her art over her community, she would never be able to contact her father or siblings again.

Drawing is the only time when Katie feels like herself, though. It’s the only thing that makes her smile. And it’s been months since her family has seen her smile. So her father sends her off for a week to visit her sister Hannah in New York City. It will be an opportunity to just be herself with no family responsibilities. She can see what life might be like if she chose her art over her faith. Would it be worth all she would lose?

Review

This was lovely! I don’t usually read Amish fiction, but after enjoying Belle and Ella so much earlier this year, I was interested in trying some more. This author’s Amish mystery series is on my TBR shelves, but I haven’t tried them yet.

I didn’t sense the same  level of faith in this story as I did in Belle and Ella. Katie’s commitments felt more like a commitment to tradition and expectation than a strong sense of faith. Katie has a lot of questions about the Amish assertion that her mother’s death was “God’s will” and something to just accept. But that was really the only place where faith was really explored. I completely identified with Katie’s need to do the “right” thing and put others before herself. Her struggles to choose her own path apart from her sister and her wrestling with where art could fit into her life, if it could at all, really clicked for me.

I did not care for Hannah for most of the book. She is bossy and brash and self-centered. She takes Katie’s art and does what she wants with it without respect for Katie’s perspective. Hannah knows the rules it violates but maybe since she doesn’t personally follow those rules anymore, she doesn’t even think about what the violation means for Katie. It’s almost as if she wants Katie on the “outside” with her – like she misses the family connections she once had. If Katie leaves, too, she can have it all, family and freedom. And she’ll risk Katie’s shunning and the fall out to do what she chooses. It was frustrating, but it made me appreciate Katie that much more.

There’s a slight love triangle in this – the Amish man Katie has been promised to and the man in New York who listens and understands her because she is free to tell him everything. I was thrilled with how that all worked out in the end.

This was a terrific story and I highly recommend it to fans of Amish fiction as well as those who enjoy stories about characters looking for – and finding – their identity.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams

REVIEW: Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

After 17 years of homeschool and life on the road with her mom’s band, Jade is ready to try something different. The band has hit the big time and is going on tour, but Jade wants to experience a “normal” teenage summer. So she moves in with her mom’s older sister and her family in California, gets a job at the local pool, and hopes to make some friends since she’ll be staying in one place for a couple months.

Jade’s Aunt Julie is the antithesis of her mom. Jade’s mom was a teenager when she had her, so she’s young. She lives the nomadic lifestyle of a musician. Her parenting style is pretty “free range.” In some ways, Jade is more like the parent in their relationship. Aunt Julie, on the other hand, is pretty over protective. While she has the best of intentions, she can be overbearing – especially to someone used to the freedoms Jade usually has. So, rather than fight her aunt, Jade sneaks out when she needs some space. She knows her own mind and trusts her own boundaries.

Jade never expected to meet a guy like Quentin. She wants to play things cool around him, but he’s charming and handsome. Before she knows it, she’s falling for him. But Quentin has secrets he’s reluctant to share. How can she really trust him when he won’t tell her the truth?

Review

This was a delight from start to finish. The relationship between Jade and Quentin is one of my favorite sorts of romances in YA literature. Less brooding, more banter! They’re flirty and funny, and I loved them.

For me, the big “reveal”/climax wasn’t as big as I was expecting. This was more a fun relationship story than a big, angsty teen drama. And while I enjoy those, too, I also love light, fun relationship stories like this. This was a perfect summer romance story for me.

In addition to the main romantic story line, this is also a story of family. Jade and her mom. Her mom and Aunt Julie. Aunt Julie and her husband. Jade and her dad. This touches on a lot of relationships, some more deeply than others. I would have liked to see some of them developed and explored even more, but that wasn’t the story this book set out to tell.

I really enjoyed spending time with Jade and Quentin. I enjoyed the relatively light tone of this. It was a perfect summer read for me!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy

REVIEW: The Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

MAY – Grace’s world falls to pieces when her mom is served with an FBI warrant for financial fraud and then collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Grace is 17. Her mom is in a coma. And everyone from the FBI to Grace’s classmates to the staff at her school is screaming for answers. Where’s their money? And did Grace know her mother was a thief?

AUGUST – Grace has a one way bus ticket to Colorado. She’s going to the one place that was special to her mother. At least, that’s what her mother always told her. But Grace isn’t sure what she can trust anymore. Yet she needs answers. One of those angry classmates has followed her, determined to get the truth from Grace about the money.

Two timelines weave together to tell the story of the original fall from grace and the story of Grace’s plan to sort things out once and for all.

Review

This was terrific! The plot was brilliant. A fraud scheme where the one person who can tell everyone the truth is in a coma, trapped in her own body, unable to lie or come clean. Her teenage daughter is left holding the bag. Grace was the face of the fund, and now she’s the face of the scandal. People want answers, and Grace is the target for their rage.

The two timelines are a great format. It allows the author to dole out the story of Grace’s summer exploring the past and trying to uncover the truth. The August timeline points to the future. What will happen to Grace now? What has she discovered, and what might she learn in Colorado? And how will any discovery change the situation for her?

This was engrossing. I read it in one sitting. A great read! (Some language. Trigger warning: attempted assualt)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Loser's Bracket by Chris Crutcher

REVIEW: Loser’s Bracket by Chris Crutcher

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Annie’s almost a senior in high school, but she’s experienced a lot in 17 years. She bounced from home to foster care multiple times before her mother’s rights were terminated. Annie knows her family is toxic, but she’s tied to them too tightly to turn her back on them. Her foster father would like nothing more than for Annie to cut all ties to her biological family once and for all. But she can’t bring herself to do it. Most of the times she sees her mother or her older sister, the meet up ends in disappointment for Annie. But they are still family.

When Annie’s biological family shows up for her last swim meet of the season, her mother picks a fight with Annie’s book club friends over a misunderstanding. In the ensuing chaos, Annie’s nephew disappears. Her family may be a hot mess, but they are her hot mess. Annie will do whatever it takes to find her nephew.

Review

The characters in this are outstanding! I loved Annie from the beginning. Even though her biological family is trapped in horrible cycles of abuse and drug use, Annie sees the dysfunctions and can keep some distance from them. After Annie, her foster brother, her best friend, and her book club are my other favorites from the story. In a different book, the book club would have made an excellent story all on their own, with each character telling his or her own story.

While Annie’s foster family is safer and more healthy than her biological family, it’s not perfect. And in the story we get to watch Annie negotiate the various dysfunctions and find her own path through them. The revelations she experiences as the foster family situation is more out in the open were fascinating.

I loved everything about this. I would read more stories with these characters in a hot minute. And the author’s style and insight really clicked for me. I’d read more of his work and will be checking out his other stories.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

REVIEW: Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller

Posted on by Jaymie

[Profuse thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the priviledge of reading an electronic review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jane is a “blend into the background” sort of kid by choice. She keeps her head down. She avoids attention. Her grades are good enough to get by. And that is her focus – to get by.

But something is very different at school that January. Some kid is walking around dressed as a superhero, calling herself Captain Superlative. Who does that?! Kids will think she’s weird. They’ll call her a freak!

Captain Superlative catches Janey’s imagination, though. She watches the Captain help kids all around the school. She opens doors for the kid in a wheelchair and makes a study guide for the whole seventh grade to help with a tough test. And she stands up to the Queen Bee, Dagmar, when she bullies her favorite target.

Before she really knows what’s happening, Janey finds a little bit of the heart of a hero in herself. She steps out of the shadows and joins Captain Superlative as she tries to make a difference in the lives of every single person in the school. But when things turn rocky, Janey will have to decide if she’s going to run back to the shadows again or if she is brave enough to stand alone in the spotlight.

Review

If I could give more than five stars to this, I would! (In fact, I looked back and one other time I gave a book a 5+ rating. I think I have to do that again for this book.) This was spectacular! In fact, just before I read this, I read a book I thought would surely be a favorite for 2018, and after reading this book, I can barely remember what I liked about the last one. This one has just consumed me since I finished it. This book has everything I love – a fascinating story, amazing characters and tons of heart. But this went one step farther with a hint of a “message.” It’s subtle, and it is woven into the entire fabric of the book. And it is perfect.

Oh, how I love Janey. She exemplifies everything I love about middle school students. She’s full of heart and strength and fear. She’s trying to make her way through difficult situations and do the right thing. Sometimes she fails. But you understand her heart. You know where her choices are coming from. I wanted to hug her. A lot. She’s a delight.

This was an emotional one for me – at least a six-tissue read. It would be hard for me to read this out loud without crying. But this begs to be read out loud – to be experienced “together.” It’s a bullying story on one small level. But it is so much more! It’s about a culture of kindness, about finding your voice, and about then using it to help others. It’s about family and friendship and legacy and character. And it’s wholly superlative.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

REVIEW: The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff

REVIEW: The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Winnie was finishing 4th grade, her perpetually bickering parents announced they were getting a divorce. Their primary concern was complete and total equality. No extra time for either parent. So one parent took Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays. The other took Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Wednesdays were “free” days when Winnie would live in her two-story treehouse between her parents’ homes.

If this wacky schedule wasn’t obnoxious enough, her parents also started competing with one another to plan the most elaborate “holiday” celebrations for days like “Peach Cobbler Day” each and every day they had Winnie. Their elaborate plans consumed all of Winnie’s time. Her 5th grade school work suffered. Winnie’s best days at school were Thursdays, after her no-nonsense day to herself.

Winnie gets desperate. Her promotion to 6th grade is at risk, and she can’t get her parents to listen to her about how serious things are. Her teacher can’t get through to them, either. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Winnie decides to just STAY in her peaceful, neutral treehouse. And her friends decide to revolt as well and join her. This is the story of The Treehouse Ten.

Review

I have longed to read this book for months, and I am SO glad I did. What a FUN story!

There was a part of me that wanted to get distracted by plausibility. What custody plan puts a 5th grader in an unsupervised treehouse one day a week? What parents would get so caught up in their petty competition that they would ignore their daughter’s schooling? But I have seen how divorce and custody can bring out the worst in people. So I set aside my plausibility issues and just enjoyed the story. The rest of the story overcame my questions. And thankfully there were other adults looking out for Winnie!

I loved Winnie! She is such a great character. Her solution to the chaos of the Treehouse Ten standoff was so creative. Absolutely fantastic!

The format of this was fun. It’s presented as a school memoir project and includes diagrams, post-it notes from all of the kids, and transcripts of news reports. The format kept things fun and fresh.

I would put this into the hands of any kid who loves stories about kids who stand up for themselves in difficult situations. I highly recommend this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

REVIEW: Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Princess Theodosia is the only daughter of the Astrean Fire Queen. But that is before the Kalovaxians come. Before the Theyn kills her mother and the Kaiser conquers Astrea. Before the people of Astrea are turned into slaves and the Spiritgems that provide the kingdom’s magic are mined almost to extinction just for decoration of the Kalovaxian nobility. Before the Kaiser declares Theodosia is now “Lady Thora,” the Ash Princess.

Stripped of her strong, true name, Lady Thora tries to keep her head down and survive. She is publicly beaten if there is even a hint of rebellion anywhere in Astrea. She is whipped to remind her – and anyone who would even think of helping her – that she is nothing. No longer a princess, but only an Astrean disgrace. Thora’s only friend is the daughter of the Theyn, the man who murdered the Fire Queen. But how much can Thora truly trust this “friendship?” She’s been betrayed before – even by her own people trying to curry favor with the Kaiser. How could any Kalovaxian be a true friend to the Ash Princess?

When the Kaiser forces Thora to kill the Fire Queen’s last guardian, she starts to wonder if keeping her head down and merely surviving her beatings is enough of an existence. Thousands of her people are dead or dying while she lives in relative “comfort” in the palace. But the Kaiser has decided the Ash Princess is now of age, and he is plotting decisions for her life that will place her on a dark and dangerous path. Perhaps it is time for Theodosia to return and take a stand.

Review

In a Young Adult market full of books of displaced royalty fighting to reclaim their throne, this book stands out from the crowd. It’s captivating!

The fantasy thread in the story is thin but intriguing. The Spiritgems are a foundational piece of Astrea’s history, but I don’t think we have seen yet all they can mean to this story. I am eager to see them cut loose.

The most satisfying part of the story for me was the intricate relationships and competing loyalties in the besieged world of Astrea. Theo/Thora has worked so hard to merely survive, she hasn’t been able to spare a lot of energy to think about her people. She has no one she can truly trust. And her enemy is stunningly manipulative and cut-throat. It’s hard enough for her to even think about standing up to the Kaiser. Her feelings for some of the Kalovaxians who have been her only companions for the last 10 years complicate her desire for freedom. I loved the complex and competing motivations.

There are some nice twists in the end that make the wait for book 2 excruciating. I can’t wait to see how things progress for Theo next. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane

REVIEW: Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Charlie Tickler wishes his parents were a little more “normal.” They often leave him with a nanny so they can go to far flung places to help exotic animals. This time, they’re off to help the Giant Golden Moles in South Africa. And they’ve left Charlie with his grandparents.

Charlie’s grandparents may stay at home most of the time – generally watching TV all day – but they aren’t a lot better than Charlie’s folks. They tend to forget about him. They are resistant to anything that would take them away from the TV programs, like playing with Charlie or taking him somewhere. Thanks to the four most important people in Charlie’s life, he feels pretty unwanted.

But in his new temporary home of Castle-on-the-Hudson, Charlie finds a purpose. He meets an elderly Deaf woman, Aggie, at the library, and she seems to be worried about something. Before Charlie can figure out what’s wrong, Aggie has disappeared, and some strangers show up looking for her.

The librarian suggests Charlie find “Frog” at the Flying Hands Cafe to help him figure out the sign language Aggie had used before she disappeared. Soon, Charlie, who is hearing, and Frog, who is Deaf, are working together to solve the mystery

Review

This was delightful! There are three main layers to this story. First is the mystery. For me, this was the weakest part of the story. The mystery is pretty simple and is only solved when the kids finally get all the information they need from the adults at the end. It’s not something the reader can really puzzle out on his/her own.

The second layer is the Deaf/hearing/sign language piece. This was really cool. The author did a fantastic job conveying the conversations between characters without getting bogged down in sign descriptions every time. The descriptions were there often enough to inform the reader without negatively impacting the flow of the story. As a kid, I would have adored a book like this! I always wanted to learn sign and took some classes. This book would have been a perfect fit for me.

The third layer is Charlie, who longs to be noticed and wanted and valued by the people who should love him most. There are some lovely, powerful moments in the book that address this layer. I would have liked more. I think what’s there is appropriate for the larger story and the audience, but for Charlie’s sake I wanted more. Hopefully this piece will get more development in future books.

I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on this are my own.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye

REVIEW: Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Ozzy was seven, his parents left New York and moved to a remote cabin in Oregon. Both of Ozzy’s parents were brilliant scientists – one in neuroscience and the other in psychology. Everything that remained of their lives out east was stacked in boxes in the small cabin.

One day when Ozzy was off playing by a stream, some men came to the cabin and took his parents. Ozzy came running when he heard his mother scream. But when he hid from the men, they left in him there. Alone in the woods.

For seven years Ozzy lived alone in the cabin with only a mechanical bird, Clark (one of his dad’s inventions), for company. He survived on the canned and dried food stockpiled in the basement. He entertained himself with all of the books and papers in the house. Thankfully his mother taught him to read at an early age. The academic papers were offset by fantasy novels like Harry Potter. And Ozzy had cassettes of his father’s work so he could hear his dad’s voice and remember when he had parents and felt safe and loved.

When Ozzy tries going to school in order to meet other people and access a computer to try and get information on his missing parents, it draws unwanted attention to his situation. Then a magazine ad gives him a great idea. He’ll hire a wizard to help him find his missing parents. Labyrinth – “Rin” – the wizard isn’t quite what Ozzy expected from Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings, but if Rin can help him, that is all that matters.

Review

I can’t remember the last time I read such a spectacularly bizarre book. I loved every page! Ozzy’s story is fascinating. I was engrossed from the beginning. I had to know what would happen to this boy,  abandoned in the woods.

When  Clark the bird is discovered, Ozzy’s world widens quite a bit. They explore their surroundings, and Ozzy experiences school. I loved this part. He has a great reaction to this unfamiliar system, and he’s bright enough to pull it off for awhile.

Adding Rin to the story, though, kicks this into a whole other place. He says he’s a wizard, but Ozzy sees no evidence. Yet he is trusting and wants to believe Rin can help. And while Rin is quirky to the nth degree, he is honestly invested in helping Ozzy. And the people Rin pulls into Ozzy’s orbit are terrific parts of the story.

If the awesome and quirky characters aren’t enough, there’s the adventure of keeping Ozzy off the radar of the powers that be that will take him from his home “for his own good.” And on top of that is the mystery of what happened to Ozzy’s parents and what he might discover if he finds them.

All the pieces come together into a reading experience unlike anything I have had before. And I enjoyed every bit of it. This is a smart, funny, and engaging story. I highly recommend this for upper elementary and middle school readers, but I think this also would work for older teen readers who enjoy quirky and unusual characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½