Time For School

 

The Three-Berry Academy by Joseph Helgerson

Quiet Quickthorn, the teacher at the Three-Berry Academy, needs to get her river troll students to school. The problem is they don't want to go.  She has to catch them first.

This is a fun, quirky book.  Quickthorn has to trick her students into coming to school.  Each chapter is the story of a different student, told in the voice of the student.  I like how each chapter is told in a distinctive voice.  They all have the same concept but Helgerson manages to make them all individual stories.  I enjoyed reading about the river trolls and learning about their lives and what they treasure enough to get caught.  I think children and adults will like this one.

I received a free copy of this book for review from Librarything.com early reviewers.

Who doesn't like a narwhal?

 Legend of the Narwhals by Robert Skead

When Prince Asgar's mother disappears he decides to go looking for her.  Joining him are his best friend, Tuka, and his little sister, Kari.  Along the way is danger, adventure, and legends.

This was okay.  It is a fun little adventure, fantasy story.  But I don't like Prince Asgar.  I don't like the way he treats his father, his best friend or his sister.  So the idea of him being a hero was not appealing to me.  The black and white illustrations were cute, with bold clean outlines, almost like they came out of a coloring book.  And I'm glad they put some narwhal facts at the end.   I like a story with Snow Monsters and I'm glad they didn't make them the bad guys here.  And though I like the idea of the narwhal connection it was awkwardly constructed in the the story.  It had a few moments that I enjoyed but I don't think it ever came together completely.

I received a free copy of this book for review from Librarything.com early reviewers.

Visit with the People of the Sea aka Dolphins

 Today (April 14th 2025) is National Dolphin Day!  How do you plan to celebrate?  Donate to a charity to save the dolphins, find someplace you can swim with the dolphins, or learn some news facts about dolphins?  I choose to read a book about dolphins.  Sort of.  Not a factual book, a fictional science fiction book, but still about dolphins.

Dolphin Island by Arthur C. Clarke

Johnny finds himself alone in the middle of the ocean after the craft he in on crashes.  He is saved by some passing dolphins who take him to a mysterious place called Dolphin Island

This is partly a coming of age story, partly a love letter to the oceans (especially dolphins), and partly an ode to the ingenuity of man.  Johnny finds himself far from home where he learns a lot about himself as he learns about the ocean and all the creatures in it.  I like the wonder in Johnny as he falls in love with the ocean.  I like that the book acknowledges the fact that animals are intelligent.  I like the science fiction elements set in a realistic story.  I didn't like the way the animals were treated.  Some of the attitude toward the animals is due to the fact that is was published 60 years ago but it is not easy to ignore it.  The moral dilemma of changing and using sea life to help humans is mentioned very briefly but is not really an issue.  They casually dig up a nest of turtle eggs to eat and attach electrodes to the brains of orcas without qualm.  It was still fun to read but some of the attitudes are outdated

Write Your Own Programming

 The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Roz, the robot, wakes up on an island with no humans, or other robots.  She is not programmed to survive in this world.  And the animal inhabitants think she is a monster.  Both Roz and the animals must adapt to survive.

This book is sad, funny, sweet and hopeful.  Roz may not have emotions but she does evoke them in the reader.  Most people can relate to feeling like they don't belong and can sympathize with Roz and will start to fall in love with her as she tries to fit in.  Most of the animals have big personalities too.  And once Roz learns how to communicate with them you can fall in love with them as well.  It is a heartwarming story as Roz learns to go beyond her programming.  I like how it isn't all Roz changing but the animals are learning and changing too.  It is a lovely story about family, learning to live together and going beyond expectations.  There are some sad moments.  Animals die.  But it is important to include the sad parts of life too.  And I don't think it ever gets too scary for children.  I would recommend this book and plan to read the others in this series.

The Wild Robot starring Lupita Nyong'o

After a shipwreck Roz, the robot, is stranded on an uninhabited island.  As she tries to navigate in a world her programming doesn't cover, where the animals think she is a monster, she also finds herself caring for an orphaned goose.  

The animation is wonderful.  The movie is full of fun moments, there are also sad times but it is mostly hopeful and loving.  It is a lot of fun watching Roz trying to fit in and learn how to survive in this strange world she doesn't understand.  You fall in love with Roz as she learns how to take care of her small goose  charge, and maybe even love him.  It is a beautiful story of learning to go beyond what you are told you are, learning to live and help others, and overcoming differences.  The ending includes some fighting and explosions that might be slightly scary for small children but it is a story about family and learning to live together with others who are not like you that everyone will enjoy. 

Movie vs Book

Once again I am left to wonder why the movie never really follows the book they are based on.  This movie is close to keeping the same themes as the book but how they get there is often different.  As usual I like the book better, but this time it is a closer call.  It was the movie that made me want to read the book, so I did enjoy the movie very much.  The movie is much more about Roz raising the baby goose and all the family problems that come from that.  I like the way the friendship between Roz and the animals is more gradual in the book and it isn't all about one big thing Roz does for the animals.  The movie has added some drama, both between Roz and Brightbill, the goose, and at the big ending.  I don't think the added drama was necessary, but I don't think it took away from the movie either.  I think they are both good and think both are worth your time, and if you like one I think you will like the other. 

The Ice Is Melting!!

 Today (February 27th 2025) is International Polar Bear Day! I hope that we will be able to celebrate next year as well.  And many years to come.  But the poor polar bears might not last that long. 

I did not want to go see a polar bear in person.  (They are awesome but they are also scary.)  So I read a book to celebrate instead.

A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson

Alex Carter has been offered a chance to study polar bears in the Canadian Arctic.  Of course, she has to go.  She loves the research and the potential to help polar bears survive.  But she quickly realizes that not everyone feels the same.  Someone is out to sabotage her research.  And then things get worse.  Will she be able to finish her study?  Will she even survive?

I really liked the way this book started out.  I was learning about polar bears and about what researchers did when they went out to study polar bears.  And there was the promise of a mystery.  I liked the descriptions of the location.  Then things started to happen and things got suspenseful.  And then things never stopped happening.  It was one thing on top of another and it went a little too far for me.  There were so many things happening to this one person in this one place and I felt like I needed a break to let one story develop before another took over, a moment when the life and death struggle stops so I can take a breath.  Then the action stops and there is a wrap up at the end that was all talking about what had already happened.  Being told about action we didn't see was a bit of a let down.  It went from nonstop action to no action within a page.  If you like animals A Blizzard of Polar Bears is fun to read.  It was not my favorite mystery novel I have ever read but I like the inclusion of wildlife and the mystery was good, so it grabbed my interest enough that I will read another in the series.

Feed a Squirrel Today!

Today (January 21st 2025) is National Squirrel Appreciation Day!  Now, not everyone appreciates these little guys.  My mother for one.  They ruin her garden every year and she can't stand them.  I happen to think they are kind of cute and have been known to throw them nuts sometimes.  (Don't tell my mother.) So, in honor of this special day I decided to read a book about squirrels.  

The Secret Life of Squirrels by Sue Pope

The grey squirrels are worried about having enough food for the winter.  They hear about trees that grow acorns all year long.  The only problem is these trees are on the Isle of Wight, where birth the humans and the red squirrels do not want grey squirrels.  The grey squirrels must find a way to get to this never ending food source even if it means war with the red squirrels.

I was browsing around on my local library's website and saw this book.  The story sounded fun, so I borrowed an electronic copy.  I read it on an app on my phone.  In that format the book had 681 pages.  I felt it was too long by about 400 pages.  Although the stated plot line is there, most of the book is not about that at all.  Most of the book is squirrels doing human things: going to concerts, learning to surf, ordering things on the internet, visiting the in-laws.  All of which is cute, up to a point.  But it is not enough to carry a whole book.  In an attempt to show the squirrels living their human-like lives the plot gets so lost it feels like there isn't one at all.  And it could have done with a good edit as well.  The story did have some fun moments.  It was fun to imagine squirrels having all the same problems as us and living this complex life right under the human's noses (humans who occasionally find evidence of this life and dismiss it as impossible) but, for me, it is too much.  The story never really goes anywhere.  After a while it just seems to drag on too much.  The idea had some great potential but I don't think it was realized here.

Eww, slimy!

 Amorphous Breaking the Mold by Steven Burgess

In the near future, an eclectic group of friends finds themselves in the center of an alien invasion.  When an interstellar object crashes into Earth and releases an alien lifeform that starts to subsume people the friends are surprised to find that they are the best chance to save the human race.

I can't say I didn't like this book, but it was not what I expected.  For an alien invasion story there was a lack of alien lifeforms in the first two thirds of the book.  I was also surprised by the fact that most of the book is conversation.  Even after the alien lifeform arrives, almost everyone (even the often mentioned AI) sits or stands around having philosophical discussions.  I was often left waiting for something to happen.  Anything.  Some of the discussions were interesting, but for me, it was too much.  Too much of the book takes place around a restaurant table.  I do like the interesting take on an alien invasion.  There were some fun moments.  But the write up is misleading and I was left slightly disappointed.  

I received a free copy of this book for review from Library Thing Early Reviewers.

Need a Tow?

 Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan

Toad loves to help others with his tow truck.  But what happens when Toad needs help?

This book won me over right from the start.  As soon as I saw Pop frying up a fly for breakfast I was sold.  From Davey Dog who hit a log or Mayor Hop who forgot to stop, a lot of people need Toad's help.  But Toad learns that sometimes even the helpers have to ask for help.  The illustrations are adorable.  Toad's desire to help makes him an endearing character and I love how his father is always there in the background ready to offer support.  It is a sweet, cute story that I think any child will love and it teaches them that you should not be afraid to ask for help.

I received a free copy of this book for review from Library Thing Early Reviewers.

Quite a Marvel

 The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

Ella is the first Conjuror to be accepted at the Arcanum Training Institute, a school for Marvellers.  She is excited and nervous.  Will she be accepted by the other students?  By the teachers?  Will she make friends?  Along with the regular perils of growing up and of being different, Ella finds out there are plots, schemes and evil afoot in the Institute.  With the help of her new friend Ella must find out what is going on.

This is fine if you like magical coming of age stories.  There are some moments that were fun, but I was rather unimpressed by the story as a whole.  I felt lost at times because ideas were not explained very well.  The beginning of the story is rather slow.  But my main complaint is that nothing feels new, or original.  I feel like I have heard this story before. It was a not unpleasant, but I never felt excited or engaged.  I have no desire to read the next books in this series. 

I got a free copy of this book from Bookishfirst.com.  

Where's me pot of gold?

 The Golden One by W.T. Kosmos

The Lumberjack Leprechauns have been felling trees for years, looking for a pot of gold.  But when the first democratic election results in deforestation regulations the Leprechauns hold a costume contest to find the next golden leader and get back to cutting trees.

This is a one act play.  It is goofy nonsense with a message.  It is nice and short which in this case is a good thing.  I think if it had been any longer, I would have lost interest.  It is funny and silly, but it does make you think.  I don't think this is going to change the world, but it might make some people think about who they are following and why.  And maybe plant a couple of trees.  If you are a fan of satire (or just like leprechauns) you should give it a try.

I got a free copy of this book for Librarything.com Early Reviews.

Beware the Beast

 In The Lair of Legends by David Buzan

Jolon Winterhawk is a Native American in the US Cavalry during the Civil War.  Every day is a struggle, as he tries to honor dual allegiances, to the Cavalry and his tribe.  Things get even harder when he is the only survivor when someone tries to steal a gold shipment he was transporting.  As he tries to get himself and the gold out of the wilderness, he comes face to face with a horrifying monster straight out of legend.

    

This book is nonstop action.  Right from the start there are explosions, gun fights, and escapes, some of them improbable but all of it exciting.  I like the idea of seeing Winterhawk's struggle between his two loyalties and with the prejudice against him.  Winterhawk is a very interesting character.  There are a few things here that I was not a fan of, however.  Buzan has a lot of sentences end in the middle, I understand the point, but I don't like it myself.  There is also a lot of technical gun information that seems excessive.  But the thing that I found most disappointing was the monster part of the story.  That was actually what attracted me to the book in the first place, but it felt out of place here. Whenever he shows up it feels it is outside of the rest of the story and has nothing to do with anything else.  I feel it would have been a better story without it.

I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.

Who Doesn't Like a Good Tort?

 

Send in the Tort Lawyers by T.C. Morrison

Where do you go when you find out your Belgian chocolates were not made in Belgium?  Or, despite what the adds say, the milk your ice cream is made from is not from happy cows?  You go to Pap and Pup, of course.  Twin brothers and the lawyers who will get you what you deserve.  As long as they think they can come up with a winning class action lawsuit that is.

Send in the Tort Lawyers is a farce that does not try to be subtle.  It can feel like you are being beat over the head with the puns sometimes.  But I did enjoy reading it.  It kept me amused and entertained throughout the entire novel.  There were people with names like Faith Heeler and Holly Woods and law firms with names like Fine and Dandy, but if that does not put you off then this is a book for you.  I can't really say there was a plot exactly, just an account of several of the cases that the law firm was handling (and some of the courtroom transcripts went on a little long for me) but I feel the book came to a satisfying ending.  Enough so that I am interested in reading the others in the series.

 I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.

Gwen, I Am Your Father

 An Otherwise Perfect Plan by Ken Schafer

Gwen Pendergrass has never met her father.  Her mother will not tell her much.  But when events in her life convince her to search for him, Gwen is determined.  With only a photo booth photo strip she sets out on an adventure to find her father.  

A coming-of-age story about a child looking for the father they never knew may not sound like the most original idea.  But there are enough unexpected incidents, so it does not feel like it has all been done before.  Some of those incidents are improbable, but not so outrageous that you can't believe them if you try.  It was not uninteresting to see all of Gwen's well-intentioned plans come to ruin and sometimes she was witty, but I had trouble connecting to this story.  My main problem is that I found Gwen annoying.  With all of her stream of consciousness and constant babbling and going off on long tangents that had nothing to do with the story I had trouble paying attention to her.  By the end, I will admit, I was interested and wanted to know how it would all work out.  But that didn't happen until I was three quarters of the way though the book.  I'm sure some people can relate to Gwen, some people will find her endearing.  Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.  

I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.

Fixing the roof is not the same as keeping the lid on

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns

In 1990 Seventeen-year-old Marley West pulls into town with her mother.  It has always just been the two of them, but then Marley meets the Joseph brothers, the local roofers, and their lives become intertwined in ways Marley could not foresee.  Soon it seems like the whole Joseph family revolves around Marley.  But the past doesn't die and secrets will out.  Can the family survive the turmoil of old wounds, the chaos of new ones, and the uncertainty of eerie discoveries?

The book starts out with a bang.  There is mystery and murder and the promise of old secrets coming to light.  But then it slows down, a lot.  It took me a while to get interested in the characters here.  But once I did, I was caught.  From the way the book began it was not what I expected.  I thought it was going to be more of a mystery, but it a character driven story about family.  All the parts of being a family, the good, the bad and the ugly.  It is heartbreaking at times and sometimes you want to smack some of the characters, but that's what good writing is all about.  You care enough about the characters to be mad at them, or happy for them, or worry for them.  The story follows the Joseph family through many changes as they try to deal with each other in a whirlwind of love, hate and hurt.  I like the way Burns uses Marley's appearance to show the family from the outside, both to the reader and to the family, so you can see the big picture.  I like how at the end you got to see a little from each person's perspective.  In the end I enjoyed the story a great deal, but after the lighting quick beginning the story took a little while to pick back up for me.  

I got a free copy of this book from Bookish First.

I Curse You

 Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool

A year ago Marlow's mother disappeared, forcing Marlow to give up everything she knew and start a new life as a curse breaker.  But no matter how many cases she can solve for other people she is unable to solve the one of her mother's disappearance.  When a man from her former life comes to her for help she does all she can to break his curse.  And along the way she just might find answers for herself as well.

Now, when I started this book I didn't know there was going to be a sequel.  So, when it ended in the middle of the story I was a little frustrated.  That might have affected my rating a bit.  But if you go in knowing there is a sequel you will not suffer the same fate.  And until the abrupt ending I was enjoying the story.  I like fantasy and magic and this book has lots.  I think Marlow, the main character, is well done.  She is bitter, but not so bitter that you can't like her, she can take care of herself but has some cool friends to help her out, she is confident enough in herself to be different, but is not obnoxious.  The story is full of intrigue, and secrets and magic and lies.  There is romance too.  Which usually I can do without.  But here it fits into the story without taking it over.  As I read, the story picked up speed and I did get wound up in it.  I enjoyed watching all the threads start to come together.  I wanted to get back to it to see how Marlow would work it all out.  It is a fun, rather quick read.  I will probably read the second one because I am involved with the characters now.  And I might seek out more by Katy Rose Pool in the future.

I got a free copy of this book from Bookish First.

It Didn't End With the War

 Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

As bombs fall over London, Beatrix's parents decide to send her to America, where they hope she will be safe.  She finds a new home in America, one that is hard to leave when the war is over.  Back in London the experience in America is still very much a part of her, and everyone else's life.

Although the war plays a crucial role in this book, this is not a book about the war.  It is a character driven story.  And every chapter is told from the perspective of a different character.  (Always in the third person.) I like how this gives you an insight into the minds of all of the characters and how you get to see the same event from different angles.  You get to see both sides of every coin.  You get to sympathize with the characters in a way that makes it almost impossible to choose sides in any conflict.  The characters are well written, and you feel their emotion through all the turmoil, joy and fear of their lives.  This one decision, to send their daughter to America, changed everyone's life forever and as the book spans many years you can see the repercussions of it as they grow and change.  It's a beautiful. if not always happy, story.  I found myself wanting to get back to the book so I could find out what happened to these people.  I was completely engaged from beginning to end.

I got a free copy of this book from Bookish First.

Out of the Frying Pan...

 Keyhole by George Morrison

Nick has a gambling problem.  A problem that has become so big it is now a matter of life and death.  But not to worry, his friend. Egrog. has a scheme that will make them both rich and solve all of Nick's problems.  But Egrog's plans don't always work out and this new scheme might turn out to be more dangerous than the thugs following Nick.

This is a fun, light, silly, slightly goofy book.  It poses questions like 'is God real?' and 'in an advanced society why is there still crime?' which may sound like heavy reading material, but don't worry, there is very little thinking needed here.  The characters are interesting and the plot has enough excitement and surprises to keep you reading without getting bored.  It moves at a good pace and you will find that it will not take you very long to read.  If you like comic science fiction this is worth a look.  It would be a good choice when you just want to be entertained without putting a lot of work or thought into it.  I enjoyed it and I think if you like science fiction and fun you will too.

I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.

Give Until It Hurts

 Panacea Project by Catherine Devore Johnson

Calla has lived her whole life shunned by most people because of a skin condition that leaves white patches on her skin.  But one day doctor's discover that the cure for cancer might be in her blood.  Now everyone wants a piece of her, literally.  

Is this book believable?  Not really.  Did I enjoy reading it?  Yes, I did.  I don't know much about medicine but I think a lot of the science here wouldn't hold up and I'm pretty sure a hospital would not let a lot of this happen.  But I wasn't looking for science when I read the book so I was alright with that.  I do think that Calla seemed a little too naïve for someone who had to look out for herself her entire life, but I still liked her.  She was trying to do the right thing, trying to help people, and people took advantage of that.  So I felt for her.  And maybe the medical science here is unbelievable but the people's reaction to her is not.  You can imagine what people would do if they found out that there was a cure for their, or a loved one's, cancer.  What would you be willing to do if you thought you could save your dying child?  What is Calla's responsibly to other people when she could help so many?  Does she have one at all?  It does make you think about things.  Calla makes all the decisions seem like easy ones, and I wish she was a little more conflicted because I don't think it would be as easy as it seemed here.  And I wish Johnson had left out the romance angle completely.  It was unnecessary and felt very forced.  But the story moved at a quick pace and was compelling enough that it kept me up reading long after I should have been in bed.  

I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.

At What Cost the Stars

 Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby

Jessica is being transported across space to meet her parents on the spaceship, Theseus.  Or so she thought.  But she wakes up in a blood-stained crash site on an unknown planet.  She needs to find out what happened and what to do now.

I thought this book was a lot of fun. I always wanted to get back to it so I could find out what happened next. I liked the way it was told in 'before' and 'after' sections, so you see where she ended up and then go back to figure out how she got there. There is adventure and danger and excitement, but it also makes the reader think about what makes you, you. It presents a lot of questions about identity without becoming overly philosophical to the point that it interferes with the flow of the story. There are some things that happen that don't seem to have any logical (or any other) explanation. And there is a scene (a rather long one) that seems to have nothing to do with the plot. But I have to admit it didn't bother me at the time of the reading. I assumed it would all come together at the end. I was only disappointed when it was over and things that I felt needed to be explained were not explained. It had a couple of hiccups, but I still found it enjoyable and would be interested in reading more by Kirby.

I got a free copy of this book from Bookish First.

Her sting packs a punch

 The Wasp Queen by Julie Stielstra

An impulsive curse changes the course of the lives of several people, including the royal family.  Some people have benefitted but some have not.  Can they all figure out how to reverse the curse?  And does everyone want to?

It is a fairytale.  It is a fun story with a cast of interesting characters.  The story moves fast and keeps your interest all the way through.  I like the whole concept of it.  There is someone to root for, someone to hate, and the conflicted character that you hope does the right thing in the end.  The story was rather simple, in keeping with the fairytale feel.  What let me down a little was the very convenient circumstance that came up without reason and disappeared when it was not needed any more (also without reason.)  And the solution to the problem was simple and I knew it all along, as will most readers, while the characters seem unable to figure it out.  But I still enjoyed the book.  It is a fun. light read you will be able to finish in a day or two.  

I got a free copy of this book from Librarything.com, Early Reviewers.