Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Month in Review(s) - June 2016

We're half-way through the year folks! Which is kind of rocking, really, because it means we're that much closer to Christmas.

(I love Christmas!)





Anyway, back to the summer-ish-ness of June, and I can honestly say I read a little bit of everything this month.










Plus it was a pretty fab month blog-wise: I reached over 750 Twitter followers, over 15k blog page-views (ARGH!!!!!) and over 30 Bloglovin followers.




AND JUNO DAWSON LIKED MY TWEET!!!!!!

(I'm a massive Juno Dawson fan - so this was kind of a fantabulously big deal to me.)






So catch up on all my reviews this month with this handy link-list (and I've added cover images, because I spoil you.)




Kids










Young Adult







Say Her Name by Juno Dawson - Horror, Ghost Story
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly - Historical Fiction, Crime







Adult







Life Blood by V M Black - Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Novella
Landline by Rainbow Rowell - Contemporary, Chick Lit, Magic Realism, Romance* (*ish)






Graphic Novels






Codename Baboushka, Vol: The Conclave of Death - Spy, Gangster, Thriller, Crime
Klaw, The First Cycle - Young Adult, Fantasy, Superhero*, Paranormal* (*ish - there are shifters of various types and somewhat of a superhero origin story.)




Saturday 25 June 2016

Mini-Review! - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke


Title: Inkheart

Author: Cornelia Funke

Translator: Anthea Bell

Genre: Kids, Fantasy

Series: Inkworld #1

Amazon: UK - USA





Verdict:


You know all the books you loved as a kid? All the magic and wonder that seemed unique to places like Narnia, Hogwarts, and Neverland?

This book is that feeling. This book has that magic.

Inkheart is a book about magic, and a book about books.

It has a woven enchantment to the language that manages to shine through even in translation (props to Anthea Bell, the translator.)

Meggie, the 12-year-old daughter of a book-binder, is about to find out that her father has secrets, and that some people have such a talent for story-telling that they can actually bring the story to life.

I've wanted to read this one for a while, having seen the film (UK - US) starring Brendan Fraser more than once. (Because... Brendan Fraser! Man, I love him.)

I wonder now why I put off reading this book for so long - probably just slipped to the back of my mind. I'm glad I've read it now though: it's awesome! :)

If you have ever loved fantasy, or books in general, then read this.

Yes, it's a kids book (the author's website recommends ages 9+,) but who cares? You'll love it.

And if you don't absolutely adore Dustfinger, I'm not sure we can be friends any more (just kidding - but I'll totally pout and stamp my foot.)

I've already added the next book in the trilogy - Inkspell (UK - US) - to my TBR - seriously, this book rocks.









Thursday 9 June 2016

Comics Wrap Up - People Like Us, We Don't Need That Much

Graphic Novels


This week I read Malice in Ovenland, Vol 1 (UK - US) - a graphic novel due out in August 2016 from Rosarium Publishing.

Rosarium are a growing, and relatively new, publishers who focus on sci-fi, fantasy, graphic novels, etc., with an emphasis on multiculturalism.

Malice in Ovenland is semi Alice in Wonderland inspired... only there's magical world in Lily's oven. Yeah... just go with it.









It's target audience is clearly kids (which makes a change from the stuff I normally read) and it's pretty entertaining (and more than a little gross in the way that kids like.)

I'll be writing a review nearer to the publishing date, so keep your eyes peeled.






Other Stuff


Two fans showed Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan (and the world,) what real heroes look like when they cosplayed Captain America and the Winter Soldier at the Wizard World Con in Philadelphia.

They brought #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend (the social media campaign to do just that,) back into the limelight by kissing in front of Chris 'n' Seb.

Well done guys, you're true heroes.




-0-





Marvel Super Heroes, What The--? rocks. Just... just watch the thing and all of the randomness. So very, very, random.











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Saturday 28 May 2016

Month in Review(s) - May 2016

And so another month is well on its way to faffing off into the sunset.









I actually haven't reviewed any graphic novels this month (I know - who am, and what have I done with Cee?)

I'm probably making up for last month, which had graphic novels falling from the ever-loving rafters.

I've been on a bit of a contemporary YA binge lately - which led to me reviewing 3 contemporary YA titles this month.

'The Art of Being Normal' was beautiful, 'One' was unique, and 'Boy Meets Boy' was your favourite rom-com in book form.






My stand-out book this month, though? 'Swan Boy.' Wow. Just wow.





Kids




Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan - Contemporary, Magic Realism








Young Adult



The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson - Contemporary, LGBTQ+
One by Sarah Crossan - Contemporary, Poetry* (*novel in verse)
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance (M/M)









Adult




alt. sherlock. holmes - Anthology, Novellas/Short Stories, Crime, Contemporary*, Historical Fiction*, LGBTQ+* M/M* (*one or more stories.)







Non-fiction




Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig





Saturday 14 May 2016

Review Time! - Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan

Title: Swan Boy

Author: Nikki Sheehan

Genre: Kids, Contemporary, Magic Realism

Amazon: UK - USA




A few starting notes:

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher, Rock the Boat, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was offered an ARC of Swan Boy by the publishers (who are pretty nice people, all in all, but I'm not going to let that affect my review.)

It sounded interesting, so I decided to take them up on the offer.

uifhngionriondfkgnrnhtlg - I AM SO GLAD I AGREED TO READ AND REVIEW THIS BOOK!



Premise:

Johnny's dealing with a lot right now: new house, new school, looking after little brother Mojo, and trying to get over the death of his father.
So what Johnny doesn't need is a bully to contend with.
He also doesn't need all this stuff with swans to deal with right now.
But... swans... there's something about them... more specifically, there's something about them and Johnny. Together.
Things are going to get interesting.




Best bits:

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!

Where do I start? Where do I even start?

Basically, I loved this book. It is excellent. The characters were fantastic and the plot was interesting (as well as pretty bizarre in places - and I like me some bizarre-ness.)

Little Mojo, Johnny's brother, damn near broke my heart at various points.

Somehow, Sheehan perfectly shows us this hurt and confused little boy, in the heart-wrenching way of a 5-year-old who's lost his father.

The magical aspects are beautiful. The weaving into the story of the swans and the music and the dancing worked so well.





But the main strength of this book? The writing.

Sheehan's writing is beautiful. Worthy of comparison to The Book Thief (UK - US,) in its lyricality, its beauty, and the strength of its sparse prose.

If you read this blog a lot you may have noticed me mention sparse prose.

If you don't have a clue what I'm on about, let me explain: some writers are capable of using the words they don't say without over-burdening the words that they do.

Simple sentences that carry the world in the white spaces. That's what I mean by 'sparse prose.'

Not many people can carry it off: Markus Zusak does it, Joe Hill does it, and, weirdly, James Franco does it (although in verse not prose.)

Turns out, Nikki Sheehan can do it too.




Not so great bits:

Bad points about this book...

Umm...

Well, there are some issues which could upset people: bullying, isolation, bereavement, and a dash of violence.

The swan poo bit on the first page kind of grossed me out.

Some people may disagree with the way Johnny deals with the bullying, I suppose.

Other than that? I honestly can't think of anything else. I actually wish that I could so that I could pad this section out a bit more...




Verdict:

READ THE BOOK.

(Really, what else is there to say? It was that good.)

It's probably appropriate for ages 11+










Wednesday 27 April 2016

Month in Review(s) - April 2016

Lots more reviews this month! Especially of graphic novels.

There've been some truly rocking graphic novels out this month - my faves are probably Blood Stain and I Hate Fairyland.

Check out all the lovely reviews! :)


book



Kids

Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley - historical fiction



New Adult

Growing Up by Tricia Sol - contemporary, LGBTQ+, short stories, romance (m/m)



Adult

Play Hard by J T Fox - LGBTQ+, romance (m/m,) short stories, contemporary
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult - contemporary, crime*, witches*, magic realism* (*ish)



Graphic Novels

Golem by Lorenzo Coccetti - dystopian, sci-fi, manga
Paper Girls, Vol 1 by Brian K Vaughan - sci-fi
Blood Stain, Vol 1 by Linda Šejić
Echoes by Joshua Hale Fialkov - horror, crime
I Hate Fairyland, Vol 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young - fantasy, fairies/fae, humour

Wednesday 6 April 2016

Review Time! - Eliza Rose by Lucy Worsley

Eliza RoseTitle: Eliza Rose

Author: Lucy Worsley

Genre: Kids, Historical Fiction

Release Date: 7 April 2016

Amazon: UK - USA




A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publishers, Bloomsbury Children's/Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

A children's book, written by uber-awesome presenter and historian, Lucy Worsley?

I heard about it and I was there! I was metaphorically standing at the front with a banner reading 'I heart Lucy,' and jumping up and down, squealing.

So, we have a Tudor-set book, written by one of the most passionate and engaging historians on TV. Bring it on.




Premise:

Eliza Rose Camperdowne is her father's only child. It's up to her then, to save her family's fortunes.

But the world of Henry VIII's court is not all Eliza had hoped it would be, and she is forced to walk the tightrope of court life, sticking close to her cousin, an ambitious girl named Katherine Howard...




Best bits:

You know what's awesome? When authors know their stuff. And Lucy Worsley knows her stuff. With bells on.

She's able to create a sound Tudor setting without sticking your face in all the detail 'til you're sick to death of it. And she clearly loves history, loves writing in the setting, loves the period.

Worsley's passion is the life-and-soul of this book, complimented by the lovely silhouette-style illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes the little things bring a smile to your face ;)

What I also liked is that she doesn't write-down to kids - there's no condescension here, just the story Worsley came to tell.

Also missing is insta-love (thank God!) Instead we have slow-burn and icky-sticky missteps. More realistic, and far more interesting in my view of things.



Not so great bits:

This isn't a quick read - the chapters are bite-sized, but I tended to take breaks between them to allow my whirring brain to take things in a bit; there's a lot going on here!

And it's not one for very young readers, for sure, but ages 12-13+ (dependent on the maturity levels of the kids involved,) should be able to cope with the violence and facts-of-life/sex references.

Not all parents will be happy with the honest approach Worsley employs. There are references which the prudish will not want little Jimmy or Jenny to read.

I personally would also have loved just a chapter or two more at the end to round things off.

But that's me - I just would've liked to bask in the ending a bit more!


Verdict:

This is a great book.

This book is perfect for any fan of Tudor-period drama, and any fan of historical intrigue told through the eyes of an ordinary girl in an extraordinary situation.

I think you'll enjoy this, I did!








Saturday 26 March 2016

Review Time! (Yay!) - After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross

After Tomorrow Gillian CrossTitle: After Tomorrow

Author: Gillian Cross

Genre: Kids, Dystopian

Amazon: UK - USA



A few starting notes:

I wanted to read this because the premise seemed so relevant at the moment given the mass migration problems, and the amount of refugees coming into Europe right now.

I thought it would be interesting to see how the topic was handled - particularly in a kids' book - and I can remember reading a few Gillian Cross books when I was a kid, and finding them different to a lot of other stuff that's out there.

She's usually not afraid to look at things from a different angle - and we all need that every now and then.



Premise:

Matthew and his little brother, Taco, make the dangerous journey across the channel to France, and a life away from the starvation and violent raids of the UK.

France, though? Not quite the new start they were hoping for.

Instead, they have the camp of Les Mondieux (or Lemon Dough, as it's known by the Brits,) and a whole new set of challenges to face.



Best bits:

The worrying thing about this book is that it's the location (leaving the UK,) that makes it dystopia: otherwise it would be contemporary.

This sort of thing is happening - right now, in Calais, people are living in The Jungle migrant camp, and hoping to find passage to the UK. People who, through no fault of their own, have had to leave their homes and everything they've ever known.

So the fantastic thing about this book is that we get to see the proverbial shoe on the other foot - these are British kids making the same desperate journey that thousands of kids are trying to make every single day.

This book is a great way of re-packaging a problem which no-one seems to want to own - making it more relatable and (hopefully) fostering more empathy and understanding.

I also appreciated that the parents didn't just sit there and do nothing - although they did have moments of uselessness, it was all pretty understandable within context. It's refreshing to see any kids book which allows parents to be parents and do their best for their kids.



Not so great bits:

Matthew - the character whose point of view we follow - is quite a blank character.

In some ways, this is good, because it allows the reader to react more naturally to the situations Matt finds himself in, and to imagine themselves and their own feelings in that situation. But I personally would've liked just a touch more depth to the character.

The plot was perhaps a little slow in places - but not really to any hugely noticeable degree.

I also found the dénouement (check me out with my fancy words! :P ) a bit less dramatic than I was expecting given the uber-dramatic build-up. 


Verdict:

A thought-provoking book shining light on a subject that needs to be talked about, in a way which is accessible to kids and adults alike.

It's probably suitable for kids around the age of 10+.








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Monday 14 March 2016

Review Time! - Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson

Title: Midnight
Midnight book cover
Author: Jacqueline Wilson

Genre: Kids, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Amazon: UK - USA


A few starting notes:

I decided to give this a shot because I usually enjoy Jacqueline Wilson books, and it seemed pretty interesting.

It was fairly short, so a nice book to slot in in between others.


Premise:

Violet is a slightly awkward and lonely 13-year-old. She loves books and the gothic fairies drawn by her favourite author, Casper Dream.
She also loves her brother, Will, but things have been weird ever since they found out Will is adopted. And sometimes Will likes to play games that are... a bit horrible.

Now there's a new girl at school, Jasmine. Could this finally be a true friend for Violet?

Best bits:

This is a fab book. I really loved it (I know its a kids book, and I don't care!)
I think Violet was a great character - to be honest, I saw a lot of myself in her (I was a really weird child.)
And Wilson makes you really feel for her (my God guys, the feels in this book!) It feels so realistic - the simple hurts that mean so much are so beautifully weaved in, complete with layers of complexity.
Will, likewise, has a complexity that I love finding in any book - and is all too rare sometimes in kids' books. Will is also a bit like a mini-Loki, if Loki were a teenager, and human, and his father was a policeman, instead of a God.
I loved the gothic elements and the fairies - just fab.
I also liked the slightly sinister edge there was in this book in places - to Will's games, to their father's treatment of both his children and his wife, and to the idea of changelings and all that came with it.
It came off really well, and didn't overwhelm, just giving that small edge of unease that makes you want to read more.
Not so great bits:

Honestly (and I'm always honest on this blog dammit!) I'm finding it really difficult to come up with any minus points for this book -
Maybe it was a little short, and some parts could've been expanded. And perhaps one or two plot-instances were just slightly convenient.
Some parts may be a little distressing, particularly to young readers.
Other than that... I can't really think of anything. It was that good.


Verdict:

This was just an amazing book. Truly great - I really loved it.
Perhaps a little much for very young readers, but most kids aged 11 and up will be fine.








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Tuesday 1 March 2016

St David's Day - My Top 5 Roald Dahl Books

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus! (Happy St David's Day!)


I figured that now was the perfect opportunity to celebrate one of Wales' most beloved writers, Roald Dahl.

Born and raised in Cardiff (our capital city,) to a Norwegian family, Roald Dahl would become one of the most loved children's authors of all time. And this September sees the centenary of his birth (in 1916.)


These, then, are my 5 favourite Roald Dahl books:



Matilda (UK - US)

I was a weird and bookish child: obviously then, I adored Matilda - and read it over and over (and over.) It's a fab story aside from the bookish-ness (although that's my favourite part,) and I always adored the sub-plots of Matilda's vengeance on her horrible family.

This is definitely my favourite Roald Dahl book :)




George's Marvellous Medicine (UK - US)

Everyone likes lists, because clearly we're all creatures of habit/neuroses at heart. So the main charm of this book to me, growing up (and still if I'm going to be honest about it,) was the listing of all the weird and wonderful things that George puts into his medicine to punish his horrible grandmother.

Horrible family members seem to be a theme in Roald Dahl books - just don't try any of this stuff at home!





Esio Trot (UK - US)

This one is a really sweet story about love, magic (sort of,) and tortoises. Of the same sort of length as George's Marvellous Medicine, but with far less bitterness.




The BFG (UK - US)

The story of a runty giant who likes to collect dreams, and his new friend, an orphan girl named Sophie.

This is a great book - full of iconic moments and scenes. And you have to love the BFG - he's just so sweet! And he has gigantic ears that you can sit in! What could be better?




Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (UK - US)

The sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this is one that I really need to re-read because I don't remember an awful lot of it. What I do remember though is how utterly random it is - even for a Roald Dahl book.

And that is probably the reason why a) not many people have read it, and b) I remember it so fondly (I'm a fairly random person myself  >.< )





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Monday 29 February 2016

The Month in Review(s) - February 2016

Ah, February - a month of storms and Valentine's cards. And books of course.
 
Check out all my reviews from this month...
 

organising, categorising

Kids

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (aka just 'The Lightning Thief') by Rick Riordan - Fantasy, Mythology

Adult

Today Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder - Poetry
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Classics, Romance
The Trouble With Wolves (aka 'The Trouble With Weres') by Leigh Evans - Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Werewolves, Fairies/Fae
Omega Beloved by Aiden Bates - Romance (m/m,) Paranormal, Fantasy, Werewolves, LGBTQ+, Short Story

Graphic Novels

Grumpy Cat Volume 1 - Kids, Humour, Media Tie-In
Red Sonja/Conan: The Blood of a God - Fantasy, High Fantasy 

Popcorn Reviews (Film)

Seventh Son (2014)