Tag: friendship

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: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

REVIEW: The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Lucy was 8, she was hit by lightning. It stopped her heart for a couple minutes and activated part of her brain in a new way. Now Lucy is a mathematical genius. She can calculate long, complicated math problems in her head. It’s an awesome gift.

Because of her math gift, Lucy could go to college even though she is only 12. But Lucy’s grandmother is concerned that Lucy has missed some of the “soft skills” that other kids pick up in school and in activities with their peers. So they make a deal. Lucy needs to spend one year in seventh grade – make one friend, try one activity, read one book that isn’t about math. If Lucy does that for a year, she can then go to college or wherever she wants to go with her education.

Middle school is tough for any kid. Add in the fact that Lucy has been homeschooled for four years, she’s a math genius (which she wants to keep secret), and she has several OCD compulsions, and the difficulty level increases quite a bit. But Lucy has a lot to offer her new school if she’ll give it a try. She might even surprise herself along the way.

Review

This was exceptionally good! I adored Lucy and the other characters in this book. From the beginning I loved Lucy’s pre-teen awkwardness and her love of all things math. She has this fantastic confidence when it comes to her gift and when she is in settings where she feels safe. But she’s cautious in places – like school – where she doesn’t want to stand out any more than she already does with her compulsions (she has a sitting ritual as well as cleaning and counting compulsions).

As if Lucy wasn’t awesome enough on her own, she also finds a group. Through a school project Lucy finds true friendships as well as a place to put her math gift to use in the real world. It’s such a cool part of the story.

I thought this was realistic, too. Crummy things happen at school. People don’t understand Lucy’s compulsions (in part because she doesn’t open up about it, like with the English teacher). A few kids are unkind. Lucy struggles to find her voice and figure out where she wants to use it. Her problems don’t magically resolve at the end of the story. But great things happen for and through Lucy. And it was a treat to read her story. This will be a favorite for 2018. I highly recommend this for older elementary and middle school readers. Fans of Counting by 7s and Finding Perfect might enjoy this as well as readers who love fantastic, rich characters in their stories.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this outstanding book! All opinions are my own.

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: Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone

REVIEW: Click’d by Tamara Ireland Stone

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Allie gave up a summer of soccer with her best friends to follow her passion. She spent her summer at coding camp. And while she was there, she developed a game – an app. Click’d takes a user through a multiple choice quiz and then matches him or her to other users who answered similarly. Then users are sent  on a scavenger hunt to find their matches. It’s a great way to meet people and make new friends. And Click’d gets Allie a coveted spot in a coding competition.

When Allie shares Click’d with her friends, it’s a HUGE hit! And the popularity only builds in the week leading up to the competition. But that many users exposes a glitch in the app. Allie tries to find the bad code. She doesn’t want to shut down the app before the contest. She has a real chance to beat her nemesis with Click’d. But only if she can find and fix her glitch.

Review

I know almost nothing about coding. But I didn’t have to know anything to completely love this whole book!

The characters in this book are delightful. Allie is smart, dedicated and earnest. She loves coding. And her friends accept and celebrate her passion. Her “nemesis,” Nathan, is a kindred spirit, but Allie doesn’t see that because of her competitive nature. There’s a great dynamic between the different characters.

The games/apps are fun! I can totally see how kids would go crazy for a social app like Click’d. And I’d play Nathan’s game in an instant. It’s very cool. The fact that these are 7th graders in advanced coding classes and building their own apps is inspiring.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough to kids, teachers, parents and librarians. This book would work for coders as well as kids who have no interest in creating their own tech. This is a great story on its own and a great tech story, too.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

REVIEW: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Vivian is a junior at a small high school in Texas. The football team is the pride and joy of the town, whether they are winning or losing. The whole town shuts down for games so absolutely anyone and everyone can go.

The team is the pride of the school as well. Money is funneled to the football program while other areas – girls soccer, textbooks, the science lab – are making due with decades-old material and supplies. And the football players themselves are untouchable.

Vivian has watched these things play out for years. The boys on the football team make derogatory comments to girls or make sexual references, and they never get called out by a teacher. In fact, the principal’s son is one of the worst offenders – but his daddy protects him at every turn.

Vivian is starting to take notice of her mom’s old feminist zines and music. And she’s tired of watching the injustices around her. She doesn’t want to just duck her head and endure the harassment anymore. If she could dare to show a little “moxie” at school, would anyone else step up and push back, too?

Review

This was exceptionally good. And also completely infuriating. The injustices going on in the story made my blood boil. And Viv’s reaction was realistic. She wanted to speak up, to fight back. But she also wanted to spare herself and her family any trouble. She felt helpless to stop a culture of misogyny that had been around for ages. The system was set up against the girls. What power does one 16-year-old girl have in such a situation?

Part of the power of the story was the message of what can be accomplished when enough people decide to be brave. Viv took the first (anonymous) step. But Moxie wasn’t just her thing. It became a counter-culture, little by little. It let students feel like they weren’t alone.

One of my favorite parts of the book was Viv’s clueless, well-intentioned  boyfriend. He’s a great guy who sees and recognizes the big issues, but some of the more subtle pieces he misses. He’s been indoctrinated in some ways – we all have. And that is explored in the novel, too.

This is an important and timely story for teens – and adults – regardless of gender. These issues need to be seen and discussed so we can make things better for those who come behind us. I highly recommend this novel. It’s one my whole family will be reading and discussing this summer.

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: Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

REVIEW: Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When it’s time for Cassie to apply for college, the only place she wants to go is Warren University. So that’s the only place she applies.  They promise tons of financial aid for everyone. Unfortunately for Cassie, the school’s definition of “financial need” and her real life do not line up. So if she’s going to attend her dream school, she’s going to need a miracle.

Enter The Stevenson Scholarship. With the right project, Cassie can win the money she needs to go to Warren. And in a sea of IT proposals, a gender studies project could really grab the committee’s attention.

Warren University was in the news recently when they placed the Delta Tau Chi fraternity on probation for “creating a hostile environment for women.” So Cassie’s project is to rush the fraternity and write a first-hand account of the experience as a woman. Sure enough, Cassie wins the scholarship.

Armed with a Project Coordinator from the scholarship board, a faculty adviser Cassie has idolized for years, and more than a few pre-conceived ideas about Greek life at a university, Cassie is ready to take on the men of DTC and make history that will help her fund college for the next four years.

Review

I almost gave up on this book a few times early on. I found Cassie to be abrasive and crass at times and entrenched in her own ideas of men and women and feminism and fraternities. For a student hoping to be a social researcher, her biases were startling.

But as the story evolved, and Cassie was challenged in some of her assumptions, I started to like her a little more. But to be honest, I liked several of the frat guys even more in the end. As Cassie got to know some of these young men, it changed how she thought about her project, which was great. (She still could use some growth in how she looked at the women around her, though.)

No matter what enlightenment Cassie or the “brothers” might achieve through the story, it was still working toward the inevitable moment when her research would be published and her secret agenda would be exposed. It was painful to wait for that unavoidable calamity (but in a good way). In the end, I was glad I stuck with the story all the way through.

In some ways, this is an abrasive and crass story – it’s not just Cassie. This hits all the stereotypes about fraternities. There’s a ridiculous amount of drinking considering most of the characters are college freshmen. There’s drugs and foul language and a lot of conversation about sexual double standards and sexual conduct. But there are also these fantastic character moments. And challenging conversations about what feminism is and what equality should look like for many minority groups. These sections made me think, which I liked.

If the feminism angle appeals to you, and you are comfortable with the details mentioned above, I recommend this as a thought-provoking story about equality and feminism and the relationships between men and women – and what all of those things might look like on a college campus.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions about this book 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

REVIEW: Looking for Dei by David A. Willson

REVIEW: Looking for Dei by David A. Willson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When Nara was a toddler – only two years old – she lived in an orphanage. Children like her were usually killed, but instead she was cast off. Forgotten.

But Nara’s arrival in the world was special. Prophesied. And Bylo had spent years trying to find a child like her. When he found her, he carted her away. The orphanage hardly noticed.

Raised by Bylo, Nara grew into a sweet young woman. At 15, she loved nature and animals. She spent most of her free time with her best friend Mykel. And she hid her magic.

Usually magic was only discovered at the Announcement. Teens would participate in a ceremony that would reveal the magic. No magic had been found in Dimmitt in years. And Nara’s magic was so unusual, she and Bylo weren’t sure what would happen to her at the ceremony.

But it’s Mykel’s turn in the ceremony that sets events in motion. Soon the three are on the run, desperate to stay alive and stay hidden. They don’t realize that someone else has been searching for Nara for years – and they know exactly where she is. And what she is.

Review

I received a request from the author to consider reviewing his new book. As I enjoy reading fantasy and the story sounded interesting, I said I would give it a try. I am so glad I did. This is an excellent fantasy world. The set up is well done. I was completely engrossed.

Nara and Mykel and Bylo are great characters. I cared about what happened to them. I especially liked Nara in contrast to Kayna. Nara was loved – Bylo raised her as if she was his own. And it made a huge impact on her character development. She truly loves and cares for others.

I loved the story line. The magic of this world is really interesting. I have some theories about how things work, but I’ll have to wait for book 2 to see if I am right. Elements of the magic system – and the story – reminded me of other great fantasy series which made this feel comfortable and familiar while still being original. There’s a faith/religious thread to the story – prophecy, prayer, faith, etc. – that was interesting. I am curious to see how that piece might develop in the next book, too.

Thanks to Netgalley and David A. Willson for an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½