Reading: THE INFAMOUS RATSOS CAMP OUT - Kara LaReau (author), Matt Myers (illustrator)

I have barely a handful of "auto-buy" authors, but Kara LaReau is one of them. Introduced to her fiction for young readers by one of the books in her Bland Sisters middle-grade series - which was an homage to Agatha Christie, my all-time favorite writer, no less - after falling for those two strange little girls, it was a no-brainer to try her chapter-book series featuring the famous (or in this case, infamous) Ratsos Brothers. Have read them all, the latest (and fourth) in the series, The Infamous Ratsos Camp Out, finding our siblings Louie and Ralphie taking a break from city life by teaming up with their friends for their first-ever camping trip. Their dad, Big Lou, is leading the Big City Scouts expedition, although when they arrive at the Friendly Woods Campground a surprise awaits in the form of Grandpa Ratso, who was Big Lou's scoutmaster when he was a little camper, who will co-lead (actually, sort of take over) things from Big Lou. But Grandpa Ratso, the young scouts soon learn, is a bit rusty in his scouting skills, leading the troop into a spot of trouble that will require each member of the troop to not only rely on his or her self - but also to help each other, or ask for help when it's needed. In both her terrific series, LaReau's skills at combining a dry sense of humor with positive messages about self and family (that won't hit young readers over the head) are razor-sharp, but what makes her truly stand out is her ability to create larger-than-life characters - even in talking animals - that ring 100% true on the page. Combine this with the hugely-talented Matt Myers's (as always) equally warm and upbeat art, and volume four of the Ratsos Brothers continuing story is another standout in kid-lit - perfect for young readers, or maybe even better for adults reading to the kids; sharing these adventures aloud that emphasize the core values of friendship and family. Either way, this is another winner in the series kids should read - and re-read - with smiles on. (Available 5/12)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: MY FAIR LATTE - Vickie Fee

Departing from her delightful Liv & Di in Dixie cozy mystery series, writer Vickie Fee has found an equally endearing - dare I say plucky? - heroine in ex-barista Halley Greer, who's recently inherited a broken-down old-fashioned movie palace in Utopia Springs, Arkansas from an uncle she hadn't seen since childhood. A lover of classic films, Halley - upon visiting the theater - makes the radical decision to keep and restore it (including the upstairs apartment, which gives her a new home at the same time), doing a quick, budget-friendly renovation to try and get the Art Deco theater close to its former glory as she can, in order to re-open it up as a wine and coffee bar that shows old movies. Making friends right off in a fellow business owner of an escape room, as well as an older couple who were solid with her uncle, Halley also discovers an enemy she didn't know she had when a man who'd previously tried to buy the theater from her uncle is found dead in his theater seat, in the middle of opening night for My Fair Lady! The cops settle on Halley as their #1 suspect when it's learned the dead man had also vandalized the theater during its renovation, forcing Utopia Springs's newest resident, working with her new neighbors and friends, to try and find motive and killer herself. As always, author Fee's skills at characterization make Halley and even the most minor secondary characters come fully to life from page one; something vital in a mystery where you need to care about people even when you suspect them. At first I was thrown by the victim's dying completely "off-screen" as it were, without even actually having an "on-screen" time in the novel to gauge his personality or how he acted/reacted with other characters, in order to gauge their motives as suspects - again, something normally vital in a mystery. But Halley's not-always-subtle (in a good way) investigation also give a face and voice to the dead man, making up for any "face-time" in the book, and not only was the killer's reveal a good surprise, but the way in which Fee plays out how and when Halley figures it all out - just in time to confront said killer - generates real tension/suspense on the page, as well (something lacking in some cozies these days). With the future of Henery Press's (publishers of this first-in-a-series) mystery lines in limbo, as of this writing, one hopes that common sense will prevail and readers like me - who've fallen for Halley and her friends already - won't have to wait long for book two in this charming new mystery series.  4.5/5 stars 

April Wrap-Up: BOOKS - The Addiction AND The Cure

Only seven reads to report for the month, half of those books geared more toward kids (though, actually, some great reads there) - but to be fair, I did finish another on May 1st (Vickie Fee's latest cozy mystery, My Fair Latte, just missing the deadline), and am halfway through another I am trying hard not to DNF because it's just not ... good, but I want to finish it. So the reading's been there, somewhat, just a matter of finishing. And everything aside, reading remains the one thing keeping me sane. 

I couldn't understand it at first, but have now started becoming one of those people who - between the self-isolation and stay-at-home orders - are finding concentration difficult when it comes to curling up with a good book. Fortunately I read some goodies in April; Death of an American Beauty turned out to be a crackerjack of a historical mystery, set in Gilded Age New York City, while The Sun Down Motel came through nearly 100% on its promise of the kind of chills I'd been looking for in a book in some time. Raina Telgemeier took me on a warm yet sometimes harrowing journey of life as a teenager with braces (thankfully something I never had to go through) with her graphic novel Smile, and I both managed a trip to the beautiful country of India via a very cool kids book that was surprisingly chock-full of information but never boring (Tiny Travelers India Treasure Quest) as well as learned how to draw the characters of the latest Pixar hit Onward ... before going back to the Great Chicago Fire and one true-life family's escape from the blaze (complete with pet goat) in Fiery Night. Last but not least, I had the joy of reading (and re-reading) possibly the funniest, most snarky picture book for kids (that adults would love too) in My Best Friend, which I think belongs on every shelf no matter what your age.

REVIEWS TO COME, as always (still owe one for the awesome Night of the Living Ted from March, egad), and please click on the images here to enlarge, if necessary.

Sigh, no films again this year, but did catch the first episode of the BBC's "Dracula". Very well-done, but holding judgment until I've seen all three.

June HAS to be better, pandemic and all, right? Meanwhile, keep your May happy and healthy and safe! And hopefully always with a book nearby!

Reading: LEARN TO DRAW DISNEY/PIXAR ONWARD - Walter Foster Jr. Creative Team

The coronavirus may have relegated Disney-Pixar's latest to streaming services over a theatrical release, but the Walter Foster Jr. Creative Team has scored another winner for fans of Pixar's newest animated classic with this full-color, fully-illustrated and thoroughly fleshed-out, step-by-step guidebook for creative kids. Even the youngest artists, here, should be able to flesh out a reasonable likeness of Ian, Barley, Blazy, the Manticore - all their favorite characters from New Mushroomtown featured in their favorite new movie, Onward. Starting with a list of easy-to-get tools and art supplies the kids can put together with a grown-up, each child can then easily flip to their favorite and, starting with a few simple lines, bring that character to life on paper. Walter Foster how-to arts and craft books have been around a lot of years; it's nice to see, once again, that the "junior team's" current crop of books for young artists are just as inspiring and creative as the classics; this one should keep its readers busy, and creative, for hours.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: TINY TRAVELER'S INDIA TREASURE QUEST - Steven Wolfe Pereira & Susie Jaramillo (writers), Melyee Tan & Abigail Gross (illustrators)

Starting in New Delhi, this brilliant, colorful, and highly educational board book for young children could equally aid adults as an illustrated primer to one of the most vibrant, diverse countries of the world. Through detailed illustrations featuring a search-and-find element on each page for little ones to discover a hidden treasure, readers young and old - for such a compact volume - are given an amazingly in-depth look at India, from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai ... to a safari in Ranthambore ... via a Holi festival, a game of cricket, even chutney as just one element of the vast array of dishes and cuisines India has to offer ... readers are even treated to an Indian wedding and the art of henna as the new bride's hands are decorated for the ceremony. But it doesn't stop there; India is huge, after all, so Tiny Traveler readers also get to climb the Himalayas, ride on a shikara (houseboat) on Dal Lake in Kashmir, and visit the Taj Mahal - again, all while collecting a new treasure at each site. The words accompanying the lush and lively illustrations - in verse, no less - convey a tremendous amount of information while keep descriptions super-brief (as, really, the images speak for themselves), yet also perfectly serve as signposts spotlighting the historical and cultural importance of India as a nation. Amazing, especially for a small board book, and though this is my first visit with a volume from the Tiny Traveler's Treasure Quest series, if this is any indication of the justice each volume does to the country it's focused on, corny as it sounds I'd say the entire collection deserves a place of honor in any child's library; certainly for their first-class educational value, but also because they are simply that entertaining to look through, even on repeated readings. (Available 5/26)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: MY BEST FRIEND - Rob Hodgson

The most hilarious kid's picture book I've ever read - with a terrific level of snark to it that any adult would appreciate wholeheartedly - is a simple tale of friendship narrated by Mouse, a white rodent who's recently met his new best friend, Giant Owl, when the big bird picked him out (up, actually) from anyone else to be friends with. In bold, funny illustrations we watch Mouse and Giant Owl playing chasing games, as well as the generous owl bringing his new buddy sugar-enriched treats even though they tend to fatten up Mouse - err, that is, make him put on weight. In fact, Giant Owl is such a good friend, he evens gets Mouse his own little home, complete with shiny white bars. But what happens when Mouse suddenly wakes up in an enclosed, moist, dark place with his new best friend nowhere to be found might just be a revelation Mouse isn't ready for. With its wonderfully wicked, sarcastic sense of humor chronicling the friendship between one clueless little mouse and his big, hungry feathered friend, this picture book is a winner for both young and old alike that - no worries - plays out to a satisfying but kid-friendly/G-rated conclusion, the reader enjoying a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way. (Available May 19)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading DEATH OF AN AMERICAN BEAUTY - Mariah Fredericks

(BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT)
Book three in the Jane Prescott mystery series, set in Gilded Age New York City, was my introduction to Mariah Fredericks's plucky (and I mean that in the nicest way) ladies'maid heroine, who this go-round has her vacation interrupted when murder strikes too close to her former home. Abandoned by her father at the age of three, Jane arrived in New York to live with her uncle in a former brothel he now runs as a refuge for women trying to start a new and better life. Even with her rather stern uncle, Jane's memories of her childhood home are good ones - though in recent times the refuge finds itself under siege by a band of pious "Christians" determined to shut down the place; so determined, in fact, they allude to Jane's uncle having more than a Christian interest in the women he boards there for free. Things go from bad to worse, however, when one of the more rambunctious of the lady residents is found murdered in an alley not too far from the refuge, her face butchered nearly beyond recognition, and - while also trying to help her employer work on costumes for a huge festival coming up at one of New York's largest/most renowned department stores for women - Jane finds herself playing detective to track down the killer when suspicion falls squarely on her uncle for the crime. My recent experience with mysteries has been more along the "cozy" lines, and that's definitely not what this is; Death of an American Beauty is a pure-blood historical mystery that fares a bit bloodier and randier in subject matter than any cozy. 

My interest in the book stemmed from my love of New York City and wanting to check out the author's "feel" for how it was back in 1913, and I have to admit that I was captivated by the city - as much a character itself - and its denizens as I was by Jane and the supporting cast, in 
what ended up being one of my favorites mystery reads in awhile, as well. Jane fixates quite quickly on who she thinks the killer is, the novel not so much about her detection and chasing down suspects (which may throw some mystery junkies, though it made me love the book that much more) as it is about her working through, by process of elimination, who could fit the bill. Even then, for me at least the ending was a surprise - and quite a suspenseful one; I didn't realize, until almost the end of the final confrontation (so to speak), that I'd been chewing on my bottom lip the whole time I was reading. Suspenseful, very well-written - so that you are put into the time and place of NYC 1913 immediately - and with a wholly likable cast of characters (including Jane's employer, male crime reporter friend, former mentor and hat-making friend from the refuge, and potential piano-playing suitor), though this was my introduction to Jane Prescott and her world, I most certainly can't wait to jump back to read the first two, to be able to catch up in time for book four. Very well-done.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: THE SUN DOWN MOTEL - Simone St. James

Harder and harder as it gets to find a thriller that lives up to its marketing, The Sun Down Motel - though technically not a thriller - is a breath of fresh air that is an engrossing, often creepy mystery that gets under your skin and tries to stay there. Flipping back and forth between two timelines, readers learn upfront that in 1982 a young woman named Viv Delaney, working the overnight shift at the rundown Sun Down Motel in upstate Fell, New York, mysteriously disappeared in the middle of her shift, leaving purse, coat and even keys behind, her body never found. Flash forward to 2017, when college student Carly Kirk arrives in Fell. Carly, who's always had an obsession for true crime stories anyway, is more obsessed than ever with this one because Viv Delaney was her aunt; Carly's mother, who'd been haunted her entire life over the disappearance of her older sister Viv, died without answers and unable to even talk about her sibling. So Carly is in town to find answers, her search leading to the Sun Down Motel, where she finds herself taking on the same overnight shift her aunt worked 35 years ago. Eerily, virtually nothing has changed at the Sun Down in the three-plus decades; not the decor, the old-school multi-line office phone or sign-in guestbook ... not, as Carly sooner learns, even the ghosts. This genuinely creepy novel moves back and forth between 1982 and 2017, detailing what happened to Viv Delaney even as we also watch Carly unknowingly travel down a very similar path in trying to find the truth. A couple of very cool plot twists/surprises make good on the promise of the an awesome premise, and while I would have liked just a bit more punch to the very end of the tale, The Sun Down Motel is still one of the most engaging, "skin-crawliest" supernatural suspense stories I've read in a very long time.  4.5/5 stars

March Wrap-Up: What the Hell Happened??

Wow, the difference one month can make. Looks like I made it back to the Midwest, to reconnect with family, just in time to have to isolate myself from family (well, most of them; temporarily staying with my baby sis, who is awesome personified). I won't really comment on the pandemic because I am assuming that - like me - you're just as sick of hearing about it every day/all day, but suffice to say I hope that whoever reads these words, that you are PLEASE taking the isolation orders seriously - as well as taking care of you and yours until this crisis is over, and the world slips back onto its axis.

Only six books read in March (and no films, which stings like crazy); am seriously sort of beating myself up for just six, as most BookTubers claim to read that in a week (though I think most of us know that most of them skim instead of read, or listen to audiobooks on 2.5 speed and call that "reading"; what a joke). Still, on the extremely positive side there wasn't a single dud in the six, plus the variety was good, so am all for it (click image to enlarge, if you can't see the covers so well). Even better, got most of the reviews for March up already (scroll down to read); in fact, I think I am only missing the review for the last book read for the month, Night of the Living Ted, so will get that posted asap (spoiler alert: loved it!). 

Not much else to report, just trying to stay positive and not go nuts having to stay put. Worrying, also, about my friends, family, and friends-who-are-family, and hoping this all passes faster than the experts are now predicting. I have to say, though, getting lost in the world of books - as always - is an amazing short-term cure, so for you I hope that you will keep reading and keep the faith! MAY, where are you???

Reading: NIGHT OF THE LIVING TED - Barry Hutchison (writer), Lee Cosgrove (illustrator)

Lisa-Marie and her older bully of a stepbrother Vernon are small-town suburban kids who don't really get along; Lisa-Marie being too smart for her own good, and Vernon resenting being saddled with a kid sister. When each is given cash to buy Lisa-Marie's dad/Vernon's stepdad a birthday gift, the kids end up at the local build-a-bear type store, where they discover a special is going on: any customer can make themselves a teddy bear in honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday to keep, free! Her dad being an Elvis fanatic makes Lisa-Marie's choice easy, but with no interest in the freebie and only wanting to add his name to Lisa-Marie's gift so he can keep the money, Vernon slaps together a mish-mash of Halloween costumes and accessories and body parts to form a monster bear he doesn't even have an interest in taking home. It's a decision both kids will come to regret however, when soon afterward all the Halloween bears come to life all over town, turning on their makers/owners, robbing and hurting them, and before long the streets are filled with (among others) witch teddies that can fly and do magic ... zombie teddy bears seeking brains alongside vampire bears seeking a meal ... alien teddies in space suits complete with death rays ... all forms of monsters, and all making their way back to the teddy bear store and their leader - none other than the evil, sadistic, biggest and baddest teddy bear of all: Vernon's hybrid monster-bear! Can a smart little girl, her doofus of a stepbrother, and one lone, goodhearted teddy bear in  a white-sequined jumpsuit and black pompadour - complete with Memphis accent - thwart out an entire horde of evil teddies determined to take over their town, if not the world? Night of the Living Ted is part of a newer, funny, very well-written middle-grade series featuring equally-funny illustrations by Lee Cosgrove that hint the books would make a good animated series. And this one, complete with stalwart heroes, formidable villains, and kid-friendly Halloween spookiness, will leave readers anxious for the next in the series,Revenge of the Living Ted, due in September. I know I am! (Available May 19)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading: THE ACCURSED INHERITANCE OF HENRIETTA ACHILLES: BOOK 1 (A HOUSE DIVIDED) - Haiko Hörnig (writer), Marius Pawlitza (illustrator)

After losing her parents in the great war, young Henrietta Achilles tries adjusting to life in an orphanage when she suddenly finds herself, instead, shipped off to the small, very very odd village of Malrenard, as the only living relative to a recently-deceased uncle she never knew named Ornun Zol. Malrenard is a bizarre place, to say the least, full of angry and bitter people with a lot of that negatively seemingly directed toward Ornun Zol and his tower-like castle, which now belongs to Henrietta. When a shady lawyer rushes Henrietta into taking ownership of the castle and accepting her inheritance, the girl's signature barely dry on the legal form, the girl is immediately and unceremoniously dropped off at her new home, where she quickly learns why all that resentment from the local towns people probably exists; not only was her Uncle Ornun a notorious wizard, but his home is full of thieves and soldiers and a bizarre variety of creatures that have turned the castle into a battleground, everyone fighting with each other to find a secret vault, hidden somewhere on the premises, that supposedly holds the source of all of the great wizard's power. I expected to enjoy this graphic novel - the first in a series - but what I didn't expect was to completely fall in love with the Looney Tunes-like artwork, action and story of this funny, snarky, addicting and yes even intriguing romp; an over-the-top page-turner that should leave you - like me - smiling and flipping back for a re-read immediately, already hungry (HINT!) for volume two. (Available April 7)  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED - Sophie Gonzales

California teen Ollie is spending his pre-senior-year summer in North Carolina, where his family has temporarily relocated to help Ollie's Aunt Linda - who is fighting cancer - and her family. What Ollie didn't expect, beyond babysitting his aunt's kids, was a summer fling, which comes in the form of fellow high schooler Will Tavares, a hunky basketball player whom Ollie shares a blissful romance with. The end-of-summer goodbyes are painful, but even more painful is when Ollie learns his parents have rented a home in Aunt Linda's town indefinitely, and he will be spending his senior year in North Carolina away from his friends and having to adjust to a brand-new school, due to Aunt Linda's condition becoming worse. Biting the bullet, Ollie - openly-gay but with no idea how that may roll in NC - arrives guarded and edgy his first day for classes, but quickly meets a trio of girls who befriend him; so much so, he comes out to them and even shyly tells them about his summer romance (well, he was dying to tell someone!). One of the girls, Lara, invites Ollie to go with them to a back-to-school party that night at a friend's house ... where Ollie is shocked to find that Lara has actually set him up, for who else should be at that same party but Will! Will, along with a gaggle of Will's very hetero basketball team buddies, and when his summer love gives Ollie the cold shoulder it becomes obvious that Will is freaked (not happily so) by Ollie's presence as the newest kid in school ... and even more obvious that this year just might be more torturous for the broken-hearted Ollie than even he had ever dreamed. Only Mostly Devastated is a loose retelling of Grease that works very well on the page, largely due to its wonderful, endearing lead character; we've all felt Ollie's confusion and pain of first love, and writer Sophie Gonzales keeps his fresh, funny voice one that always (thankfully) falls short of becoming annoying or whiny. Openly-out Ollie's ups and downs with a closeted Will come across very authentic on the page, as does Will and the engaging supporting cast of characters that make up the boys's friends and family. The subplot of Aunt Linda's cancer plight and how Ollie deals with that as well pulls at the heartstrings without ever becoming maudlin or melodramatic. Best yet, when you think you know how and when things will develop with Ollie and Will, the book still manages a wholly believable, touching finale that may seem too pat for some but brought a tear to this jaded reader's eye. Wonderfully done, my only (very minor) complaint being the author's use of the occasional British word or phrase, in Ollie's voice (the book is told from his POV), that would throw me right out of the story by not sounding like a typical California/American teen's verbiage. That's a small bump-in-the-road, though, to a wonderful, humorous, and romantic love story whose main characters leap from the page to find a place in your heart.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: NATSUMI'S SONG OF SUMMER - Robert Paul Weston (writer), Misa Saburi (illustrator)

This sweet, charming picture book set in Japan follows a little girl named Natsumi - born in summer and with a love or the season beyond all the others - who is nervous about the arrival of her visiting cousin from America, a girl her own age, who may or may not share Natsumi's love for summer and the various beautiful and multi-colored insects that brighten and enliven the season. Thankfully, when Jill arrives Natsumi learns the two little girls have a lot in common - a love for the warm summer weather, the beach, fireworks - and Natsumi is even delighted to introduce her cousin to the music of the cicadas, which Jill has never known before but to Natsumi symbolizes the entire season. The gentleness of the story - told in a series of traditional Japanese tanka poems (similar to haiku) - is married beautifully to the watercolor-toned artwork that reflects the book's Japanese themes and location, and is as warm and inviting to experience as summer itself. (Available May 12)  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: WONDER WOMAN VOLUME 1: BLOOD - Brian Azzarello (writer), Cliff Chiang & Tony Akins (illustrators)

Though normally I would definitely not be one to argue for messing around with the back/origin story of a major character - especially one as major, and beloved, as Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman - but admittedly,  this graphic novel (a collection of the first six issues of the 'New 52' DC/Wonder Woman series) treads some new and genuinely intriguing ground when Diana learns that her mother, Queen Hippolyta, lied many years ago about the origin of Diana's birth, revealing who Diana's father really is with news that literally rattles the gods. And it actually works here, somehow adding more depth to Wonder Woman's background as well as intelligently tying her story into Greek mythology. It's news that shatters Diana, of course, setting her to rethinking her whole life as well as her place in this world, and combined with the exceptional - even brilliant - and beautiful artwork of Cliff Chiang and Tony Akins, it's a book you can't take your eyes from even as you find yourself enmeshed with its story as well. While unsure of how hardcore, life-long DC/WW fans would accept this revamping of the iconic character's origins, I genuinely loved reading this book, my only complaint being that it ended with a serious cliffhanger and I had no volume two ready to continue on.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: EGG DROP DEAD - Vivien Chien

Book five in the Noodle Shop mystery series finds Lana Lee's first foray into catering hindered by the death of her client's young nanny, found drowned in a pool. Donna Feng is a family friend who's somehow already survived one scandal with her high society standing intact, but feels the fallout of suspicion again as it was she who'd verbally chewed out her nanny earlier that evening, in the middle of the party and her guests, not long before the young woman was found dead. Entrusting Lana with a mysterious flash drive full of Donna's deepest secrets the society matron is potentially being blackmailed with, Lana agrees to help and begins an investigation that will lead back to Donna's hidden roots in China, and put her own life in danger as she edges ever closer to unmasking a killer with enough to hide to kill again. Author Vivien Chien's skills at characterization made getting back to Lana, her family, and even the Mah-Jong Matrons feel like going home from page one. The mystery is developed nicely, as is Lana's growing/evolving relationship with her detective boyfriend, her interviews with suspects and deductions organically growing from the story as Lana follows one lead to the next up to a truly suspenseful finale that will having you racing through the final pages. Another winning entry in the series that even finds Lana teaming up with a hard-boiled private eye, who promises to reappear in future installments and also provides a bit of comic relief as well as diversity for the investigation. If anything, my only two caveats here are minor - the first being my own fault, which was that I began reading this series mid-run, without realizing when starting book five that this novel is a sort of follow-up to the events of the first book in the series, where we are introduced to Donna Feng ... and therefore is a complete spoiler-smasher for the first book, so if you don't want to know the details and "whodunnit" of book one, definitely do NOT read this one first! My only other hiccup in the book was even more minor: I simply would have liked to have more of Lana's family and friends appear in this one. That may be just a personal thing; I really love Lana's parents (especially mom) and sister, as well as Peter and other workers/friends from the Asia Village shopping plaza, all of whom do appear here but just not as prominently as in, say, the previous book in the series. Caveats aside, Chien's plotting, writing, and characters, as well as the growth of Lana as both a character and investigator, are more than ever solidified for this fan with book five, making the Ho-Lee Noodle Shop still one of my favorite places to visit - and the Noodle Shop Mysteries still one of my top five cozy mystery series being written today. 4/5 stars

February Wrap-Up: Fab Feb/Back on Track?

Spring is coming! Wow, February was quite the month; relocated back cross-country to be closer to my amazing baby sister and other family (met my 3-year-old great-nephew, Andrei, for the first time!) - and thanks to the move even have a Greyhound bus ride story to tell that I may try selling to Stephen King for his newest novel. The hard part, so far, has been working on adjusting to being back to true winter-like temperatures/weather for the first time in several years, but it's already March so here's hoping ...

But amidst all that? Fourteen books and two films in February! And, as usual with me, talk about variety! But the variety turned out particularly nice for leap year month: adult novels, graphic novels, some awesome picture and kid books celebrating Black History Month; even a brilliant historical novel showcasing none other than Abraham Lincoln that I loved so, so much. Even more shocking - many reviews from February's reads are already up! Please scroll down from this post to find them, and come back as I get the rest posted, as well. Also, as always, clicking on any image here will enlarge it, if you want to better see what I read - and please, especially check out my review of Courting Mr. Lincoln; I was especially honored to be a part of that blog tour!

Even managed to sneak in an Oscar-winning "tie-in" read for February, per Matthew A. Cherry's Hair Love! Though I do believe the book came first, the story and artwork here are both beautiful, in a picture book celebrating dads and daughters that went on to become the Oscar-winning short film of the same name just weeks ago! 

But February was a great month for reading, period; Dover Two is one of the most enjoyable mysteries I've read in years, The Women in Black transported me right back to the more innocent 1950's, and even reading about a grumpy wolf who wears only underpants in the middle of winter was a standout. OH, and yes, this was my first time watching The Exorcist, like EVER, so made sure to catch the "extended director's cut" (review to come)!

Hope your reading and film viewing February is only surpassed by an even better March, as well; one that sees happy, healthy and warm - and reading, especially with spring about to ... well, spring. Check back often for reviews/posts, and happy reading/viewing!

Reading: DRAWING: MANGA: LEARN TO DRAW STEP BY STEP - Jeannie Lee

Until reading this book - a beginner's handbook on the basic building blocks of drawing your own manga - I had forgotten about Walter Foster. When just a kid, I remember that name being attached to a number of art and how-to books you could buy, for all ages, all of which (from what I could remember) were always pretty darn fairly thorough in approach to their subject matter. This one is pretty comprehensive and a great starting place, as well; there are tons of books on learning to draw, and the art of, this unique form of Japanese comics, but this slim volume literally starts from the beginning of how to draw shapes to materials to use when drawing, right up to the various body types, styles, facial expressions, inking and shading even the kind off trope-y characters that tend to inhabit the manga world. Full-color illustrations and step-by-step instructions make this a valuable tool for any age, and for manga fans like me who might just like the idea of "fiddling" with their own story or book, this is the ideal guide to start down that road. Even storytelling and scripting are touched on, making this an all-in-one that could keep a fan of this one-of-a-kind, fascinating style of animation and storytelling happy for hours. Loved it, and what a nice surprise to find Walter Foster books are still alive and well and helping creative types to exercise their skills and dreams.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE PASSENGERS - John Marrs

I had bumped John Marrs's latest toward the top of my TBR list soon as I read its high-profile premise: in a near-future London, where self-driving cars are now the norm, a hacker has taken control of a handful of the vehicles with the intention of killing the passengers each one carries.  And indeed, from the beginning of the novel we are introduced to the individual passengers and given a bare-bones backstory for each as he or she has their car taken over ... as well as meeting the young, idealistic main character, Libby, who has her own bias against driver-less cars and AI when she is thrust front and center into the disaster as a hostile jury member, recruited to hear out cases where an accident involving a driver-less car ended in the death of a civilian. Once taking control of the cars, the hacker slowly unfolds his intentions not only to the jury room but the world - via live streaming online and over TV - even allowing the public to help determine the fate of each passenger and who may die first or not. As the novel unfolds, the reader slowly learns there is way more to both Libby and each passenger than meets the eye, even as the hacker manipulates everything and everyone like pieces on a chessboard. And though the action of the novel is pretty much limited to the jury room and (occasionally) the interior of each individual car, which feels a bit stale and static after awhile, I was still enjoying riding along with the story, tension building as a couple deaths ensue even as the passengers all head toward the head-on collisions planned for them. But then "the twist" occurs, a not wholly-unexpected one by the time you get there, and while even that worked for me to a degree - as it opened up more questions than it answered - there is still a whole lot of book after The Twist. And that's where this one lost me, the plot eventually wearing away what suspension of belief I'd been able to work up until the more pages I turned, the sillier things became.  Sadly, I also had an issue with Marrs's skills as a writer, particularly the last third of the book - although throughout it felt like the subject matter/technical aspects of the story were being laid out by a novice trying to speak on a subject he wasn't knowledgeable about, without much confidence.  Still an okay thriller for the first two-thirds, and I know I am going against the tide of hype this book has gotten, but while I look forward to trying more of Marrs's work this one, unfortunately, fell flat for me.  2.5/5 stars 

Reading: AMY WU AND THE PERFECT BAO - Kat Zhang (writer), Charlene Chua (illustrator)

Amy Wu, in this colorful and lively picture book, is determined to finally learn how to make the perfect bao (the filled bun/dumpling-type sweet popular in Chinese cuisine). Her parents and grandma make them perfectly round and full every time, but with Amy they always come out either too small, bursting with filling, carrying too little filling, or in some other way not perfect. But she loves bao, loves eating them, and seeks to perfect how to make them even when help from her parents and grandmother doesn't seem to do the trick. When she accidentally stumbles on an idea that might work, Amy is determined to try - but can she, at least, make the perfect bao? Kids should love this upbeat story of try, try again until you succeed, Charlene Chua's adorable, bursting-with-color illustrations perfectly suited to a delightful story by Kat Zhang. Highly recommended!  4.5/5 stars

Reading: COURTING MR. LINCOLN - Louis Bayard

I grew up with a dislike for history that took a turn only after I got out of school. As an adult, able to find my own fascinations with certain periods of history like the Holocaust or Civil War or the Civil Rights movement (among others), through it all I have had a fascination with Abraham Lincoln that led me to this incredibly-crafted and well-researched novel; my first Louis Bayard, but certainly not my last. I had a cursory knowledge of Mary Todd Lincoln before reading amazing book, which amounts to a story about Lincoln and the two people who loved him most: his wife Mary, and his dearest friend Joshua Speed. The novel opens with Mary, newly-arrived in Springfield and less than thrilled with the newly-minted capital city of Illinois. Thrown immediately into the dating pool, Mary's extremely open (for the time) personality and knowledge of politics make her immediately popular, earning her the nickname "The Belle of Springfield" and guaranteeing her entrance to any social event in the area. During her introduction to the city, Mary soon meets Joshua Speed, a man of noble bearing who owns his own dry goods store, and the two strike up a friendship that at first has Mary wondering where (or if) things may go further ... until she meets Speed's best friend, Abraham Lincoln, the small-town lawyer who has already gained immense popularity in political circles.

Lincoln is shy, almost withdrawn, with Mary - and as time and circumstances put them together at various social events, she finds herself intrigued by him more and more. Courting Mr. Lincoln would have stood up well as the story of Abraham and Mary, how they met and came to fall in love/marry, but Bayard also gives us just as strong a bromance in the relationship between Lincoln and Speed, in many ways just as forged in steel. Some historical records suggest there may have been more than just friendship between the two men - that, in fact, Lincoln himself may have been bisexual - but while Bayard touches on a few leanings of such possibilities here, he wisely leaves it up to the reader to discern just how close these incredibly close friends may have been. The novel goes back and forth between Mary and Speed's points of view, never Lincoln's, but Bayard's skills as a writer not only easily transport you back to the mid-19th century, to the tiniest detail, but through the eyes of both wife and dear friend readers are treated to a portrait of a personable, endearing, flawed, and wholly-human sixteenth president of the United States before he got there, in a way that reads infinitely more real than much nonfiction. A beautiful, touching novel that easily makes my list of Best Books I've read for the year, already; had I read something like this back in high school, I would never have wasted all those years disliking history!  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Author photo (c) Tim Coburn Photography

Reading: HAIR LOVE - Matthew A. Cherry (writer), Vashti Harrison (illustrator)

I fell in love with the short film Hair Love when first seeing it a couple months ago, and its Oscar couldn't have been deserved more. Coming across the picture book was pure accident, I had no idea director/screenwriter Matthew A. Cherry had authored this slightly edited version of the story, but the heart and amazing artwork (truly, Vashti Harrison, who also did the illustrations for Lupita Nyong'o's Sulwe - a review of which can also be found on this blog- is an amazing talent whose illustrations would stand alone as framed art on your wall) go hand-in-hand in this sweet story of a father and daughter in the African-American community, and what happens when the little girl needs her hair done for a special occasion and mama's away on a trip. I wish more stories like this existed - fathers bonding with their children and enjoying the privilege - so hopefully between this and the film, which add so much humor and heart to the story of a dad who seeks only to make his little girl happy (even if he has no idea what he's doing), more such stories will emerge both in print and on screen, paving the way for such scenes to occur more in everyday life, as well.  4.5/5 stars

Reading: PARKER LOOKS UP: AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT - Parker & Jessica Curry (writers), Brittany Jackson (illustrator)

When budding four-year-old ballerina-to-be Parker Curry takes a trip to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. with her mother and baby sister, her first surprise on getting there is meeting up with her best friend Gia and Gia's mom, both also along for the ride. The exuberant young girls pass in awe through the halls of the museum, viewing portraits of famous figures and beautiful scenes alike, Parker in particular dancing along with her friend Gia to a painting of ballerinas as graceful as Parker herself one day hopes to be. It's a beautiful day among beautiful artwork, Parker very happy but still very unprepared when she passes a portrait and - looking up last-minute - spots ... a queen queen. It's the Gallery's portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, and the impact the painting has on little Parker is that of a lightning bolt. As her mother tells Parker who the painting is of and what the woman stands for, Parker becomes entranced with seeing this portrait of such a regal, important woman on the wall that looks so much like her; unable to look away, the image at once imbues Parker with a sense of knowing that she can have it all - do, or be, whatever she wants to be in life, limited only by her own imagination - and though this short, wonderfully-illustrated picture book ends there, readers learn that the story was inspired by author Parker Curry's own experience in viewing the portrait as a child; so impactful, she wrote her experience into this book with her mother, recounting that day vividly. Brittany Jackson's marvelous, colorful illustrations - real works of art, themselves - bring story, characters, and even the National Portrait Gallery vividly to life. A perfect picture book to gift to young girls craving this same inspiration and empowering message of living your dream, particularly in a world that too-often tries to squash that dream.  4/5 stars

Reading: THE WOMEN IN BLACK - Madeleine St John

This charming debut novel - originally published in 1993 - is set in 1950's Sydney and centers around four very different women who all work for the fictitious upscale department store Goode's. The book's title comes from the black frocks each of the female employees wear at work (which can vary somewhat in style, though all must represent dignity and elegance befitting Goode's) - in this case the four main characters being: Patty, married to Frank and in her thirties and a mainstay at Goode's for  years, who is unhappy and longs to have a baby; Fay, younger and single and trying to find love in all the wrong places, as the men she tends to date don't see her as wife material; Lisa, the young and petite newbie who's only working at Goode's on a break from school, waiting to see if her examination scores are good enough to enter university even though her father is against her going; and last but not least ... Magda, head of the couture gowns department and an immigrant from Slovenia, who looks down her continental nose at nearly everyone until she decides to take Lisa under her wing. How I loved this book, which evokes completely an innocence and naivete of the 1950's that gives the reading experience the warm fuzzies of nostalgia. In that context, the stories of Patty, Fay, Lisa and Magda don't necessarily come off as feminist or "modern," and yet there is a terrific core of strength in each of these ladies you'll grow to admire, even in the interactions - friendships - they build with one another. The book's narrative flows seamlessly between characters, telling each lady's story as the novel itself gears up toward Goode's Christmas and huge post-Christmas sales rush, and with author Madeleine St John's skills at writing in a style completely evoking the period the book is set in, it doesn't take long for you to laugh, love, and care about these four ladies and their journeys. A truly feel-good novel that, in the end, I'd genuinely grown to love. (Available February 11)  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: SULWE - Lupita Nyong'o (writer), Vashti Harrison (illustrator)

Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) pens her first children's picture book, and wow is it a beauty both inside and out. Recipient of the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award, Sulwe is the story of a young, dark-skinned little girl whose skin tone doesn't reflect that of any other member of her family (her mother, father, and sister are all lighter) - or, for that matter, anyone in her school, either, where the mean kids have given her nicknames poking fun at her being dark. Because of this Sulwe is becoming withdrawn, keeping to herself behind the building at recess as she watches her light-skinned sister watching and playing with friends, almost as if ashamed of her "midnight" skin. Then one night, a prayer before bedtime asking for bright skin like her mother or sister begins a journey for Sulwe she never could have expected; one of magic and light where she learns that brightness comes from within, and that even in the darkest of dark there is always a light that shines. Nyong'o's text is powerful in this story about self-acceptance and colorism and finding the beauty inside you; never corny or overly-sentimental, and backed by equally beautiful, powerful illustrations by Vashti Harrison that are as breathtaking as Sulwe's journey. The perfect book for any child, but especially a child of color struggling with understanding that he or she is just as beautiful - shines just as bright - as anyone else around them.  5/5 stars

Reading: BIG NATE: SILENT BUT DEADLY - Lincoln Peirce

The nineteenth book in the laugh-out-loud-often Big Nate comic collection series finds everyone's favorite sixth-grader dealing ever more with bossy schoolteachers, disagreeing friends, and even his arch-rival Gina, the school suck-up who gets great grades and epitomizes "teacher's pet" - and the one fellow student Nate wants to take down most, even to the point of calling her out, in class, in relation to the title of this collection (ahem). In this one Nate also helps to school a detention newbie, shows off his almost supernatural sense of smell, shreds the egos of a couple teachers as a reporter for the school paper, and even hosts a battle of wits between Gina and his best friend Francis called the Fact Town Smackdown. Another witty, funny collection featuring Big Nate taking down the establishment, even when they get some good, mostly-deserved licks in on the kid themselves.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE WOLF IN UNDERPANTS FREEZES HIS BUNS OFF - Wilfrid Lupano (writer), Mayana Itoiz & Paul Cauut (illustrators)

When I was a kid I would have killed to read any book with the title The Wolf in Underpants Freezes His Buns Off, so as an adult it was a no-brainer to pick up, especially with that cover. Second in a series, mind you! Surprisingly, for a book with such an over-the-top title, author Wilfrid Lupano has written a terrific, timely story that is so much more below the surface than the snow and cold currently blanketing the forest in the book, where all the animals are freezing but make the most of it whether by bundling up and playing, eating cheese fondue around a giant pot, ice skating, etc. Only this season, something is very, very wrong with the wolf who wears only underpants; each day he walks through the forest, past all his fellow creatures having fun, and when asked what's wrong grouchily replies only "They're freezing!" No one can figure out what is wrong with the wolf - what, exactly, is freezing - but being the biggest carnivore in the forest they are determined to ease his anger instead of potentially inciting his hunger by trying to figure out his mysterious declaration. It's only when they give up and all approach the wolf at his home as a unit, do they find out the meaning behind "They're freezing!" - and here the book takes on such a deeper, stronger meaning about being kinder/more considerate of others, that what seemed like a silly, funny children's book instead turns into something deserving of being in every kid's library. The artwork, in wintry tones of white and blue, cover the page and are busy enough to easily captivate the youngest child and hold his/her interest, while the story itself unobtrusively sends its own message without sugar or sentimentality. A real surprise, and even bigger treat.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: BIG NATE GOES BANANAS - Lincoln Peirce

I admit it: I'm a Nate-aholic. Have now read maybe five or six collections of Big Nate comics by the very talented, very funny Lincoln Peirce, and have yet to grow tired of this pint-sized problem child and his friends - not to mention evil Social Studies teacher, arch-nemesis in the form of Artur (the handsome student currently dating the girl Nate pines for), or even Kim, the ... "interesting" girl who seems to think Nate is her ex-boyfriend, and uses that to inspire jealousy (and potential beatings) in her current bruiser of a boyfriend, Chester. This collection is filled with more shenanigans in which we learn Nate's very strict banana-eating policy and whether or not he wins the Hunny Bursts cereal mascot contest with a goat as his entry. Hard to believe this is the 21st collection of Big Nate comics in the book series, but truth is I laughed out loud enough reading this, I'd love to have them all on my shelf for whenever the day gets too long; not sure I could think of a better cure.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: DOVER TWO - Joyce Porter

I had never heard of this writer or series before coming across this title. Debuting in 1964 with Dover One, Porter's hugely popular (at the time) series spanned something like fourteen novels and more than a few short stories - and having read the second in the series, I can understand why. Detective Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover, of Scotland Yard, is a fat, slovenly, overbearing, lazy, narcissistic, foul-mouthed and bad-tempered boor of a man who is unhappy (though not nearly as unhappy as his young assistant, the capable Sergeant MacGregor) to find himself assigned to a murder case in the tiny village of Curdley, mostly the Yard's move to get the annoying detective out of London. In Curdley, a young woman was shot twice in the head outside the local vicarage eight months prior; she'd been lying in a coma since, until the local newspaper printed an article saying the girl seemed about to awaken, therefore possibly naming her killer ... prompting someone to enter the hospital and summarily smother the girl to death with a pillow. Dover's been assigned to the case and from his arrival hates Curdley, managing to irritate just about everyone there - though none remain more irritated than him - and as the detective fumbles his way through the investigation, taking credit for every break in the case and blaming MacGregor for every fumble, Dover finds a new suspect around every corner, determined to close this one (he hasn't closed all that many) as soon as possible so he can get out of Curdley, whether there is evidence to back up his case or not. You'd think Dover would be so annoying it would make this highly-entertaining, wonderfully-written novel hard to read, but Joyce Porter dollops in the humor and actually keeps the irascible Dover just shy of being too much to take. The mystery is well-written and well-solved, characters lively and fresh as the first day of spring, Dover himself just absolutely fascinating on the page, even when you want to strangle him. Original and terrific, Dover Two makes me sorry to have not started at book one (which I now have), anxious to dive into more cases featuring this eccentric, self-serving denizen of Scotland Yard.  5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCHIVES - Michael Dahl (writer), Patricio Clarey (illustrator)

The first book in the new Secrets of the Library of Doom chapter-book series for kids is a very short, sort of prologue to the series that opens with a band of marauders, decked out in armor, who infiltrate the Library of Doom to coerce a young boy working there - a Silent One, as he's taken a vow to never speak - to lead them through the library's maze-like chambers to the Lost Archives they seek to raid. Sworn to silence, the young boy cannot even call out to summon the Librarian - a superhero-like figure with magic powers, whose destiny is to guard the Library of Doom and all it contains - for help; will the Librarian learn of the invasion and arrive in time to evict the raiders and save the boy? Patricio Clarey's illustrations here are darkly beautiful, with great detail, worthy of reading the book alone - but in truth, even at 40 pages the book goes incredibly fast due to a tremendous amount of white space and very little story on the pages; befitting of a chapter-book, surely, but overall disappointing when you're reading and the story suddenly cuts off with very little to it, trying for a cliffhanger to get you to the next book instead. Not a bad story at all, very interesting, but it just feels a bit of a "cheat" as you don't get much bang for your buck when you suddenly find yourself on the last page, turning it anyway and expecting more. (Available August 1)  3/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. 

January Wrap-Up: (Unintentional) Movie Madness!

Well, January starts off interestingly enough with a trip to the hospital. Five days there finally brought a potential solution to a couple long-standing issues, and afterward films seemed to take over as comfort food for the soul; just sitting or lying there watching mindlessly, letting the story unfold and take you away as opposed to reading, resulted in seeing a whopping eighteen films in January ... and reading only a handful of books! Definitely got to flip the script for February; would prefer having read eighteen books for the month and seeing a handful of films instead, any day!

As always, please keep checking back for reviews. Also as always, please click any image here to enlarge, as needed. Saw some terrific films in January, including more than a couple Oscar contenders, as well as read a sweet-natured, romantic manga and a tiny little Christmas board book for kids containing illustrations that stole my heart.

Some changes coming up for me, life-wise, will keep you posted - and expect a swing back to the books-over-films ratio very soon.

Happy February!