Review: The Death of the Detective

The Death of the Detective by Mark Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

While I appreciate the author's cast of characters and lush writing style, the bleak, noir tone of this mystery is not my style.

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Review: Ira's Shakespeare Dream

Ira's Shakespeare Dream by Glenda Armand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A welcome addition to picture book biographies, this is a finely illustrated biography of Ira Aldridge, the nineteenth-century black American actor who pursued his dream of becoming a Shakespearean actor and rose to fame on the English stage.

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Review: Another Day

Another Day by David Levithan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is not a sequel to Every Day ... it is sort of a companion novel in that this is from Rhiannon's point of view. While I appreciated Levithan's interesting approach in Every Day, this book is not quite as satisfying and I think it is Rhiannon who spoils it for me. She is just so weak, pliable, and eager to bend her thoughts and behavior to Justin's will that I am irritated with her point of view! Yet, in her encounters with A, Rhiannon shows more spunk. Levithan does an excellent job of reflecting the many lives A is exposed to and Rhiannon's struggles between her loyalty to Justin and her attraction to A.

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Tesla's Attic by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An intriguing beginning for a new trilogy. After a disastrous fire that claimed the life of his mother, Nick moves to Colorado Springs with his father and brother into an old decrepit house that belonged to a great aunt. In the attic Nick finds lots of junk and broken objects that, strangely, sell like hotcakes at his yard sale. There is adventure, danger, and humor as Nick and his new friends discover the strange properties the attic objects possess and try to reclaim them before they do damage.

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Cozy Classics: Pride & Prejudice

Cozy Classics: Pride and Prejudice by Jack Wang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This series is delightful! Although questionable as board boards for babies and toddlers, the illustrations, featuring photographs of well-crafted, needle felted objects, are the highlight of this salute to classic literature. Single words are paired with an illustration on the facing page. Some work well ... "friends" is accompanied by felted, smiling depictions of Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy with the first page of PRIDE & PREJUDICE visible in the background; but "mean," which depicts Mr. Darcy ignoring Elizabeth Bennett at the dance will not be understood by the very young. This would be a great little gift for teens or adults who love the novel, or a vehicle for a parent to retell the story using the words and illustrations as guideposts to the plot. Also available: MOBY DICK, WAR & PEACE,LES MISERABLES [digital version courtesy of netgalley.com]


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Cozy Classics: Moby Dick

Cozy Classics: Moby Dick by Holman Wang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The adorable illustrations, featuring well-crafted, felted creations, are the highlight of this salute to classic literature. As a board board for babies and toddlers, it is questionable. Single words are paired with an illustration on the facing page. Some work well ... "sailor" is accompanied by a felted, smiling sailor with the first page of MOBY DICK appearing in the background; but "find" appears with a sailor in the crow's nest pointing toward the distance. Some of the concepts will not be understood clearly by the very young. This would be a great little gift for teens or adults who love the novel, or a vehicle for a parent to retell the story using the words and illustrations as guideposts to the plot. [digital version courtesy of netgalley.com]

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Bookshelf video

Very Creative ... "Organizing the Bookshelf"