fantasy – One Chapter

We Burned So Bright by T. J. Klune

5 stars Fantasy Fiction

I listened to this book on audio which I thought made the book more emotional. What do you do when you know the world is coming to an end? Do you go crazy and do things that you’ve never dreamed you’d do? Do you do nothing different at all? Do you sit and think about all the things that you should “have done” over the years? For Don and Rodney, they are facing this scenario, and they have finally made up their minds how they want to live out the rest of their days. I went into this book blindly, so I wasn’t sure if the world had days, months, or years left but I liked the option that they chose. The couple bought a camper and set out for a trip across the United States. They would see the world like never before, the good and the bad and it would test them beyond their expectations.

They were a couple and they knew that they might not be accepted by some individuals because of this, and they were okay with that. They were committed to one another, and they were going to go out of this world being who they were. They do meet some trouble along the way but that is to be expected and they muddle through it. They also met some wonderful individuals who like Rodney and Don were trying to make the best of this situation. It’s their commitment to their task and to each other that makes this book so special. When they discover Jeremy, they have mixed feelings about what the future will bring but it’s their commitment to each other and to Jeremy that he soon joins their family. He brings them closer together and he opens their eyes to the world around them, to the little things that they perhaps have taken for granted. Life is great as he adjusts to his new surroundings and they welcome his curious nature. As Jeremy matures, parenthood starts to become difficult. They’re pushed beyond their limit, and they must let their strings go as he tries to make his mark in the world, a young man who thinks he is an adult.

It was an emotional and satisfying read (or listen). I enjoyed it more than I had originally thought I would. I recommend this title and the audio version of it. 5 stars

The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp

5 stars Children’s Middle School

This is Clever! I read this to my grandkids and we all were like….. what? Ha!! Such an entertaining read that caught us off guard. We had to stop the story and talk about some “what if?” scenarios as this story had us laughing and amazed.

Bellwether Riggwelter is a sheep who lives in the forest by himself. He likes to listen to the birds. smell the flowers and gather berries in the forest. He likes his life and living by himself, it’s the wolves of the forest that make Bellwether fearful. When Bellwether has to venture out into the forest, he is very careful as he does not want to be eaten by any wolves.

After a fearful encounter with a wolf, Bellwether comes up with a plan. Being great at making crafts, he constructs a costume to wear while out in the forest. With his wolf suit complete Bellwether ventures out into the forest. Will this work?

His first encounter with a real wolf startles him. Bellwether then remembers that he must put himself into Wolf Mode and start acting like a wolf, so he fits in. This is a funny encounter, and one which Bellwether could never have had planned for. Things are running smoothly; he believes that the wolves are accepting that he is really a wolf until Bellwether notices something out of whack. Something that he must fix soon before the wolf’s notice. Go Bellwether ….but he doesn’t and this hesitation causes more problems for him. I really enjoyed this story. It has some great teaching moments, and I think it is a story that can be read repeatedly.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the text bubbles are easy to follow. The text is not difficult, and the storyline is easy with text boxes that are easy to follow also. 5 stars

Yarn Is Everything! (Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds

5 stars Children’s Chapter – Middle School

I thought this was a great story! It was a fun, entertaining read about a mole named Winona Mole who liked her quaint, quiet little town of Hinderberry Falls. Winona Mole lives with her dog Toby and she enjoys crocheting. From the age of 3, Winona has had a crochet hook in her hands, and some yarn close by. Winona has become quite an artist with yarn over the years!

Winona and along with the entire nation have been fixated on the reality show Yarn Is Everything! Daily, contestants go head-to-head competing to see who can create the most realistic creation out of yarn. The competition is fierce as the contestants’ crochet items that, when placed beside the real item, are hard to decipher. Obsessed with this show, Winona watches intently. She’s good, she knows how to crochet, she’s been doing this art her whole life, yet when she attempts to duplicate the items that she sees on the television, she falls short. Her creations do not match what has just won the prize, Winona items look crocheted. They don’t look real; they look like yarn. How can they be that good?? What is Winona missing?

For her birthday, Winona and her father drive three hours to visit a museum. It’s the Museum of Woolen Arts and Yarn Stitchery, a trip that changes her life. Although the museum houses many different types of yarn crafts, Winona is only there to see the exhibits on crochet. It was the best birthday present ever! Winona is still buzzing with excitement when they return home and she unpacks. Inside her bag, Winona discovers an identical replica of the Spirit Hook, a crochet hook that they saw at the museum, and she’s excited about this surprise birthday present from her dad. With her new crochet hook, Winona crochets like never before.

This book was fun. I liked how Winona is determined with her craft. She continues to create and to try to get better. When she gets the new hook, she knows something has changed but she doesn’t let it get to her head. Her impatience was hilarious, “ But when she checked three minutes later, she was frustrated to find there was no response from the good people at Yarn is Everything! Productions.” She had only weeks to train and boy, she trained. The ending was funny and well, a mystery.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

4.5 Stars Children’s, YA, Middle School – just about anyone who needs a book to escape

I don’t know why I haven’t read this one until now. As a substitute teacher, I have read parts of this book multiple times as teachers love to share this one as a read aloud in their classroom. Funny thing though, I’ve never got to hear the ending of this book. Unfortunately, I’ve had to read to the students the sad and frustrating journey that Ivan endured at the beginning of this book, all the while trying to grasp exactly what was happening.

I listened to this book which was fabulous! I highly recommend using the audio of this book as I felt connected to the characters and I could definitely feel the emotions running through the story. I loved the bond that the characters had with one another. Even though Ivan was supposed to be the star attraction, he didn’t play upon that title. He cared about all the animals around him and their well-being. As the story unfolded, I could feel that his spirit was broken but I don’t think Ivan knew why or the extent of what he was feeling. Ivan was just going about his day, day-after-day doing what he typically does. It is when his routine changes, Ivan begins to change and he begins to see that life can be different.

I thought the ending of the book seemed rushed to me. The beginning set up the story, and I fell into a rhythm of life with the characters and then suddenly, life changed and it was bam, bam, bam, and it’s over. I’ve already picked up the audio of the second book in this series, so this 60+ Nana is ready for what happens to these friends. 4.5 stars.

The Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

This book is hilarious! I read this one to my 6-year-old grandson and we laughed and laughed. A birthday gift from his Uncle Larry turns into an awesome present he wears them.

His uncle knew that he liked underwear, but the weird yellow wool pair was STRANGE! He didn’t think the moon looked full as he looked out his window, but we sure did (the full yellow moon took up most of the page in the book). He read the warning label that came with the underwear and he slipped them on. Instantly, his body began to change. Shivering, tingling, his body was changing into the underwearwolf. Growling and a grunting, he flew out the window and was now on the loose. Tearing up the neighborhood! He knew he should take off the underwear but then he would be BUTT NAKED and he didn’t want that to happen.

He doesn’t stop. He takes to the streets, swinging from roofs and lampposts. He’s having the time of his life. He knows he really should take off the underwear, but he doesn’t. The night is getting crazy and then, he hears them. They are calling him. Who? Yep! He runs into the dark woods where he meets them, and the ending of this book will have you smiling.

As an adult I thought this book was funny. The boy puts on the underwear, and he turns into The Underwearwolf. Covered in fur, complete with big ears, long arms and legs, he transforms and runs through the night under a full moon. He runs, jumps, climbs and acts crazy while wearing the underwear. He knows that he should take off the underwear but, if he does that, he will be butt naked and he probably will turn into a regular boy again. So, he doesn’t and he continues on into the night. It’s only when the night starts to turn into the next day does the boy realize that his fun is about to come to an end and he has to do something about the underwear. The illustrations are cute in this book, and I liked how the boy acts like a “maniac” and a “menace” but he doesn’t do anything harmful. My grandson thought the book was funny and he liked how the boy changed. A fun book to read. 5 stars.

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King

5 stars Children’s Fairy Tale

I liked this new interpretation by Stephen King of the old classic. Make sure you read the introduction at the beginning of the book as it sets the stage for this children’s picture book, and I felt it helped me appreciate the story more. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, King took the illustrations and wrote this book based on the whimsical drawings contained inside the book. King used some of the original sentences from this classic fairy tale within the story, but King also added his own touch creating a story that is more elaborate than the original.

Hansel and Gretel lived with their father and their stepmother at the edge of the great dark forest. Their father is a poor broom maker, and the stepmother is a spoiled wicked woman. The family is running out of food so the wife convinces the husband that in order to survive, they must take the children out deep into the forest and leave them. She convinces him that God will care for them and they will be safe in the forest. Now, father was not convinced that leaving his children out in the wild forest but she kept at him, convincing him nonetheless.

Hansel had overheard the plans and started making a plan. Gretal was upset after learning what her parents were planning to do but Hansel convinced her that it would be okay. As they slept, they both had dreams. You can imagine how different their dreams were from one another. The next morning, father and mother walked off with their children into the forest. It was just like the parents had planned, only they didn’t know that Hansel had a plan of his own in the works. The personalities of both the parents were felt and seen as this scenario played out.

The parents returned home alone as the children found refuge with each other inside the dark forest. Imagine the stepmother’s surprise when the children knocked on their door the next day! Ha – surprise! Time passed and food was still scarce. The woman again convinced her husband that the children had to go. They had to leave them deeper into the dark forest this time! Oh, she was wicked!! Just like before, father needed to be convinced, Hansel heard the plan, he thought of a different plan, Gretal was scared, and the dreams came back. They journeyed into the dark forest. When the parents returned home, they were alone and the children had fallen asleep in the dark forest. Hansel had put his plan to work. When the children awoke, they were surprised to find that Hansel’s plan had failed. Stuck in the dark forest, would the children ever make their way home again?

I liked how King wrote the story to match the illustrations. These were definitely Maurice Sendek’s signature illustrations. From the candy cottage in the forest, to the twisted trees swallowing up the pages, and the children’s dreams materializing on the page, Sendek and King worked their magic on this classic. There’s harmony with the text and illustrations, each of them sharing the spotlight. What a great combination. 5 stars

Tuck Everlasting: A Graphic Novel by K. Woodman – Maynard

5 stars Middle School Graphic Novel

Now, I am intrigued. I have never read Tuck Everlasting but now, I feel like I need to. When I saw this graphic novel sitting on the shelf, I knew I had to read it. I thought perhaps I would know if I would like to read the full novel after reading the graphic novel and now, I do. As I read this graphic novel, I realized that I am probably missing some information from the full-length version of the story and that, my friend, is what I want to read.

What an interesting story. What an interesting concept. Why hadn’t I read this story before? This is my kind of story! The idea behind the water.

The relationship between Winnie and Jesse. The relationship between Winnie and the Tucks. How Winnie has changed. What would I do?

Oh my goodness……why had I waited so long!?? So glad I picked up this graphic novel! The illustrations were fantastic and now, when I read the full-length novel, these illustrations will be in the back of my mind, and I will love the story even more. Even more!

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

I think this book is great for older elementary readers but for younger readers, I think it needs to be explained to them. My 3-year-old grandson picked it out as it had a cat on the cover and well, it was a bit slow for him. I added a few words here and there as we read, relying on the illustrations to tell the story, so he did enjoy the story by the time we got to the end of the book.

Mouse wants to remain undetected as he slips into the painting on the wall, but Cat sees him and follows. Yes, they both go into the painting.

Going into the painting, they come out on the other side of the wall, into another piece of art. This art is a limestone carving which they end up destroying. This artwork is supposed to be carved but somehow the cat, the mouse, and the rats which are in the carving have knocked the items in the carving down. The chase is on!

Cat continues to chase mouse everywhere! Cat ends up having a conversation with a clay dog, an ornamental mask, and multiple pictures.

Cat is on the prowl. Does he ever catch the mouse? Will he ever get back home?

I enjoyed the concept that the author had with this book. Altering items that the cat and mouse encountered in the book was very entertaining and creative. I appreciate the author’s notes at the end of the book as he shows the reader how he made the art to complete this book. Sure, he could have relied on AI or computer images but as the author notes, “where’s the satisfaction in that?” The author goes on to say that if you like to make things, keep practicing. Use your imagination to create an idea and then take the time developing the skills to create what you want. “You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.” There’s also information on the actual art pieces that the author used in his book.

Interesting concepts and a book that should be appreciated for what it does.

The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison

3 stars Fantasy

I really loved the idea behind this book. A magical library. Can you just imagine that?! Inside this magical library, lives a magical book which is governed by a special librarian. This magical book, The Book of Dark Nights, gives those who use it a gift. Those who write upon the pages of this magical book are granted a glimpse into their future. Sounds amazing, right? Yet, what must be written on the pages are your own deepest confessions. Would you be willing to share your most private confessions to see a glimpse of your future?

It’s a difficult decision but it becomes even more complicated when the predictions don’t materialize like they should. It’s a special library, and the librarian is part of the magic. If you tell the librarian that you “need” a book (no title suggested), she will go into the library’s shelves and find you the perfect book that you “need” for your situation right now.

Told in dual timelines, we follow Eleanor when she is a young student in college and when she is middle-aged. As a student, the library is a new experience and she’s excited to be a part of it. She’s dating a new guy and the library becomes a part of it. As an adult, Eleanor has been a mentee at the library but is now suddenly thrown into the position of Librarian. I liked the dural timelines, but I didn’t like how frequently they switched, I would have rather become more involved in one time period and then switched over, then have the constant switching. I was having a hard time connecting to the characters and I thought the story was choppy in the middle with all the flip flopping. Eleanor first job is to hunt down the missing The Book of Dark Nights. It’s a interesting journey with her mentor’s son beside her.

I wished that more of the back stories of the characters would have been explained to us. The story felt so long and drawn out in the middle, and I think it was because I was jumping through timelines and I had to switch the characters back and forth. I did like the characters, and I liked that there were not a lot of them. I was lost about Daniel and his actions. I just couldn’t understand why he didn’t recognize anything even after everything Eleanor said and did. Why wasn’t anything explained in the dual timeline? It was an okay read for me. 3 stars

The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Three ducks want to go to the lake but the mallard is worried about the monster. His friends say there is nothing to that story. When Mallard looks under the water at the lake he sees a huge monster fish. The monster fish smiles at him, and Mallard follows him under the water. Mallard finds at the bottom of the lake a huge party of monster fishes and Mallard has a good time down there. Mallards’ three friends are still swimming up above and don’t really notice that Mallard is gone until later. When they realize that Mallard is gone that are scared that he was taken by a monster until Mallard tells them that there’s no monster in the lake. Yet, as Mallard walks off on dry land, all the monsters from down below are making their way onland, happy smiling monsters.

Funny, cute story. The illustrations are amazing! It’s a simple story with few words but the story is good and has a good message. 5 stars