Return to Sender by Vera Brosgol

Oliver and his mother have just moved from Queens to Manhatten because they inherited the apartment of a great aunt. Having to switch schools mid-year is never easy but it's even harder when his new school is full of rich classmates who judge Oliver on everything from his hair (long), his tie (pink instead of red), his shoes (drug store sneakers), and his lunch (packed from home). Add to that his lack of technology--every other student seems to have a cell phone. But poor Oliver will be issued a tablet just like every student at this elementary school--yes, you read that right, elementary.

By this time, I'm having my doubts about the book. The school was built to have a zero carbon print--some may consider laudable. But they also want to be the highest tech-savvy school possible and offer classes on being an influencer?! Please tell me that this is a commentary on how ridiculously insane schools have become when they chase after technology. When a classmate tells Oliver about the "dark net" that an older student has created for kids to interact outside the school's "spyware" I was ready to write the book off completely. I only continued in the hopes that there might be some redeeming aspects of the story.  It certainly made me thankful that I had homeschooled my own children because, sadly, the book hits very close to the truth of schools nowadays.

When a girl sat with Oliver at lunch, I was relieved that she admired Oliver's ability to cook (and use a real knife!). Her chef cuts up her meat because her parents think knives are too dangerous. But when she asks Oliver to make her cookies (because her school ID prevents her from getting sugar at school), I was a little nervous about where that friendship was also headed. More sneaking around and trying to subvert authority?

Then there was the obligatory bullying by older classmates. Why are schools such a cesspool of deviance and undesirable characters? But wait, that's not even when things get totally weird. Up to this point, there is no hint of anything supernatural, but suddenly a magic mailbox is thrown into the storyline. Say what? Oliver tosses in a wish and an envelope spits out a message with the steps to take to make the wish happen.

Here, too, I was nervous about where this storyline was going as his wishes became more and more unrealistic and costly. And the fulfillment of his wishes were at the expense of others (including instances that fit the definition of theft). I kept hoping there would be a moral reckoning and a point at which things would be made right. Nope, nada, nothing.

As the wishes get out of hand, Oliver discovers his outwardly mild-mannered neighbor is not what she appears and he's soon in a cosmic battle between good and evil (with some graying of the lines because I wouldn't classify all of Oliver's actions as "good").  The story behind the mailboxes was a rather creative and imaginative one, but seemed so far-fetched from how the story had started. 

But the biggest disappointment was that once the world all came mostly right, there was absolutely no accountability or restitution for the wishes that had negatively impacted others' lives. If there was some sort of universal "reset" that erased the past, that certainly was not made clear.  I kept hoping he would just wake up and find out it was all a nightmare. 

So while the story was imaginative and unpredictable, the negative elements of peer interactions along with so many bad choices that came with apparently no consequences, I cannot recommend this book. Younger readers will be spooked by some of the content and older kids will be taught that magic trumps morality. Not the kind of food I would recommend to hungry young minds. 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Return to Sender by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley. No other compensation was received.

 

 

The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke

Cornelia  Funke is an author enjoyed by my children and whenever I discover a new book, I know she will not disappoint.  Lets's first talk about that gorgeous color awash in shades of green (nicely partnered with its art complement, red).  The cover adds a bit of mystery as the reader wonders about the plants on the cover. 

Caspia has mixed feelings about spending the summer in Brooklyn. Her father took a construction job and her mother hopes to finally write a cookbook. And poor Caspia is wondering how she'll survive 12 weeks without her two best friends. They rent a quaint place that looks like it belongs in a different century with floral wallpaper and embroidered items all throughout. While Caspia was [hitting her things into the ancient dresser in her room, she discovered a ribbon-wrapped stack of letters. She was surprised to find out they were written in the 1950's and were a series of riddles about plants ("The Green Kingdom"). 

Those letters open up a new world to Caspia as she explores Brooklyn in order to solve the riddles. As she frequents various local businesses to find the answers, she also makes friends: young and old, with a variety of backgrounds. The friends she adds are like the varieties of plants in a garden--each with their own beauty and strengths. And each friendship teaches Caspia more about the Green Kingdom and, more importantly, more about herself.  

The treasure hunt using plants is a genius way to interest young people in the fascinating history and little-known uses of common plants. I loved how Caspia's mother's love of cooking becomes part of the adventure as she finds recipes using the featured plants (if only the recipes were shared in the book!). 

I loved how so many old-fashioned skills were interwoven into the book: gardening, cooking, embroidery, sketching & painting and letter-writing.  I can see this book being a fabulous springboard into trying out all of those skills. 

I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend with only a couple minor cautions. The topic of same-sex attraction comes up with one of Caspia's friends--felt like an unnecessary detail thrown in. And the other small disappointment was when one of the 12-year-old characters uses a swear word near the end of the book. The character was a very polite and well-behaved boy; it seemed totally out of character to swear, especially in front of Caspia's father (and presented as just normal dialogue). Why throw in one swear word for no apparent reason?  

I am a huge advocate of reading aloud to children and in this case, I would definitely suggest doing so. This allows a parent to either talk about the elements mentioned above or edit them out. In the case of swearing, I am THAT parent that skips over cuss words in books--kids hear enough profanity everywhere else and I believe books should elevate the mind, not debase it. 

It was truly a magical book in almost every other way. I did feel the book ended rather abruptly--sort of felt like a conversation was cut short. I think readers will feel a bit let down that there isn't more to the story. Perhaps that was to leave open the possibility of a sequel or to allow the reader to speculate on what Caspia's next adventures might be. 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of The Green Kingdom from DK Children through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

 

Pencil by Hey-Eun Kim

For anyone who may remember the iconic Harold and the Purple Crayon, this is a re-imagined wordless version in full color.  Wordless books draw children into a thousand different versions of a story illustrated on the pages. A child can enjoy a wordless book on their own because they are not "missing out" on any words they cannot pronounce. Instead they are creating the story as they go. Having a caring "reader" to help guide discussion or ask a child what they think is happening is an excellent way to bond and reinforce oral language skills.

The opening shows a young girl leaving an art store with a pencil in hand. And how she uses that pencil is pure magic. Children will eagerly anticipate what comes next. There are so many beautiful details to explore visually. Children can imagine what came before the story began and what might happen after the book ends. There are elements of "I Spy" in the book with animals peeking out of a forest and I love the ending that defies logic. While whithin the pages of Pencil, a child's imagination and sense of wonder will be awakened.  Older children will enjoy grabbing their own pencil and trying to copy the illustrations, making this a wonderful art study as well. 

I highly recommend wordless books as a way to encourage children to narrate their own story and perhaps be inspired to create their own wordless books. I highly recommend Pencil for every public, school, or home library. This would make a fabulous gift in combination with colored pencils and a sketchbook--for those blank pages are the invitation to create another story!

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of Pencil from Astra Publishing House through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

 

The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes

Nine is far from living her best life. With no comfortable home or family she has become one of several minions working for a local criminal, Pocket--stealing in return for food and board. When Nine picks the wrong woman to try to scam, she finds herself mixed up in quite a bit more than she bargained for as she tries to stay ahead of the law.  But when the opportunity presents itself to rob the same woman, Nine cannot help herself--but the results are rather surprising. A small trinket in the shape of a house fell from the purse of her intended target and...that's what you'll need to find out for yourself! 

What is set in motion is the most ludicrous adventure Nine has ever experienced. One involving non-humans, talking table wear, and a magician who has lost his magic touch. With the promise of riches beyond her wildest dreams, Nina gets sucked into trying to break a curse but it involves one of the hardest sacrifices she has ever had to make. 

The House at the End of Magic felt like a cross between Beauty and the Beast (book loving heroine, enchanted castle) and Oliver Twist (street urchin pickpocket working for local criminal). Children who enjoy a bit of mystery and magic will enjoy this story. I recommend it for upper elementary or middle grade readers. (Note: there is a somewhat scary scene with zombie-like creatures; parent discretion is  advised for sensitive readers).

I appreciated that the book brings most threads to a satisfactory conclusion while leaving a few uncertainties to draw readers into the second book (the first chapter of which is included at the end--nice touch). And kudos to the illustrator who created such a whimsical and enchanting cover! Would love the print copy to have illustrations sprinkled throughout the story as well. Grab your copy of The House at the End of Magic and get ready to be transported to worlds of imagination!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The House at the Edge of Magic from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley for review. No other compensation was received.

 

The Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel

 

I have been familiar with the name Ursula K. Le Guin and aware of her significant contributions in the publishing world but had not read anything but a few of her shorter picture books. I was intrigued by the making of one of her books into a graphic novel. I came into this particular title with no background about the storyline line so I cannot speak to how closely this may or may not stick to the original.

Ged is the main character in this story, a young man who discovers he has powers. Through a series of mentors, he explores those skills (not always with optimum results). The story arch is one of a lonely soul seeking to find himself in a world without parents and the comforts of a constant home. Part of his journey involves attending a wizard school (perhaps the inspo for Harry Potter--the parallels are there).  At school, Ged encounters the usual assortment of students, including bullies and allies, and the challenge of learning to tell them apart.

The book has spiritual threads and dialogue that will resonate with anyone on a journey to "find themselves" and to boldly go out to meet a darkness they cannot even name. The story has great depth to plumb for those willing to dive deep. But it can also be enjoyed on the surface as an epic adventure of boyhood into manhood and from innocence into a greater knowledge of good and evil. 

It is worth noting that Le Guin was ahead of her time in creating worlds populated with people of color. Her writing offers a highly imaginative world that readers of all ages will be drawn into. While the graphic novel was a visual stunner and very well constructed, there were a few places in the story that I was a little confused. I think a background knowledge of the original novel would make this rendition more enjoyable.  Hopefully this version will encourage readers to pick up not only the original but also to explore the other works of Le Guin.

I highly recommend this work. It offers a thought-provoking alternative to the worlds of Marvel and DC and elevates the graphic novel to a higher (and deeper realm). Le Guin is a writer worth studying and reading (in any form) as she has phenomenally impacted children's literature over the years.

For an interesting glimpse into the world of Earthsea, check out this short documentary and others at ursulakleguin.com. 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley for review. No other compensation was received.

Once a Castle by Sarah Arthur

 

Once a Castle sweeps readers into a dual universe with a clever take on traveling between worlds. The book definitely gave me vibes of the Chronicles of Narnia with its own version of the White Witch intent on unleashing evil magic upon her world.

As young people from each world intermingle, they slowly piece together secrets their parents and grandparents have kept hidden and come to the realizion that it's up to them to work together to overthrow the enchantress, Mindra. Easier said than done when some of the players have been turned into animals. It's a race against time as Mindra seeks to take absolute power. Can she be stopped? Will everyone get back to their own world? If they can return, will their worlds be the same when they return?

Even though this was the second book in the series, readers will still enjoy the plot and race through its pages to find out the fate of each character. I loved the character development and the world built by the author. This would be an exciting middle grade read-alone or an excellent family read-aloud for ages 8 and up. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Once a Castle through NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

NetGalley's Book Advocate Toolkit--Updated!

 

NetGalley is a marvelous digital space where authors can share advance reader copies of their books enabling reviewers to help promote and get the word out about new books. NetGalley has created a guide to help new (or seasoned) reviewers improve their performance.

For anyone new to the world of book reviewing (or to NetGalley specifically), I highly recommend requesting this toolkit. The first section offers a helpful orientation to all things pertaining to NetGalley and its website. This section serves as a tutorial for getting the most out of the website and for becoming familiar with its various sections and features. 

The second section pertains to the nuts and bolts of writing reviews including general tips for writing, an explanation of DNF ("Did Not Finish"), an example of a review for reference, and some general helps on how best to use social media. 

The third section gives more tips, tricks, and tools for taking your reviews to the next level. I appreciate how much NetGalley does in the way of support and education to help reviewers be the best they can be. I've been reviewing on NetGalley since 2017 and I learned a few things myself! 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of "NetGalley's Book Advocate Toolkit" for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.