Sci-Fi Picture Books Nerds Like You and I WISHED Existed

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Throne of Alia by Brian Tyler [Children of Dune soundtrack]. (yes, I picked this one. I just got in a sci-fi-y mood that I couldn't help myself. ^_^)





As ambassador of sci-fi love and joy to all the uninitiated, this is something I just have to show you. It's a moral imperative. Have you ever wondered what would happen if Dr. Seuss and Dr. Who joined forces? Well, wonder no longer! Here it is in the digital flesh, along with four other sci-fi geeky creations you're just going to wish really existed. I'm still banking on Goodnight Dune. If they have a Goodnight Ipad (is that it's real name? I know I've seen it) then they by Vera we can have a Goodnight Dune. Clicky the link below to enjoy. ^_^






Review: Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Trap the Worm by Brian Tyler [Children of Dune soundtrack].



My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).







Giants Beware! by Jorge Aguirre & Rafael Rosado
Published: April 10, 2012
Publisher: First Second
Pages: 208
Current Amazon Rank: #
44,824
Author's Website: Giants Beware
Want it? Find it here.





The First Line:


"He was the most evil creature ever to set foot in the valley... A depraved monster that took joy in terrorizing our beloved town of Mont Petit Pierre. We called him... THE BABY-FEET-EATING GIANT!"





My Take:

You know when you find a story that is fun to read no matter how typical it may seem on the surface because of how it is told? If you can't guess, Giants Beware! is like that. :) We have young Claudette who has a single, universe-pulling purpose in life: to fight giants. Her best friend Marie, who happens to be a princess in training, is most tolerant of her antics and Claudette lets her sword-making, pastry chef-aspiring little brother Gaston tag along without a problem. She soon of course decides it best to sneak out of town on her own to find this giant, and just happens to lie to her friends to get them to come along, saying the princess board with look quite favorably on Marie's application, and their father would finally teach Gaston sword making. This of course isn't going to come back to haunt her at all.

I really enjoyed a lot of aspects in this story. Above all, is the art. The art is hilarious and uses the full extent of its hyperbolic, almost comic strip-like medium to great effect. Claudette's facial expressions and movements are especially humorous and she tends to pull you right in with her friends on her adventures. She's as fiesty as they come and one amusing joy after another to see her "come alive" on the page.





On a technical note, the paneling does a fantastic job of pacing and changing angles to fully immerse the reader. All very subtle of course, unless you are looking for it. But it makes the reading flow so smooth and natural and I wanted to say "bravo!" all along. The humor ranges from high to low brow and is something very young children through adults can enjoy thoroughly. Even scanning through makes me want to read it again. Once off, there are quite a few scenarios where things are terribly convenient for our little troupe, but if you can let that go, your are in for a fun romp. The ending was a bit too formulaic for me as well, but the humor patched over these well enough that it didn't kick it out of the running.

I loved the seeing their dad's own mini arc as he went out to find his kids and bring them safely back. It was also really cool to see him as a handicapped character (in a wheelchair) not only being a natural part of the story without his disability as a focal point, but also that he managed to kick butt just by being who he was. This story left room for a sequel but wraps up nicely as it is, with hints of an already realized (and potentially expanding) world. I really wouldn't mind seeing more of little Claudette, Gaston, and Marie again, especially if they can keep the humor ramped up.




The Final Word:

A light read with humor reigning supreme. The art style and writing win out for the laughs in this fun find.









P.S See if you can spot the art mistake between pages 51 and 57. :)


Monday's Muse, 66th edition.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Courier Heart by Eccodek [The Looking Glass Wars soundtrack].




The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to one of several places, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.


Today's random word:
Circus






Wonder Show by Hannah Rodgers Barnaby.

Fourteen-year-old Portia joins a circus freak show looking for the father who abandoned her, but she finds much more. Portia's odyssey takes place in a gothic, Depression-era Midwest. Her idyllic youth, surrounded by the stories of her extended family, ends when her widowed father leaves her with her stoic, thoroughly practical Aunt Sophia--who then turns her over to the distinctly un-homelike McGreavey Home for Wayward Girls, ruled by the sinister Mister. After her only friend commits suicide--an act Portia feels responsible for--Portia steals Mister's bicycle and runs away to the circus, where she hopes (with no real basis) to find her father. Her way with words wins her a place pitching the ballyhoo to the rubes who visit the titular Wonder Show. The languid, sensuous third-person account is periodically punctuated by the voices of Portia and the members of the Wonder Show, giving readers poignant insight into this fragile found family. The themes that delicately thread their way through the novel--of the power of story, of family and friendship, of seeking and finding--weave themselves together into a compelling depiction of Portia's very conscious act of self-definition: She can be, as her mentor in the ballyhoo says, whoever she wants to be. Infused with nostalgia and affection, this celebration of the deliberately constructed self will hold readers in its spell from beginning to end.--Kirkus (November 1, 2012).





Freaks: Alive on the Inside by Annette Curtis Klause.

Abel, 17, is the “normal” son of a legless father and an armless mother. He lives with other “oddities” in a midget village where they put on shows. He is restless and wants his own life. His romantic experiences have been limited to kissing the hairy Dog-Faced Girl. He runs away and joins a traveling circus, unaware that Apollo, 12, the hairy Puppy Boy, has followed him and stowed away aboard the circus train. Apollo is discovered and caged like an animal and Abel is thrown from the train by his fellow performers. Apollo escapes and they are reunited, working as servants in a brothel until Dr. Mink's Traveling Monster Menagerie arrives in town and Apollo is lured into joining them. Most of the show's “monsters” are children who were born with deformities and have been sold to or kidnapped by Mink. As Abel attempts to free them, he is plagued by dreams of a beautiful Egyptian woman who repeatedly throws herself at him. Somehow a ring he received as a gift allows this female mummy to come alive. Set in 1899, this gripping and sensual, but never explicitly sexual tale is a fascinating mixture of fantasy and reality. Abel's growth from an immature, irresponsible teen into a more mature, dependable young man ready to take charge is well done. The author never loses sight of the fact that despite their unusual appearances, all of the characters are human.–Sharon Rawlins, NJ Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton --Sharon Rawlins, School Library Journal (January 1, 2006 vol 52, issue 1, pg. 136).




Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck.

When 18-year-old Kelsey takes a job with a circus, she finds herself oddly attracted to the white tiger she has been hired to feed. Little does she know the animal is really a 300-year-old Indian prince who has been cursed and transformed by an evil wizard. She soon discovers the truth and, to her amazement, learns she may be the only one who can help. The next thing she knows, she is on her way, with the tiger, to India, where they embark on a dangerous quest to break the curse. The tiger can change into a man for 24 minutes during each 24-hour period. And what a man! “He’s like James Bond, Antonio Banderas, and Brad Pitt all rolled into one,” Kelsey thinks. Originally self-published as an e-book, Houck’s first novel is part Twilight, part Indiana Jones, and part fairy tale. Although her book—the first in a proposed series—is sometimes derivative, she tells a good story filled with chaste romance that will keep readers turning pages to the inconclusive ending. --Michael Cart, Booklist (Janurary 1, 2011 vol 107, number 9, pg. 100).




MirrorMask by Neil Gaiman.

Helena is about to embark on a most amazing journey. Raised in a family of circus performers, she's always dreamed of leading a more ordinary life. But when haunting music draws her into a strange and magical realm, one where anything can happen, herreal life is stolen by a runaway from the other side. Helena must rescue the realm from chaos in order to win back her own not-so-ordinary life. MirrorMask. is a breathtaking film written by bestselling author Neil Gaiman and brought to life through the vision of acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean. This original novella is Helena's tale in her own voice, written by master storyteller Neil Gaiman and accompanied by original art by Dave McKean and images from the film; it is a stunning and magical journey.




Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope's shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show's smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes -- and the stuff of nightmare.




The Unrivalled Spangles by Karen Wallace.

Though kids no longer dream of running away to the circus, teen girls may be lured to a vicarious escape via this 19th-century tale set in London's East End. Ellen, 16, and Lucy Spangle, 14, have been raised as star horseback riders headlining the family circus. When Lucy falls during a dangerous stunt, she fatally breaks her neck. The tragedy is only the beginning of a roller coaster of calamities. Ellen's yearning to leave the circus to become a governess drives the plot as two romances—a dreamy gentleman who charms her with visions of visiting Venice and handsome, honest Joe, son of the rival circus owner—entangle her feelings and complicate the family's struggles. Add to the mix a devastating fire that almost kills her father, Ellen's skill at healing and British upper-class snobbery. Readers will be way ahead of the author, and, like watching a melodrama, want to call out advice to the characters. Stiff-collar tone, some overly dramatic moments and plot fripperies keep the action tumbling but nick a few "spangles" off the appeal.--Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2006).

Feature Fun Friday - Thanksgiving and the Butterball Hotline

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Theme de Suzanne by Phillippe Rombi  [Potiche soundtrack].






Just because it seems like tradition now. Nothing to do with books, just the West Wing, Thanksgiving, and the Butterball Hotline. Have a great weekend, everyone. :)



Five Reasons Why I Love Winter

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): You Don't Dream in Cryo by James Horner [Avatar soundtrack].










Five Reasons Why I Absolutely Love Winter...



1). Hot Chocolate. Hands down. I drink the stuff like most people drink coffee. But now I don't get funny looks like when I am hugging my thermos in mid-July.


2). The stillness the snow brings. Sure, moving the stuff after it has partially melted feels a whole lot like shoveling the world's largest slushee, but when it is quiet it feels like the whole world is holding its breath, and waiting for something spectacular to happen. I love it.


3). Ice melt. It is winter fairy dust. ^_^


4). Snow falling across lamplight in the dark. It's just pretty.


5). But the reason I love winter best is everyone seems to change a little bit more during this time of year. Maybe it is the thought of family and kindness, but it makes any toss-up of downsides and leaves them in the dust. And that is totally worth me not feeling my fingertips until April. :)



Feature Fun Friday - Leigh Bardugo is AWESOME.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Jord Och Himmel (Heaven And Earth) by Ale Moller.





DUDE. You do not know how excited I am to show you these videos. Yes, I say multiple because there is no way I'm stopping at one. And it is finally snowing outside so I can *finally* release this tot he world! The first is an introductory video of sorts to her book Shadow and Bone (called The Gathering Dark in the UK). The second is one where she reads an excerpt from a quite intense scene. You'll want to stay for the whole thing. Leigh Bardugo is a fantastic narrator of her own work, something that can be extremely challenging for many authors. Her control and pitch remind me of Neil Gaiman's readings more than a little. So go ahead and listen. You are in for a treat. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!










Review: Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine by Jo Rioux

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Book of Iona by Bruno Coulais [The Secret of Kells soundtrack].



My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).







Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine by Jo Rioux
Published: August 1, 2012
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Pages: 112
Current Amazon Rank: #
1,522,965
Author's Website: Jo Rioux
Want it? Find it here.





The First Line:


"Alright Igor, out you go."





My Take:

Looking at that line up there, it really does not give justice to the story, which once again shows how integral both art and words are to a graphic novel. And as you can see from the amazon ranking (we may have a new record for lowest ranked book here yet), I am bringing you a very buried gem.

Cat's Cradle tells of a young girl, Suri, who wants nothing more in all the world to be a monster tamer, but has more to overcome than her small stature to get there. In the meantime she is also having to run from their travelling camp's leader, where she has become a semi-permanent stowaway (with the help of just about everyone in the camp except said leader). And then there are of course the monsters, some who have already invaded unbeknownst in their midst...


This is a delightful opening to a very promising series. The illustrations are absorbing and the color palette Jo Rioux has chosen is gorgeous and sink-into worthy. I love the character's expressions, which are so evocative and complement the visual action and written dialogue so well. She is great at illustrating atmosphere, as well as action (both of which can be difficult to achieve). And can I say I love to death that she started this series because she was a fan of graphic novels herself? Double awesome points there. This love translates well onto the page, where the frames flow naturally from one sequence to another and the subtle stretchings of the artform play well at the back of your mind without ever calling attention to themselves.





This really is a fun read. I read it straight through in one sitting. However, one character at the end did not feel like he was 500 years old, but since it is geared toward a younger audience I'm willing to overlook his attitude since it is easier to relate to in that age group. It also ended on something of a cliffhanger, or perhaps a hook I should say, which is more of a hrumph for me than an actual complaint. Gotta love when you have to wait for more of a good story. :)



The Final Word:

Squeaky clean and great fun, I highly recommend this unknown gem. And here's hoping more installments are swift in coming.


Monday's Muse, 65th edition.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Breathe Easy by Mree.




The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to one of several places, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.


Today's random word:
Deserts







Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst.

 Liyana is a vessel, the chosen one, nurtured, trained, and offered up by her clan for a great honor: giving her life so their goddess, Bayla, may return to earth to inhabit her body. But the goddess does not return. At the end of her day of sacrifice, Liyana is still alive, her clan having left her alone, disgraced, and in grave danger in the desert. Vessel is the read-alike for your Hunger Games–obsessed teens. From the quest to find the other clans’ spurned vessels, to the two attractive love interests, to the intelligent, independent young heroine, this folkloric fantasy, while harkening to that ever-popular novel and movie, is unique in its own web of clever, complex characters and attention-absorbing adventure. Its setting alone is so vital that it becomes another character, a part of the action. Readers will feel the desert heat, the earth-numbing droughts, the vicious sandstorms and resulting sandwolves, and the bizarre sensations of a goddess living within the body of its human vessel. Brilliantly riveting, Vessel’s only disappointment is its single volume, a fate that relegates Liyana, her lovers, and her friends to their own vessel, a single book.--Bradburn, Frances, Booklist (October 1, 2012. Vol 109, number 3, pg. 54).





The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy by Rae Carson.

This compelling first book in a medieval fantasy trilogy features Elisa, a 16-year-old princess, as she grows from an inexperienced girl who is forced to marry a weak king for political reasons into a confident and capable young woman, destined to be a respected leader in her own right. Shortly after her birth, Elisa received a magical Godstone in her navel, a sign bestowed every 100 years on a chosen one. Despite this, she feels inadequate when compared to her older, more beautiful sister so she eats to compensate for it. She's also very clever, particularly in the strategies of war, but all that most people see is her ample size. The only person who respects her is young Lord Hector, her husband's personal guard. Shortly after her wedding, she's kidnapped and forced to endure an arduous journey through the desert that toughens her. One of her kidnappers is a young man who falls for her and she for him. His people hope that she, as the Godstone bearer, can save them from their constant war against a neighboring enemy. This fast-moving and exciting novel is rife with political conspiracies and machinations. Elisa's maturation and physical transformation echo Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Princess Ben (Houghton Harcourt, 2008). Fans of Tamora Pierce's "Beka Cooper" series (Random) will find a kindred spirit in Elisa as she experiences great adversity and heart-wrenching loss.—Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton --Sharon Rawlins, School Library Journal (August 1, 2011. Vol 57, issue 8, pg. 98).





The Girl with Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti.

Frenenqer—a name meaning restraint—was born inside her father’s imagination and sculpted into his vision of the perfect daughter. She has felt his invisible finger between her shoulder blades her whole life, forcing her meek, obedient, and modest actions. To compound the oppression, Frenenqer lives in a blazingly hot oasis in a Middle Eastern desert, marked by dirty white buildings, an unforgiving landscape, and no place to go, save to school and back home again. In an act of defiance, Frenenqer saves a black cat from certain death at the animal souk and brings him home. The cat is a shape-shifter, a Free person whom Frenenqer names Sangris. He has no constraints, no family, no rules to follow. Sangris, often taking the form of a boy, sprouts wings, and Frenenqer flies with him at night to places both real and magical. It’s this juxtaposition of subjugation and freedom that propels Rossetti’s spellbinding debut, as a girl owned by her father begins to experience life outside of narrowly defined spaces. With taut, lush writing (“the wind shut my eyes for me and rioted in my hair”), a stunningly imagined setting, and a premise that’s unique among the stacks of paranormal romances, this one—written when Rossetti was a teenager—feels like a breeze in the desert.--Kelley, Ann, Booklist (September 15, 2012. Vol 109, number 2, pg. 74).




Jim Henson's Tale of Sand by Ramon Perez.

Based on an unproduced feature-length screenplay by legendary visionary Henson and Juhl, this graphic novel follows its hapless protagonist as he is cast out into the desert by the cheerful Sheriff Tate for reasons as baffling to the unnamed hero as the reader. The scruffy hero is a pawn in a game whose rules are concealed from him, pursued across a surrealistic southwest U.S. by an implacable hunter and hindered by the eccentric, bizarre inhabitants of the great desolation. The prize waiting for him at the end of the chase, should he survive to reach the end, is one he will never guess at. While best known as the creator of the Muppets, Henson was a man of multiple gifts. More than two decades after his untimely death, Pérez has brought to life a little-known side of Henson’s storytelling skill. The story eschews extensive dialogue, making events dependent on Pérez’s ability to convey Henson’s vision. Instead of trying to merely make a movie storyboard, Pérez chooses to make this pure comics, using an animated style somewhat reminiscent of Darwyn Cooke and stunning coloring that uses different palettes—muted pastels or striking duotone—to tell the story. An eccentric oddity, lovingly rendered into a haunting story.--Publisher's Weekly (February 13, 2012. Vol 259, issue 07).




The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander.

This posthumously published novel from Alexander, who died this spring, is an exuberant and compassionate tale of adventure. Kicked out of his merchant uncle’s house, inveterate daydreamer Carlo leaves the island of Magenta (not far from Campania, the mythical setting of The Rope Trick ) to head east on the Road ofGoldenDreams. He travels through Sidya, Marakand and Keshavar (the evocative names are vintage Alexander, subtly blending cartography and legend), all the way to Cathai, where he expects to make his fortune, thanks to the treasure map he found tucked into a book of fantastic tales given him by a mysterious bookseller. Themes that call to mind Alexander’s landmark Prydain Chronicles reappear here, telescoped into a single potent volume: Starting as a callow youth, Carlo gains wisdom and the capacity to love deeply, thanks to his adventures on the road and what he learns from his fellow travelers. The buoyant fantasy is counterpointed by the war and destruction that lurk beyond nearly every bend in the road; the interplay between these elements will keep readers enthralled every step of Alexander’s final literary journey.--Publisher's Weekly (July 23, 2007. Vol 254, issue 29, pg. 66).




Deathwatch by Robb White.

The author of Up Periscope and Torpedo Run switches his locale to the desert for some throat-parching suspense as the young hunting guide Ben becomes human prey after witnessing his hard-boiled client Madec accidentally shoot an old prospector. Instead of dispatching Ben summarily, Madec releases his victim (naked, unarmed and without food or water) -- giving him at least a "sporting" chance to escape being shot and providing an excuse for Ben to stage a novel-length demonstration of physical stamina, cunning and survival savvy. Of course when Ben finally outwits Madec and makes his way back to town, there's still the problem of convincing the sheriff that Madec, not he, is the guilty one, but readers who have managed to undergo this test of endurance thus far will have no doubt about the outcome.--Kirkus (May 1, 1972).





Shaman Warrior. Vol 1. (series) by Chung-gi Pak.

Master wizard Yarong and his faithful servant Batu are sent to remote desert wastelands on a grave mission from their king. These two mysterious warriors have yet to realize that a whirlwind of political movements and secret plots will change their lives forever. When Yarong is mortally injured, Batu must fulfill his promise to leave Yarong's side to protect his master's child. As Batu seeks to find and hide the infant, Yarong reveals another secret to those who have tracked him down to finish him off--the deadly, hidden power of a Shaman Warrior.






The Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcîa.

Before the days of Mohammed and Islam, Arabian prince Walid dreams of being a poet. He organizes an annual contest but loses each year to a humble carpet weaver, Hammad. Bitterly jealous, the prince punishes his rival with impossible tasks, which Hammad miraculously accomplishes, including weaving a carpet containing the entire history ofthe human race. The enchanted rug drives its viewers to madness, though, and after it is stolen, an older, repentant prince, fearful ofthe damage it causes, sets out to find it. As he journeys through Bedouin lands and distant cities, the prince continuously reinvents himself, falls in love, and finds the soul and heart missing in his early poems. Spanish author Garcia writes a captivating, magical tale--a combination of original legend, philosophical meditation, romance, and adventure--steeped in rich cultural specifics, defined in a note and a glossary. Readers will enjoy the thoughtful ruminations on fate and consequence as much as the thrilling, magical action, and they will recognize Walids course of self-discovery: try many identities on for size. --Gillian Engberg, Booklist (October 15, 2005. Vol 102, number 4, pg. 40).

Feature Fun Friday - Daylight Savings by Edward Hogan

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Newgrange by Celtic Woman.






We've been long overdue for a book trailer here on Feature Fun Friday. I dug a little and found one that I liked and only after discovered how perfect it is for this weekend. The title is, at least. :) Here is a lesser-known book published this year called Daylight Savings by Edward Hogan. Have a great weekend, everyone!




Where in the World...

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Bad Beginning by Thomas Newman [A Series of Unfortunate Events soundtrack].





As promised, here I am! But only for a moment. I have sweet things to steal, you know. Once again I fail to evade you guys in your cleverness (because my readers are the most awesome EVAR). I hope your Halloween was fantastic!