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emvsmith's reviews
855 reviews
This Is My America by Kim Johnson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by Carrie Ryan, McCormick Templeman, Marie Lu, April Genevieve Tucholke, Kendare Blake, Jonathan Maberry, Nova Ren Suma, Leigh Bardugo, A.G. Howard, Jay Kristoff, Danielle Paige, Megan Shepherd, Cat Winters, Stefan Bachmann
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
I REEEAALLLLY liked the stories I read from this, but it had to be returned ot the public library, and then when the copy in my library was lost my motivation to finish plummeted.
Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ho-limlim: a Rabbit Tale from Japan by KeizaburÅ Tejima
2.0
Summary: After an aging rabbit repeatedly sees things not as they are and decides that staying home is better.
Review: I liked this well enough I suppose. I am not familiar with Japanese folk tales, and found the theme a little strange. The old rabbit seems to accept that the world is too confusing for him and it is better for him to stay home. I would agree with Mary Burns from Horn Book Magazine found it,"Valuable as it is for aesthetic considerations, this work would also dramatically enhance intercultural curricula." In Patricia Dooley's review she focuses mostly on the wood cut illustrations which she calls "stunningly good".
Reviews Cited:
Burns, Mary M. Ho-limlim: A Rabbit Tale from Japan. Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb91, Vol. 67 Issue 1, p77-78, 2.
Dooley, Patricia. Ho-limlim: A Rabbit Tale from Japan (Book). School Library Journal, Nov90, Vol. 36 Issue 11, p108, 2p.
Review: I liked this well enough I suppose. I am not familiar with Japanese folk tales, and found the theme a little strange. The old rabbit seems to accept that the world is too confusing for him and it is better for him to stay home. I would agree with Mary Burns from Horn Book Magazine found it,"Valuable as it is for aesthetic considerations, this work would also dramatically enhance intercultural curricula." In Patricia Dooley's review she focuses mostly on the wood cut illustrations which she calls "stunningly good".
Reviews Cited:
Burns, Mary M. Ho-limlim: A Rabbit Tale from Japan. Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb91, Vol. 67 Issue 1, p77-78, 2.
Dooley, Patricia. Ho-limlim: A Rabbit Tale from Japan (Book). School Library Journal, Nov90, Vol. 36 Issue 11, p108, 2p.
Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert
3.0
Summary: A cat tries repeatedly to catch a bird for his lunch but only ends of with feathers
Review: I was initially drawn to this book for it's cut paper illustrations, but once I read it I was impressed by the specificity in which each bird and flower is depticted. The story of a cat who would love a bird for lunch is entertaining, but not really silly or funny. I think Carolyn Caywood says it well when in her School Library Journal review she describes the book as "both a story and a beginning nature guide." The last section of the book it titled "The Lunch that Got Away" and shows each bird and provides some facts and characteristics. Diane Roback, in her review, highlights the illustrations as well as this factual content by commenting that it "is at once an inspiring introduction to bird-watching and a pure visual treat".
Reviews Cited:
Caywood, Carolyn. "Fiction -- Feathers for Lunch written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. " School Library Journal 1 Dec. 1990: 77
Roback, Diane, and Richard Donahue. "Feathers for Lunch." Publishers Weekly 237.n35 (August 31, 1990): 64(1).
Review: I was initially drawn to this book for it's cut paper illustrations, but once I read it I was impressed by the specificity in which each bird and flower is depticted. The story of a cat who would love a bird for lunch is entertaining, but not really silly or funny. I think Carolyn Caywood says it well when in her School Library Journal review she describes the book as "both a story and a beginning nature guide." The last section of the book it titled "The Lunch that Got Away" and shows each bird and provides some facts and characteristics. Diane Roback, in her review, highlights the illustrations as well as this factual content by commenting that it "is at once an inspiring introduction to bird-watching and a pure visual treat".
Reviews Cited:
Caywood, Carolyn. "Fiction -- Feathers for Lunch written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. " School Library Journal 1 Dec. 1990: 77
Roback, Diane, and Richard Donahue. "Feathers for Lunch." Publishers Weekly 237.n35 (August 31, 1990): 64(1).
Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads, Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move by Robin Page, Steve Jenkins
3.0
Summary: Animals are shown doing different two different actions; snakes slither and snakes climb.
Review: I love cut paper designs, and these are especially spectacular. The illustrations provide the texture and dimension of the animal they portray in different movements. I really enjoyed the way that the animals were were shown in two movements connecting them with another very different animal who moves the same way. The pictures make the book for me, but the text is more than adequate. I enjoyed the additional information in the back of the book providing factual information about each of the species featured. I fully agree with Susan Weitz in her review in School Library Journal when she describes it as "gorgeous and educational". Betty Carter from the Horn Book Magazine makes a good point when she describes the text, "each sentence visually echoes the action of the verbs". This is something I hadn't notices, but adds a nice touch.
Reviews Cited:
Susan Weitz. School Library Journal. New York: Jun 2006. Vol. 52, Iss. 6; pg. 136, 1 pgs
Carter, Betty. "Steve Jenkins and Robin Page Move!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)." The Horn Book Magazine 82.3 (May-June 2006): 344(1).
Review: I love cut paper designs, and these are especially spectacular. The illustrations provide the texture and dimension of the animal they portray in different movements. I really enjoyed the way that the animals were were shown in two movements connecting them with another very different animal who moves the same way. The pictures make the book for me, but the text is more than adequate. I enjoyed the additional information in the back of the book providing factual information about each of the species featured. I fully agree with Susan Weitz in her review in School Library Journal when she describes it as "gorgeous and educational". Betty Carter from the Horn Book Magazine makes a good point when she describes the text, "each sentence visually echoes the action of the verbs". This is something I hadn't notices, but adds a nice touch.
Reviews Cited:
Susan Weitz. School Library Journal. New York: Jun 2006. Vol. 52, Iss. 6; pg. 136, 1 pgs
Carter, Betty. "Steve Jenkins and Robin Page Move!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)." The Horn Book Magazine 82.3 (May-June 2006): 344(1).
Ned Feldman, Space Pirate by Daniel Pinkwater
5.0
Summary (CIP): One day when Ned's parents are out, he meets Captain Lumpy Lugo, a space pirate who comes from the galaxy Foon-ping-baba, and they spend the afternoon travelling through outer space
Review: I laughed out load, several times! This story reminded me creative writing in the fourth grade. The concept, voice, and details capture that level of sophistication and silliness. For instance, the summary mentions that Ned's parents are out and at the end of the book we learn that they were out watching professional wrestling.
School Library Journal review found the characters appealing and amusing with Pinkwater's unique brand of humor.
Booklist refers to the book as science fiction in one of it's milder forms, and comments that "Pinkwater fans will enjoy the zany author/illustrator's latest trip into the light fantastic."
Review: I laughed out load, several times! This story reminded me creative writing in the fourth grade. The concept, voice, and details capture that level of sophistication and silliness. For instance, the summary mentions that Ned's parents are out and at the end of the book we learn that they were out watching professional wrestling.
School Library Journal review found the characters appealing and amusing with Pinkwater's unique brand of humor.
Booklist refers to the book as science fiction in one of it's milder forms, and comments that "Pinkwater fans will enjoy the zany author/illustrator's latest trip into the light fantastic."
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
3.0
Summary (CIP):In a land where beauty and singing are valued above all else, Aza eventually comes to reconcile her unconventional appearance and her magical voice, and learns to accept herself for who she truly is.
Review: I had mixed feeling beginning this book, but it ultimately won me over. I was scared to invest myself in a book that equated happiness with beauty, and I wasn't so into the songs either. I learned to appreciate both the theme, which had much more depth than I originally suspected, as well as th songs, many of which are quite poetic and beautiful.
School Library Journal gives a starred review, calling it "A distinguished addition to any collection"
Booklist also gave a starred review, and I agree when they state, "The telling, in Aza's voice, is sophisticated, and readers may initially feel like foreign travelers who lack cultural context."
Review: I had mixed feeling beginning this book, but it ultimately won me over. I was scared to invest myself in a book that equated happiness with beauty, and I wasn't so into the songs either. I learned to appreciate both the theme, which had much more depth than I originally suspected, as well as th songs, many of which are quite poetic and beautiful.
School Library Journal gives a starred review, calling it "A distinguished addition to any collection"
Booklist also gave a starred review, and I agree when they state, "The telling, in Aza's voice, is sophisticated, and readers may initially feel like foreign travelers who lack cultural context."