Mini Reviews: The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy, Randall Wright, Barry Moser (Illustrator) and Mirror by Suzy Lee

Hardcover, 228 pages
Published October 2011 by Peachtree Publishers
Source: Library

Synopsis:
Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging fishwives brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with an audacious scheme to install himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, the intelligent mouse-resident, and his fellow mice. Skilley protects the mice and the mice in turn give to Skilley the delectable Cheshire cheese of the inn. Thus begins a most unlikely alliance and friendship. The cat and mouse design a plan to restore Maldwynwounded raven and faithful guard in the service of Queen Victoriato his rightful place in The Tower, but first they must contend with a tyrannical cook, a mouse-despising barmaid, and an evil tomcat named Pinch. Will the famous author suffering from serious writers block who visits the Cheshire Cheese pub each day be able to help?

Review

The Cheshire Cheese Cat is a lovely tale about the friendship between a cat who doesn’t like the taste of mouse and prefers to each cheese instead and a mouse who can read. Set in a pub in England, the story also features Charles Dickens and several other literary figures, a raven and the Queen of England. There is something so endearing about the relationship between Skilley the Cat and Pip the Mouse that you can’t help but cheer for them to get the most of their lives. I recommend this short read for anyone who wants to read something that will put a smile on their face. It really is sweet, catfight and all.

Hardcover, 48 pages
Published April 27th 2010 by Seven Footer Press
Source: Library

Synopsis:
Stunning in its simplicity and grace, Mirror is visual tour-de-force that requires no words to tell its universal tale. Author and illustrator Suzy Lee masterfully creates a world where a little girl explores and dances — at first cautiously, later exuberantly — with her reflection in the mirror. When discord between the girl and her reflection surfaces, Lee’s unforgettable story provides a gentle reminder that our actions have consequences. A beautiful book sure to be embraced by the many fans of Wave, Suzy Lee’s Mirror strengthens her growing reputation as one of the most exciting new authors to watch.

Review:

I found this relatively short, wordless, picture book to be amazing. The book is about a girl looking at herself in the mirror and the art is stark and somehow so earnest. It presents this fascinating concept of not just looking at yourself in the mirror but also recognizing the image in the mirror as yourself. What if the image isn’t you? Even though it looks like you, acts like you and seems like you? How do you know? And when you break the mirror, are you also shattering? Fascinating sequences and beautiful art! Check it out.

Story’s End (Storybound #2) by Marissa Burt (review)

Hardcover, 416 pages
Published April 2nd 2013 by HarperCollins Children’s
Source: Publisher

Synopsis:
Long ago, a King ruled the land of Story. . . .

During his reign, Heroes, Villains, and characters of all kinds lived out new Tales filled with daring quests and epic struggles.

Then the King disappeared, and over the years, nearly everyone forgot that he had ever existed. Now an evil Enemy has emerged, determined to write a new future for Story that he will control. And an ordinary girl named Una Fairchild is inextricably tangled up in his deadly plan.

Una and her friends Peter and Indy are desperate to find a way to defeat the Enemy. But Una soon discovers that the real key may lie in her own mysterious ties to Story’s past–and to the long-forgotten King, who could be Story’s only hope for survival.

Review:

I rather liked Burt’s middle grade debut and wanting to see how the story ended, requested this one from the publisher. Perhaps it is because it was the ARC and the finished copy are somewhat different; perhaps the finished copy has been edited and is revised far more, but the story I read, while it retained an echo of the charm present in the first one, felt rather choppy and more cobbled together than a novel being sent out to reviewers should feel.

First there was that instance when you begin reading and you don’t recognize the characters, the plot or anything. A year has passed since the release of the first novel and usually the author spends some time recapping the events of the past book in whatever manner they choose to do so but I usually appreciate that they do because I, more often than not, forget what happened in it. I don’t foresee that being a problem for anyone reading the books after both of them are released but for anyone who read the first book a year ago, it may be better to go back and reread it before you read this one. I didn’t have time to do that so I was discombobulated for a good third of this book.

Then, too, there are the choppy bits. The perspective switches felt abrupt and I think a lot more could have been done with the fantastic world that was created than was done ultimately. The relationship between Snow and her mother was fascinating. I was convinced that Snow was adopted or something like that because of something her mother said but nothing came of it. In which case, the cryptic comment was unnecessary and frustrating. The villains were strangely flat and had no deeper motive than just greed – this affected Una’s character too as her inception from these characters though presenting intriguing discourses on nurture vs. nature again felt rather unfinished and undeveloped. The ending, too, felt sort of anticlimactic. It felt rushed and there was no proper resolution reached.

There was a lot of potential to this novel and I did enjoy it to a certain extent. At the same time, I felt the potential was not fully explored. The world is rich and populated by such interesting characters. So much could have been done; there were so many directions the narrative could have gone in but alas. Ultimately, even though the novel isn’t bad, it just wasn’t the awesome I expected.

Wish by Beth Bracken, Kay Fraser (review)

Hardcover, 306 pages
Published April 1st 2013
Source: Publisher

Synopsis:
With one wish made in Willow Forest, Soli and Lucy are pulled into Faerieground – and into the middle of an ancient battle. In the faerie kingdom, an evil queen searches for her daughter while the palace crumbles. To save her best friend, Soli must find her hidden strength. This is a story about friendship, growing up, and the power of wishes. This is a story about faeries and spells, queens and lost princesses, fireflies and four-leaf clovers. But mostly, this is a story about love.

Review:

Wish tells its story using the illustrations and rather simple prose. The plot itself is mostly straightforward though it does contain some twists that you may or may not be able to guess. It all depends on your level of familiarity with the fantasy genre. The book is beautiful. I was sent an ARC and it was full of full colour illustrations and photographs that depict an eerie forest and strange otherworldly beings.

The story itself is about two friends who are close enough to be sisters until a boy comes between them. There is a forest, a wish and then the story plays out as it was meant to. The book deals with themes of friendship and family. There are mommy issues though that is not addressed with as much depth as I would have liked it to be. As I said previously, the prose is simple and this makes it suitable for younger readers. I would say it could work for elementary school kids because it is just this side of a picture book. Middle graders will love this one as well.

I was enchanted by the fairytale and look forward to more installments in this series. Buy this one for the fledgling reader in your life. She or He will love it and you too.

Anastasia Krupnik (Anastasia Krupnik #1) by Lois Lowry (review)

Paperback, 113 pages
Published November 1st 1984 by Yearling

Synopsis:
Anastasia’s tenth year has some good things, like falling in love and really getting to know her grandmother, and some bad things, like finding out about an impending baby brother.

Review:

Though Lowry is, I believe, mostly famous for her dystopian series, The Giver, I think readers should also give the middle grade Anastasia Krupnik a read to see the breadth of Lowry’s writing skills. Her ability to weave into existence Anastasia, an irreverent, irrepressible and entirely charming ten year old is impressive. Anastasia is unintentionally witty and, to older readers, extremely funny as she charges full steam through life falling in love, falling out of love and making decisions (bad and good). Her proclamations and reactions to her parents have a ring of realism to them and she’s just incredibly funny.  Her observations will have more meaning to older readers who are experienced enough to understand her thoughts and the sly allusions.

Anastasia Krupnik is one of those books that will be enjoyed by both older readers and the younger ones. The younger ones will empathize and take everything at face value while the older ones will be able to recognize, as I said previously, the duality in Anastasia’s actions. For example, Anastasia decides to leave her house when she finds out she is getting a baby brother, she packs her clothes etc and younger kids will be on board the moving out train but older readers will smirk and wait for the realization that she has no other place to go to sink in.

Anyway, the book is short and funny. I recommend it. Read it to yourself or to a sibling!

Skellig – David Almond (review)

Paperback, 208 pages
Published September 11th 2001 by Laurel Leaf
Source: Library

Synopsis:
Michael was looking forward to moving into a new house. But now his baby sister is ill, his parents are frantic, and Doctor Death has come to call. Michael feels helpless. Then he steps into the crumbling garage and encounters a strange being who changes his world forever.

Review:

Skellig came rather enthusiastically recommended by our MACL chair and so I read it because it seemed interesting and well, because I am on a mission to immerse myself in all sorts of literature for children. In a genre that is overflowing with teen angels who are more angsty than you would think, Skellig is refreshingly different. This is middle grade rather than YA and not exactly paranormal in the ordinary sense of the word. The titular character is one of the most fascinating characters I have come across in literature – complex layers, ambiguous origins that remain obdurate even at the end, contradictory personality that successfully shows the vulnerability in the character.

For a children’s novel, Skellig is extremely sophisticated in its character construction. It is sensitive to gender issues and tackles themes of actual learning (which can be done anywhere and perhaps with greater richness) and school learning (that occurs in the rarified air of a classroom and is a particular type of learning that does not have the richness of learning that should be present in childhood). The main character is going through tough times – moving, a very sick baby sister and general isolation from things and people he is familiar to and absent parents. His fascination with what looks like a hobo in the garden shed is instantly worrying. Who is this odd character? Does he mean harm? Skellig is presented as an adult in this children’s world and to modern readers, there will be shades of villainy in his presence in the story.

However, Almond succeeds in narrating Skellig as this owl/angel character that defies all stereotypes one may have of his species. The book is almost uncomfortably realistic in its portrayal and yet there is this element of hope that becomes turgid with each revelation. The portion where the owls feed Skellig is one of my favourite sections of the novel. It just adds so  much potential to his character.

Michael’s friendships with the girl next door and his school friends are realistically  portrayed. I liked how Almond avoided melodrama and pathos but sustained this genuine feeling of grief where the sick baby is concerned. All in all, this was a worthy piece of literature that lingers long after the last page has been turned. It is also a short read so if you have time and are curious about owl/angels, I reckon you should give this a try.

One Plus One Equals Blue by M.J. Auch

Hardcover, 272 pages
Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Source: Publisher

Synopsis:
Twelve year-old Basil knows he’s special—he’s been associating numbers with colors since he was a kid. His gift (or curse) has turned him into somewhat of a loner, but his world begins to change when he meets Tenzie, the new girl in school who has similar freakisms. She, too, has synesthesia (a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another). At first, Basil is somewhat annoyed with Tenzie’s pushiness, but after Basil’s estranged mother returns, his life is turned upside down . . . and Tenzie may be the only person to help him put it back together again.

Review:

Meet Basil. He has got synesthesia which is an interesting disorder that causes you to experience two sensations at the same time (ish). He’s 12 years old and also, rather firmly, attached to his position as the class loser. Then there’s Tenzie. She’s also 12 and she also has synesthesia.

Both of them have parental issues. Basil’s mom abandoned him when he was a baby and he has no idea who his dad is. But he lives with his grandmother who is pretty darned cool in a superawesome house. Tenzie’s situation is a bit sadder because even though both her parents are very much present and accounted for, she may be a piece of furniture for all the attention they give her.

The novel is rather simple and lacks the complexity that makes for excellent crossover appeal. However, I think that younger readers will appreciate it and empathize with Basil’s bottom feeder status. He is a bit too surly at times for my taste but I think he is remarkably levelheaded for someone so young. Tenzie, on the other hand, starts out as smart and put together but her issues unravel her rather rapidly.

One thing I do have to mention though is that though the novel seems to set itself up as an exploration of synesthesia, it does not, in fact, go into very great detail about the disorder except at a very superficial level. Most of the narrative is engaged with Basil’s here and gone again mother who really does not add anything to the narrative. If you are really curious about synesthesia and would like to read about it in a fictional setting, I recommend Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson (YA) and A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass.

One plus One equals Blue is more about relationships. Between parents and children, between grandparents and grandkids. The book is about choosing your own family and being okay with being different. This will be a good book to give to kids who are having trouble at school or are being bullied.

The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo, Timothy Basil Ering (illustrator) (review)

Paperback, 272 pages
Published September 9th 2008 by Candlewick Press
Source: Library

Synopsis:
Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

Review:

If somebody had tried to tell me a month ago that one of my favourite books read in 2012 would have a little mouse as its protagonist, I would have laughed. I am not big on anthropomorphic characters. I mean, except cats that appear as characters. Those I love but mice and other talking things? Yeah, no, not my thing at all. However, Despereaux calls to mind something warm, something soft, defenseless. Like one of those pictures of kittens that are so plentiful on tumblr. How do you resist?

 

Anyway, the story itself is so heartwarming, so unassuming and so guileless that I couldn’t help but be swept away by the heroic quest of one of the least heroic characters I have ever come across in my reading career. Knowing that it is impossible for him and attempting to rescue the princess anyway? That is courage, people. No matter how flashy and beautiful The Invention of Hugo Cabret may have been, I think The Tale of Despereaux wins simply on account of how beautiful the story is. No, no one has been comparing the two, it’s just me.

 

I urge you to read this for yourself and if you have a child in your life, read it out loud to them. Watch the wonder in their eyes as they follow the adventures of one poor mouse who is condemned at birth and who even loses his tail. Watch them react to the horrible rats, especially the irascible villain of the piece who walks around with a spoon as a hat. This is a beautiful book, a classic really, and should find a home on your shelf in all its illustrated glory. Strongly recommended.

Terra Tempo: The Four Corners of Time (Terra Tempo) by David Shapiro (Author), Christopher Herndon (Illustrator)

Paperback, 253 pages
Published January 10th 2013 by Craigmore Creations
Source: Author

Synopsis:
Follow Ari, Jenna, and Caleb as they embark on their newest time travel adventure in Terra Tempo: The Four Corners of Time. When Ari discovers a time map of the Colorado Plateau, he and the twins find themselves on a fast paced journey from Earth’s underwater beginnings to the steamy jungles and awesome dinosaurs of the creepy Cretaceous. But this time, there is more at stake than just survival. This time, they are not alone. Join the intrepid trio as they venture into prehistoric life on Earth – they must find ways to protect their map and all of the precious resources that the map reveals, or the rest is prehistory!

Review:

 

This is the second volume in the Terra Tempo series and once again, we have Jenna, Caleb and Ari time traveling to exotic (in more ways than one) locations experiencing the flora and fauna of the age. The art is bright and colourful and the characters are interesting but for reasons I will expand on later, I did not enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the first one in the series.

The main attraction of this series, in my opinion, is its ability to make learning about the environment fun and engaging. The first one moved at a rather languid pace; it paid attention to details and ensured that there was no information overload. While there was an overarching narrative present, the focus was on the environment, the flora and the fauna.

In this installment, the focus shifts to the narrative: some villains on horses who are after the kids because they want the map, the origin of the map is not explained (there is an attempt but it is aborted halfway in for a very lame reason). The kids basically hop from one time period to another without stopping to experience and savor the vagaries of nature. The pace was just too fast and I think half of this book could have been another book altogether. The panels are too crowded and the action happens too fast. I think the pacing was the biggest issue of it all and maybe it’s because I am an adult reader, but I was troubled by it. Younger readers will possibly have no problem with the intense pace and enjoy the high tension.

Oh, and I have to mention this. The aunt is kind of creepy. I think it’s kind of noticeable that the only one she seems to converse with is Jenna. Why do we never see her interacting with the boys?  Why does she never have anything more intelligent to say about the environment or nature? I notice these kinds of things. In fact, they bother me a great deal.

However, while I did not enjoy this book to the same extent I did its predecessor, I do think the art and the way it makes the history of the earth come alive wins it a place in a classroom library.

Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm – Written by David Shapiro and Erica Melville, Illustrated by Christopher Herndon

Paperback, 143 pages
Published October 1st 2010 by Craigmore Creations
Source: Author

Synopsis:
Join in the adventure as Jenna, Caleb and Ari unlock the secret of time travel and journey back 15,000 years to witness the great Missoula Floods of the Ice Ages, the largest floods to have ever washed over the face of the earth. Experience the world of the not so distant past when giant mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the Pacific Northwest. Ride along with the time travel kids as they tour the changing landscapes from back of the mythic Thunderbird and work together to survive the dangers of the Ice Age Cataclysm in this epic graphic novel!

Review

This graphic novel presents a brilliant way for teachers to teach their kids about the environment, about the history of the world and about evolution. Grounded in a time traveling premise, the novel shows how three children journey to the Ice Age, explore their surroundings and witness events that gave the world the shape it is in today.

The art is easy on the eyes, vibrant and utterly beautiful. I don’t know how correct the drawings of the Ice Age animals are but I’m certain a lot of research was done to get them as authentic as possible. The story is infused with humour and a certain breathless curiousity about the world that adults tend to lose growing up. While there are pages where information is given out liberally, it is not in any way intense and manages to keep the information at level with the pace of the story.

I can see this book used in classrooms to pique the interests of children who are reluctant to study about the world and the animals that used to populate it. I can see it used by parents to coax starting readers. I can see it appealing to children who will read this book and have their imaginations fired up by it. I recommend it. it’s fun, accessible and informational.

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest – Charles de Lint, Charles Vess (Illustrator) (Review)

Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: March 5th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC from Publisher

Synopsis:
The magic is all around you, if only you open your eyes….

Lillian Kindred spends her days exploring the Tanglewood Forest, a magical, rolling wilderness that she imagines to be full of fairies. The trouble is, Lillian has never seen a wisp of magic in her hills–until the day the cats of the forest save her life by transforming her into a kitten. Now Lillian must set out on a perilous adventure that will lead her through untamed lands of fabled creatures–from Old Mother Possum to the fearsome Bear People–to find a way to make things right.

In this whimsical, original folktale written and illustrated throughout in vibrant full color by two celebrated masters of modern fantasy, a young girl’s journey becomes an enchanting coming-of-age story about magic, friendship, and the courage to shape one’s own destiny.

Review:

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest is the kind of folk fantasy that de Lint is most known for. At least, in my circles. His brand of fantasy is half fey, half wild, dealing in ephemeral phases, whimsical. Lillian is a fun character to follow around; she is spunky, adventurous and very opinionated. She will appeal to younger readers for her willingness to travel beyond what is comfortable and take chances where less braver souls would falter.

I particularly like the portion when Lillian first discovers that she has turned into a cat. Her gradual realization and acceptance of this fact feels authentic and funny. The fox is a fun character and makes for a perfect sidekick. The book is a pastiche of different mythologies colliding to create something that is distinct and yet, somehow, feels very Canadian. There is First Nations mythology, there are what seems like Sasquatches and there is transformation.

I like that it is not overtly didactic and though there are some morals, they are hidden within the narrative and not explicit. The illustrations will be amazing in the finished copy. The ARC has rough sketches but I am familiar enough with Charles Vess’s work to be quite confident in the final product without seeing it for myself.

The only thing I found a bit awkward was the twist. I found it rather strained and it had the effect of pulling me out of the narrative as I had to resituate myself in the story. Nevertheless, I found the novel to be interesting and fun. It will appeal to beginning readers with a penchant for fantasy. Recommended.