All Fall Down by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham)

All Fall Down by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham) is very similar to Pat-a-Cake, which I reviewed yesterday (here), as they feature the style because they have the same author and illustrator. In this adventure, all kinds of things fall down.

All Fall Down is a bright, rhyming board book filled again with all kinds of different looking characters, which I really appreciated because I think it is super important for children to experience from a young age. There is a lot more text in this book than I expected based on Pat-a-Cake and I think it is a bit much for the small pages. I'm also unconvinced about the scenario that features a young child dumping all their food on the floor and it being celebrated-- I'm not sure that's something a parent, or whoever is reading the book to the toddler, wants to encourage, even in fictional form. Although the dog getting the scraps sure looks happy.

Overall, All Fall Down is a cute fun book that would definitely keep a child's attention but if you are only going to get one I would go with Pat-a-Cake instead. 
 
Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 16  Format: Board Book
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Candlewick Press  Buy It: Book Depository

Pat-a-Cake by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham)

A quick review for a quick little book. Pat-a-Cake by Mary Brigid Barrett is a board book, illustrated by LeUyen Pham with not much text and bright colourful pictures. A lot of the words inside the book are sounds that things make when you pat them, like a pudding "wibble, wobble" that make it fun and easy to read out loud. There's also a rhyme going on that helps it flow easily.

I appreciate the diversity of the characters in Pat-a-Cake it's nice to see all kinds of races represented. I also think the book is great for encouraging interaction with the child as they can pat the different items represented, and also discuss what those things feel like and what they would do with them. So overall, even though there's nothing super surprising about Pat-a-Cake it is a cute fun book for toddlers. 

Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 16  Format: Board Book
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Candlewick Press  Buy It: Book Depository

Tippy and the Night Parade by Lilli Carre

After my first experience with Hearts I knew what to expect with Toon Books, which are easy-to-read comics designed for new readers, in these cases, Level 1 which is kindergarten to grade 1. Although the level a book is unites it in terms of how easy it is to read, the amount of detail and images as well as characters, each book is totally unique in terms of images and story. Tippy and the Night Parade by Lilli Carre is about Tippy, a girl whose mom gets upset every morning when she finds her room a disaster. But Tippy doesn't know how it happened, all she remembers is falling asleep!

I much preferred Tippy to the previous Toon Book I tried. The illustrations for this are so cute and so is the story, which is easy to follow and full of adventure and animals. The blue of the illustrations that take place at night add to the mood, and there is so many little details to see on each page. It's a funny story and there is lots of excitement. My favourite part? Searching for all the animals Tippy found on her walk the next morning in her room! Such a cute book, I highly recommend Tippy and the Night Parade.

Release Date: February 11th 2014 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Toon Books  Buy It: Book Depository

It's Time to Say Good Night by Harriet Ziefeat illustrated by Barroux

It's Time to Say Good Night written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Barroux is a cute children's book where a little boy says good morning to everything--the cow, the piggies in the pen, the garbage and the cans--only to find out by the time he's done, it's time to say good night to everything again.

The illustrations are cute and vintage looking and match the story well. The text is also well-placed, and moves along with whatever the boy is saying good morning/ good night to, as well as having the emphasis be on the good morning or good night part by having it in larger text of a different colour. However while the story is a fun, cute, list of things, it is a bit weird that the boy goes from saying good morning straight to saying good night. However the bright illustrations and adventures of the main character in It's Time to Say Good Night would still make it a fun read for a young child, especially as a bedtime story.

Release Date: October 22nd 2013 Pages: 36  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder

I Haiku You is a picture book written and illustrated by Betsy Snyder. I really love haikus and think it's a perfect form of poetry for a picture book, so I was really excited to pick this up. Snyder's drawings are really adorable and really make the cute, sweet haikus that accompany them. There are lots of little details and I really love the illustrations overall.

In terms of the writing, I am just okay about I Haiku You. Some of the haikus are nice, but there is a little too much reliance on things that expected and feel a bit cliche and boring to me, such as "you be my jelly, / i'll be your peanut butter--/let's stick together!" and even though it is a children's book I though that they could be a touch more original with the metaphors, something like peanut butter and jelly is quite expected.

I Haiku You would be an adorable bedtime book for a young child who is unlikely to have the same complaints I do regarding the writing and would instead just appreciate the sweet, simple words and the adorable drawings that match.

Release Date: December 26th 2012 Pages: 28  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Random House   Buy It: Book Depository

Forever by Emma Dodd

I am just so in love with Forever by Emma Dodd. This is absolutely the perfect children's book, and when I someday have children, I definitely hope that I remember to grab a copy because it is flawless. The words are simple, and tell a sweet, easy to read rhyme for a parent to read to a child.

Along with the text are gorgeous illustrations of a polar bear and parent, doing things together. There are only a few colours on each page, mainly blues, but there is also a touch of metallic silver, sometimes just tiny spots, sometimes the entire water in an ocean scene. The silver element adds something extra special to the book and will likely help keep the child's attention. Overall, Forever is a sweet, endearing, book from both a text and illustration perspective, with a universal message of love that would be perfect for any parent. Dodd's book definitely deserves to be a childhood classic for those who experience it.

Release Date: October 22nd 2013 Pages: 24  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Templar  Buy It: Book Depository

Hearts by Thereza Rowe

Hearts by Thereza Rowe is designed as a first comic for brand new readers, so it's actually a bit different than the picture book I expected when I picked it up, because it's meant to be read by the child, not to them. As a result, there are very few words in Hearts, and the story is mainly told through the illustrations, with words here but mainly ones that add description about what is happening on the page. For example, as Penelope the Fox struggles to catch up to the dolphin holding her heart, she says "Wait!" and the dolphin goes "Whoosh!"

I think the biggest issue with Hearts is when I spent too much time trying to make sense of the story instead of just enjoying the dream-like journey Penelope takes. Sometimes the illustrations are difficult to follow, but they are all very beautiful and detailed so there is a lot for a younger reader to look at. It also leaves a lot of opportunity for a child to discuss what could be happening in each scenario, so I think Rowe's book makes a fun learning tool rather than a standalone book, but that's exactly what it's intended for. That said, I would worry that younger children might have the same difficulty following that I did and might become confused or frustrated, so that will depend on the child.

Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Toon Books  Buy It: Book Depository

Ribbit by Rodrigo Folgueira (illustrated by Poly Bernatene)

Ribbit by Rodrigo Folgueira (illustrated by Poly Bernatene) is pretty much the perfect picture book. I can say nothing wrong about it! It's the adorable and heart-warming story of a pig who pretends to be a frog because he just wants to belong, but all the frogs don't understand why he goes RIBBIT. The illustrations are gorgeous and match the story perfectly, including the placement and size of the text within the book. The animals all have perfect facial expressions, especially the confused frogs.

Everything about Ribbit is charming and perfect, there's a great message to share with young children hidden behind an easy to follow, simple but not unoriginal story. The illustrations match perfectly, and I would be very happy giving this book to any new parent or young child. I am neither, but I am definitely tempted to hold onto my copy for many years in the future, because when it comes to picture books, this is exactly what I want in one and I have absolutely no complaints.

Release Date: March 26th 2013 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers Buy It: Book Depository

Aesop's Fables by Aesop

Aesop's Fables came free on my Kobo with 100 Classics and since each one is short and sweet, I read most of it while traveling at the beginning of 2013. It's a hard book to review in retrospect, but I do have some notes on ones I liked or found particularly memorable.

I recorded these as being "memorable":
The Father and his Sons
The Cock and the Jewel
The Woolf and the Crane: In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.
The Traveler and His Dog: The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.
The Dog and the Shadow
The Bear and the Fox
The Tortoise and the Eagle: If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.
The Bear and the Two Travelers: Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Harm seek, harm find.
The Man and His Two Sweethearts: Those who seek to please everybody please nobody.
The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf: There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

However, there are definitely some whose messages don't quite stand the test of time. For example, "The Ass and the Lapdog" in which the ass laments, "I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all day like that useless little Lapdog."

"The Aethiop" is just one of them that has become offensive, ending with the message "What's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh."

There are also some that are very similar, for example "The Wolf and the Lamb" and "The Cat and the Cock" both revolve around animals looking for excuses to eat their dinner– but not needing them.

However despite some obvious misses, overall it was fun to read Aesop's Fables. There are so many in here, and while many are ones I have heard repeated in various ways, there are also plenty that are new and fun to discover. I had a vague plan in 2013 to read more classics, and while that failed miserably, at least I started the year off right. I have no such plan in 2014, so that seems even less promising, but perhaps the year will surprise me.

Let me know if you have read this book, or have another, easy-to-read classic you recommend I add to my list.

Translator: George Fyler Townsend
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aesop's Fables, by Aesop

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Honestly, I can't imagine a book with Lauren Oliver's name on the cover that I wouldn't pick up. She's just that amazing. So of course I had to read her latest novel, the middle grade fantasy tale, The Spindlers. Even though it's not a genre I read a lot of, I adored Oliver's first middle grade title, Liesl & Po and in fact even refer to it as one of my favourite books (because it is). In fact, I was so excited to read The Spindlers that I forced myself to hold onto it for about a month before I did– just because when I finished reading it I would be out of Oliver books to read until 2013. All that to say, I had high expectations.

And did The Spindlers meet my expectations?

Unfortunately, no.

That's not to say this story, about a young girl, Liza, who goes on an underground quest to find her brother's soul, which was stolen by the spindlers, wasn't a cute and fun read. But it wasn't blow-me-away-amazing either. It was okay. And with Oliver, I just expect more than that.

What The Spindlers is, is a great book for the intended audience, but it doesn't have the universal transcendence that Liesl & Po did. Some of my problems with the book included how slow the storytelling was, I put it down quite a few times during its 250 pages and I wasn't excited to go back. I wasn't riveted and pulled in a million directions and put back together. If anything, I was a bit confused. On her journey, Liza is accompanied by a rat of the same size she is. I was never sure if Liza shrunk when she went under her house, or if the rat grew. The setting itself wasn't that vivid, there was just a lot of mentions of dirt. Even the characters, which Oliver is usually so amazingly skilled at, just felt okay. I wasn't especially rooting for Liza, because I didn't feel like I really knew her.

The whole time I was reading The Spindlers, I couldn't help being reminded of Coraline by Neil Gaiman, which is a book I absolutely adore. But unlike Gaiman, Oliver's world isn't the creepy, her characters– even the bad ones– don't feel that scary. And even the plot doesn't feel original. There's a series of obstacles in the way of Liza finding her brother, but I never found myself breathless with anticipation on if she was going to succeed. I honestly didn't care that much, because everything was predictable and even the "big" twist didn't surprise me.

It's really hard to focus on the positive of The Spindlers because I was so incredibly disappointed by it. I love-love-love Lauren Oliver's writing, but this is a book that is cute. It's a book that's fun and charming, there's a talking rat I loved and some adults that don't understand their children. There are some unique and interesting creatures. Overall, The Spindlers is an okay middle-grade novel, and while I certainly haven't given up on Oliver, when it comes to her storytelling– okay is just so much less than what I expect.

Release Date: October 2nd 2012   Pages: 256  Format: ARC  Source: Publisher  
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada  Buy It: Book Depository | Amazon Canada Also By This Author: MG– Liesl & Po; YA– Before I Fall; Delirium (Delirium #1); Pandemonium (Delirium #2)

That Boy Red by Rachna Gilmore

That Boy Red by Rachna Gilmore

Release Date: April 4th 2011
Pages: 220
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Harper Collins Canada
Buy It: Book Depository | Amazon.ca

It’s the Depression, but Red’s family is managing better than most on their Prince Edward Island farm. Hard working and resourceful, they have enough to eat and to help others, even if at times they are mocked by their neighbours for putting education ahead of farm work. Eleven-year-old Red has plenty of chores around the farm, and the days can be long, but he still gets the odd break to go swimming or fishing... provided his homework is done.

The back of this book compares it to Anne of Green Gables, and it really is that sort of novel with a male main character. It's written in the kind of language that does take the reader back to the thirties, and the writing flows easily. The book is divided into several distinct, but connected stories which makes it good for reading in chunks, though the whole novel is still a really fast read. Some of the sections– like one where Red's father injures himself– are sadder, while others– like when Red's Granny visits– are funnier, but they all have a taste of both humour and emotion within them.

As easy as the book was to read, there was some language that left me a little confused, like when Gilmore writes: "Ellen complained that he raced through his recitations with no expression whatsoever, but Red figured getting through it mattered more than any highfaultin expression." Obviously language was different eighty years ago but it's hard to imagine this ruddy farm boy that prefers building things to reading using the word highfaultin, and it felt out of place (and not just because I had no idea what it meant).

That Boy Red wasn't the kind of book that I would have gone seeking out myself, but when I had a surprise copy in my mailbox I decided to give it a try. For the short time it took to read it, I guess I'm glad I did; I feel like it's a good contribution to Canadian history and a great addition to elementary school libraries for that reason. But it also wasn't a book I felt in love it, in the emotional all-encompassing way that some novels sweep me off my feet. Instead, it was a book that I enjoyed, and it had some nice moments. Ultimately, I'd recommend That Boy Red to the middle grade readers looking for the a male Anne of Green Gables, and would hope it would hit the mark for them in the way that it didn't quite manage for me.

Teen Boat! by Dave Roman and John Green

Teen Boat! by Dave Roman (author) and John Green (illustrator)

Release Date: May 8th 2012
Pages: 144
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Buy It: Book Depository

High school can be a time of terrible angst—Fs on tests, bullying jerks, broken hearts, and late-stage puberty are just some of the potential issues that all teen boys face. But what about the issues facing a Teen Boat?

Whoops! When I got Teen Boat! in the mail I thought the illustrations were by some guy named Dave Roman (actually a well-established author of graphic novels) and that John Green, like Looking For Alaska John Green, was the writer. Turns out John Green is also the name of an illustrator, with a few titles under his belt. So there was definitely an adjustment when I started reading Teen Boat! but it didn't take long for me to start enjoying its unique charm.

At it's heart, this is really an absurd graphic novel, and in that sense it reminded me of this series that used to be really popular when I was a kid, Captain Underpants. I really think this book would be perfect for the same kind of elementary school aged audience. Green's drawings are really well done, and they capture the boy-to-boat transformation in a way that makes it seem slightly less ridiculous than it actually is, and just as awesome.

Teen Boat Transformation © Dave Roman and John Green

Roman's words work perfectly with Green's drawings and it wasn't a surprise for me to read these two guys are best friends. The book just has a perfect harmony between text and image. I especially appreciated Roman's many nautical puns, they had me chuckling out loud quite a few times. What I didn't like was Teen Boat's treatment of his best friend Joey, a girl that clearly has a crush on him– but I honestly couldn't tell you why, since all he does is treatment her like dirt and assume that she'll always be there. I would have loved a little more development on that storyline, at least having Joey stand up for herself a bit even if Teen Boat didn't realize what he did was wrong. Instead, she just crushed on him more.

Weak female character aside, Teen Boat! was a cute read, and definitely outside of my usual picks. If I'd known that it was the wrong John Green, I don't know if I would have read it, and so in the end I'm grateful for that mishap; one that belongs perfectly among the befuddled pages of the book itself. In the end, this is an odd and charming book with great drawings and a crazy storyline that doesn't take itself too seriously; Teen Boat! is a great choice for middle grade and the younger spectrum of young adult readers. But even if you're a bit– or like me, a lot– older it's a funny reminder about why I'm so glad that I'm not a teen anymore!

A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

 A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Release Date: May 1st 2012
Pages: 208
Format: E-galley
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Publisher: ABRAMS
Buy It: Book Depository

Mary O'Hara is a sharp and cheeky 12-year-old Dublin schoolgirl, and her Granny is dying. Then the ghost of Granny's own mother shows up. She needs the help of Mary and her mother, Scarlett, who embark on a road trip to the past. Four generations of women travel on a midnight car journey. One of them is dead, one of them is dying, one of them is driving, and one of them is just starting out.

Honestly, and I don't say this lightly, but this book is really weird. Like, really weird. Possibly too weird for me, though I admit it was the unusual title and haunting cover that drew me in to begin with.

Mary, and especially her mother, Scarlett, tended to be more ghost-like in character than the ghost herself, who had quite a lot of spunk. I did love the way Scarlett spoke with exclamation points though, and loved the snarky way Mary pointed it out, I definitely know people that do that. But I think my favourite parts were when Tansey, the great-grandmother, was reflecting on her past.

A Greyhound of a Girl does a gentle and thoughtful job on tackling the complex issue of death, especially from a child's perspective. Unfortunately, I picked this book up after having read Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver, which is another middle grad novel involving ghost and death and officially one of my favourite books. So it was hard to compare.

In the end, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about A Greyhound of a Girl. It's a very quiet book, so much so that I wonder how much of an audience it will have with middle grade readers, but that's also refreshing when so much of the focus in MG is often on fantasy and adventure type books. In fact, I hope to be proven wrong, as I'd love to see more middle grade like it.

A Greyhound of a Girl is a book which is all about strong females, but ones that feel authentic and real, with the kind of fragile skin you can reach out and touch. But at times, the novel had a hard time keeping my attention, while at others it lost me completely. With a book that's only about two hundred pages, every page counts, and I spent too many of them dazing off.

There are some strange and special things about A Greyhound of A Girl, and though it wasn't perfect for me, I know when it finds the right reader, it will have exactly the right words.

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

Release Date: October 4th 2011
Pages: 362
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Penguin
Also by this Author: Both Ways Is The Only Way I Want It (Adult)
Buy It: Book Depository

It’s 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin. When Benjamin’s father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary’s sacred book in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies—Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

I really enjoyed this first novel for younger readers by Maile Meloy, whose short story collection Both Ways Is The Only Way I Want It I'd previously enjoyed. Obviously The Apothecary, intended for a middle grade audience, is quite different but Meloy's adult work, but it maintains her smart description, concise style and lovely details. There are some quirky but amazingly accurate descriptions, including several of hair near the beginning of the book such as "wore her white hair coiled up like a ghost's pastry on the back of her head" and "tight, gray curls reminded me of a sheep."

Meloy also doesn't let the fact that this is a children's book stop her from throwing in some incredible words, several of which I have to look up to know their precise definition (like corpulent!) even though the meanings are obvious in context. I love the way The Apothecary has of unintentionally expanded the reader's vocabulary, and it's yet another reason it would be a great book for younger readers; Meloy doesn't talk down to her audience.

Admittedly, my advance reader copy of the novel was missing many drawings, but the half I did see were really lovely, though the truth is that I preferred the ones in Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver. Though the pictures are great and compliment the text, Meloy tells as riveting story without them, and her words are vivid enough in creating imagery that the drawings are technically unnecessary.

The Apothecary is packed with adventure, much of it with a slightly magical twist, and I absolutely adored the story it contained. It was a perfect mix of action, exploration of important issues, and a nice touch of romance thrown in. It's a story that is entertaining in a way I didn't expect from Meloy with her quiet and adult short stories, but the result is enjoyable and definitely has convinced me of cross-genre skills.

The characters in this novel were realistic and fun to read. Janie struggled with the issue of being a new girl in a foreign country, and I thought that Meloy dealt with her insecurity and subsequent growth in a very authentic way. I especially loved Pip, a charming and mischievous character certainly worthy of his own novel. The only character I wasn't entirely satisfied with was Benjamin, in particular his romantic storyline which involved a change of mind that was never really explained and left me wanting more. The romance wasn't at all necessary in the story, but if it was going to be there, I did want it to be a little less haphazard.

Having enjoyed Meloy's adult fiction, I was both curious and excited about how her writing would transfer for the middle grade audience; and the result was incredible. An exciting and whimsical adventure, The Apothecary is the kind of classic spy meets fantasy meets historical story that is certain to age well. A very enjoyable experience and I certainly hope that Meloy will write for younger readers again in the future; I might be much older than the intended audience, but I'd be excited to read another middle grade novel by her in the future.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

 The Arrival by Shaun Tan
 
Release Date: October 12th 2007
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Publisher: Lothian Books
Buy It: Book Depository

In this wordless graphic novel, Tan captures the struggles and joy of the immigrant experience through clear, mesmerizing images which tell the story of a man who leaves his homeland and his family to build a better life.

When this book was first recommended to me but my younger cousin, I admit that I was confused. A story with no words? But considering the topic of The Arrival: immigration, a story with no words is exactly the perfect way to tell it. In Tan's gorgeous drawings, even the names of signs are in an invented foreign language, so that just like the character, they make no sense to the reader. Instead, you are immersed into this world you don't understand, with no way to communicate, nobody to talk to: it is a powerful and emotionally compelling experience.

The Arrival has sad and happy moments, and the way that Tan visualizes certain emotions is poetic and real. In one instance, upon arriving in a new place, a man opens his suitcase and is filled with the warmth of home where his wife and daughter are eating supper. In another, there is the small victory of being able to communicate with a stranger.

And about the drawings... wow. They are so gorgeous and detailed, so many tiny pictures and portrait, it doesn't surprise me that this book was several years in the making. Tan is an incredibly talented artist, but he is also an incredibly talented storyteller. Overall, I was incredibly impressed and swept away by The Arrival and I will definitely be picking up more books by Tan in the future. Maybe even one with words.

The Wild Book by Margarita Engle

The Wild Book by Margarita Engle

Release Date: March 20th 2012
Pages: 144
Format: E-galley
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books
Buy It: Book Depository

Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Her mother has an idea gives Fefa a blank book. "Think of it as a garden," she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them.

Maybe it's because I followed up reading The Wild Book with May B. by Caroline Rose Starr, another MG novel in verse about a girl struggling with dyslexia that I absolutely loved, but this novel didn't really live up to the potential. There were some lovely turns of phrase and images, but I found the story itself lacking. It was also this strange sort of book where it seemed too mature in language for its potential audience, but then too simplistic in style for older readers. I'm not really certain who the book is intended for, but despite my love of novels in verse, it apparently wasn't me.

At under 150 verse pages, The Wild Book is extremely short, and unfortunately that seemed like a detriment at times. Often, it came across as a good outline more than a complete book. Engle has some gorgeous images, but the story itself lacked vividness, it felt like it was a picture that hadn't been completely filled in. The historical setting in a lawless Cuba intrigued me, but I never quite felt like I really got to know it either. Overall, The Wild Book didn't quite work for me, but it's short enough that if it intrigues you it may be worth picking up a library copy to try.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

 

Lauren Oliver is an author of many talents, she began her career by publishing a contemporary YA novel (Before I Fall), followed up with the first novel in a dystopia trilogy (Delirium) and her most recent novel, Liesl & Po, is a middle-grade story that takes place in a world with similarities to our own only filled with all kinds of magic. Liesl is a young girl whose father has just died, leaving her in the care of a stepmother who locks Liesl in the attic where her only escape is to draw. Then one night Po, a ghost from the Other Side, appears and the two form an unexpected friendship. At the same time, Will, an equally lonely alchemist’s apprentice a botches an important delivery which will have important consequences for Liesl and Po, ultimately drawing the three of them together on a remarkable journey.

Liesl & Po is the magical kind of book that even if it is intended for a younger audience, is filled with a warmth that will enchant the reader regardless of age. This is the kind of timeless story, like Roald Dahl, which will be just as powerful in fifty years as it today. Also like Dahl, this is a story about children, in which the adults are rather one-dimensional villains but that works within the context of the book, as it is reminiscent of a traditional fairy tale.

Oliver’s writing is amazing, lyrical with poetry in just the right places, and complimented by beautiful black and white sketches done by Kei Acedera. It is Oliver’s amazing ability with words that makes Liesl & Po into such an incredibly whimsical story, one that flows smoothly and is filled with pure, young, emotion.

This is a novel that confronts the difficult issue of death and grief in a way that neither minimizes nor sensationalizes it, but rather takes an honest and simple look at one little girl and the astonishing journey she takes.

Ultimately, Lauren Oliver has completely won me over as a reader- she could write a restaurant menu or instructions for installing a television and I would rush to the store to buy it. As a writer, Oliver has a unique and powerful perspective, which she is able to share with astonishing clarity because of the eloquence of her writing, on full display in her timeless and magical novel, Liesl & Po.

Review Elsewhere: May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

"Ultimately, May B. is a moving story of survival – a quick book to read, but the memory of it will last much longer."

Click here to read the rest of my review (Scroll to second half of article).

Irrelevant side note: I absolutely love this cover! Perfect for middle grade but with enough ambiguity to it that an older reader could pick it up, I think the art work is lovely.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne beings, unsurprisingly, with young Noah Barleywater running away from home. Noah heads into the forest, on an unknown path, walking away from his problems. He is eight years old and ready for adventure. Noah ends up at an extraordinary toyshop with a very unusual toymaker, and that's when things begin to get strange. Both Noah and the toymaker have stories to tell, and as they travel with each other on the journeys that lead them to meet, each may have a valuable lesson to teach the other.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a whimsical novel, and this time, unlike when Boyne dabbled in historical fiction with his bestselling (but not well received by me) novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it really suits the story. Although both books have moments of happiness mixed with sadness, in this instance it felt natural instead of contrived and melodramatic.

Although I initially mistook Noah Barleywater Runs Away for YA, this is definitely a children's novel that an adult with a longing for magic can enjoy as well. There are also a few pictures throughout the book and I thought they were cute and suited the story well. This is the kind of book you could read out loud to a child, or if they were a bit older they could begin to read themselves. The language and the story are not complex, but Boyne's writing is rich and filled hidden magic that brings it to life. As a note, at times it can be a little dark, and so it may not be appropriate for very young children, that is something a parent would have to read and decide. 

I loved how Boyne made everything come to life in Noah Barleywater Runs Away, from the one door that the toymaker can afford that is forced to run up and down the stairs when it is needed, to the floorboards that move when a person walks across them, this book is full of ordinary and mysterious magic. Noah felt like a believable eight year old boy, and although his story was an unfortunate one, it is far too common and there are many children who are bound to relate. Running away from our problems is a longing many people have no matter how old and so in that way Noah Barleywater Runs Away is universal in its simplicity and message.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a twist on an old fairytale, and although hints are dropped throughout it is still wonderful when Boyne finally reveals the inspiration and the pieces come together. The story is told like a fable, and so the style is slightly traditional, but I thought Boyne's language and description was perfect for it. On the surface, Noah Barleywater Runs Away is a children's fairytale, but beneath that there are layers of metaphor that an older reader can uncover and appreciate as well, resulting in magical story tinged with sadness and redemption.

Release Date: September 30th, 2010
Pages: 240
Source: Publisher
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Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney takes place in a small upstate New York town during the Great Depression and tells the story of three children- Hibernia, Willie and Otis- and how their lives comes together. Hibernia is the daughter of a Reverend and her mother left to have a singing career in New York City and now Hibernia dreams of someday doing the same. Willie and Otis both live in a home for orphans, but only one of them has lost their parents. Willie left home because of his abusive father and is recovering from his injuries, ones that shattered his chances of being a boxing champ. Meanwhile Otis' only family is the radio he listens to every night, his reminder of the mother and father he lost. The three children find hope in the boxing matches of Joe Louis and his potential to become the country's next heavyweight champion, what they don't realize is how Joe will bring the three of them together.

Bird in a Box book is intended for children aged 9-12 and that is definitely the appropriate audience for it. The story deals with an interesting part of history and lets the reader know what that times was like for three different, yet connected, kids. Although it is certainly a novel, each chapter is divided using an illustration like the one on the cover and I thought the pictures were great. Within each chapter the perspective alternates between the three main characters and although the voices were realistic, I did find the story disjointed at times. Each character's narrative was fairly brief, and as a reader, I'd just be getting interested in their story only to have Pinkney switch to another character. Also, while Hibernia's voice was certainly unique I definitely did find the boys blended together at times, probably because of the short chapters following each other. I also didn't understand why Pinkney began the book with a chapter in the future and then went back in time, it made the first chapter very confusing and it felt unnecessary.

With Bird in a Box Pinkney certainly manages to let the reader in on an important part of history, and she even includes a note about what is real and what is fictional in her story which is something I really appreciate with historical fiction. It was also neat that she used real radio dialogue in telling the story, weaving in bits of history that the reader is able to pick up without thinking. The most memorable character was definitely Hibernia, I loved her. She had spunk and sass and she definitely made the novel worthwhile. Unfortunately, I did find some of the character development weak, but it is probably not something I would have picked up on if I'd be within the intended audience age category. Ultimately, Bird in a Box is not only a good way for a middle-grade audience to learn more about the Great Depression, but also a positive book about triumphing against the odds.

Release Date: April 12th, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher 
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