Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Henry Cole's wordless picture book about a young girl who chooses to aid a runaway slave hiding in her barn, is distinguished not only for the depth of emotions captured by his graphite drawings, but also for the range of discussion each panel evokes. In the end notes Cole provides additional context to the historical and geographical setting of his story. A Caldecott Medal contender in my book!
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hokey Pokey: the dance, the treat, the place
Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
How often have you thought, "Kids. They live in a world of their own." Jerry Spinelli has captured this world: Hokey Pokey where toddlers turn into kids who are free to play and explore all day long ... until, one day you wake up and things are different.
Spinelli's "hokey pokey" world is inventive, well-crafted, and populated with a neighborhood of kids we can all relate to ... both best pals and bullies. It is in the dream-sequences of 'night' that I lose my way. Then again, maybe I'm trying to make sense of something I "used to" understand!
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
How often have you thought, "Kids. They live in a world of their own." Jerry Spinelli has captured this world: Hokey Pokey where toddlers turn into kids who are free to play and explore all day long ... until, one day you wake up and things are different.
Spinelli's "hokey pokey" world is inventive, well-crafted, and populated with a neighborhood of kids we can all relate to ... both best pals and bullies. It is in the dream-sequences of 'night' that I lose my way. Then again, maybe I'm trying to make sense of something I "used to" understand!
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs by Michael Feinstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Feinstein has crafted a fascinating look into the lives and work of George and Ira Gershwin using twelve of their songs as a backdrop. Woven into the narrative are Feinstein's personal insights from his years as an assistant to Ira Gershwin and vast research into American popular song. Although I read this from an advance reader copy, so I did not have a chance to view the illustrations of Gershwin documents and memorbilia that will be included in the final book, this looks to be an important book that music fans and libraries will want to add to their collections.
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Feinstein has crafted a fascinating look into the lives and work of George and Ira Gershwin using twelve of their songs as a backdrop. Woven into the narrative are Feinstein's personal insights from his years as an assistant to Ira Gershwin and vast research into American popular song. Although I read this from an advance reader copy, so I did not have a chance to view the illustrations of Gershwin documents and memorbilia that will be included in the final book, this looks to be an important book that music fans and libraries will want to add to their collections.
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Imperfect Bliss: A Novel by Susan Fales-Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Fales-Hill imagines the family dynamic of "Pride and Prejudice" in the current social mileau of reality TV. Elizabeth (aka 'Bliss'), forced to move back home after a messy divorce, finds herself plunged into the drama of her mother, Forsythia Harcourt, desperately match-making. In this vein Diana, Bliss's younger sister has become the star of a reality series, THE VIRGIN, designed to marry her off. As one might expect, plenty of humorous, over-the-top experiences ensue. Amid this circus, Bliss tries to put her life back together, protect her daughter from the unreal fairy-tale atmosphere, and make sense of her own relationships with men. Despite the craziness of the Harcourt family, there's a lot to ponder about courtships, relationships, and finding love in the 21st century. Netgalley review copy from Atria Books.
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My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Fales-Hill imagines the family dynamic of "Pride and Prejudice" in the current social mileau of reality TV. Elizabeth (aka 'Bliss'), forced to move back home after a messy divorce, finds herself plunged into the drama of her mother, Forsythia Harcourt, desperately match-making. In this vein Diana, Bliss's younger sister has become the star of a reality series, THE VIRGIN, designed to marry her off. As one might expect, plenty of humorous, over-the-top experiences ensue. Amid this circus, Bliss tries to put her life back together, protect her daughter from the unreal fairy-tale atmosphere, and make sense of her own relationships with men. Despite the craziness of the Harcourt family, there's a lot to ponder about courtships, relationships, and finding love in the 21st century. Netgalley review copy from Atria Books.
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Tuesday, June 05, 2012
With all the hype around Fifty Shades of Grey, I confess I snickered seeing Shelf Awareness report The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the #2 bestselling book in May at abebooks.com. There sits Gatsby, sandwiched between Fifty Shades of Grey, at #1 and Fifty Shades Darker at #3!
Star Trek FAQ: Everything Left to Know about the First Voyages of the Starship Enterprise by Mark Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a delightful compendium. Although I bought it for a friend's birthday, I couldn't resist dipping into it!
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a delightful compendium. Although I bought it for a friend's birthday, I couldn't resist dipping into it!
View all my reviews
Friday, March 30, 2012
Treasures at the Museum by Deborra Richardson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Aunt Imani takes Brittany and Peter on a visit to the Smithsonian Archives. This is sweet and simple introduction to the concept of museums and archives best suited as an additional resource for teachers taking a K to 3rd class to the Smithsonian. The setting is particular to Washington, D.C. and the questions at the back of the book are educational. Viewed courtesy of Elevator Group and netgalley.com
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My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Aunt Imani takes Brittany and Peter on a visit to the Smithsonian Archives. This is sweet and simple introduction to the concept of museums and archives best suited as an additional resource for teachers taking a K to 3rd class to the Smithsonian. The setting is particular to Washington, D.C. and the questions at the back of the book are educational. Viewed courtesy of Elevator Group and netgalley.com
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Friday, March 09, 2012
The Dressmaker: A Novel by Kate Alcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This engaging novel explores the aftermath of the Titanic disaster through the eyes of Tess, an aspiring dressmaker, who makes the crossing as a maid to famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon. Although the sinking is a dramatic event in the story, the focus here is on Tess, her attraction to both a young sailor and a Chicago millionaire on the Titanic, and how she will forge a new life in New York. Alcott concentrates on the effect of the sinking and the subsequent investigation on the survivors and challenges readers to consider what they would have done if aboard the Titanic. There is a sly humor to some of the name dropping amid the glitzy fashion world of Lady Duff Gordon. Alcott's research shows as she deftly weaves historical facts and actual figures like the Astors, Molly Brown, Edith Wharton, Isadora Duncan, and Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line, into her fiction. A thoroughly enjoyable read and timely, with 100th anniversary of the Titanic coming up in April. [digital ARC= Thanks to Random House and NetGalley!]
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This engaging novel explores the aftermath of the Titanic disaster through the eyes of Tess, an aspiring dressmaker, who makes the crossing as a maid to famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon. Although the sinking is a dramatic event in the story, the focus here is on Tess, her attraction to both a young sailor and a Chicago millionaire on the Titanic, and how she will forge a new life in New York. Alcott concentrates on the effect of the sinking and the subsequent investigation on the survivors and challenges readers to consider what they would have done if aboard the Titanic. There is a sly humor to some of the name dropping amid the glitzy fashion world of Lady Duff Gordon. Alcott's research shows as she deftly weaves historical facts and actual figures like the Astors, Molly Brown, Edith Wharton, Isadora Duncan, and Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line, into her fiction. A thoroughly enjoyable read and timely, with 100th anniversary of the Titanic coming up in April. [digital ARC= Thanks to Random House and NetGalley!]
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