The Unicorn's Tale

The Unicorn's Tale by R. L. LaFevers

My favorite part of this series continues to be my children’s enjoyment of it. Even tonight, the eight-year-old asked out loud, “I wonder when the next Beastologist will be out.” I don’t know dear. I don’t know, but I am looking for something to tide her over until it is published.

For such a slight novel, only 144 pages, it is amazing how well it holds their attention and keeps them clamoring for more. The chapters are short enough that I try to read two a night and when we run out of time for books, I don’t feel guilty sneaking one chapter in anyway. The cliffhangers continue and they keep them guessing. You can see their gears turning.

I don’t think I have ever mentioned the illustrations. The original volume featured the main character’s own sketches as well as black and white illustrations, but by the fourth book, those have disappeared. We haven’t missed them. The pictures are charming even if they aren’t contributed to a ten-year-old boy. My favorite memory from reading this particular book came when we were reading about a guivre, French for serpent, but here a legless water-dwelling dragon. I didn’t know how to pronounce it let alone know what it was, but we turned the page and the three of us, simultaneously, went “awwwwwwwwwwwwwww” long enough to attract their father’s attention. He had to have a gander. Imagine a large snake with the head of a cow and the frills of a lizard behind its “ears”. I’d take a book on just that little guy.

This addition to the series is not about dragons. It is about something dearer to a young girl’s heart – UNICORNS! Who knew there were so many types of unicorns? There is even an excerpt from the Book of Beasts on the different kinds of unicorns, from the Unicornis monocerus (rhino) to the Unicornis kirinus, an Asian variety.

The Fludd’s are called away from their pursuit of their evil cousin Obediah. They travel quickly to France. The unicorn in the forest of Broceliande is behaving out of character. She is stealing blankets and pillows and acting aggressively towards the caretaker. Something is wrong and Aunt Phil must determine the problem and provide a remedy before someone is seriously hurt. The caretaker, a faun, is a novelty in and of himself. Fortunately, the Fludds have a secret weapon at their disposal – a young maiden – the gremlin, Greasle. Love it!

Aside from the guivre, the best part of this book is that we finally learn more about what happened to Nate’s parents. There is a chance they could be alive! And Obediah might be in a position to bargain… The series really should be read in order. If you are interested, start with…

Book 1: The Flight of the Phoenix

Book 2: The Basilisk’s Lair

Book 3: The Wyvern’s Treasure

Recommended to kids Kindergarten through 5^th grade (reluctant readers). Although even the 7^th grader enjoys it as a relaxing read aloud!

No Crystal Stair

No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

This work of documentary fiction is a 2013 Coretta Scott King Honor book. I was thrilled that out of the entire list of King winners this year, there was only one work of fiction – less for me to read.

Please keep in mind that I am (still) COMPLETELY enamored (and spoiled) by Bomb, my first cover to cover nonfiction juvenile/young adult book that I wasn’t forced to read. Whereas Bomb was nonfiction that read like a fast-paced spy thriller, No Crystal Stair read like, well, stale nonfiction. While Bomb read like a trustworthy, well-researched work based upon fact, No Crystal Stair was forced to be called fiction because of the lack of sources to fill in the blanks.  It became difficult to determine what was based upon fact versus that which was based upon supposition.

I will get the negative out first, so please stay tuned for the positive. There were approximately 36 different voices contained within about 162 pages. It is tough to keep track of so many minds. It actually made the book read more like a scrapbook or a yearbook. Obviously some stories were more interesting than others. The FBI files were a flop. FBI files are only interesting when they show proof of shifty dealings. The files only showed that despite the high traffic of African Nationals, Lewis Michaux was not a risk.

In some cases, important personages were mentioned because they frequented the Harlem bookstore, Malcolm X for instance. And those people were often times more fascinating to read about than the actual subject of the novel. The reader is led to assume that the bookseller is important by the presence of these people.

The book covers a ridiculous amount of time – The 1930s to the present, ending with the thoughts from people alive today who knew, were influenced, or benefitted from by Dr. Michaux. It made for a very choppy read. It also threw potential suspense right out the door. One memorable flaw was when Mr. Michaux started being referred to as Dr. Michaux for no apparent reason. Then in a later chapter, his honorary degree is finally mentioned. Backwards.

I really did not enjoy reading this book. I never got excited about it. I was elated to finally get it over with and that is unfortunate. There was no depth. Lewis Michaux is a charming, intelligent, ambitious and motivating character. I really wanted to learn more about the work he did.

The positive. What an amazing dream this man had. Lewis Michaux grew up a thief, but grew into a man who knew the importance of not only books, but reading them and reading as many of them as one could get a hold of. But more significantly, it was the kind of books he made available and the people he made them available to. Dr. Michaux was determined that the black people read. He wanted them to read books by, for, and about black people, American, African or otherwise. The banks run by white men would not finance his dream because they did not think that black people would choose to read. Dr. Michaux saw this as a challenge. He found the money and started with five books and a book cart. It grew into a community.

It is sad, frustrating for me to look around and see the apathy of the American people. I think Dr. Michaux would be ashamed. I think we need people with a dream to better their people and motivate them into action. We have become too lazy. I would love to a have a Harlem library at the library. I just need to find the right person to staff it. Dr. Michaux was unique, special, flawed, but he got the job done.

I recommend learning more about the Harlem Bookseller… I just wish a had a better resource to recommend.

Wonder

Wonder by R. J. Palacio (audio book)

Wonder is the book I was hoping against hope would win the Newbery award because I wanted to read it most desperately. After reading the scholarly reviews, I couldn’t understand why we had ordered only one copy for our shelves. I was positive it would fly off said shelves and never be available. I was determined to purchase more. No, it didn’t win the Newbery. In my opinion, it won bigger. It is on BOTH the 2014 Caudill Nominee list AND the 2014 Bluestem Nominee list. And of course I’m talking it up all over the place!

I’m going to call this a “walk-in-another-person’s-shoes” book. We had a couple of them on the Caudill list last year. There was Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper about a quadriplegic girl in special education, but with an amazing, photographic mind. There was Anything But Typical about the autistic boy who could communicate well through writing, but not in person. Wonder is about ten-year-old Auggie, a boy born with a cranial facial abnormality. For those of us who don’t understand subtleties – his face is deformed. He suffers from a form of Treacher-Collins Syndrome with additional, unspecified complications. He is hard to look at and he knows it.

This novel is told in six voices. Auggie begins the book and ends the story. His is the voice that we most want to hear. Very few of us have any idea whatsoever what it feels like to be substantially different. I know that when I have even a fever blister on my lip, I feel as though everyone is looking at me in disgust. It is the only thing they look at – stare at. It makes me feel like I want to stay in bed. I go to great lengths to cover it up. Auggie states, “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” Auggie is used to people looking at him in horror and disgust and fright. It breaks my heart that a child would have to go through life this way. That is the uniqueness of the book. We get to hear his story without having to face him. We fall in love with the child he is inside. And our own lives are put into perspective.

Other voices we hear from include his big sister, Via, her childhood best friend, Miranda, and Via’s first and new boyfriend, Justin. We also hear from a couple of kids, true friends, from his new school, Summer and Jack. Theirs are the voices that we most need to hear. I readily admit that I have a hard time seeing/finding the real person behind the unfortunate circumstances. It is hard to look, but it is also hard to look away. The person becomes the syndrome and loses their individuality. They become a tragedy rather than a miracle. Kids have testified to me that they are scared to look at someone who looks so different. I am ashamed, but I am afraid we are only human until we find the humanity. This book gives us the opportunity to see the person.

So Auggie has been homeschooled up until the age of ten. Part of the reason that his parents kept him home was because of the tremendous amount of painful surgeries Auggie had to go through. They had to protect him from pain and infection. But the obvious reason was to protect his young heart from the stares and the cruelty and the ridicule. His mom decides that he needs to socialize and perhaps she has taught him all that she can, as well as she can. Auggie’s father is blunt. He thinks sending Auggie to a school, even a private school, is like leading a lamb to the slaughter. Auggie is not thrilled, but eventually warms to the idea. And the rest is in the book. Auggie makes his mark. Not with everyone, but with enough people to change the atmosphere of the school. This is an ace in my book! Recommend to 3^rd through 8^th grade kids and their parents.

Follow the author's campaign to Choose Kind.

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Confession. I am the person who didn’t want to read this book. I am the person who was monumentally disappointed when it won the Newbery. I am the person who had thirty-eight books under her bed - 38 books that various librarians nationwide had picked to be in the serious running for the Newbery. Yes, Ivan was among them, but several others had caught my eye. Several made my hands itch to acquire them. Several demanded that I begin them NOW. And I would have except for the high demand created for the actual Newbery winner. I had to read it and release for the next patron.

I really don’t like sad animal stories. I really don’t want to be made to cry. And it is a sad animal story. And it did make me cry even though I tried hard to resist. But it is more than that. I felt guilty for not liking it. I felt guilty for actually disliking it. Now, this is nothing new. I rarely like the Newbery winner. I usually prefer at least one if not more of the honor books. This is to the point that I feel I actively choose to dislike the book. Lots of other folks seem to love it. Why can’t I? Very simply, we all have different tastes. And that is okay. So I am going to tell you what I think… honestly.

I found this book to be boring and plodding. It proved very well how excessively draining it would be to sit in a small enclosed cage day after day, year after year for a lifetime. And how exhilarating it would be to be free of it.

I don’t like poetry. Especially free verse. Who would have thought a gorilla would think in free verse? Okay, so maybe it’s not actually free verse, but it is substantially poetic. For an ape who thinks “Humans waste words… Humans speak too much… They chatter like chimps, crowding the world with their noise even when they have nothing to say,” he sure filled up 300 pages!

The illustrations. Ugh. Anthropomorphic animals. I’ve come up with a new word because of this book… Dumbosized. Not as in size – Ruby’s ears are not large. No, Ruby doesn’t look like a real elephant. She has been given huge human eyes. To play upon our emotions? Illustrations are few and far between and oddly chosen. And they are probably my least favorite part of the book.

And finally. I know, you’re begging me to stop. Animals are not people. I am not the only person to sense it, but there seems to be an underlying message in this novel that humans and animals are equal. A sign held in protest in the book reads, “Elephants are people too.” Ivan goes on quite a bit about humans, gorillas and chimps all belonging to the same family. Don’t get me wrong. Animals are important. They are a part of our world. We are the caretakers of this world and its resources (whether we do a good job or not.) But teaching our children that we are equal to gorillas? After all, a gorilla didn’t really write/think this novel.

Another Newbery down. I still think Bomb is the best in 2013!

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

I cannot imagine how I have read all of the books in this series with my kids and yet have never managed to review them. Not. A. Single. One. The entire family went to watch the movie, How to Train Your Dragon, when it was first in theaters. We own it. We love it. It is a favorite. When my youngest was younger, I used to draw pictures of cats for her to keep her entertained. After we saw the movie, it was vital to learn how to draw the main dragon, Toothless. I cannot begin to count the number of pictures I drew of Toothless, who is modeled after a big cat.

It was most likely the summer after we saw the movie that I checked out the first book in the series to read as a bedtime story. We loved the movie; they had the same title; chances were that we would enjoy the original story. Boy, were we in for a surprise! We were positively, absolutely enthralled by the story. But it was really, not even remotely the same as the movie. And we didn’t care. Nine books later with a scheduled twelve total and this series continues to be a terrific read-aloud. The kind where your kids hold you hostage until you read another chapter.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the son of Stoick the Vast, the Chief of the Viking tribe known as the Hairy Hooligans. Oh, hear his mighty name and tremble, ugh! Ugh! Stoick is BIG and LOUD and HAIRY and STRONG, but he isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the socket. Back to poor Hiccup. His peers, the Hairy Hooligan initiates, call him Useless. Hiccup is small and quiet and hairless and weak. Not the kind of Viking you would want to be the next Chief of the Tribe.

This series is the story of how to become a hero the hard way. Time and again, Hiccup is forced into a leadership role against his will as well as against the will of his companions. But time and again, Hiccup saves the day using his unique skills and gifts. He is a quick thinker AND he can speak Dragonese. Hiccup is not alone. His best friend is Fishlegs. If Hiccup is considered Useless, Fishlegs is worse. He is an orphan with allergies, a squint and asthma. Calling him a wimp is an understatement. Eventually in the series, you will meet Camicazi from the Bog-Burglar Tribe. She is everything a Viking Warrior needs to be AND female to boot!

The number one reason why I think we love these books so much is the characters. They have funny names and funny mannerisms: Snotface Snoutlout, Dogsbreath the Duhbrain, Big-Boobied Bertha. Their names really say it all. And talk about fun to say! The second reason I think these books work so well is the sheer hilariousness of the situations. Sometimes we have a hard time continuing the story because we are laughing so hard. A third reason that we enjoy them so much is that the writing is so catchy like a song hook. For days we walked around stating that there was “Something Nasty in the Cauldron.” My personal favorite reason for reading these books… I am hoping that Ziggerastica the Nanodragon who thinks he is a god will make another appearance. He is my FAVORITE!! Seriously, when you love a series, you could gush on and on and on and on. But in this case – READ THE BOOK!! OUT LOUD! It is worth losing your voice.

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

This book won the 2013 Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book [published in English in the preceding year] for its significant contribution to children’s literature. It received the corresponding 2013 award, Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, as well. It was a 2012 National Book Award finalist. And it received a 2013 Newbery Honor. (Having read half of the 2013 Newberys so far, this is still, by FAR, my favorite!)

But more importantly! I, a confessed hater of nonfiction, cannot stop talking about it! I realize that I am not the only person who despises nonfiction. And I am not the only person of such disposition to come out and hail this book as simply – WOW!!!!! Steve Sheinkin, the author and former history textbook writer, has set the bar for future nonfiction exceptionally high. He has a gift. We are fortunate that he gave up his criminal past, writing textbooks, and turned toward the respectable goal of sharing his passion for all of the incredible and moving stories he uncovered during his research.

Bomb has everything! Presidents, Prime Ministers, Dictators. Assassins, Spies and Traitors. Awkward, socially-stunted scientists with morals. And gung-ho, commando, military officers who are not allowed to have them – morals. FBI, KGB, and my absolute favorite word – Saboteurs. Did I say everything? You wouldn’t be interested if I included wives, girlfriends and secretaries although they have a role as well.

This book includes everything that you never get to in history class with a lot of bit of science included. There are too many storylines to count, but they are all wrapped up succinctly into an anxiety-inducing race to win the War against Hitler. America rushes to build the bomb first, before Hitler acquires the weapon that would allow him to take over the world. And the Germans have a head start. Poor Russia is so far behind in the arms race that they must beg, borrow and steal to keep up.

I think this book is also very timely. I am not old enough to remember the terror of the Cold War. I have never been suitably afraid of the Bomb. I have limited textbook knowledge. I have heard the political rhetoric. But until now, I have only had a shallow awareness of the consequences of a country with atomic power, but no love for the global community. And the news out of North Korea is frightening alone. Forget the Middle East.

I am so excited about this book and this author that I have another of his works of nonfiction waiting on my desk – The Notorious Benedict Arnold. This is monumental in my book. Reading children’s nonfiction is a no-brainer for me. “Don’t bother.” But Steve Sheinkin seems set on changing my mind! He has succeeded. I read Bomb in two sittings. Captivating! Recommended to 5^th graders through adults! WOW!

Reached

Reached by Ally Condie

There is no point saying that this book was a huge disappointment. I never had high or even slight expectations for it anyway. As much as I hoped the author might pull it together for a thrilling conclusion, making the 1,248 page trilogy worth my while, I didn’t think there was actually a chance. This last volume of the trilogy will go down in my “book” with Inheritance and Going Bovine as one of the worst books I ever willingly chose to read.

The first book in the series, Matched, looks great after this monstrosity. I remember it fondly. The second book, Crossed, was my indication that this series, which includes a revolutionary leader known as the Pilot, didn’t have any direction or guidance itself. The author doesn’t seem in control of a direction and she didn’t receive useful guidance from an editor. Quantity over Quality is the mantra of the Information Age. What will it take to get us back to fewer, but superior novels? Probably an apocalypse that leads to a dystopian/dysfunctional society…

On the positive side, book #1 was written in Cassia’s voice. Book #2 was written in both Cassia and Ky’s voice. Book #3 was written in Cassia, Ky AND Xander’s voice. And Xander is the character that finally stole the show. Had the series still been in development, I would have instructed the author to switch protagonists and try again. Cassia and Ky are really not worthy to share the limelight with a real rebel and hero – Xander. He is a true leader.

Xander is a physic, or doctor. Another part of the book that I found interesting involves the Plague. The Society created a Plague to kill off the Enemy, but an unfortunate side effect was that the Society’s water became polluted with the virus as well. Fortunately, the Rising has the Cure and Xander is at the forefront of administering the Cure when the Rising finally takes over. Unfortunately, the virus mutates into a secondary plague for which there is no cure. And guess who takes the lead in the race for a new cure? Yes, indeed, Xander.

At the same time, the Plague arc of the story receives way too much detailed description. The trilogy was not set up to be about a Plague and yet book three is all about the Plague. I was of the belief that the trilogy was going to be about the Society and its ill-intent against the masses. It was also going to be about the rise of the Rising to conquer the Society and restore Choice to the people. And I think many were led to believe that there was going to be a love triangle along the way. There is no epic battle. The Rising is no better than the Society. And there really isn’t any real love in the triangle. Saying you are in love with someone isn’t truth without the actions to go with.

In general, I felt like the three books that were published were more the ground work needed to create a world that would become a novel, but weren’t quite the novel yet. The author spends an inordinate amount of time philosophizing. Some of it is quite intriguing, but doesn’t make a good story. I like her idea or concept. I don’t think it was carried out successfully. Not likely to read anything else by this author.