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mxhermit's reviews
949 reviews
Lila and the Crow by Gabrielle Grimard
4.0
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is, on the surface, a rather nice one about learning to accept the things about yourself that make you different regardless of what anyone else says. It's when I began to think about it a little further that I got a bit sad for Lila.
Lila is a new student at school. She's fairly young, but not so young that she doesn't run into bullies. One in particular makes her so ashamed of the way that she looks that she comes to school each day hiding another facet of herself: her hair, her eyes, her skin. To be taken down that harshly so quickly is sad.
She does eventually learn to love herself in spite of this bully's cruel words with the help of a crow that lives nearby and refuses to leave her alone, even when she's at her lowest.
What made me sad thinking back on this story was that while yes, it is a good story about learning to love yourself, no human helps Lila. No teacher or adult notices what she goes through. The bully probably won't change in the end, though at the school's festival he doesn't say anything about her fantastic crow costume. It's a reflective story of what often happens to children that get bullied. A lot of adults don't notice and while some, like Lila, might be able to find their way, a lot won't. It's important to keep an eye out and notice things. You just don't know what will happen if you don't.
This book is, on the surface, a rather nice one about learning to accept the things about yourself that make you different regardless of what anyone else says. It's when I began to think about it a little further that I got a bit sad for Lila.
Lila is a new student at school. She's fairly young, but not so young that she doesn't run into bullies. One in particular makes her so ashamed of the way that she looks that she comes to school each day hiding another facet of herself: her hair, her eyes, her skin. To be taken down that harshly so quickly is sad.
She does eventually learn to love herself in spite of this bully's cruel words with the help of a crow that lives nearby and refuses to leave her alone, even when she's at her lowest.
What made me sad thinking back on this story was that while yes, it is a good story about learning to love yourself, no human helps Lila. No teacher or adult notices what she goes through. The bully probably won't change in the end, though at the school's festival he doesn't say anything about her fantastic crow costume. It's a reflective story of what often happens to children that get bullied. A lot of adults don't notice and while some, like Lila, might be able to find their way, a lot won't. It's important to keep an eye out and notice things. You just don't know what will happen if you don't.
The Wishing World by Todd Fahnestock
2.0
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this novel attracted me because the wish fulfillment aspect has always been appealing. Even with the vast amount of power that you would think comes along with that gift, it's never as simple as it appears to be. When Lorelei has to use her newfound abilities to save her kidnapped family from the Ink King, a mysterious creature that has the same powers she does, it sounds like I as the reader am in for a good adventure.
I found this not to be the case, though, at least not entirely. The beginning of the book starts off rather rapidly. A lot of the establishing action has happened already: Lorelei losing her parents and brother, refusing to accept that they're dead like everyone else in her life does, etc. She is thrust into the Wishing World by accident, but still very quickly. I didn't really have time to get to know her as a character.
What bothered me about her in particular in the beginning was that I couldn't get a grasp on her age and thus couldn't accurately picture her in my head or in this narrative. As a middle grade novel heroine, I'd expect her to be around twelve or so, but there were ways that she spoke and acted that made it seem like she could be anywhere between twelve and sixteen. Then, just when I thought that perhaps she was older, she'd go back and do something else that was quite childish. It made it a roller coaster ride of trying to figure out Lorelei the character.
As for the story line itself, I tried very hard to get into it because, as stated above, the idea of a story about wish fulfillment and it not being as easy as one would think is very appealing. Even when Aladdin got the genie (phenomenal cosmic powers and all that), he still had a lot of problems, some of which stemmed from not knowing how to handle said power. The plot and pacing of The Wishing World, though, felt a bit all over the place. One minute there'd be so much action I didn't know where to look; the next minute it would drag and I would find myself metaphorically checking my watch and wondering how much longer the book would take to read. It wasn't a well planned rise and fall of action to my mind, like an enjoyable story ought to be, so the fun was taken out of this book for me.
I can't say I'd really recommend this book strongly, but I wouldn't warn people away from it actively either. There may well be some readers that enjoy the chaos more than I would have and to them I wish the best of reading time.
The premise of this novel attracted me because the wish fulfillment aspect has always been appealing. Even with the vast amount of power that you would think comes along with that gift, it's never as simple as it appears to be. When Lorelei has to use her newfound abilities to save her kidnapped family from the Ink King, a mysterious creature that has the same powers she does, it sounds like I as the reader am in for a good adventure.
I found this not to be the case, though, at least not entirely. The beginning of the book starts off rather rapidly. A lot of the establishing action has happened already: Lorelei losing her parents and brother, refusing to accept that they're dead like everyone else in her life does, etc. She is thrust into the Wishing World by accident, but still very quickly. I didn't really have time to get to know her as a character.
What bothered me about her in particular in the beginning was that I couldn't get a grasp on her age and thus couldn't accurately picture her in my head or in this narrative. As a middle grade novel heroine, I'd expect her to be around twelve or so, but there were ways that she spoke and acted that made it seem like she could be anywhere between twelve and sixteen. Then, just when I thought that perhaps she was older, she'd go back and do something else that was quite childish. It made it a roller coaster ride of trying to figure out Lorelei the character.
As for the story line itself, I tried very hard to get into it because, as stated above, the idea of a story about wish fulfillment and it not being as easy as one would think is very appealing. Even when Aladdin got the genie (phenomenal cosmic powers and all that), he still had a lot of problems, some of which stemmed from not knowing how to handle said power. The plot and pacing of The Wishing World, though, felt a bit all over the place. One minute there'd be so much action I didn't know where to look; the next minute it would drag and I would find myself metaphorically checking my watch and wondering how much longer the book would take to read. It wasn't a well planned rise and fall of action to my mind, like an enjoyable story ought to be, so the fun was taken out of this book for me.
I can't say I'd really recommend this book strongly, but I wouldn't warn people away from it actively either. There may well be some readers that enjoy the chaos more than I would have and to them I wish the best of reading time.
A Fall of Stardust by Neil Gaiman
4.0
The poems in this short piece were cool because even though most weren't stated out and out, you could tell which characters from Stardust they were talking about.
The piece that I'm confused about the most is in the beginning about Jenny. It takes place in 1963 and other than a mention of Wall doesn't seem to have much connection to the Stardust story. It feels like a tease and I really wish this were going to be a longer story because Jenny, or her family, sound like they could have been very important.
The piece that I'm confused about the most is in the beginning about Jenny. It takes place in 1963 and other than a mention of Wall doesn't seem to have much connection to the Stardust story. It feels like a tease and I really wish this were going to be a longer story because Jenny, or her family, sound like they could have been very important.
Cat Diary: Yon & Muu by 伊藤潤二, Junji Ito
3.0
The art wasn't my favorite, but I loved how it had all the air of the artist's horror manga background without the horror story. It was a weird juxtaposition that oddly enough worked out.
I also loved how the cats won J-kun over to their side. At first he dislikes cats, but shortly after they enter his life he starts to fall in love and want to get into their good graces. That is feline magic, my friends.
I also loved how the cats won J-kun over to their side. At first he dislikes cats, but shortly after they enter his life he starts to fall in love and want to get into their good graces. That is feline magic, my friends.
What Is It? by Dustin Nguyen, Nicole Hoang
2.0
Rating: 2.5 Stars
The lure of adventure and discovery of a mysterious creature intrigued me to pick up this title. The cover features gorgeous artwork that was also a tempting factor leading to my reading this book.
I tackled this one a little differently than normal. Rather than read it by myself, I read it aloud to my 6 year old son this time to see what he thought of it. This is the first picture book for the publisher's imprint KABOOM!, so who better to share it with than their target audience?
The premise for this book was better than the follow through. According to the description, this story was written by Nicole Hoang when she was ten and it doesn't feel as though much was done to the story, editing wise, between then and now. The experience was poorer for that because there were awkward pauses in the story, forced rhyme schemes, and an ending that dropped off. It was so abrupt that I thought that perhaps my digital edition was missing a page.
My son liked the art as much as I did. The colors were very vivid and the style is absolutely perfect for storybooks. However, he got bored about halfway through the book and wanted to skip several pages. The pacing didn't work for him in much the same way it didn't for me.
I think the thought behind this book was a lovely idea: a wedding present illustrated by the husband based on a story by his wife. However, I believe for it to be truly successful, it ought to have been edited before being offered to a larger audience via traditional publishing methods. A more cohesive story would have made the book a more happy experience not only for me as a reader, but for me as a mother sharing it with my son.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The lure of adventure and discovery of a mysterious creature intrigued me to pick up this title. The cover features gorgeous artwork that was also a tempting factor leading to my reading this book.
I tackled this one a little differently than normal. Rather than read it by myself, I read it aloud to my 6 year old son this time to see what he thought of it. This is the first picture book for the publisher's imprint KABOOM!, so who better to share it with than their target audience?
The premise for this book was better than the follow through. According to the description, this story was written by Nicole Hoang when she was ten and it doesn't feel as though much was done to the story, editing wise, between then and now. The experience was poorer for that because there were awkward pauses in the story, forced rhyme schemes, and an ending that dropped off. It was so abrupt that I thought that perhaps my digital edition was missing a page.
My son liked the art as much as I did. The colors were very vivid and the style is absolutely perfect for storybooks. However, he got bored about halfway through the book and wanted to skip several pages. The pacing didn't work for him in much the same way it didn't for me.
I think the thought behind this book was a lovely idea: a wedding present illustrated by the husband based on a story by his wife. However, I believe for it to be truly successful, it ought to have been edited before being offered to a larger audience via traditional publishing methods. A more cohesive story would have made the book a more happy experience not only for me as a reader, but for me as a mother sharing it with my son.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Sound of the World By Heart by Giacomo Bevilacqua
2.0
The lure of a social experiment in isolation, particularly in a city as bustling with life as New York City, made this book sound thought provoking and interesting. The art on the cover spoke to a certain level of depth as it was neither too cartoon-ish nor hyper realistic, finding just the right balance to tell the story.
It was here, however, that the positive aspects of the story began to wane and I fell out of love with The Sound of the World by Heart.
The story itself suffered from trying to be, what I feel, something too philosophical. It reached too far and by doing so lost any connection with the reader that would have made the journey of the main character meaningful. I didn't get a sense of what this experiment was actually doing for or to him, so it's purpose was ultimately meaningless.
There were points in the storytelling that didn't make much sense either, such as the mindreading that the main character initially thought was a painting speaking to him (which is a whole other oddity). This loose thread and others like it had me staring at the book at the end wondering, really, what had I just read?
A somewhat redeeming factor of the book was the art style. It really was very good and I hung on through the book because of it. I'd like to see the author do another graphic novel because of this kind of quality artwork, but maybe paired up with a storyteller who has a history of a more cohesive storytelling style.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was here, however, that the positive aspects of the story began to wane and I fell out of love with The Sound of the World by Heart.
The story itself suffered from trying to be, what I feel, something too philosophical. It reached too far and by doing so lost any connection with the reader that would have made the journey of the main character meaningful. I didn't get a sense of what this experiment was actually doing for or to him, so it's purpose was ultimately meaningless.
There were points in the storytelling that didn't make much sense either, such as the mindreading that the main character initially thought was a painting speaking to him (which is a whole other oddity). This loose thread and others like it had me staring at the book at the end wondering, really, what had I just read?
A somewhat redeeming factor of the book was the art style. It really was very good and I hung on through the book because of it. I'd like to see the author do another graphic novel because of this kind of quality artwork, but maybe paired up with a storyteller who has a history of a more cohesive storytelling style.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish by David Henry Wilson, Marcus Pfister
4.0
The latest addition to the bestselling Rainbow Fish series, You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish teaches a good lesson with the right balance of fun, bright artwork and seriousness.
Rainbow Fish is playing a game of hide and seek with some friends, some of which are different than he is (one is bright red, one quite a bit smaller), and while they're playing he learns that, sometimes, you can't win every game. Some days are better than others and, while you might be the best hide and seeker there is, even the best have off days.
This was an easy introduction to a lesson that is important for children to learn. It's all to easy for them, in these days of instant gratification and idolization, to become quite spoiled and self indulgent. Learning that things don't always go their way, but that you can have fun despite that is a valuable lesson and skill that will serve them well.
This is the first Rainbow Fish title I've read, so I can't compare it to its predecessors in terms of quality. I will say that I did like the watercolor style of the images. I think that, were this a physical book rather than an eARC, I might have gotten a bit more of Rainbow Fish's shimmer. There are tones in the fish's scales that looks silvery that I think would benefit from being printed.
This gets a definite recommendation from me. I will be looking into more books from the Rainbow Fish series to see if they have the same quality of message and art.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rainbow Fish is playing a game of hide and seek with some friends, some of which are different than he is (one is bright red, one quite a bit smaller), and while they're playing he learns that, sometimes, you can't win every game. Some days are better than others and, while you might be the best hide and seeker there is, even the best have off days.
This was an easy introduction to a lesson that is important for children to learn. It's all to easy for them, in these days of instant gratification and idolization, to become quite spoiled and self indulgent. Learning that things don't always go their way, but that you can have fun despite that is a valuable lesson and skill that will serve them well.
This is the first Rainbow Fish title I've read, so I can't compare it to its predecessors in terms of quality. I will say that I did like the watercolor style of the images. I think that, were this a physical book rather than an eARC, I might have gotten a bit more of Rainbow Fish's shimmer. There are tones in the fish's scales that looks silvery that I think would benefit from being printed.
This gets a definite recommendation from me. I will be looking into more books from the Rainbow Fish series to see if they have the same quality of message and art.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser
3.0
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser was one of those rare books that was a wild ride that culminated in my not being quite sure what I read while still being relatively pleased at the end.
The story of Jessie and Dawn is told in alternating points of view, each of which has its own advantages. Jessie is a ballerina working toward a career as a classic dancer whose story was very fluid, much like her style of dance. I noticed that certain elements of her story, particularly classically trained ballerina goes to ultra good school, does well but not well enough, gets thrust into an avant-garde performance, and ultimately doesn't get the role in the company she wanted, were remarkably similar to the plot of the movie Center Stage. It felt odd at times reading those chapters because it felt like I knew where everything was going as it was happening, so while I appreciated the style in which it was written, I would have liked a bit more originality in regards to Jessie's character and her plot development.
Dawn was a thought provoking character because I never quite knew where I stood with her. At the beginning of the story, it is introduced that something is wrong with her, but what? Her mother has dragged her to dozens of doctors and continues to do do throughout the length of the novel, each one more patronizing than the last. Her thought process was jarring compared to Jessie's, much rougher around the edges, and I enjoyed it at least as much, though in a different manner.
The, and I hesitate to use this phrase, "love story" portion of the book was difficult and sad. There were tragic elements resulting from parents thinking they knew what was best for their children, definite instances of homophobia, and Jessie and Dawn's life paths from those points onward. I'm glad that neither Dawn nor Jessie succumbed to self hate, given the behavior of their parents.
Now to the center of my confusion about this book: I'm not sure what it was trying to be. There are a few things that occurred within in that never quite got solved. Several threads ran through the story that felt supernatural, but could have been something else: no definitive explanation. There was a flash of something at the very end of book that seems like it might have answered some questions, but again, no definitive explanation. The connection between the two girls, for example: there were moments when it truly felt like something otherworldly was going on, maybe some kind of psychic connection, but at the end I wasn't sure where they stood in that regard.
Pointe, Claw left a lot up to the reader regarding the ending and that left a slight bitter taste on my literary palette.
The journey of watching Dawn trying to figure out what is going on with her was fascinating, what with the adults around her have next to given up on her and rather than submitting to depression or complete darkness, her struggling through and trying to discover the core of her being. Jessie's fighting for her dream, only to see it alter right before her eyes, becomes something that felt cliche but energetic, giving it something to stand on besides older stories.
An enjoyable book, though again, I wish I had some more definite answers about the ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pointe, Claw by Amber J. Keyser was one of those rare books that was a wild ride that culminated in my not being quite sure what I read while still being relatively pleased at the end.
The story of Jessie and Dawn is told in alternating points of view, each of which has its own advantages. Jessie is a ballerina working toward a career as a classic dancer whose story was very fluid, much like her style of dance. I noticed that certain elements of her story, particularly classically trained ballerina goes to ultra good school, does well but not well enough, gets thrust into an avant-garde performance, and ultimately doesn't get the role in the company she wanted, were remarkably similar to the plot of the movie Center Stage. It felt odd at times reading those chapters because it felt like I knew where everything was going as it was happening, so while I appreciated the style in which it was written, I would have liked a bit more originality in regards to Jessie's character and her plot development.
Dawn was a thought provoking character because I never quite knew where I stood with her. At the beginning of the story, it is introduced that something is wrong with her, but what? Her mother has dragged her to dozens of doctors and continues to do do throughout the length of the novel, each one more patronizing than the last. Her thought process was jarring compared to Jessie's, much rougher around the edges, and I enjoyed it at least as much, though in a different manner.
The, and I hesitate to use this phrase, "love story" portion of the book was difficult and sad. There were tragic elements resulting from parents thinking they knew what was best for their children, definite instances of homophobia, and Jessie and Dawn's life paths from those points onward. I'm glad that neither Dawn nor Jessie succumbed to self hate, given the behavior of their parents.
Now to the center of my confusion about this book: I'm not sure what it was trying to be. There are a few things that occurred within in that never quite got solved. Several threads ran through the story that felt supernatural, but could have been something else: no definitive explanation. There was a flash of something at the very end of book that seems like it might have answered some questions, but again, no definitive explanation. The connection between the two girls, for example: there were moments when it truly felt like something otherworldly was going on, maybe some kind of psychic connection, but at the end I wasn't sure where they stood in that regard.
Pointe, Claw left a lot up to the reader regarding the ending and that left a slight bitter taste on my literary palette.
The journey of watching Dawn trying to figure out what is going on with her was fascinating, what with the adults around her have next to given up on her and rather than submitting to depression or complete darkness, her struggling through and trying to discover the core of her being. Jessie's fighting for her dream, only to see it alter right before her eyes, becomes something that felt cliche but energetic, giving it something to stand on besides older stories.
An enjoyable book, though again, I wish I had some more definite answers about the ending.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.