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Showing posts with label Storms/Extreme Weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Storms/Extreme Weather. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2021
Middle Grade Zoo Adventure a Fun Mash-Up of Genres
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lex has always felt a special connection with Nyah, but when the pachyderm sends her a telepathic message, Lex is puzzled. The elephant seems to be telling her to go outside the zoo, into the woods beyond, to find the answers to the many questions Lex has about her past. Is she crazy to listen to the advice of an animal? As nervous as she is to leave the safety of her precious zoo, Lex feels compelled to follow Nyah's instructions. When Lex makes an otherworldly discovery out there, she embarks on a magical adventure involving a ghost, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, all of which promise to lead her back to her own inexplicable beginning.
Magical realism is common in middle-grade books, but to find it combined with a mystery, a ghost story, and a tale of lost treasure? That's something special. The Elephant's Girl, a debut novel by Celesta Rimington, offers this enticing genre mash-up along with a unique setting, two likable heroines (one human, one pachyderm), and an exciting plot. Not only does the book educate readers about elephants, but it also teaches important lessons about humans' responsibility toward animals, kindness, the true meaning of family, standing up for one's self, and finding courage to do hard things. The story is predictable and I didn't always find the magical realism bits convincing, but overall, I found The Elephant's Girl to be a delightful, entertaining book. Young animal lovers looking for a fun, magical reading adventure won't be disappointed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling, and books by Kate DiCamillo)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Elephant's Girl from the generous folks at Penguin Random House as part of an awards program I'm helping to judge. Thank you!
Monday, December 14, 2020
Bob A Heartwarming Sequel to The One and Only Ivan
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once upon a time, a group of animals lived at a forgotten roadside attraction called the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Now that they've all been rescued, Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the baby elephant live at a sanctuary. Bob, their canine friend, was taken home by Julia, the daughter of the mall's janitor. He gets to visit his friends frequently, but it's not quite the same. Still, there's lots to be said for the domesticated life—plenty of food; lots of belly rubs; a safe, warm bed; etc. For a "mutt of uncertain heritage" (5), it's not a bad life.
One day as Bob is visiting Ivan and Ruby, an oncoming hurricane starts wreaking havoc on the sanctuary and its animals. Bob is separated from Julia in the chaos. As he tries to help the distressed sanctuary residents, the canine makes a startling discovery—someone he thought was gone forever might still be alive. Bob can't believe it, but he has to find out if the dog in question is really his long-lost sister. Is it possible? Can Bob save his litter mate from being caught in the storm? Or will she rescue him from a life of domesticated boredom? When push comes to shove, what does family really mean? Where does Bob truly belong?
If you, like me, loved The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, then you're going to enjoy its sequel as well. The One and Only Bob is an upbeat, heartwarming story featuring a funny, fast-"talking" hero who will make you smile. Although the novel isn't as thoughtful and wise as Ivan, it still tells a sweet, uplifting story that teaches some good lessons about family, forgiveness, and friendship. Through Bob's actions in the tale, it also shows that anyone—no matter how small—can be a hero.
(Readalikes: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scenes of peril, and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The One and Only Bob with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Snowy Thriller Doesn't Quite Live Up to the Promise of Its Premise
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A student at a special arts high school in San Diego, 18-year-old Mira Hayes is heading home to Pittsburgh to spend the holidays with her mother. Christmas Day will be the first anniversary of her mom's twin sister's death and Mira knows her mom's anxiety and depression will be through the roof. Mira needs to be there for her. As her plane descends into Newark, however, Mira gets some bad news: worsening winter weather has grounded all flights out. Phoning home only increases her worry about her mother's mental health, so when Mira's glamorous seatmate from the plane offers her a ride home in the car she and some friends are renting, Mira accepts.
It doesn't take many hours on the road for Mira to realize that something is not right with the situation. Not only are her four fellow passengers not friends with each other, but they're actually complete strangers. As the weather grows increasingly stormy and important items—like cell phones and laptops—go missing from the car, Mira finds herself more and more cut off from the outside world with people she's finding harder and harder to trust. With no way to contact her mother or anyone else, she's not just nervous, she's terrified. Discovering alarming secrets about each of her traveling companions only increases her fear. Although the storm outside is nasty and threatening, it's nothing compared to the danger Mira faces inside the car ...
The premise of Five Total Strangers, the newest YA novel by Natalie D. Richards, is a simple but compelling one. When I first read the plot summary, I knew I had to read this book. Unfortunately, the promise of the premise didn't pan out as well as I wanted it to. The novel is definitely atmospheric, with a tense, unsettling vibe that makes the story deliciously suspenseful. That's what kept me reading. It certainly wasn't the characters, who are almost wholly unlikable. As far as plot goes, the tale is engrossing and compelling, even if a lot of it feels contrived. Not all of the plot elements make logical sense—some of them go nowhere at all while others never come full circle. In spite of these irritants, Five Total Strangers sucked me in and kept me turning pages. I didn't end up loving it like I wanted to, but I liked it well enough to keep reading. Overall, it was just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of No Exit by Taylor Adams)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Five Total Strangers with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The Children's Blizzard Devastating, Deeply Impactful
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
In the late 19th Century, the Great Plains region of the United States was inhabited mostly by European immigrants lured to the area by exaggerated claims of lush, fertile land free for the taking. In reality, living on the desolate prairie was tough. The land was unyielding, the weather was harsh, and surviving it all was a daily struggle. Far from the Garden of Eden promised to unsuspecting settlers, it was more like Hell on Earth. Just as a new year, 1888, dawned, a number of unfortunate circumstances—including immigrants' ignorance of the fickleness and ferocity of winter weather on the Great Plains—combined to create a devastating tragedy known today as The Children's Blizzard.
After a bitter cold spell on the plains, January 12 was a welcome gift. The day brought unusually warm temperatures, prompting delighted homesteaders all over the region to shuck off their heavy winter gear and flock outside to handle chores and errands that had been put off because of inclement weather. To everyone's shock, the pleasant day turned suddenly savage when a blizzard whipped in out of nowhere bringing freezing temperatures, blinding snow, and a chilling wind. Because the storm descended just as schoolchildren were being dismissed for the day, dozens of kids became stranded in the melee, some freezing to death almost instantly. Whiteout conditions meant many perished only yards away from safety. Over 200 people, as well as countless animals, were killed that day, making the storm one of the deadliest in America's history.
Melanie Benjamin's newest novel, which tells the story of the devastating storm, will be published on January 12, 2021, the 133rd anniversary of the tragic event. The Children's Blizzard focuses on three teenage girls, two of whom are schoolteachers. All three of them make different choices on that fateful day. Afterward, one will be lauded as a hero, one will be shunned by her community, and one will become a reluctant celebrity. Every one of them will be forever changed by what transpires when a surprise storm ravages their lives.
Although the trio of girls at the center of The Children's Blizzard are all fictional, their experiences are composites of what real people went through on January 12, 1888. Thus, the tales are intimate, shocking, and heart-wrenching. Benjamin's expert storytelling definitely brings the tragedy to vivid life, creating a moving and memorable tale that will stick with you long after you close the book. While I found the novel gripping in many ways, I would have liked fewer narrators telling the story so that I could feel more connected to the main characters. Not all of them are likable, but they're all complex, interesting, and authentic. Plotwise, the novel loses most of its steam after the storm ends. It seems to have nowhere to go at that point, which makes the story feel unfinished. Despite these small irritants, all in all, I found The Children's Blizzard engrossing and enlightening. It's a devastating book, but one that makes a definite impact.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Children's Blizzard from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Monday, December 16, 2019
Marriage-Retreat-Gone-Wrong Thriller Just an Okay Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Is your marriage in trouble? Give it two weeks at a luxurious resort on an isolated island in the Mayan Riviera under the influence of two celebrity therapists and, voilá! You're back in business. At least that's what couples are sold when they sign up to attend retreats at The Harmony Resort. Some come reluctantly, some nervously, some with great faith in the abilities of the famous power couple who run the retreat. It doesn't take long, though, for the newest Harmony recruits to realize that not everything at the resort is what it seems ... especially not their glamorous hosts.
In the wake of a fierce tropical storm that's rapidly swirling toward the island, everyone's secrets will be revealed—to the devastation of them all.
There's something about an isolated, closed-room situation that really amps up a mystery/thriller for me. That's the main reason I was drawn to The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley. It did turn out to be a compelling page-turner. That being said, it also didn't feature the most likable of characters. Plus, the story's sad and depressing, which seems to be the norm for these kinds of books. There was enough happening with the plot that I kept turning pages, but in the end, The Last Resort was just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty and two books by Emily Carpenter—Every Single Secret and Until the Day I Die)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, disturbing subject matter, and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Last Resort with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, July 22, 2019
Exciting Action/Adventure Storm Novel Perfect for Fans of I Survived Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Tropical storms are just a part of life in Puerto Rico, so Alejo isn't really worried about Valerie, the latest one to blow in. The 12-year-old is helping at the fancy seaside resort where his uncle works as the groundskeeper when the wind and rain really start to pick up. Before he knows it, Valerie has been upgraded to a mega storm and the whole area is under evacuation orders. With his uncle off on an errand, Alejo is stuck at the resort watching in horror as his world descends into chaos around him. Although he knows it's smarter to hunker down in the hotel until help arrives, Alejo can't stand the thought of Padrino Nando—his aging uncle and guardian—out in the storm alone. Against his better judgment, Alejo ventures out into the one they're calling la tormenta del siglo, the storm of the century ...
In New Orleans, Emily's not too concerned about Valerie either. She's too busy trying to get the attention of her distracted mother, whose only focus has been on Emily's cancer-ridden brother. When a little sniffling gets her kicked out of her germ-free house, Emily decides to run away to an island in the middle of Audobon Park. Hiding out in her calm, secret fortress, she doesn't notice the storm brewing all around her. By the time she realizes what's happening, it's too late ... like Alejo, she's stuck. New Orleans is being evacuated around her and Emily has nowhere to go.
As the fates of two storm-tossed kids collide, Alejo and Emily experience the most terrifying, deadly adventure of their lives ...
Storm Blown, an exciting middle-grade action/adventure novel by Nick Courage, is sure to win over even reluctant readers. It's an adrenaline-fueled survival story starring two brave kids caught in a chaotic situation that grows crazier by the second. Readers young and old won't be able to look away! Courage throws in interesting storm facts that heighten the tale's suspense without bogging it down with unnecessary details. Hand this one to fans of the I Survived series and other action-packed survival stories. They won't be disappointed by this engaging, pulse-pounding read.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scary situations, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Storm Blown from the generous folks at Random House Children's. Thank you!
Tuesday, February 05, 2019
Unnecessarily Gory and Graphic, No Exit Leaves a Lot to Be Desired
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
College student Darby Thorne had no intention of going home for Christmas. Until a diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer changed everything. Now the UC-Boulder art major is racing through a snowstorm to get to her mother's side. As the weather worsens dramatically, she knows she can't risk her own life trying to drive through it. Darby will have to wait it out. She finds refuge at a remote rest stop with electricity, a coffee machine, and four strangers. While she frantically searches for a cell signal so she can at least check in on her mom, Darby makes a shocking discovery in the frigid parking lot—a small child is locked in an animal cage in the back of a van. There's no explanation for it except that one of the people inside the rest stop is a kidnapper. With no safe way off the mountain, no cell phone service, and only a vague idea who the villain might be, it's up to Darby to save the child.
As the snow piles up outside, the stranded art major must think her way out of a desperate situation. Which of the strangers can she trust to help her? If she chooses incorrectly, it could mean danger for a helpless child and for herself. Darby can't leave the captive to freeze to death or worse. What can she possibly do to save them both from a situation that's growing more deadly with each passing minute?
No Exit, a new thriller by Taylor Adams, is getting all kinds of buzz right now. Based on its intriguing premise, I can understand why. I picked it up hoping for a taut psychological thriller—what I got was more thriller thriller. The novel lacks the subtlety of the former, relying more on the kind of propulsive action most associated with the latter. In fact, the story gets so unnecessarily graphic and violent that it feels far-fetched and, really, just kind of ridiculous. Add in a cast of mostly unlikable characters, a "What's the point?" kind of vibe, and a nauseating blood-bath of a story and, in my opinion at least, you've got a stomach-turning thriller without a lot of redeeming qualities. I still think No Exit's premise is chock-full of fascinating potential; its execution, though, leaves a lot to be desired.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of No Exit from the generous folks at BookTrib in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Friday, July 27, 2018
In-Depth Examination of 1888 Tragedy Empathetic, Fascinating
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"A safe and carefree childhood was a luxury the pioneer prairie could not afford" (269).
With scorching temperatures blazing across the world right now, it's hard to believe things will ever cool down. It's even tougher to imagine that in just a few months people will be flooding social media sites with pictures of towering snow piles, foot-long icicles, and slick, impassable roads. Just as the news is now reporting deaths due to the fiery heat, soon it will feature stories about people hurt and killed due to freezing winter weather.
The Children's Blizzard (2004) by David Laskin reminds readers of just how unpredictable and nasty winter weather can get. Both fascinating and heartbreaking, the book revisits the blizzard that whipped across the American prairie in January of 1888, freezing hundreds of people and animals to death, some of them in just minutes. Because the worst of the storm hit right at the time school released, many of its victims were small children who became lost in a blinding whiteout while trying to find their way home.
Laskin describes in heart-wrenching detail how the epic blizzard was a "perfect" storm of erratic weather patterns, under-educated forecasters, and unprepared pioneers. He talks about the settling of the prairie by immigrants lured to the area by fanciful promises that glossed over the harsh realities of living on the unforgiving prairie. Many pioneers, for instance, froze to death inside their homes simply because of lack of fuel, little food, and structures that weren't equal to the task of keeping the deathly chill at bay.
Thoroughly researched and well-written, The Children's Blizzard makes for engrossing (albeit horrifying) reading. It offers an empathetic, in-depth examination of the titular event, which is made even more personal by true stories of the people who lived through the blizzard, suffering the kind of shock, injury, and loss that can never be forgotten. It's a gripping volume, which I recommend highly to anyone who's interested in reading about wild weather and our shocking vulnerability in the face of its immense, awe-inspiring power.
(Readalikes: Although I haven't read any other books about The Children's Blizzard, I've heard good things about I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888 by Lauren Tarshis. I'm also reminded of other books about weather-related tragedies, including The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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