librarianryan's reviews
6517 reviews

InvestiGators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Wild Ghost Chase by John Patrick Green

funny medium-paced

3.0

 

These books are always interesting. It’s like the best 80s camp movies that were incredibly stupid are turned into a similar style graphic novel. Throw in a little Captain Underpants humor and you get the agents of suits books. Kids love them and they should. Their wild mystery adventures that don’t always make sense Until everything is wrapped up in the end. But kids love them from beginning to end and this will be no different. 

HoverGirls by Geneva Bowers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

 

I am sad to say but Hovergirls is a DNF. The main character Kim is so annoying. I cannot take it anymore. Kim and her best friend are moving to the city. Kim is very bubbly a bit of an airhead and very much into fashion and boys and not caring about anything else. Her best friend is more standoffish and socially awkward. But can they make themselves into superheroes and get the publicity Kim wants. The reason this book is a DNF is because of how airheaded Kim sees. I really hope she finds the strong person underneath by the end of the book, but I don’t care to wait the next hundred pages to find out. The other thing I don’t like is there is a size difference in these two girls and Kim is on the heavier side. The outfits they draw her in art extremely cute and I love that. The way Kim be behaves and the way others treat her is stereotypical of a larger size woman, and not in a good way. The boys that use her because she allows it is one of the things that I find most annoying. And her other qualities while also annoying are not cute enough to bring a redemption for the other. I really wanted to like this book based on the cover, but I’m sorry it’s not worth the time to finish it. 

Nell of Gumbling: My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure by Emma Steinkellner

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 

This is a sequel to a book I loved. Nell Gumbling is about the small town of Gumbling and the inhabitants within. In the first book Nell and her friends were trying to save their town. In the second book they’re going away for a weeklong summer camping camp. The winners get these amazing jackets. But first Nell and her friends are going to have to handle changes in their friendship and how people can change as they grow up. I really did like this book. I do think it is less than the first book. This book is less graphic novel and more journal where the first book was more graphic novel, less journal. That makes it quite a bit longer to read than the first one. The story is cute and fans of the first book will enjoy this book. However, if someone starts with this book, the odds of them going back to book one are less than the opposite direction. 

Pizza and Taco: Best Christmas Ever!: (A Graphic Novel) by Stephen Shaskan, Stephen Shaskan

funny medium-paced

3.5

 

It may seem odd to read a Christmas book in October, but this book actually starts in September so it’s perfect read. Pizza and taco need to get ready for Christmas if they want to get there super long list ready. They must remember to be good and help others with the hope of possibly getting anything on their lists. This of course is an early reader’s chapter book. It’s quite a lovely and fun read that kids are going to enjoy. 

The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

 

I have to say this is one of the most unique fantasy books I have read. This takes place in the 90s, so it feels like going back to my teenage years. Between the hair metal bands, the Pantera shirts, I swam in this world gleefully. This is a story about a boy who’s been away for the last few years because his father was in rehab. When he gets to move back in with his family it’s a bit strange and his first stop is to a bookstore. His friends are still there, but they’re a little different and he doesn’t fit in no matter how many T-shirts he wears. And being one of the only brown kids in the area he is automatically assumed to be the son of the bookstore owner. This is not unusual, but it is an entrance into a world of mathematical magic and danger.  Time can stop, but also fast forward. This was very interesting and entirely worth it. I wouldn’t mind visiting this world again, but it’s so unique that I understand why it’s a bit of a sleeper. But those who give it a chance most likely going to find something they like. 

Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 

This book makes you want to cry. In a good way. It follows many of the other books in this series about a kid needing to find an answer for themselves. In this case, Lila Grier is afraid of the “what if”. But teacher helps her through this in the kindest way possible and leads to her becoming a teacher later in life. This book rhymes throughout and it’s very well done. The illustrations are fun but a bit old-fashioned. The historical times you expect to be but when Lila becomes a teacher the pencil skirt and heels seems a little old-fashioned, but I love it. All in total, this is a great book to add to this series. 

No Fair! by Jacob Grant

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

 

This book is cute. A little boy is out for the day with his father and think things are not fair. It is his constant bratty refrain. Dad is trying to show that things are fair you just don’t perceive them that way. Overall I like the book I just wish there was a reason or that dad could explain why things appear unfair instead of just leaving it that you’re the kid, I’m the adult. The book does work, but I think it could be better. 

Mine! by Candace Fleming

lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 

This book is adorable and would be great fun as a read aloud. An apple is about to fall from a tree and each animal takes a moment to think that is going to be mine. The way the author rhymes the story when she needs to and uses sound words like plop, fizz, etc. in other parts of the story makes this such a fun read. It a great ending. Also have to give it up to Eric Rothman, who did all the fantastic illustrations. 

Catch the Ball by Bryan Smith

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 

This book is coming from Boys Town Press. And I’m happy to say it did not stick to the usual format of give us a lesson a pneumonic to remember the lesson and then three examples of the lesson and use. This does not do that, and it already makes it a better book. In this, we have a boy who’s good at sports and another team member who’s good at a different sport. And the boy who’s not so good at football tells the boy that is good at football that I don’t like you yelling at me to catch the ball. It makes me feel bad. The good at sports boy is like you’re right. I don’t like that when coach does that to me, and he has the same conversation with coach and it makes everything better in the end. The lesson is there and it’s memorable.  I do you think the story is long for story time but in a classroom setting, I think it could work well. 

Breaking Bao: 88 Bakes and Snacks from Asia and Beyond by Clarice Lam

informative medium-paced

3.0

 

This cookbook makes me hungry. I can’t give a bigger compliment than that. The recipe seem easy and the pictures are very helpful. I would like to see this in a printed version because on my iPad it seems really small. My other observation is all the food looks fantastic and looks ready to eat. It also makes me think of my grandmother is 1960s and 70s cookbook. I don’t know why maybe it’s the shade of green that it is. Maybe it’s something else altogether I think this cookbook is fantastic, but those flipping in a bookstore might give it a pass.