If you’re looking for an interesting, eerie story, I might have found the right one for you. I picked up this graphic novel based on the illustrations, which as a horror fan, I thought they were fabulous. I can see how some readers though, might find some of them disturbing. When you’re discussing ghosts, torturing a witch, a skinned boy, and a corpse, there’s bound to be some interesting illustrations. I felt that the storyline jumped a round a bit but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this story.
They didn’t just hang Hester in the tree, but they beat, shot, and stabbed the witch before finally setting her body on fire, to make sure that she would finally leave this world once and for all. As Hester’s body scorched the tree from which she hung, she told those in attendance that she would return and they should be ready, a vow that would hang over them.
Emmy lives with her Pa and in a few days, she’ll be turning 18. Is it a coincidence that Emmy has dreams of a tree and she sometimes feels that there’s something beside her? There’s something special about Emmy, she has a gift and I wasn’t quite sure what this was until I read further but I knew that she was using it for good. Emmy begins to wonder if she should find herself a man, now that she’s turning 18, which makes sense. Her Pa knew something and was suggesting that she stay with him on the farm as he needed help. Wait, wait, wait……what the heck is Emmy doing now? This is some twisted stuff and why is that all happening.
Sweet Emmy was such a nice person and now all this!?! Leaving me with a cliffhanger was not good either. I absolutely loved the illustrations in this graphic novel and then, just when I finally got the storyline all in sync, I now, have to find the second volume in this series. 4 stars
I have to admire an author that can take me on a journey using verse. The word selection, the sentence structure, the punctuation, everything about the story has to be carefully selected by the author so they can lead their reader on a magical journey. Set in Colorado, Megan introduces us to 12-year-old Maddie, who thought she was going to pull a fast-one on her parents but unfortunately, in the long-run Maddie ends up paying the price for what she did. Alone, is a fantastic book about a world in which Maddie finds herself alone in, which had plenty of emotions as Maddie tries to survive on her own.
I think we all have done something like this before but now, it was Maddie’s turn to try it. She was telling her mom that she was staying at her dad’s house and then, telling her dad that she was staying at her mom’s house. Her friends are telling similar lies. Goal: sleepover at Maddie’s grandparent’s empty apartment. Sounds like a great time but her friends get caught lying. Maddie is by herself at her grandparents’ empty house. There’s noise outside the apartment during the night, but she’s technically not there so she stays hidden. In the morning, with her phone charged, alerts and warnings pop up on her screen. Imminent threat? Alert? When no one picks up or returns her calls, Maddie races home. What is happening? Why isn’t anyone picking up their phone or returning Maddie’s phone calls?
Dang! What Maddie found is not good! Cell phones abandoned and individual houses look like people left in a hurry? What was so urgent? Maddie found the neighbor’s dog George, so at least she has someone to talk to but everyone, and I mean everyone is gone. Eventually, Maddie has to start looking for food and supplies. Searching in other people’s houses Maddie finds other pets that were left behind, some alive and some dead, they have been trapped in their houses. The two of them seem to be making it but for how much longer? When Maddie has a question, the internet is no longer an option nor can someone provide the answer for her so Maddie takes her questions to the library. Maddie looks up her questions at the library and while she’s there, Maddie begins to bring back books with her to read. I liked reading about her experiences with the library.
It’s Colorado and the days are getting shorter. Oh, I hate winter and just thinking about Maddie and winter, gave me the chills. There’s also no electricity so Maddie has this to consider. Would she be better off just packing some stuff and traveling to another city? A year has passed and Maddie still wonders “when” they will be coming back for her. I wonder, “if” they will be coming back.
I thought Maddie’s actions were typical for someone her age and I was happy to see that she didn’t get depressed or angry about her situation. She addressed it a few times but she knew that she couldn’t just sit around and wait for someone to come rescue her. She had to actively try to get food and supplies for herself and her dog so they could stay alive till someone came. For more than 3 years, Maddie fought the elements, from the weather, to food, to emotional, and onto physical factors. From snow and horrible rain storms, to fighting for food and hunting for it, to anger and being scared, and also enduring physical pain and exhaustion. I still had some questions at the end of the book about the whole emergency situation, why Maddie was left alone so long and I really felt that the ending was rushed but I really enjoyed this book and the author use of verse to do so. 4.25 stars.
Once I got onboard with the story, I enjoyed the journey that these two sisters took. I was having a hard time understanding some of the choices that their father made but I wasn’t walking in his shoes so perhaps I didn’t know the complete story. I knew that he was trying to provide the best life for his daughters and money was key to this success but still, money can’t always be your driving force. His daughters were wonderful and considering everything that they endured, their relationship emerged stronger than before.
Papa accepts a new position in Tokyo, Japan, leaving his mother-in-law and the grandma to his two small children behind in Italy. With a bump in salary, a 1–2-year commitment in Italy (that Papa feels will be sufficient), and other benefits for his children, Papa feels this is a great opportunity. Enrolling 8-year-old Simona in public school, was a great financial decision until he realizes how important the private schools are, for helping foreign children learn the Japanese language. Little Carolina is brought to work with him each day as she will have someone there, about the same age as her, that she can play with.
It’s not all perfect in the beginning but over time, things change and the girls begin to love Japan. It’s hard to believe but time passes so quickly and although Papa’s “sufficient time period” is over, Papa and the girls aren’t ready to go back home to Italy. I’m wondering now, should Papa stick with his 1–2-year time period? Just because his children are not ready to return home, does that matter? Papa wasn’t doing anything fantastic besides what he was doing from Day #1 so basically life was just going on smoothly and the girls were settling in. Do you stay based on their opinion or go back? Time to do more reading.
There had been talk of war but now, the realities of it were hitting home. Papa is worried about Italy; will it be taken over? What will happen to their family and friends back home? Pearl Harbor has been attacked by the Japanese and tension is mounting, elsewhere. Hostility against foreigners is intensifying as the officials begin to gather them for relocation. As Papa and his girls are rounded up, the girls get separated from their father. Now what? They’re too young to be by themselves and I visualize Papa digging ditches or I don’t want to think where else Papa could end up at. The girls never give up hope of being reunited with their Papa as they take on different roles to survive as the world, enters WWII.
Wow, I really enjoyed this book but I thought it was sad. I liked how the sisters kept trying to find their father and how they accepted life. I liked how they took on a variety of identities to survive and they didn’t let their emotions control their lives. Their curiosity, bravery and support from each other helped them get through another day. A very eventful book that gave me a different view of this time period.
Living together, cat and mouse had some issues. Mouse had some things that she liked to do yet she never could do them alone. Cat, on the other hand, had only one thing on his mind, he wanted to eat mouse! This was hilarious in the book, as I loved how the author made this contrast stand out. Cat was constantly watching and spying on Mouse, making Mouse feel uncomfortable and scared. Searching for a better life, Mouse set sail in her ship in a bottle.
In the beginning, this new life was fantastic for Mouse. The river was quiet and tranquil, and Cat was not there watching her every move. Then, they dropped out the sky! Seagulls! Her quiet ride down the river was gone and Mouse’s hunt for a new home is underway.
I thought this was a cute book as Mouse goes on quite an adventure for the perfect home. The illustrations are fantastic and you will love Mouse by the end of the book as she finds her perfect home and she adjusts to her new friends. “And whenever the sun’s rays warmed the ground, Mouse would find a tiny little spot of her own and stretch out, without a care in the world.” Make sure you check out the last illustration in the book, it was adorable. A really fun read.
I have no idea why my library chose to put this book under the Easy section of the children’s library. This is definitely a non-fiction book with a capital N and I will definitely bring this to their attention. There was a lot to love about this children’s nonfiction book and being a newly butterfly nature lover, I’m all over this book.
Within the past couple years, we have planted butterfly bushes and have witnessed the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly firsthand. I can tell you; this has been a truly remarkable and rewarding experience. I never thought in my 50+ years of life, I would be having sleepless nights over aphids and buying ladybugs in the mail but now, I can say I have. I like to find children’s books that talk about incredible process as I think children need to understand this process and if possible, witness this journey firsthand, as it’s part of nature unfolding.
I liked that this book is 32 pages of some incredible illustrations and the variety of text fonts makes this book fun to read. The book begins with a Table of Contents listing exactly what you’re going to be reading about, from what a butterfly is, to the life cycle of the butterfly, to butterfly facts, and a glossary and an index in the back. The text is big and bold and the illustrations give great captions of interesting information.
This is one book that can be used as a great reference over and over again as you learn about butterflies and one that will never get old. This is definitely one that you need to get a hold of and read – I highly recommend it!
” A caterpillar has 4,000 muscles in its body. People have about 650.”
“Threats to the butterfly change depending on the stage of its life cycle.”
So, how does one really become a ghost? I can’t imagine that everyone that leaves this earth, is sent in this direction. Does Isaac come back as a helpful ghost or a ghost that has unfinished business to attend to? A casualty of the Trail of Tears, Isaac narrates for us, how he became a ghost in 1830, while living in the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi, which I found entertaining and interesting.
Isaac begins his story as a 10-year-old child living with his family. His best friend is his dog which he does everything with. Treaty Talk. When Isaac overhears his parents talking about the subject, he remembers that Treaty Talk and Nahullos go hand-in-hand, a serious situation for the Choctaw Nation. Mother leads Isaac on a series of walks that day as he witnesses important events that are being held by his community. Gracious! What Isaac witnesses with his very own eyes is totally different from what his own mother sees, who is standing right beside him. Good heavens, Isaac is a young child and he sees this!?! I’m with Isaac when he questions his mother about what he’s seeing, yet her response is not what I’d expect from his very own mother. This Treaty Talk has a shattering effect on their town and the individuals inside it.
I had a few questions as I read this book, perhaps it was because I analyzed what was happening too much instead of just going with the flow. Why were some individuals shape shifters, some ghosts, some……? Did that have to do with lineage? Didn’t Isaac think it was strange as a child to hear a dog talk? Didn’t he once read in a book that dog’s go, bark, bark? Did he realize when he was little, that he was unique? I liked learning about the Choctaw traditions and practices. I enjoyed the relationships that Isaac built in the book and how he accepted his fate and assisted others. There’s an engaging story inside this short book.
“Choctaws never say “good-bye.” There is no word for it. We say “chi pisa la chike, which means, “I will see you again, in the future.””
I listened to this book on audio and I really enjoyed the voices. I don’t know why I picked up this book, it must have been the title and the synopsis that lured me in. I enjoy Star Wars but I can’t say that I’m a huge fan but I can say that I’ve known my share of students in school who stood out as being “different.”
I thought Dwight was rather creative. As the voice of Yoda, what advice does he actually give to those who call upon him? What stake does Yoda have in the lives of the individuals around him? What a creative way for Dwight to find his way into the lives of his peers. I thought the book was rather interesting and said a lot about Dwight. Not having any illustrations to look at, I think that I processed this book differently than someone who actually read and looked at the illustrations. Fun, entertaining, and short story. I highly recommend the audio. 4 stars
I was impressed how this middle school fiction story mixed in as much science as it did, without the story sounding ridiculous or too nerdy. You mix in too much information and you lose too many readers, you provide minor information and you lose readers, you do this and you lose readers, I feel that there’s this fine line of what information you can include in these types of books to be successful. I’ve read a couple of the author’s science experiment books so I thought it was only fitting that I try one of her fiction stories. My advice: if you’re thinking about this book, do it! Dr. Biberdorf mixes in science terminology, knowledge, and excitement into a fictional story of a small group of fifth grade friends who find that their fall break camp has more drama than they signed up for.
I liked Kate’s excitement about science. Her willingness to try and her great attitude even if things get out of control, she’s giving it everything that she has. She really wants others to love science and experience it like she does. I loved how the author mixed in the science terminology within the story. I found this book to be a fast read, containing short chapters with just a handful of important characters. I hope that the author includes more male characters in this series as I feel both boys and girls would enjoy reading them. This looks to be a great start to a fun, educational series!
Come on, you can’t leave me hanging like this!! I can only hope that there’s a follow-up to this book because there’s no way that I can create something even close, to complete this story, to even match the cagey, disturbed feeling that I had as I read this book.
Falling back into the history, we learn about Blythe’s mother and her grandmother. Just reading the first couple pages of this book, I was heartbroken as I read about Grandma Etta and her first love, Louis. Giving up a career in medicine, Louis became a farmer just for Etta and her family. I thought this was a huge sacrifice to make and then, what happens to both Louis and Etta. Ugh! Is this really the beginning? The parents caused this. Has a curse been planted? It really should have started with the parents.
With her family’s history riding on her back, Blythe tries to pull out her happy face and “it’ll all be okay” attitude during her pregnancy but the truth of the situation is coming to the surface. The baby was coming, no matter how hard she wished it would go away, their baby would come into the world and the two of them would now become three.
I heard little Violet screaming in her crib as Blythe continued to write. So focused on getting all the words out of her head, Blythe ignored the crying until she, herself was empty. Fox adored his daughter and he was attentive to all of her needs. I got so angry at Blythe! She wanted to be a better mother, she wanted to change her past, she wanted ……but what? She wants to write? She wants time for herself? She was jealous of Fox and his relationship with their daughter? Oh, give me a break Blythe! Well, Violet can see things with her own eyes and you, my dear lady, are going to be dealing with the consequences of your actions later. Yeah, these will be bigger consequences than she ever imaged!
Fox and Blythe welcome a son into their family. If Blythe didn’t get motherhood right with Violet, she vows to get it right with Sam, as now she’s the attentive mother with him. One night, when she awakens with a slightest stir from Sam, she finds Violet in his room. Sweet, sibling bonding or something more disturbing? Let me just say that after that night, Blythe doesn’t want them alone together. Blythe seems to think that there’s something wrong with Violet but Fox doesn’t see anything. As I read about Blythe past, I had to wonder if perhaps the issues she was seeing had to do with her past. Is Blythe just another link of her family’s history? Something was definitely going on inside this household but who was responsible for it?
I really enjoyed how the story came together and I liked how the historical background played a key role. I loved living on the fence as I read this book, never knowing who I could depend on or what was transpiring next. I was totally consumed by this book and the lives these individuals led. The only problem that I had with this book was that I was confused at times when the book traveled back-n-forth between time periods. There was no indication to let the readers know that such a jump in time was occurring and it wasn’t until you had a read a few lines or paragraphs that you realized that you were not in the same time period as the previous chapter. A fantastic book that I highly recommend!! 4.5 stars
I am a huge A.S. King fan and I was super excited to get this new release. The synopsis sounded strange but if you’ve read anything by her, you’d know that’s just her style. As an amazing author, she takes me on these incredible journeys in which, I see the world in a different light. Imagine living in a world in which time has stopped, you live in a house in which a switch takes center stage yet no one knows exactly what that switch controls and you have just discovered, that you possess a new talent. Picking up a javelin, you hurl that javelin like a trained athlete yet you haven’t had any prior experience. You’re breaking records as you throw, how can you do this? What is happening and why? Enter the world of Switch.
Tru, 16, is dealing with some deep issues at home and at school. There is the time issue that the school is exploring. Working in the groups, they hope to find a solution. At home, Tru would like her family to be back together again. I was surprised how easy the door opened up at their house and people walked in and out. Tru also has to deal with her house shifting and her new responsibility of being on the track team.
This was one book that took me a while to read. There were times as I read that I felt that what was written in the text was not the intended message but there was something deeper behind those words. I had to read this book over many days so I could really appreciate what was being said. The writing was unique with the use of a backslash to break-up the text along with the usual punctuation marks. It felt poetic at times as I read, the way the text came together. Time is the major player in the book and as I stopped, I thought how the author was addressing this issue. It made me think about my own time and how it applies to me. Make sure you read the Acknowledgments in the back of the book.
This is not my favorite A.S. novel but this is definitely one of hers. I enjoy reading her novels as I’m really not sure where I will be going or where my feet will land but I know that while I’m away, my eyes will be wider and I will emerge with a different view and I will have enjoyed my journey.
“The minute they put us in this building we’re expected to be something we aren’t. Interested / engaged / athletic / baby grown-ups with the will to be social and succeed in life. The building acts factory / as if it can turn out capable adults, and it will. Adults like Richard/ our rifle/ normal on the outside/interiorly, needs an exterminator. Adults like our sister / an assortment of bombs/ an anomaly to the truth. Adults like Mama and Daddy / broken and shamed for nothing but being human / having never been given human skills/….”
One Chapter 