Book Review: Fox and Raccoon and Top Ten Re-Reads

Hey everyone, today we have a double feature. A book review and a Top Ten Tuesday post. Enjoy

Title: Fox and Raccoon

Release Date: June 19, 2018

Source: NetGalley

Summary: The first in a new picture book series featuring sweet felted creatures and a little village you won't soon forget!

Welcome to Juniper Hollow! Meet Fox and Raccoon. They are best friends. They live next door to each other, and they spend every day together. Except for today! Fox is so busy she doesn't have time to play. But never fear--Raccoon is here to help! He mails letters, goes to the fruit stand, picks up some yarn and even buys some sugar. But Fox is STILL busy. Will she ever have time to stop and play with him? As it turns out, she has a surprise up her sleeve...

Lesley-Anne Green's endearing felted animals and adorable detailed sets create a world that readers will want to come back to again and again.
Review

This series was such a sweet quick read. Every word jumped off the page and made you feel part of the story. You could sense the deep love and friendship between Fox and Raccoon. Not only that, the other animals around the community are helpful and kind. If you ever wanted to read a family friendly book with a message of friendship and positivity to a child, this is it. Also a great read for children wanting a book not too long to read for themselves. There's a lot in a tiny package. The artwork is also beautiful. Sadly I hardly saw any of it because the PDF copy I got from Netgalley was of poor quality and somewhat jumbled with hardly any of the pictures actually in it. But I still highly recommend this book because it is a wonderful read for any child.

Rating: 4 Stars

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. 

I am not a huge rereader these days. But I know the books I would grab in an instant.

1. Sweet Valley Series by Francine Pascal: These books were my childhood! I got to follow Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield from childhood all the way to University. Want to do it all over again.

2. R.L. Stine books: Goosebumps, Fear Street...everything. I recently started buying his Slappy puppet series and I'm a kid again. He might write mostly for kids but his books are ageless to me.

3. V.C. Andrews series: The ghostwriter has recently taken the series down a poor quality path. But there are still lots of books from the grander days I have yet to read. The original author might have died after writing only a few of the books herself. But her gothic legend lives on.

4. Harry Potter Series: These books helped define my teens by turning me into a fantasy buff. Before that, I was very contemporary.

5. The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine: C.J. wrote the start of an amazing series. Go read it!

6. School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani: Because it's amazing and compelling.

7. Enid Blyton book series: These short story collections are just so beloved.

8. Poetry: Various kinds by different poets

9 & 10. Other books I just can't recall right now. Peace.


Thank you for stopping by. Fancy getting Fox and Raccoon for a child you know? Do you reread?

Book Review: Ivy in Bloom

Poetry is one of my great loves and today I will be reviewing just that. So glad to be reviewing books on my blog again. So on with the first book review of 2018!

Title: Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring from Great Poets and Writers of the Past

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Source: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

Summary from Goodreads: Ivy in Bloom captures the weariness of a young girl tired of a long winter. "I stare out the window," she says on the first spread of brown and gray, "looking for birds or flowers / or even warm showers / but I don't see any such thing." But then Spring comes when "March is out of breath snow melting to flowery waters and watery flowers spring rose from its wintry rest." And Ivy's "heart dances with daffodils." As these words also dance across each spread, Ivy's world erupts into a riot of color. 

Ivy in Bloom introduces the poetry of Dickinson, Longfellow, Browning, Wordsworth, Frost and others. Excerpts from their writings, as seen through Ivy's eyes, will open up poetry as a way for children to express their own feelings about the changing of seasons. This book includes longer excerpts and brief bios of each author. 
Review

Personally, I enjoyed every page of this short poetry book and reread it more than once. Vanita has written a book combining her own poetry with the greats like Dickinson, Wordsworth, Frost and more. Following this little girl through the changing seasons is a great way for kids to be introduced to poetry. It uses regular things any child can experience and expands upon it with words written lyrically to enhance the senses. As an adult, I enjoyed it immensely as it reminded me of why I love poetry so much. So while made for children it has crossover capabilities with adult poetry lovers.

The illustrations by Kristin Blackwood also help draw children and adults alike into Ivy's world and the poetry that shows how the seasons change along with her reaction. Masterfully down in various colours showing emotions, seasons and so much more. I got this lovely e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

On a whole, this book is a beautiful quick read with lots of readability potential. At the end of Ivy's tale, you are shown what Vanita wrote along with the excerpts and full versions of poetry from the other poets used in this story. For those being introduced to poetry, this can be an excellent treat learning about different poets in a friendly non-text heavy environment. Reading this to children can help expand their vocabulary and interest in writing. Parents and Librarians alike will find great use for this book to read to children. Children get to enjoy reading poetry in a way they can grow to understand. I highly recommend this book and the art is just as amazing.

Rating: 5 Stars

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Book Review: Dead Man: Dark Mansion and SBB Book Tag: Day Two

So here we are for day two and you can visit here for the blogger hosting. I have a double treat. I'm back with reviews and low and behold today is also a review challenge.

Title: Dead Man: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love by Sarah Vaughn

Publication Date: June 6, 2017

Source: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon

Summary on Goodreads: Romance, mystery, and evil fill the halls of an old gothic mansion in New England. There's only one person in the world that can bring peace to this place: Boston Brand, a.k.a., Deadman! When a ghost cannot rest in the place that holds her, the DCU's authority on all things supernatural must help before all is lost!
In this tale that evokes tension tension of classic romance comics as well as supernatural superhero storytelling, Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love is a new take on the classic DC hero!

Book Review

Superhero and gothic and supernatural romance/mystery mixed together? A nice combination. Deadman himself is not the typical superhero being that he is dead. You heard that right, a dead superhero who can communicate with ghosts, possess the living, among other abilities. He has no idea why he hasn't crossed over but decided to use his time trapped on Earth for good. That little bit of info is helpful because I went into this graphic novel pretty blind. I don't recommend that.

Still, there was an amazing story to read. The start was a bit off for me which included my lack of pre-knowledge. But as I read the graphic novel grew on me and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. The supernatural elements are different from usual superhero arcs and made this rather fresh. No hot, rich or living superhero to ogle at. He's just trying to help others and funny enough gets himself trapped in a haunted mansion for his troubles. But troubles are not over yet as there's a malevolent force inside with him. Meeting a living person who can see him as well as another ghost trapped like himself. Deadman not only works on unraveling the mystery, he has help in his living new 'friend' Bernice who gets to head this graphic novel most of the way. Along the way, there's mystery, romance, dark arts, love, friendship, and heartache. An intriguing read that I really liked. Plus the art was also pretty good, though for reading I had to zoom in because of poor colour choice of font.

Having a female protagonist, Bernice, star who can see ghost and witness her meeting and interaction with Deadman was compelling. Boyfriend Nathan was trying to complete a book in the mansion they were staying in and it turned out to be haunted. Sam her friend was non-binary and went by they/them pronouns. I'm happy to say they was treated like any other character and their sexuality was not pushed on every second. Sam was Bernice's dear friend, sold antiques and lived their own life. Deadman himself was a different superhero than most and brought both positive and negatives to the story. Sadly as someone not very familiar with him the writer's decision to just rush on with the story made me confused. I get that not every graphic novel can re-introduce you to the characters but as an e-galley on Netgalley, it is usually best not to leave those who choose to download your book in confusion. I wouldn't mind getting this graphic novel one day but not very interested in downloading another single issue until I'm well immersed in the character. There's also a ghost and a twist with both the mansion and a surprise villain. But those are things I think you should find out for yourself.

In the end, I would recommend this graphic novel but only if you are interested in supernatural or gothic stories. It's not a regular superhero book so you might want to prepare yourself for something different. I was given an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Stars

Thanks for stopping by and see you tomorrow.

Book Review: Alex and Eliza Excerpt

Title:  Alex and Eliza: A Love Story (Excerpt) by Melissa De La Cruz

Publication Date: April 11, 2017

Source: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon, Book Depository

Summary on Goodreads:

1777. Albany, New York. 

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival that of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball. 

Still, she can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history.

Book Review

Hamilton has blown up in America and other parts of the world. Melissa's take on the love story for Alex and Eliza has been popular among the book community. Reading the excerpt from Netgalley I found it a good read but not exciting. The historical aspect was solid but dragged in parts where I had little personal interest in it. Still, the characters got my attention and women's treatment and thoughts in that time period were nice to read and take in. On a whole, I'd highly recommend the book to Hamilton fans who'd be best familiar with this material. Also, history buffs who are interested in fiction from this time period. For the rest, I'd say read a sample then decide if this book is for you. I got this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Plus this was an excerpt, not the full book.

Rating: 4 Stars

Thanks for stopping by. I'm working on my writing schedule as I recover. Right now I'm going to try for Monday, Wednesday to Friday. But for this week I will not be posting on Thursday. I'll see you on Wednesday for IWSG and my next book review.

Book Review: Lila and the Crow

Today I'm back to reviewing books and excited to share with you a touching story.  I got an e-copy of this book from Netgalley. The picture book below tackles bullying and racism among children. Can one girl overcome this obstacle and show her classmates that she deserves to be treated equally despite looking different?

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Annick Press

Publication date: October 11, 2016

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository



Summary: Lila has just moved to a new town and can't wait to make friends at school. But on the first day, a boy points at her and shouts: “A crow! A crow! The new girl's hair is black like a crow!” The others whisper and laugh, and Lila's heart grows as heavy as a stone.

The next day, Lila covers her hair. But this time, the boy points at her dark skin. When she covers her face, he mocks her dark eyes. Now every day at school, Lila hides under her turtleneck, dark glasses, and hat. And every day when she goes home, she sees a crow who seems to want to tell her something. Lila ignores the bird and even throws rocks at it, but it won't go away.

Meanwhile, the great autumn festival is approaching. While the other kids prepare their costumes, Lila is sadder and lonelier than ever. At her lowest point of despair, a magical encounter with the crow opens Lila's eyes to the beauty of being different, and gives her the courage to proudly embrace her true self.
Book Review

Lila got put through what no parent wants their kid to go through, racism. Yes it was shown and more like schoolyard bullying in the book. But when you are teased about your hair, then your skin and even your eyes being dark....that's racism. The author clearly wanted to write a book that touched on bullying in multiple respects and I agree with that wholeheartedly. This book had writing and illustrations that allow readers to slip into Lila's skin for a while and feel the pain of being a new girl who just wanted a friend but instead received prejudice and mockery. Her road from hiding who she was to accepting and showing her classmates the beauty in being different was very touching. I enjoyed reading this book and felt it was a great addition to the much needed books representing POC characters.

However there was criticism I must put forward. While I agree that this book showed the negatives prejudice. Not calling out the racism and accepting being called a crow can be misconstrued as having a little girl accept racism from her classmates and not really confronting the issue. While I don't believe that was the author's intent, a stronger stance could have prevented this. Also calling the crow that comforted Lila 'magical' can bring about annoyance with people of color getting stereotyped of being involved in witchcraft. Would a white girl's involvement with an animal be called 'magical' or instead 'touching'? Hopefully writers will look at these things more closely.

Still at the end of the day this story is a wonderful lesson on the human spirit and that love, not prejudice is what we should be aiming for. Highly recommend. Plus it is still available at Netgalley with no set archive date. Feel free to download or better yet go and buy a copy of your own.

Rating: 4 Stars

What do you think of this book? Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Book Review Thursday: Rape Girl

Rape Girl by Alina Klein
Genre: Contemporary
Publishing Date: August 15, 2012
First heard of: Goodreads and Netgalley
Purchase: N/A
Source: Netgalley (e-book)

Summary on Goodreads: Valerie always wanted to be the smart girl. The pretty girl. The popular girl.

But not the rape girl.

That’s who she is now. Rape Girl. Because everyone seems to think they know the truth about what happened with Adam that day, and they don’t think Valerie’s telling it.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

The real truth is, nothing will ever be the same.

Rape Girl is the compelling story of a survivor who does the right thing and suffers for it. It is also the story of a young woman’s struggle to find the strength to fight back


Review

Valeria at the start of this novel is a typical teenager who has a party when no parents are around. But things take a drastic turn when it ends not in the popularity and fun increase she wanted but instead filing a rape charge against popular high school boy Adam. She goes from average to zero fast and the struggle to stay afloat as people turn on you and your family starts falling apart is a big part of what makes this story so great, sad and real.

Before, she had a best friend, a crush, and a close-knit family. After, she has a court case, a support group, and a house full of strangers.

This one line sums up a lot of what happens in the book yet doesn't cover half of it. This isn't to be cryptic. This novel has several twists and turns as Valerie struggles to come to terms with what happened. As vicious rumours swirl around her a saviour comes in the form of a girl with a pick up truck and a chance to be a part of school life despite being 'rape girl' instead of Valerie. The consequences of alcohol and late partying without supervision are covered in a way that isn't preachy or self serving. This novel is both a touching story and strong warning against rushing into adult things too early and also about forgiveness and doing the right thing despite the social consequences.

I am so happy I chose this book and thank the publisher for accepting my request to read it. I plan to purchase the actual book when it comes out. Yes even after I've already read it. It's that beautiful and I believe there's not enough support out there sometimes for books dealing with real issues. Especially those faced by teens and young women.

Rating: 5 Stars and a handshake to the author

Author: Alina Klein


Next week's book: Sumo by Thien Pham