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books read in May
Jun. 5th, 2017 11:43 pmNot my most prolific month but one of the best books of the year is on this list, no doubt.
The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit in the Wild West by Steve Sheinkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cute collection of comics that place a Rabbi in the middle of the old west where he dispenses helpful advice to the townsfolk. Lots of little jokes.
Sheinkin mentions in the notes that he was inspired to write this because he had two favorite books as a kid - a book of Jewish wit and wisdom and a book about the Wild West so he put them together to create this. It really is a book for all ages when it comes to the lessons that are taught through each little story.
Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just fantastic - a true story of an amazing women who performed magic for 60 years! Gorgeous illustrations and short, to the point text makes this a great book for a read-aloud or for early elementary school students.
Just have your "How to do magic tricks" book ready to go after they read this because it is sure to inspire them!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Read this book.
Get it into the hands of every teen out there.
Put yourself into the shoes of this teen girl.
This book sucked me in and did not let go. This is a world I know so little about yet struggle to understand. I know that Starr doesn't represent every African-American teenage girl in the world, but she represents some of them, and being put into her shoes, living her life, reading her story...
Yes, it is fiction, but Thomas draws from the stories that have been around us for years now, from Ferguson and Baltimore and, sadly, so many other places.
Just read it. And talk about it.
NewsPrints by Ru Xu
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I think this book suffered from over-hype for me. The blurbs on the back from some of my favorite graphic novel writers, the positive reviews, the Scholastic imprint - such high hopes!
And it just flopped for me. It didn't feel like anything new, it took a long time for anything to really happen and by then, I was already over the book.
This might be a hit with younger kids who are scrounging for something while they wait for the next 'Amulet' book or after they have finished off 'Bone' but it's not good enough for me to want to recommend it. :\
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was so much fun to listen to because Anna read it and, yeah.
Though now I'm going to go pick up the book to find the photos she references and maybe jot down a few quotes because she said some funny stuff.
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez by Robin Yardi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars (joins the ranks of people saying "When do we get half stars, GoodReads?)
Cute story, perfect for upper elementary school readers who want something quirky.
Mateo is already annoyed that his parents want him to give his little sister his old tricycle. He's tired of having to watch after her and share with her. To top it off, his ex-friend Johnny has joined a group of bullies who pick on his new friend Ashwin. But he doesn't have time for that right now, because as he sits looking out the window late one night he sees something that makes him question his own sanity - two skunks sneak into his yard and steal the tricycle!
There's a lot going on in this book and I am curious how much of it the target audience picks up on. The story of the animals don't run parallel to Mateo's real world problems, but they do let him reflect on what is happening in his backyard and the schoolyard.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Vol. 1: BFF by Amy Reeder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very cute beginning to a series. Not perfect, but fun. Crazy cliffhanger so now I pretty much have to read book 2!
Saga, Vol. 7 by Brian K. Vaughan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
'Saga' is an amazing series that always pulls me in, no matter how long it has been since I read the last volume. Amazing artwork, a story that twists and turns like a roller coaster. This volume works even better because it is one big story arc.
But, damn. Those last few pages wrecked me. I seriously had to take a moment after closing the book.
Still the best on-going series.
View all my reviews
The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit in the Wild West by Steve SheinkinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Cute collection of comics that place a Rabbi in the middle of the old west where he dispenses helpful advice to the townsfolk. Lots of little jokes.
Sheinkin mentions in the notes that he was inspired to write this because he had two favorite books as a kid - a book of Jewish wit and wisdom and a book about the Wild West so he put them together to create this. It really is a book for all ages when it comes to the lessons that are taught through each little story.
Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic by Mara RockliffMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just fantastic - a true story of an amazing women who performed magic for 60 years! Gorgeous illustrations and short, to the point text makes this a great book for a read-aloud or for early elementary school students.
Just have your "How to do magic tricks" book ready to go after they read this because it is sure to inspire them!
The Hate U Give by Angie ThomasMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Read this book.
Get it into the hands of every teen out there.
Put yourself into the shoes of this teen girl.
This book sucked me in and did not let go. This is a world I know so little about yet struggle to understand. I know that Starr doesn't represent every African-American teenage girl in the world, but she represents some of them, and being put into her shoes, living her life, reading her story...
Yes, it is fiction, but Thomas draws from the stories that have been around us for years now, from Ferguson and Baltimore and, sadly, so many other places.
Just read it. And talk about it.
NewsPrints by Ru XuMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I think this book suffered from over-hype for me. The blurbs on the back from some of my favorite graphic novel writers, the positive reviews, the Scholastic imprint - such high hopes!
And it just flopped for me. It didn't feel like anything new, it took a long time for anything to really happen and by then, I was already over the book.
This might be a hit with younger kids who are scrounging for something while they wait for the next 'Amulet' book or after they have finished off 'Bone' but it's not good enough for me to want to recommend it. :\
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna KendrickMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was so much fun to listen to because Anna read it and, yeah.
Though now I'm going to go pick up the book to find the photos she references and maybe jot down a few quotes because she said some funny stuff.
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez by Robin YardiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars (joins the ranks of people saying "When do we get half stars, GoodReads?)
Cute story, perfect for upper elementary school readers who want something quirky.
Mateo is already annoyed that his parents want him to give his little sister his old tricycle. He's tired of having to watch after her and share with her. To top it off, his ex-friend Johnny has joined a group of bullies who pick on his new friend Ashwin. But he doesn't have time for that right now, because as he sits looking out the window late one night he sees something that makes him question his own sanity - two skunks sneak into his yard and steal the tricycle!
There's a lot going on in this book and I am curious how much of it the target audience picks up on. The story of the animals don't run parallel to Mateo's real world problems, but they do let him reflect on what is happening in his backyard and the schoolyard.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Vol. 1: BFF by Amy ReederMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very cute beginning to a series. Not perfect, but fun. Crazy cliffhanger so now I pretty much have to read book 2!
Saga, Vol. 7 by Brian K. VaughanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
'Saga' is an amazing series that always pulls me in, no matter how long it has been since I read the last volume. Amazing artwork, a story that twists and turns like a roller coaster. This volume works even better because it is one big story arc.
But, damn. Those last few pages wrecked me. I seriously had to take a moment after closing the book.
Still the best on-going series.
View all my reviews
