Reading: FEARBOOK CLUB - Richard Ashley Hamilton (author), Marco Matrone (illustrator), Dave Sharpe (letterer)

1st Line: " 'DUUUNCAAAN!' "

Prose (Story): Whit Garcia has just started 6th grade in a new school, and it's not going well. Shy and sleight in stature, the camera-toting kid finds himself almost immediately the target of a smart-mouthed bully, while his over-protective mother seems ready to teeter over the edge of panic whenever her son is out of her sight. Add to this an abandoned, dilapidated old part of his school, in which Whit's camera uncovers some very ghostly residents, and soon Whit has no choice but to join forces with his fellow Yearbook Club misfits to find out just what the heck is going on.

Don's (Review): I wanted to read this because the cover gave me such strong paranormal Scooby-Doo vibes, but wow was I surprised by just how much I loved this graphic novel! Whit and his fellow Yearbook Club members are all social pariahs at school - kids who don't really fit in - and between author Richard Ashley Hamilton's story and Marco Matrone's art I was immediately transported back to my own days of feeling both alone and lonely at that age, when you fit in nowhere and feel like you're not going anywhere. Whit is an exceptionally likeable kid - as are twins Hillary and Hester, and even former bully Press, the other kids forced to join Yearbook Club - and even as the gang learn that the ghostly threats at hand are all too real, we also have asides in which we learn more about Whit's story, and why his mother is as rattled as she is. The ghost story itself is the treasure though, further touching on the themes of fitting in and always having friends you can count on behind you, and Matrone's illustrations add the perfect level of spookiness to the story as more of what's going on is revealed.Very Scooby-Doo, but it also gave me the thrilling vibes I remember having while reading Hardy Boys books as a kid - again, all with a supernatural element expertly thrown in. Well - well - into adulthood now, from the start this well-written, perfectly-drawn graphic novel mystery, to me, felt like going home again to my childhood; simpler, happier times, where nothing mattered but the book I held in my hands under the covers, reading by flashlight late into the night to learn the solution of the mystery ... and to make sure these characters, now my new friends, came through it okay. I loved it.  4.5/5 stars

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

December Wrap-Up: I Have NO Idea What Happened!

December was a blur about three days into 2022; other than a loss of income, meant a letdown on what I was able to do for those I love for the holday (I get so much pleasure out of giving gifts over gettng them) - then to find out two of my closest family members both came down with Covid ... well, seven books read and five films watched is better than goose-egging on either (click on any image to enlarge)!

That said, the books were a mixed bag - or, at least, as vanilla as the holiday: another Christmas cozy that ended up a disappointment (not a bad book, just not ... a standout among the cozy pack), and a YA mystery/thriller from a favorite author that, while good and a genuine page-turner, felt a bit of the same as her other books. Graphic novels about werewolfs and weredogs and Abraham Linoln helped, and a flying superhero pig - along with a near-wordless love story told with beautiful, watercolor-like artwork - certanly ended 2021 on a high note, at least!'

Film-wise: made my 50! My goal each year is to watch at least 50 new (to me) films, and I hit 60 on New Year's Eve with the original Disney telling of Peter Pan (correct - I had never seen the film, in its entirety, before). Three of the five films I watched in December were animated, actually, with a Wimpy Kid adaptation a bit wimpier than I would have liked ... and the charming Luka a wonderful watch, even if (once again( it didn't feel like it had much to it that made it stand out from the pack Add a truly disappointing horror movie, and fairly recent Woody Allen film that was not bad but very uneven ... and, well, my December for movies very much mirrored my 2021 of movies: some good, some bad, many just meh.

So out with the old, and bring it on, 2022! Have too, TOO many of my favorite authors with new books coming out next year; for those alone, cannot wait!

Reading: TOP 10 BOOKS 0F 2021!

Not a bad reading year, 2021. No major slumps, some brilliant writers and stories, even some surprises - including a few highly-anticipated reads/authors I fully expected to be on this list, but for one reason or another fell short. 

There may be books I read in 2021 that I gave higher star ratings to than a few listed here, but I've come to realize that, by end of year, what makes my Top 10 Reads list are those books that have stuck with me. Stories and characters I still think about weeks (or even months, in some cases) late; books that have left a permanent mark like a visceral punch to the gut. These are those ten. To put it in maybe an even clearer way: I don't own many books, because I tend to give away all but the best reads as soon as I finish them, wanting to pass on a good book to someone else. With these ten, all of which were read via Kindle (money being what it is), I can honestly say I wish I owned a copy of each, to keep in my library forever.

Ranking isn't my thing, but usually I try to choose a #1 of the year. This year, there was at least a three-way tie for first place that I couldn't work through, so the books are listed in the order I read them, from earliest in 2021 to most recent. No ranking because all of them were ... well, the best of the best, at least to me.

1: GREASE: THE DIRECTOR'S NOTEBOOK by Randal Kleiser. Kleiser's personal diaries about the making of the iconic musical starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John; a shot-by-shot recounting of the film that includes never-before-seen images, deleted script scenes and dialogue, interviews with some of the cast, and Kleiser's own memories of his cast and the filming of a film that, today, remains as popular as it was 40+ years ago. A must-read for any fan of the film.

2. SNAPDRAGON by Kat Leyh. I read about a half-dozen fantastic graphic novels this year, but Snapdragon - read early on in 2021 - still rose to the top. A young girl named Snapdragon - Snap for short - learns a great deal about life and humanity when she makes an agreement to help out an old lady in town named Jacks, who may or may not be a witch.  Poignant, touching, lyrical. A beautiful story with a quirky, incredibly likeable heroine.

3. THE BURNING GIRLS by C. J. Tudor. To say the remote English village of Chapel Croft has a dark past would be an understatement, but even Reverend Jack Frost - recently relocated there as the new vicar - isn't quite prepared for the chilly arrival and haunting stories of the Protestant martyrs burned alive there five hundred years ago. Jack's teenaged daughter Flo, meanwhile, has her own issues trying to adjust from city life to a creepy wasteland steeped in its horrific past, finding some solace in a young, sickly boy her own age who is also a loner. But when Jack learns the truth of what happened to the previous vicar, and Flo actually has a vision of young girls set on fire, Chapel Croft's newest residents find themselves in real danger - and The Burning Girls goes bat-sh*t crazy, with reveals I never saw coming resulting in a book that had me holding my breath for its second half ... and a book my mind kept going back to, weeks after reading it. In a lesser year, could have easily been my #1.

4. THE LOST APOTHECARY by Sarah Penner. Told in two timelines; in modern-day London, history buff Caroline Parcewell has just checked into a well-to-do hotel to celebrate her tenth wedding anniversary. Problem is, just before leaving the States, Caroline learned her husband was cheating on her, so she's come to London alone and determined to both enjoy the trip and take some time away from him, to figure out what to do. But a chance enounter with some amateur treasure finders leads her to discover a small bottle in the Thames, which starts her on a journey to discover the truth behind a series of murders from a hundred years ago ... where the second timeline takes over, depicting the life of a young woman named Nella running a London apothecary shop who, behind the scenes, dispenses poisons to women with no other course in escaping the abusive men who've taken over their lives. A slow burn at first, I was nevertheless immeditely sucked into both stories - especially Nella's - becoming more intrigued, as the pages turned, to learn how the lives of these women a century apart would somehow come together. Author Srah Penner knows how to build both tension and characters, and for a debut especially this is a winner.

5. ACE OF SPADES by Faridah Abike-Iyimide. Niveus Private Academy is as exclusive a school as it sounds. It's senior year for the school's only two Black students, Chiamaka and Devon, both of whom are already given the honor of being named prefects on the first day of term, and the future seems bright for two of the school's best students ... until someone calling themselves Aces begins to start sending blanket anonymous texts to the entire student body, revealing secrets about Devon and Chiamaka that start off embarrassing and upsetting, but soon grow in size to potentially damage both students' reputations and educational trajectories. When things finally start getting downright threatening, Chiamaka and Devon - who really didn't know or associate much with each other, prior to Aces - must combine forces to find out who is targeting the only Black students in the school, uncovering something far more sinister than either anticipated. Though the ending felt a bit rushed for me, this was another sure-footed debut with a pair of main characters so real on the page, once I hit the halfway point every time I had to put down the book, it absolutely irritated me until I could pick it - and the story - up again. And if that isn't a freaking great book, I don't know what is. 

6. DIAL A FOR AUNTIES by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Another novel that could easily have been my #1 of the year in any other year (and easily the book that made me laugh the most in 2021), this insane little caper starts when a young woman named Meddelin "Meddy" Chan accidentally kills a man who tried very hard to force himself on her sexually ... only to be rescued by her mother and three eccentric aunts, who help her hide the body on the eve of a huge wedding event catered by the auntie's popular catering company. When the corpse accidentally ends up attending the nuptials, and Meddy's life is further complicated when the one man she let get away shows up in her life again - at the wedding, no less - the ever-increasing lunacy proves nothing more than Sutanto's incredible skills at chraracters and plotting and depicting the culture of the family, because even as you shake your head with laughter at how outrageous the shenanigans get ... at the same time the characters are so real and hilarious and engaging, OMG I can't even express how much I loved this book - nor how badly I await the sequel in March!

7. MURDER IN A TEACUP by Vicki Delany. If I remember right, the first book in this series made my Top 10 last year, and here Delany continues the trend. Tearoom owner Lily Roberts is gearing up for her grandmother Rose's company at the B&B, even after  the McHenry family turns out to be a bickering mess of angry people with hidden agendas and bigger secrets - but when one of the family literally drops dead in Lily's tearoom, poisoned, the amateur sleuth has a tangled knots of alibis and backstories to unravel to find the killer. Delany is a joy to read, the mystery laced with lighthearted bits of humor and wonderful characters. Here, though, what kind of blew me away was the revelation of the killer, and how the book's finale plays out afterward. SO well-done, and well-plotted, but also a pretty riveting read, for a cozy especially when so many cozies I've read lately have come off very "vanilla". Really, really love this series, and am wondering if book three might be out in time to make 2022's list?

8. VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Another author on my Top 10 list for the second year in a  row (I will love Mexican Gothic to my dying day), one of the remarkable things about this book is how wildy, incredibly different in style and tone it is from that previous gothic-horror novel - but wow, did I adore this, another of my tied contenders I couldn't decide betwen for the #1 position of the year. Here, the reader is set up in 1970's Mexico City, where a rather bland office drone named Maite leads a humdrum life that's about to get a lot less humdrum. See, Maite's much more beautiful, glamorous neighbor, Leonora, enlists Maite's aid in cat-sitting for the weekend ... and then promptly disappears, really irritating the snot out of Maite who was only doing it for the money (well, and to also be able to poke around the girl's apartment unchecked). Even when Leonora finally gets in touch, asking Maite to grab the cat and a few other things and meet her at a strange address, Leonora doesn't show, further irritating Maite who needs the cash. Meanwhile, our second POV character, a small-time thug named Elvis, has his own issues that tie into Leonora - and as the book's violent and mysterious events continue, we see Maite and Elvis geting closer and closer to having their paths cross, in a tumultuous era of Mexico's history that leaves anything up for grabs. I don't know how many writers can bring people to life on a page like Moreno-Garcia; with both this novel and Mexican Gothic, literally from page one her characters are just so all-consuming to me; I am intrigued by them on this weird, deep level, and whether I like them or not I can't help but follow their journey. And it's quite a journey here, leading to one of the most satisfying endings I read in a book in 2021, if not ever, and has made Moreno-Garcia a go-to author whose backlist I need to catch up on, asap. 

9. THE DECAGON HOUSE MURDERS by Yukito Ayatsuji (translated by Hong-Li Wong). I had an opportunity to read an ARC of part one of the manga version of this celebrated Japanese novel, finally translated into English, and when I coudn't get to part two fast enough (thanks to that part one cliffhanger!), I went straight to the source and read the novel. An homage toAgatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this is the story of a group of college students in Japan - all part of a school group of detective fiction fans, and each one nicknamed with a the name of a famous mysery writer - who journey by boat to the remote Tsunojima Island, the site of some grisly murders one year ago. They will be staying in the infamous Decagon House, a one-story, ten-sided structure built by the eccentric architect presumed guilty of killing his wife and servants the year before, prior to setting their manor home on fire and killing himself as well, and from the start even the smaller Decagon House comes complete with no electricity and a sense of creepiness that feels etched into the walls. Nevertheless, even without wi-fi service, the students are all mostly excited to spend the week investigating and studying the crimes that occurred on the island ... until they learn they've all been invited there for a reason, desolate and cut of from the world or any help. And then, one by one, they start to die. I loved this book from the beginning, it was atmospheric and creepy and kept me turning the pages - and even though I guessed the killer within maybe ten pages of the reveal, it was still a gasp-inducing surprise and spoiled nothing, thanks to the shocking way the finale played out. And while I thought it a great mystery - and homage to Christie - with maybe the occasional clunker as far as style (due, perhaps, to the translation), what I didn't foresee was that this book would absolutely haunt me for weeks to come, after finishing it. I simply couldn't get it out of my head; not the reveal, the ending, even how just the last page plays out. Another tie for #1 I couldn't break on, though in any other year this could have been #1 just because - to this day - it won't fully leave me alone.

10. CHRISTMAS DINNER OF SOULS by Ross Montgomery. Lewis is an 11-year-old boy in England, caught damaging the ancient, scary Soul's College on the hill. As punishment and to pay for the damage, his mother agrees to send Lewis over on Christmas Eve night to help serve at a huge dinner being held for the holiday, but upon arrival Lewis finds both the meal and chef distasteful, even gross - but then the dinner guests, the staff of the college, show up and Lewis realizes he is in the presence of a room full of genuine psychopaths, murderers, and monsters, all of whom can now, on Christmas Eve, show their true, noxious colors. Then the Dean arrives, and Lewis learns he's witnessing a yearly ritual designed to destroy children, happiness ... and kill off Christmas for good; a ritual in which a handful of guests are chosen to each tell his or her most disgusting, repulsive story of all time, the winner of this competition then moving on to try and find the one thing in the catacombs downstairs that will destroy Christmas for good  An ingenious, original, and actually at ttimes fairly unsettling middle-grade novel that kept me riveted from cover to cover. Not your average Christmas read, but quite possibly my favorite one, now.

Reading: CRUSHING - Sophie Burrows

BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT

Prose (Story): In a book told in subdued watercolor-style imagery, a young woman and a young man both navigate their daily lives in the Big City, each of them lonely and looking for love in a time when society has more than ever disconnected us from each other. 

Don's (Review): My first solo trip to New York City, in 1987, found me sitting in the Hotel Tokyo on my first night there, unsure of where to go and what to do. By 10pm I realized I was in a city of, what, nine million people, yet had never felt so alone. Sophie Burrows's masterful debut, Crushing - told pretty much with zero text - brought me right back to that night, as I turned the pages and followed a young woman in her twenties, living life in the big city nearly crowded out by people, yet with little to no interaction with any of them. At one point she shares a brief smile (but just a smile) with a young man in his twenties, and from there the book divides its time between the two of them, each flying solo ... yet we immediately have the impression maybe they'd be good together, after their single brief encounter. With a very subdued pallette broken up by red via the girl, the guy, or actions in the story, this is a moody but hardly sad book, so beautifully drawn and painted, that simply depicts human nature in a world where screens and pandemics and keenly-bred mistrust have more than ever isolated us from each other. Neither of our main characters are unhappy or depressed - each seems perfectly well-adjusted and happy in his or her own life - but wanting to share that life with someone else, which at times makes them a bit lonely, as anyone would be (and 99% of us have been, at one time or another). Both their stories are told with humor, dignity, and an incredible amount of heart, and I loved it - as, I think, any romantic would. For a book with no words,,this one geuinely sings. (Available on Kindle January 11)  4.5/5 stars

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

November Wrap-Up: Enough with the Turkeys!

Okay, maybe "turkeys" is a bit harsh; didn't read anything rotten or even really bad for November, but aside from a couple of true gems, I have to say that November was a bit of a "meh" reading month ... and ditto for the films I watched (yes, brought films back into the mix after a couple months), a few of which were letdowns as well.

That said, Christmas Dinner of Souls is likely to end up on my Top 10 Reads of 2021 list - so, SO good! - and World Class was one outstanding graphic novel that actually made my eyes tear up, while Unspeakable is maybe the first picture book that made me angry, thanks to one of the most heinous injustices that every occurred in our country - which, I am sure, never made it to the vast majority of history books in schools, other than maybe as a footnote if that.

Also, was craving a Christmas-themed mystery, and for the first three-quarters found a real gem of one ... until the book committed one of the worst sins a mystery can commit - revealing the killer and their capture OFF-PAGE, no less! - and then further decided to add a teaser of the progress of a romantic storyline, literally on the last page of the book, which seemed both forced and rushed (and, as this is a mystery and not a romance, such an ending was totally unnecessary). A true shame, as prior to the killer reveal I loved everything about this book - the characters, writing, humor, storyline, all were top-drawer. Now, I don't think I am even going to continue the series, or go back and read the ones I missed.

So, a hit and miss of a month (as always, please click on any image to enlarge, if you need to see covers or posters better); hoping for better to wrap up the year in December - and already mulling over my Top 10 Reads list, as I have been lucky enough to pick up some GREAT titltes this year. How about you??

Reading: BATMAN AND ROBIN AND HOWARD - Jeffrey Brown

1st Line: "Gotham City."

Prose (Story): When Robin makes a sizeable goof one night as they patrol Gotham City, Batman decides it's time for him to be a regular kid for awhile - making Damian Wayne the newest student at public school Gotham Metro Academy, Here his intelligence and soccer skills and affable personality make him very popular ... much to the annoyance of Howard, a fellow student previously enjoying all those perks of school life. What follows is a rivalry of the two boys besting each other as - meanwhile - a potential new arch-villain has Batman trapped in a sports equpiment room at another school, leaving Damian/Robin on his own.

Don's (Review): Autor Jeffrey Brown's sense of humor is fun and semi-snarky, so how could I not love this? Perfect for kids right down to the kid-like art, the rivalry between Damian and Howard at Gotham Metro, especially on the soccer pitch, will resonate pitch-perfect (yeah, I went there) with anyone who has ever attended middle school. Damian comes off likeable even as he's also a bit of a know-it-all, while Howard's jealousy over losing the honors and benefits of school life that used to go to him make him understandably (to any kid) turn a bit underhanded in trying to be on top again. Meanwhile, there's Batman; I really loved how Brown made him kind of a doofuss-y dad here, and the plotline of his attempts to find out who is sabotaging local schools is very funny ... but leads to a cool resolution to the mystery, all the same: a bonus. Colorful, funny, light, and a great read for any Batfan (or soccer fan), young or old. Also my first experience reading Jeffrey Brown, though now I look forwad to more. (Available November 9)  4/5 stars

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

October Wrap-Up: Including 2 of 2021's Top 10 Reads ALONE??

A few real gems in October, including two novels that will most likely show up on my Top 10 Reads of 2021 list, and one of my favorite graphic novels of the year! Sixteen total, but bear in mind that's inclding kidlit and even a picture book or two - although, that said, I think anyone of any age would benefit from cracking open The Rock from the Sky just because it's so sarcastic and hilarious, alone.

Meanwhile: in a previous post I mentioned reading (and loving) volume one of the manga series version of The Decagon House Murders. That book ended the story on such a cool cliffhanger, when I couldn't lay my hands on volume two I opted for reading the original novel, instead - and while I fell hard for the Agatha Christie homage, I wasn't prepared for, weeks later, the book and its characters still floating around my mind like ghosts. To me, always a sign of a brilliant book. And while I wasn't sure what to expect of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's latest, after only reading Mexican Gothic (which made my Top 10 Reads list of 2020) by her and knowing the new one was very different, there is just something about the way she writes - and in particular writes her characters - that made me fall in love with this book just as much as its predecessor. In fact, all three books mentioned in this paragraph are, to me, absolute must-reads.

And I really need to go back and re-read the first Witches of Brooklyn graphic novel. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace when I read it the first time; I liked it, but on a middling level. Had no plans to even try the sequel, but got it via the library and WOW what a difference! Loved it, heartily recommend it, and need to do a re-read on book one asap!

In October, I also learned (in a fun and funny read guaranteed to appeal to any mysery buff) how to thwart getting murdered in an English village - never a bad thing - but other than everything mentioned already, October's reading was a mix of "yeah" and "meh". But boy, when they were gems, they were incredible ones; not bad for my birthday month. So on that note, Welcome to November, during which I am hoping a return to films will be in store, as well.

Reading: JUST BEYOND: MONSTROSITY - R. L. Stine (author), Irene Flores (illustrator)

1st Line: "'Wow!'"

Prose (Story): Book two in this graphic novel series by beloved suspense/horror writer R. L. Stine finds a pair of brothers who buy an old horror movie studio in Los Angeles, in order to resurrect some classic cinematic monsters, a bit over their heads when it seems said monsters never left the lot in the first place!

Don's (Review): This is my introduction to Stine's graphic novel series, and I was drawn immediately to the idea of a story showcasing the kind of cheesy monster movies from a bygone era that I loved on TV as a kid. Sure enough, with the help of a little backstory, readers are clued in pretty quickly that the re-opening of Monstrosity Studios helps to awaken some very real monsters from its past archives to life again - making Ruthie and Ezra, a brother and sister whose father is one of the new owners, ideal targets for Wolfenscreem, The Lagoonatics, and more. Mysterious accidents begin to shut down each new production the studio undertakes, threatening to bankrupt the new owners even as it turns them into bickering brothers, so ultimately it falls to the kids, Ruthie and Ezra, to uncover exactly what's going on and how to stop it, before someone gets killed. A lot of suspension of belief is required here, but then with the subject matter (resurrecting a grade-B monster films studio) you'd have to expect that - but the gung-ho, perky kids and diabolical (complete with maniacal laugh) villain and movie lot monsters make for a fast-paced, suspenseful story brought to absolute pefect life by Irene Flores's art; each full-color page is a throwback to old-school comics of the 1950's, perfectly suiting the monster-movie storyline. Hope the rest in this series are just as good, since they're now on my TBR as well (p.s. I wanna see a REAL Lagoonatics film next, thank you)!  4/5 stars

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

Reading: CAT NINJA: TIME HEIST - Matthew Cody (author), Chad Thomas (illustrator)

1st Line: " 'Be free, my fishy comrades.' "

Prose (Story): Volume two in the epic Epic! Cat Ninja graphic novel series finds the gang perplexed when Leon brings home an egg to babysit for school ... and out pops what appears to be a high-energy baby owl that may also bear some super powers! The newest member of the crime-fighting team - or a possible link to a nefarious new villain on the horizon, out to get Cat Ninja for good via the ability to seemingly manipulate time? Even as Master Hamster begins trying to find out an answer to such questions, both Cat Ninja and Metro City find their hands full, and time literally running out!

Don's (Review): I LOVED the first Cat Ninja book; from the hilarious characters and sardonic humor, to the positive messages about family and solving problems together, and to Chad Thomas's art that compliments author Matthew Cody's inventive storyline - it was a winner. So imagine my thrill when this sequel, Time Heist, easily matches (if not surpasses) the original! In true superhero style, both the danger and the stakes to our heroes are ratcheted up here, and the resolution of the mystery behind the new, feathery member of the team is not just satisfying but also funny and - dare I say it? - even gives you an attack of the warm fuzzies. The villains are upgraded, as well, causing a real threat to the city and our heroes - while at the same time, just like book one, the humor is perfect at both breaking the tension and winking at the adults, in a few cases with a line that might otherwise go over a kid's head. Which is one of the things I love most about this series (this one such a fast read, when done I turned back to the front and read it again), and why I will read ANYTHING with Cat Ninja (not Ninja Cat, mind you, but Cat Ninja) on the cover: you don't have to be a kid to enjoy all the pulp in this fiction. Onward, volume three! (Available November 23)  4.5/5 stars  

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

September Wrap-Up: Mystery, Manga, and More!

Wow. Just when you thought your graphic novel/manga reading couldn't get any better. But first starting off with book two of Vicki Delany's Tea By the Sea cozy mystery series, Murder in a Teacup, I have to say that this being the only "adult novel" I read for September just spotlights that much more that it was such a good one! Truly, I can't get enough of this series - these characters - and as this is a fairly new release, I am only sad because book three is still a ways off.

And after declaring The Decagon House Murders Vol 1 as potentially my favorite manga/graphic novel so far this year ... September brings volume one of Creature!, an alien invasion manga I had NO idea was up into double-digits in volumes, already. The cliffhanger end of this one still hooked me badly, so I think I am doomed to go forward from here. Then to even ttop that, the love story of Beast Boy and Raven from DC was pretty much perfection, up there with Decagon! The budding relationship between these two potential superheroes just feels so authentic on the page, and Gabriel Picolo's art is no less than stunning. What a brilliant book. But DC also released Wonderful Women of the World in September, in honor of Wonder Woman's 80th anniversary, and it's a gem of a compendiium celebating women around the globe who have all created their own superheroic feats and accomplishments to help these world! Then, between book two in the Haunted Library series, the sequel to the wonderful Skunk and Badger - Egg Marks the Spot, easily as good as its predecessor - and the amazing Fan Brothers's glowing new picture book release (It Fell From the Sky) - well, let's just say September checked a lot of boxes for quality; much more so than most months, of late!

Thirteen reads in all .... which means no films for the month, but I hardly felt the loss; that's how good most of what I read was, and I hope you can get to most of them, too. Some reviews up, and others to come (but what else is new?), and as always click on any image to make it larger. Welcome, Autumn and Halloween season; my second-favorite time of year!

Reading: WONDERFUL WOMEN OF THE WORLD - Laurie Halse Anderson (editor)

1st Line: "When I was a kid, I did a project for school about the different sections of the newspaper."

Prose (Story): In honor of Wonder Woman's 80th Anniversary! Extolling the virtues of strength, compassion, justice, truth, and equality - like Wonder Woman herself - this YA graphic novel/anthology, spotlighting 23 women around the globe who have waged their own battles for all the above values (Serena Williams, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Greta Thunberg, Beyonce, Keiko Agena, Mari Copeny, more), each profile written and illustrated by some of the biggest talents in the business, is a colorful, important, and long-overdue tribute to the wonder women of real life, who fight every day so that all who cannot speak up may still be heard. 

Don's (Review): Wow, whoever at DC came up with this idea was a bit of a genius. Having read a number of graphic novels, I have never come across one that I'd automatically attach the word "important" too - but that was my constant feeling while reading this. Though "just a guy," as a gay male I have some knowledge of trying to live and love within a community constantly under fire - and like to keep updated on current and world events as I can, because of it - but with nearly every one of the 23 women covered here, I found myself at some point in each profile raising my eyebrows when coming upon a fact about the subject that I didn't know. It's a fascinating collection, one I would love to buy for every young person I know, because I can't imagine how many times someone just coming into his, her or their own as an adult would treasure the inspiration they could repeatedly come back to, just re-reading the stories of these remarkable ladies. And while a second, third, etc. volume could easily be forthoming as well, I loved the fact that the profiles here were of women affecting change across the board - whether in entertainment, science, education, sports, politics, activism, it's realy astounding what this anthology can teach you, while still being enthralling and entertaining. And with each profile being covered by a different writer or artist - literally many of the best in the comics industry, each with obvious love for the subjet their covering here - each story, each page bursts with color and energy and life. Kudos on whoever came up with this one, DC!  4.5/5 stars

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

Reading: IT FELL FROM THE SKY - The Fan Brothers (Terry Fan, Eric Fan)

1st Line: "It fell from the sky on a Thursday."

Prose (Story): One day a remarkable, colorful sphere falls from the sky. Ladybug, Inchworm, the Walking Stick, Grasshopper  - all the insects and animals living nearby gather to agree it's a strange and wondrous object ... though what, exactly, is it?  No one knows, nor can even guess, but when Spider concocts a small fib to claim ownership of the mystical sphere, and makes plans to put it on a Grand Exhibit for all to view, he sets in motion what may end up a hard-learned lesson in family, community, and giving back. 

Don's (Review): I go into every Fan Brothers picture book expecting to be dazzled, and the guys have yet to disappoint. Here, finely-drawn art, rendered in black and white to further highlight the wondrous color of the strange object that so has the insects bedazzled - takes your breath away on every page, as usual. From the way the fireflies light up the object as it sits on display, to the pristinely-detailed dandelions that look as if they could shed floaties right off the page, to the intricate patterns and textures of the insects and animals themselves (especially our anti-hero Spider) - as with most Fan Brothers books, you have to read through for the first time just finding glory in the art, before a second read-through to fully capture the story. Here, said story results in a lesson learned for Spider that leads to growth, and that's all I want to say to keep things spoiler-free. Needless to say, another beauty of a picture book that should be on the shelf of any kid, or kid at heart, with art and texture and characters all beautifully connected to a simple, inspiring message. Outstanding - at least for this Fan fan - as always.  5/5 stars

Reading: TEEN TITANS: BEAST BOY LOVES RAVEN - Kami Garcia (author), Gabriel Picolo (illustrator)

1st Line: "ON A TRAIN IN TENNESSEE"

Prose (Story): Raven Roth, with barely a few days to get herself together after both learning of the true nature of her father and getting her heart broken, finds herself on a bus to Nashville to meet up with Slade Wilson, whom she's hoping has some badly-needed answers to the many questions Raven has about both her father and her new-found powers. At the same time, Garfield Logan, feeling his own isolation after learning his parents kept the secret of his power to transform into various animals a secret from him, finds himself on a similar mission to Nashville and a meeting with Slade, hopefully to learn how to better control/use his newly-discovered abilities. When the two meet by accident in Nashville, neither one knowing of the others talents or connection to Slade, the scene is set not only for nefarious forces awaiting them in Music City who have their own agenda ... but also for a potential romance, as Gar finds himself smitten immediately by Raven, even as she pushes her own interest in Gar back, determined not to be betrayed again.

Don's (Review): Oh my God, how I loved this graphic novel. While still reading Gar and Raven's individual stories in each of their own books (also available to buy, please check back soon for those separate reviews), I picked up this volume to read a page or two ... and that was it. Kami Garcia has crafted a near-perfect story that has it all - humor, action, suspense, thrills, mystery - but to add to that, the budding romance between Gar and Raven, while they hang out together in the city as each (unbeknownst to the other) awaits his/her meeting with Slade, comes across as possibly the most organic, realistic and real-world build-up to potentially falling in love that I have read in any piece of fiction for a long time. The goofiness of Gar's growing affections, Raven slowly eroding wall of protection that Gar tries valiantly to chip away at, as they tour the city - wow, it just all comes off so sweet and real, and by the time the action begins you are already so emotionally invested in these characters and their possibly getting together, catapulting through pages until the end is a no-brainer (and even then, the story and action are worthy of the rest of the book, easily just as satisfying). Possibly my favorite graphic novel of the year (certainly in my Top 3), and beyond Garcia's awesome story I have to say the Gabriel Picolo's artwork here is nothing short of breathtaking. He can create panels for action scenes and Nashville places of interest, etc. to perfection, as he does throughout the entire book - but for me, the painstaking attention to detail in the quiet moments, such as (no spoilers) when Raven is nursing an ill-feeling Gar and it appears they may share their first kiss in his cheap motel room ... well, the artwork it just that; art. Picolo is a master, and he and Garcia together make for one hell of a book that works equally well as action-adventure, superhero semi-origin story, and true romance. I couldn't love it more.  5/5 stars

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

Trailer Battle: License to Kill vs. Butcher Knife to Kill With - It's a Bloody Box Office in October!

October has two huge - okay, HUGE - films opening in theaters: Daniel Craig's final Bond film (hitting the scrren at last!), NO TIME TO DIE ... and the sequel to 2018's feminist reboot of the John Carpenter classic, Halloween, this one call HALLOWEEN KILLS, in which - damnit - after ALL that trouble Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) took to set Michael Meyers up in the first one, the dang fire department helps him get out again! 

Am a huge fan of both Craig as Bond and the 2018 horror reboot (which can't touch Carpenter's original, but is still SO much better than that dreck Rob Zombie came up with - ditto 99% of the sequels within the original franchise), so am seriously looking forward to both. So thought it'd be nice to do a post featuring both trailers, to let everyone else decide on whether Her Majesty's #1 (moody/always potentially rogue) secret agent is your #1 choice ... or if October puts you in more of the mood for a knife-wielding maniac still going strong, after what has to be well past his sixtieth birthday? 

Side note: Rami Malek throwing off major Joker vibes in the Bond trailer is awesome-sauce to the nth degree. OH, and I believe that the Halloween films is also available on Peacock, either on or around the film's theatrical release date.

Leave a comment if you want; either way, enjoy!

Reading: EGG MARKS THE SPOT (SKUNK AND BADGER #2) - Amy Timberlake (author), Jon Klassen (illustrator)

(BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT!)

1st Line: "RAP-RAP."

Prose (Story): When Skunk, seeking to get out of the house on Sunday because he knows his New Yak Times Book Review section will be stolen by a sticky-fingered hedgehog "friend," talks roommate Badger into a rock-finding expedition to replace the one-of-a-kind agate stolen years ago by Badger's cousin Fisher, the best buddies learn that Campsite #5 at Endless Lake holds a (literally) much bigger, older secret than they could ever imagine. One that will find the boys fighting to save a chicken friend ... and Badger confronting his old nemesis at last.

Don's (Review): I was privileged to do a Blog Spotlight Tour for the first book in this "insta-classic" children's series (you can find my original review for Skunk and Badger HERE), so jumped at the chance to do the same for the sequel. Though for me this one took a bit longer for the story to get going, from page one it was still brilliant to get back to the irascible Badger - who has only mildly chilled out in regards to his patience with Skunk, and his boisterous, wide-eyed and occasionally melodramtic friend and roommate. 

Author Timberlake obviously has so much love for both the boys, and expertly shows their growing friendship as the hike to Endless Lake has Badger watching out for his small friend and one gi-normous backpack, even as Skunk's made it clear that Badger must replace that agate and more forward with his rock collection (and rock work; there is always the rock work). It's sweet, funny and charming, watching the boys settle in at Campsite #5, but for me the story really came to life with the introduction of the "bad guy" - Badger's cousin Fisher. Fisher makes the Grinch look like Mary Poppins, even more so once we learn why Fisher has come to Endless Lake in the first place - and then it's all chickens and action and an amber wall holding a bit of treasure ... the boys finding themselves way in over their heads, but never backing down. Because best friends who have each other's backs never do. 

Timberlake builds up the action beautifully, escalating the tension and raising the stakes for our heroes - all aided by the timeless, elegant line drawings of illustrator Jon Klassen, which alone will remind adult readers of some of their favorite classics from childhood, such as Charlotte's Web or Winnie the Pooh. Things wrap up to a very satisfying conclusion here, by the end, with - yay! - the last-minute introduction of a couple new characters hinting at a third book coming down the road. Which is fine with me; I haven't loved a couple of classically mistmatched roommates this much since I watched reruns of "The Odd Couple" as a kid. Bring on book three!  4/5 stars

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

Photo Credits - Amy Timberlake: Phil Timberlake; Jeff Klassen: Carson Ellis

Praise (so well-deserved!) for book one, Skunk and Badger:

Reading: ARTIE AND THE WOLF MOON - Olivia Stephens

1st Line: "Oregon. Early September."

Prose (Story): When teenager Artemis "Artie" Irvin accidentally discovers she comes from a long line of werewolves, she sets out to learn more about not only the history or her family, but also of the relationship between her mother and late father - who died before she was even born. But among the many other things Artie's mother needs to teach her is that a far more fierce predator awaits in the darkness. One that takes particular pleasure in hunting fresh, young werewolves.

Don's (Review): Though the trope of a young girl missing the long-deceased father she never knew, trying to learn more about him from a mother who doesn't talk much about the past - period - is fairly familiar, author Olivia Stephens makes Artie a fresh and sympathetic character from the beginning. So much so, when the girl accidentally sees her mother transforming from wolf to human and learns her full heritage at last, the reader is just as frustrated when Artie's mom still manages to avoid revealing more about her past, their family, and especially Artie's dad. But it's hard to ignore your dauther's budding werewolf traits - especially when the girl has a mild freakout at school, while being bullied by classmates, and very nearly transforms in front of them - so things become clearer at last when Mom brings in some loving found-family members to help teach Artie how to best handle her lineage. It's no spoiler to reveal that Artie also soon learns of the real enemy out there - vampires - and for me at least here is where the book faltered just a bit; the author makes a couple of change-ups to the vampire legend, including what happens when you kill one, that felt just a bit forced, as if changed only to better fit the story here. That said, this graphic novel remains a winner, with strong characters you care about (especially our heroine), plenty of action, and dark, moody illustrations that fit the tale perfectly - not to mention the LGBTQ+-inclusive  storyline (Artie develops a crush on another girl) and largely African-American cast. There's a lot to enjoy here, and while I feel the book could have benefitted from one more edit been a bit shorter, it's a no-brainer to recommend this werewolf vs. vamps tale with bite. Yeah - I went there.  4/5 stars 

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

August Wrap-Up: A Novel Concept

Much as I love middle-grade and YA novels, not to mention graphic novels and manga, I always feel a bit disappointed with myself when - at the end of a month - I have not finished more adult or narrative works (novels), for said month, as well. In the case of August, this hurts a bit less because the two adult novels I did finish - two of my most anticipated reads of the year - were, while still very good, slight disappointments from what I had hoped!

By contrast, I think I read what may well be my favorite manga/graphic novel for the year in August: The Decagon House Murders, Vol. 1. A very cool, very Agatha Christie-type mystery set on an island off Japan, based on the popular novel. Both story and art are brilliant, and UGH that cliffhanger it ended on! Can't wait for volume two; even better, should read the novel before continuing! Other graphic novel highlights, easily, included Old Head and The Bright Family, with The Little Yak easily leaping onto my list of fave picture books ever. So yeah, all in all a good month for reading, regardless of the material.

Films ... only two, both just okay but not bad. Worth checking out. The obsession remains with books.

As always, reviews to come - am working on catching up by year's end - so whatever you don't see reviewd here, please check back and be patient! Cooler weather coming, hope it brings equally cool books for us all ...

Reading: THE BRIGHT FAMILY - Matthew Cody & Carol Klio Burrell (authors), Derick Brooks (illustrator)

1st Line: "And you said they were CUTE?!?"

Prose (Story): The over-achieving Bright Family - scientist/explorer mom Banira, inventor/scientist dad Ben, and their precocious children (12-year-old Nia, who works 24/7 to prove she can keep up with her genius family, and Jayden, 10-year-old kaiju and robot fanatic already years ahead of his classmates and bored because of it) - face their greatest challenge yet when Mom and Dad are accidentally sucked into a malfunctioning portal to another universe ... and their kids, along with nanny robot Dusty, set off the through the multiverse to find them, in this first graphic novel based on the popular Epic Originals series.

Don's (Review): Though things seemed to start off a bit slowly at first, there is a lot to love in this graphic novel about a family of superintelligent geniuses who still need to get their act together as a family unit. We're introduced to the kids first, and it's easy to like Nia for how hard she tries to keep up with the family's rep, while Jayden's brattiness, we soon realize, is partially because he's so smart that he's bored in school at a grade below his current skill level. When it seems Nia is behind the malfunctioning portal that sends their parents away, guilt and worry both guide the kids and Dusty to go in search of them - and here the story picks up considerably, as we see the different (sometimes cute, sometimes not so cute - sometimes way too cute) universes the kids encounter, always seemingly one step behind Mom and Dad. What makes the book great is the kids also take it upon themselves to stop and try to help wrongs they see in each world they land in, trying to do what's right even if it puts them behind in their own search, and it's these moments - any of the moments that are more about family, relationships, and taking time for both - where the book shines, coming to life with humor and heart. Dusty is also way cool, and as the Brights are a biracial family as well it was great to see that rep here! But at heart this fun, funny, ultimately sweet graphic novel succeeds because the Brights - by the end - just may set aside their brains long enough to come together as a loving family, as no greater power exists.  Hoping for a sequel, if not a series, soon! (Available September 7)  4/5 stars

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

Reading: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: EIGHTH GRADE WITCH - Andrew E. C. Gaska & Eric L. Thomas (authors), Valerio Chiola (illustrator)

1st line: "Wake up, Rabbit! We're here ..."

Prose (Story): The first official graphic novel, based on the popular Choose Your Own Adventure series of books we all grew up with, is here! Rabbit, newly-arrived to town with her ghost-hunting parents, finds eighth grade a bit hectic when it starts off with a possible haunted house (hers) ... a local witch from the town's dark past who seems determined to come back from the dead ... and the gaggle of witchcraft-practicing girls - fellow students of Rabbit's - who seem determined to help her! With 28 different endings possible, it's up to YOU, the reader, to decide Rabbit's fate (or fates) in this spooky, entertaining supernatural mystery for fans of the orginal hit novels!

Don's (Review): Though not obsessed with the Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid, I did enjoy them - even when  seemingly-smart choices got me killed faster than a spider in a bathtub. I think it was pretty brilliant, for this first oficial graphic novel based on the books, for the writers to actually choose a CYOA story that was already part of the canon: this tale is based on the original by C. E. Simpson, which means that even in a slicker, more ... well, graphic ... graphic novel format, the action and story itself very much retains the flavor of the original novels we loved growing up. It's also nice having visuals with each scenario, now; whether you choose well and delve deeper into story subplots and new characters, or get turned into a giant bug by your third go-round and are out of the game, here it's displayed in richly colorful, old-school comic book-like illustrations (though painted and colored with strong, more modernized tones that add depth) by artist Valerio Chiola. The graphics, while certainly not adult-rated, don't let up, either; if you ,as Rabbit, choose wrong and die (or when/if any other character buys it, for that matter), very little is left to the imagination depicting their fate. I made sure to go through every ending and every page of this clever bit of nostalgia, which somehow feels timely today yet very reminiscent of when these books were in their hey-day, and can definitely label this a "must-read" for fans of the original series - and a "should-read" for anyone else wanting to have a little fun at controling the narrative of a spooky, witchy story ... even when it kills you! Very nicely done. (Available August 24)  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: CHEER UP! LOVE AND POMPOMS - Crystal Frasier (author), Val Wise (illustrator)

1st line:  "You can't trust her, Mom!"

Prose (Story, via Goodreads): Annie is a smart, antisocal lesbian starting her senior year of high school who's under pressure to join the cheerleader squad to make friends and round out her college applications. Her former friend Bebe is a people-pleaser - a trans girl who must keep her parents happy with her grades and social life to keep their support of her transition. Through the rigors of squad training and amped up social pressures (not to mention micro aggressions and other queer youth problems), the two girls rekindle a friendship they thought they'd lost and discover there may be other, sweeter feelings springing up between them.

Don's (Review): Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable, I fell for Annie from the start; she knows herself, apologizes for none of it, and is fiercely independent (even if she has zero people skills). Bebe just wants to please everyone and not make waves, but her squad often thrusts her into the limelight - most notably by making her squad leader as the book opens - and once back together as friends both Annie and Bebe find they have a lot to learn from each other. Cheer Up! is a funny, sweet, more deeply-felt-than-you'd-expect light romance about accepting and being yourself first, regardless of those around you. The trans rep is terrific; even if Bebe seems a bit wishy-washy at first, you quickly understand this is all new to her, too, and how she grows as she feels her way through the process is wonderful. While her parents and friends and school seem very accepting of her coming out as trans at first, there are subtle hints dropped in that it's an adjustment for everyone ... but one worth it because of Bebe. If I had a complaint about this charming graphic novel - illustrated more like an animated series on Fox by the talented Val Wise - it's that I wish it were longer; took more time to flesh out the other girls on the squad or even Bebe's parents and Annie's mom (who is a hoot), or maybe added a bit more depth to the storyline, even to the point of setting up a sequel. But hey, look at it this way: I say that because I like Annie and Bebe and this world so much, I'd love to see more of it! 4.5/5 stars

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

July Wrap-Up: Cinematic Books and Bookish Cinema

Another definitive month for quality over quantity on the reading - while not quite a five-star read, Ace of Spades was captivating and played like a film in my head while reading (always a good sign) ... and God knows I would absolutely love to see Dial A for Aunties - one of my favorite reads of the year - as a film or even TV series. And having now finally read the first Eerie Elementary novel, the very cool illustrations inside have me totally wondering why this isn't an animated series on Fox or something, already!

On the flipside, while the Fear Street book series has been on my radar for years, I have not read one as of yet - but that didn't stop me from watching all three of the Netflix fiilms loosely based on the famous R. L. Stine horror series. While I expected a potential YA kind of experience, maybe with cheesy Disney Channel-style dialogue and humor, what I got instead was a terrific trio of bloody, visceral and well-crafted films, aimed for mature viewers and populated by characters you really about instead of just "victims" lined up for the slaughter. It was also nice to see the uncut AVP in its entirety at last, and to wind up the month with Peninsula - the sort-of sequel to the best zombie film EVER, Train to Busan - turned out ideal, as I liked the film much, much more than expected, via what word of mouth and reviews I'd seen.

My love of films aside, definitely looking to flip the script for August, no matter what, and get to more reading than viewing. It's getting to be the time of year when the best new book releases come out, and I hope to get at least a few under my belt. Happy reading and movies to all!