Review: In the Shadow of Blackbirds

In the Shadow of Blackbirds
By Cat Winters
Published 2013 by Amulet

The nation is in the grip of a Spanish influenza pandemic and Mary Shelley Black is suffering. Not from the flu, exactly, but she's been sent to live with her aunt, leaving her to fret over her father's well-being (he's been imprisoned) and her sweetheart's safety (he's off fighting in the Great War). Amid all the bleakness, Mary sees people desperate for hope, taking their changes with the burgeoning business of spirit photography. When Mary reluctantly poses for one of these photos herself, she begins to question whether it's really a hoax - or if she truly felt the touch of a spirit.

When I first heard about this book, I knew it sounded like a book for me. I love historical fiction, and I have a particular fascination with the period surrounding World War I. Additionally, I love creepy things and the focus on spirit photography was a little bonus for me. I was pleased when this title was announced for the Morris Award shortlist and I happily read it as soon as I could get my hands on a copy.

On the one hand, I thought Winters did a great job creating the atmosphere of this book - it feels just awful, much as I expect America in 1918 would have felt. Everyone is full of paranoia and worry and sadness and death is everyone - overseas in the war and on the home front with the flu. I think Winters nails the time period perfectly. Disturbing as it was, I really liked the times when Mary visited the recovering soldiers - it captured the desperation and tragedy of the times so perfectly. All of the details Winters included helped set the tone as well - the home remedies, the notion of spirit photography. I thought the second half of the book was strong as well, as the mystery deepens and begins to tie together all the pieces.

But that's the book's main failing for me. The first half is a bit scattered - a lot of setting the scene (which is necessary, yes, and well-done, but feels a bit haphazard) and buildup to the second half and the revelations it entails. If the whole book was as good as the second half, I'd have liked it a lot better. As it stands, it was a bit hard for me to really get pulled into Mary's story through the first part of the book. I'll be interested to see what Winters does next.

Program: Grow Your Own Hedgehog

You've probably seen it by now, the series of pictures of a green striped hedgehog with grass growing out of his back for spikes. I spotted it on Pinterest and knew I wanted to make it into a program. I had a lot of success last year with a terrarium program on Earth Day, so I planned on making this hedgehog program an Earth Day event.

The problem with that adorable and enticing picture is that no instructions are given. Granted, the photos look pretty straightforward, but I still had to go through a slight trial and error period to figure it out exactly. The secret is in the grass seed!

The program was pretty simple - kids brought their own sock (or socks, or I had a limited number of extras) and I provided everything else. Really, the everything else wasn't much, simply potting soil and grass seed. But, after my first attempt didn't sprout, I discovered that the kind of grass seed used is important. I think I started with Bermuda grass - no luck. Then my supervisor suggest rye grass and huzzah! We were in business! The rest is a piece of cake: scoop potting soil into the sock, make it hedgehog-shaped, then very carefully sprinkle grass seed between the sock and the top of the potting soil, pressing the seed in slightly. Then, it's just a matter of keeping your hedgehog watered and soon he'll have lovely grass spikes. We, of course, made faces for our hedgehogs as well, using buttons and googly eyes. This was another very simple and very successful program! I aimed it at tweens, but with assistance, younger children would certainly enjoy this as well.

Picture Book Saturday

The Short Giraffe
By Neil Flory and Mark Cleary
Published 2013 by Allen & Unwin
Perhaps what I love about this book is simply the giraffe's silly smile - it makes him that much more endearing. This is a simple story of a giraffe who wants to be in the picture with his significantly taller friends. He tries many different things to make himself tall enough to appear in the shot, but nothing seems to be quite right. It takes an even smaller friend to suggest a solution that actually works for everyone. This is a nice introduction to cooperation and problem-solving for kids. The illustrations are amusing and goofy but definitely appealing. A sweet story.

A Gift for Mama
By Linda Ravin Lodding, illustrated by Allison Jay
Published 2014 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Oskar sets out to find the perfect gift for his mama. Throughout his day, he trades each new perfect gift for something even more perfect. What gift will he finally end up giving to his mama? This is a pretty simply but cute story. I love Jay's illustrations - I love the way they look fresh and worn at the same time. I think they suit this story particularly well. Not my favorite, but a cute enough tale.



The Mermaid and the Shoe
By K.G. Campbell
Published 2014 by Kids Can Press
I admit I was a bit hesitant about this book - I know many people love Campbell's style but the ethereal feel and colors are just not my particular cup of tea. However, this is a lovely story of an inquisitive young mermaid who discovers a shoe and begins a quest to discern the purpose of the shoe. It's really quite a charming story and, admittedly, the illustration style works really well for this underwater tale. This book definitely won me over and is sure to charm readers for some time to come.

Review: Space Case

Space Case
By Stuart Gibbs
Published 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Dash knows he's supposed to feel lucky - after all, he's one of only a handful of kids currently living on the moon. But the truth is, the moon is kind of boring. Dash is about to get a cure for his boredom when one of the scientists turns up dead - and Dash thinks he was murdered. Can he solve the mystery and make sure the murderer gets evicted from the moon?

I downloaded this e-galley because I'm still trying to read more middle-grade and because Gibbs is a pretty popular author at my library. I'd never read a book by him before, so I was curious to see what the fuss was about. I figured his newest was as good a place to start as any.

I can certainly see why kids would find this appealing. Gibbs definitely has a talent for capturing an authentic tween voice - Dash definitely felt like a realistic character, as did his friends. It's interesting when you think about it - this book is actually mostly populated by adult characters (scientists researching and living on the moon) but it's quite clearly a book for kids. I mean, it is narrated by one of the few kids present, but everything about this book feels just right for middle-grade readers. The tone is perfect for this age group - a great blend of suspense and humor. I get the feeling that this is true of Gibbs' other books as well, so it's not hard to see why he's a popular author.

The mystery itself was well-done - it kept me guessing for the majority of the book. Gibbs manages to introduce enough suspects to make you question which one actually did it without making it feel like too many red herrings. I thought the why behind the mystery was particularly well-done and definitely could invite some interesting discussion.

My main quibble with the book was the little twist at the end. In the context of the story, I can see how it works, but I personally didn't care for it. Overall, though, I think this is going to be another hit from Gibbs. I look forward to checking out his other titles in the future.

Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.

Review: The Dumbest Idea Ever!

The Dumbest Idea Ever!
By Jimmy Gownley
Published 2014 by GRAPHIX

What if your dumbest idea actually ended up changing your life forever? When a series of events keeps Jimmy out of school for an extended time, he has an idea. But it's basically the dumbest idea ever, so he shouldn't do it. Right? Or should he?

I received an ARC of this at ALA Midwinter and wanted to give it a go - I love graphic novels and I don't fit enough of them into my reading. And, bonus for me, this is actually a graphic memoir - something I definitely enjoy.

I went into this pretty much blind. I think I vaguely recognized Gownley's name, but I'd never actually read anything by him. I think, even without prior knowledge, it's pretty easy to figure out what Jimmy thought the "dumbest idea ever" was when he was a kid, but it's fun to read about all the same. This is a great book for kids who love graphic novels - they can read about how Jimmy was basically an average kid who liked comics - and he turned that love of comics into something more. They can learn that with practice and determination, anything is within their reach. It's a lovely message without being too preachy - something that kids are apt to sniff out right away. It's told well - I was engaged the whole way through - and, though Jimmy ages into high school during the course of the book, there's nothing objectionable for younger readers. The art is lovely as well and I think this is a great readalike for your readers who've read every Telgemeier twenty times.

Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.

October Check-In

It's time again for my monthly round-up! Here's what I read this month:

Middle-grade: 6

Teen: 5

Adult: 4

Picture books: 0

Library books: 6

Books owned: 9

For some reason, this was a pretty slow month for me. My parents have been visiting for the last week, so that accounts for a bit of it, but not all. I know I have not had as much free time for reading on my days off because I am furiously trying to plan a wedding (seriously impacting my reading time!). But every day that goes by without my physical TBR piles shrinking is disheartening. Here's hoping I can make some major progress before year's end, though I imagine that wedding planning will continue to impact my reading time. Wish me luck - in both endeavors!

Picture Book Saturday

Weasels
By Elys Dolan
Published 2014 by Candlewick Press
This book is hilarious - weasels plotting world dominance. For me, the illustrations are what makes the book - they are full of details, perfect for exploring with a little one. They include many clever jokes and tell an even bigger story than the text alone. This one is definitely a lot of fun and I think it has lots of kid appeal. Definitely recommended!



Going Places
By Peter and Paul Reynolds
Published 2014 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
I cannot resist a Peter Reynolds book - it is a fact. But there is good reason for my lack of resistance - they are usually fantastic. This book is no exception. What I love about his books are that they have a message but they don't feel didactic - the message flows naturally from the story being told. And the stories are always interesting, ones that are relevant to the lives of children. This book shows that we all have worthwhile ideas and contributions and perhaps it can be a good thing to color outside the lines. The illustrations are lovely, as always. A definite treat.

Slinky Malinki Catflaps
By Lynley Dodd
Published 2000 by Puffin Books
This book tells the story of a cat who slips through the catflap and into the nightlife. I'd have to try this out with a child before giving a proper rating or review, but I didn't really care for it with my initial read. I think it was supposed to be amusing with a catchy rhythm but it just didn't work that way for me. Also, do cats really act like this at night or is it just a myth that's been perpetuated over the years? Might work better for children than for me.