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Reviews written by Mamma B - Page 2
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Books
Only for very mature readers
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Into The Woods by Jean Hegland might not even be considered a 'teen' book by most people. But because the two main characters are teens and since I have heard of a few AP English classes reading the story, I have decided to include it here. Two sisters and their father live in a house far in the forest, at least 30 miles from the nearest town. They enjoy their quiet life there and don't mind the inconvenience of driving to town for things they need, I mean, it's only 30 miles right? But then something happens, the tv stops getting channels, the power goes out, the postman stops coming - you never really find out exactly what happens, but suddenly the 'civilized' world that we know with utilities brought to our doorstep, protection, and government gradually slips away. A scary concept, but possible when all lines of distant communication fail. The small family retreats to their home and struggles with the idea of waiting for modern society to return, but also how they plan on taking care of themselves in the mean time. When a horrible accident happens, the girls find themselves alone and an scared. Just climbing on a chair to reach a high shelf seems life threatening, but life must go on. With the land at their hands and a shelf of books with life sustaining secrets - the girls push forward. I've always enjoyed post-apocalypse type stories. Or even pioneer stories for that matter, since in a way they are very similar. I find it very annoying that some novels of this sort seem to think that it would be impossible to go back to a life without modern technology. I just imagine Laura Ingalls Wilder laughing in their face. But I do agree that it would be extremely difficult and very, very scary. The aspects of the story about the family learning to survive are interesting and make sense. But there are some things about the story that just seem unrealistic. First off the girls are home schooled for a large part of their life, they are used to being in the forest for long periods of time with no outside interaction. But it seems that as soon as they lose contact, they panic and long for company - which is odd, and yet they also become overly paranoid about any visitors coming to see them at all. Yes, there are a few places in the story that would make them very cautious about visitors - but not enough to seclude themselves from society forever. Near the end of the story there are two events that really shape the way the book plays out. There is a brutal rape and a pregnancy which make the girls decide to leave their house and escape to the forest because they just can't stand the constant fear of intruders. For me, this is where the story lost me. They literally destroy the house - all the food they canned and grew, the books that helped them survive, the shelter, the fireplace, and the very few comforts of the world they had left just to get away from the Boogy-man. To me that seemed to be a stupid and juvenile move by girls who were supposed to have grown into logic adults over the course of the story. The story was an interesting read for adults - but I do I think it is worth seeking out to give to a mature, high school reader? Maybe if they already read a lot and you just happened to have it around. There is one section that a large number of people would have issues with. After one of the sisters is raped for weeks afterward she can't stand to even be touched. The other sister tries to help her get over this by giving her a massage - and to that point I am totally fine with it, and it makes sense. But then somehow the scene becomes a very short, lesbian incest scene and I'm not really sure why. Honestly the girls haven't been alone together all that long and they ARE sisters after all. I'm definitely not against homosexuality in books - but this didn't seem to make sense. They had no inclination prior to that of being gay and perhaps the author was trying to show that people who are alone for long periods of time may develop sexual desire for each other or just intimate human contact, (also the whole scene started with the girl trying to get her sister to relax after a severe trauma) but I would think that the period of time that had passed would not even been close to enough time for them to a) feel that sort of pull to each other, and b) get over the fact that they were sisters. Fifteen or twenty years? Maybe. Less then 3? Not a chance. I just felt that the surprisingly brief encounter after the massage was not necessary to the story, and just leaves you thinking, "Huh?" |
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Books
Potter Readers Will Love It!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is the first book that I have read trying to jump on the Harry Potter reader fan wagon that is actually pretty darn good. Percy Jackson is a troubled kid - he gets into trouble no matter how hard he tries to stay out of it. He's only in the 6th grade and he has already been kicked out of six schools. He's hyperactive and dyslexic, and even though he loves his mom a ton, his home life is far from perfect. After getting kicked out of his most recent school he heads home to spend the summer with his mom and step dad in New York. But when crazy monsters start attacking him out of nowhere and his best friend turns out to be half goat, Percy starts to think he's going crazy. But not quite, turns out the dad he never met is actually a Greek god. The first few chapters of the book are about him coming to terms with the fact that he is a 'half-blood' (half human, half god) and is in constant danger from monsters. He escapes to a special camp for kids like him and in the perils journey to get there, loses his mother at the hand of a minotaur. Percy is devastated and is determined to find a way to get his mom back from the underworld - a quest may be his only chance. While reading this book you can easily tell who it is geared towards - Harry Potter fans. Young boy finding out he is more than he seems, and goes to a special place to develop his powers and fight bad guys. But I have to say, this concept of the Greek mythology is a great spin on it. While reading there was actually a lot of things that I never knew about the story of the gods and it made for an interesting subplot. Percy is similar to Harry - but more in a Rebel Without A Cause type way. He is blunt and doesn't think before he speaks. He is jaded about being sent away to schools and doesn't do well because if his temper and his learning disabilities. But all in all, he is a pretty good kid and means well. The story continues with him on a quest with two of his friends to return some stolen godly weapons and he hopes to save his mom in the process. The action is pretty much constant and violent - but because they are monsters/gods they just disintegrate and nobody is ever hurt much. It might not have the depth of description and detail like the Potter books, but if you have a kid who really loves adventure stories this might have more of the level of excitement they are looking for. I could see some parents having a problem with this story in a religious sense. While it does have a whole central story revolving around gods and demons - they actually do mention that the gods are still considered like VP's to someone higher up, making them more like a high ranking saint. I don't think that this was the case in the original mythology and may have been added to help sales, but I'm not positive. Overall, a really good story and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you have never read HP or even if they were not your favorites, I would give Percy a shot. He has a little more edge and maybe a little more 'bad boy' would be right up your alley. |
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Books
Predictable and unrealistic
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Taken by Edward Bloor seemed to have potential when I picked it up. Sadly though, the book was not able to flesh out what I was hoping for the story. Charity lives a life of privilege in a sheltered society of rich people. In the future (2035 I believe) kidnapping is very, very common and anyone with wealth is under constant protection. It has become so common that the kids even know exactly what they are supposed to do if they are taken and how to make the best of the situation. When Charity is kidnapped obviously things don't go 'according to plan'. First off - the book is very predictable, which sometimes is a hard thing to get past when you are reviewing books for little children. BUT this book is for older kids - I think that when you get to the point of kids getting past their first chapter books and wanting to dive into some really good stories, the last thing you want to do is lower the bar because they are 'just kids'. They want good characters, realistic dialog, and excitement just as much as adult readers do. Pretty much all of the characters in the book are completely one dimensional and have these insanely complicated, philosophical discussions that would never realistically happen in that situation. During several points in the book I thought to myself, "Wow - did they get the whole debate team in the back of that ambulance to kidnap?" My impression was the the whole book was supposed to be a lesson of, "Even though I'm rich and you are poor, we are all the same inside!" But personally, no matter who kidnapped me I think I would have a hard time seeing things this way and debating with my kidnapper. On one hand the kidnappers are supposed to be so professional that they can get into this crazy, protected mansion - and the next they are leaving her unattended or feeling sorry for her. If this is a step up from your kids playing video games, then it's probably fine, at least they are reading. But if your kid is a regular reader of any kind - they will probably find this book as snooty and predictable as I did. |
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Books
Possibly a chance to learn vocabulary
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
When I Wear My Tiara by Lisa Lebowitz Cader is a book about a little girl who likes to pretend she is a princess/queen while she wears her tiara through the day. The book does have its good points, like possibly expanding vocabulary by saying things like, "When I wear my tiara, I outwit foes with ease" instead of "When I wear my tiara, I get away from the bad guys!" The pictures are colorful, but very plain and simplistic. I really didn't care very much either way about this book because it makes the little girl seem kind of selfish. I got this book second hand, but from what I have found the book was originally sold with a gimmicky fabric tiara. It's not a bad book, and the little girl isn't outright rude or bossy - but this book is really only for little girls who are really into the princess thing. |
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Books
Good Story, odd illustrations
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox is a great book on showing young children the diversity in the world. It's a short book made for kids under approximately 7, so it's not too long or overly complicated. It shows examples of different houses, schools, foods and such, and how even though these may be different then what your family experiences, you still have several things in common like, joy, pain, love and kindness. I really like the story and it doesn't go past the comprehension level of small children, however I find the illustrations kind of weird. Maybe they are considered avaunt guard - but I just find them disproportionate and honestly, a little freaky. I will admit that they are definitely their own style and are very colorful. As much as I hate to admit it, there may be some parents out there that find the illustrations objectionable. I didn't care for the drawing style - but that is just my personal taste. The things that very few people might find objectionable would be possible references to other religions via the images. While I DO NOT feel this is a good reason to not purchase this book - I like to include ANYTHING that someone might be uncomfortable with in my reviews. I do feel it is important to note that religion is not mentioned in the text of the story. |
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Books
A wonderful science story!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The Prometheus Project by Douglas E. Richards is a fantastic, exciting read and would be a great asset to any science teachers classroom. Brother and sister, Ryan and Regan, are upset that their parents moved them across the country and can't understand why. Just by luck they happen to overhear their parents talking about passwords and secret government projects they have started working on. Fearing for their parents safety, they use the information they overheard to break into the complex and enter a world they could never have imagined. This book would be a great gift for any child who shows even the slightest interest in science. Ryan and Regan are very bright kids who use several scientific methods and problem solving to work their way through the obstacles they encounter in their adventure. From figuring out the password puzzles in the first chapters of the book; simple experiments to discover if water is safe to drink; or if the aliens they run across are friend or foe; the book finds great ways to incorporate really interesting science facts without taking away from the story. There were actually quite a few things they figured out that I wouldn't have known myself! Definitely a good read - could use a little more depth in the characters - but with the age range it is intended for, I predict a lot of happy adventure readers with a new respect for science experiments. |
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Books
Possibly for grown-ups or collectors?
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
The Little Golden Book Collection of Eloise Wilkin Stories is a hard cover book that I was thrilled to come across. My personal favorite included in the book, Baby Dear, is an out of print story that I have kept an eye out for at garage sales for years. This collection by many authors is dedicated to Ms. Wilkin's sweet portrayal of the lives of little kids. Well, to be more specific, stepping into the lives of little children of the seventies and earlier. The angelic little children are chubby, sweet, and cute. Most of the stories are about the simple things in life, like helping mommy clean the house, or getting dressed to go outside and play. I suppose there are people who may not like this book because it shows the 'traditional' roles that were probably true at the time most of the stories were written. The dad goes to work; the mom stays home to clean in her skirts and heels; the little girls are in dresses with dolls, and the little boys with trucks and pants. But if you just take the stories for what they are (they don't dwell on these issues) and take the time to enjoy the beautiful illustrations, then I think it would be a welcome addition to a wider library of books. |
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Books
Brings back memories
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Baby Dear by Esther and Eloise Wilkin was a hard book for me to review because I have such strong memories of this book as a kid. My mom used to buy this book for kids who had a new baby coming into the family along with a small baby doll. It is really hard to find now because I'm pretty sure that it's out of print as a single book. The link above is to a whole collection of stories of Eloise Wilkin illustrations that includes Baby Dear. The story is pretty basic. It's a little girl copying all of the same steps her mother takes to take care of their new baby girl in the family. Her father gives her a new doll so that she can copy the mother without getting in her way too much. The story is very sweet and you can tell that the girl in the story (probably 3) knows the difference between the two babies, but can still truly love a doll and likes the feeling of being a 'big girl' like her mother. With all that being said, there are some people who may not like this book because of the traditional housewife featured in the story. It never really talks about her being a June Cleaver type, but during almost the entire book the mother is wearing skirts and heels. Also there is never any mention of the father doing to help with the baby. But personally, I think that these things don't take away from the story and you have to remind yourself that it was written in 1962. I love Eloise Wilkins illustrations because of the fact that they are old fashioned. They are just a different style then what you see most of the time these days and her chubby little kids are really cute. |
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Books
I remember these illustrations from when I was little
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
The Paul Bunyan story is an American 'tall tale' that has been around forever. In this retelling by Steven Kellogg the illustrations make the whole book. From the minute I picked this book up at a yard sale, I immediately remembered this style of illustration from when I was a kid. I didn't know who the author was because I never paid attention to that as a child, but I was sure I had seen it several times before. Steven Kellogg has been around for a long time and has illustrated over 90 children's books. His pictures are a colored pencil style with tons of hidden funny images inside the very detailed drawings. I have looked at this book several times since I purchased it, and every single time I still find new hidden 'easter eggs' in the illustrations. The story itself follows the basic Paul Bunyan premise, but goes into many more adventures than I had heard in other renditions of the story in the past. Paul travels all across the U.S.A. - starting with his birth in Maine all the way to his retirement in Alaska, and points all over the map in between. The book is a silly story about a giant man - but the illustrations are what makes this book particularly special. |
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Books
Very imaginative, wonderful illustrations!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Matilda Turnip's Endless Belly Button by Bethany James Leigh Shady, and illustrated by Joshua Peters, is a very imaginative tale of a little girl swept into a fantasy world through the strangest of ways - her belly button itch! Matilda is a young girl without a dad and a mean, absent mother. She befriends a spotted mouse that she names after her dead father, Rourke. Obviously left on her own often, Matilda and Rourke have no hesitation following the path of the strange items that one day she pulls out of her itchy belly button. Some of the items are as small as a yo-yo, and as big as a sailboat. Each item pulls them forward into the adventure that eventually leads her to a father she thought was dead. The story is creative and cute, and provides the perfect base for the wonderful illustrations by Peters. They are colorful and bright - much more like a comic book style then the pastel tone, watercolor pictures that you find in a large number of books geared towards small kids. Not that those are bad, but it's nice to find someone with a different style. My only complaint with the book is that the poetry style writing is occasionally choppy in places. I think that if the text was static throughout the book and printed in tempo and spacing as it is meant to be read, (instead of wrapping around pictures or on different parts of the page) it would probably have a better flow. All in all, with an original illustration style and truly zany storytelling, I will keep an eye out for new stories by these two in the future. |
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