Review: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a fantastical fairy tale retelling of the Snow Queen. Although I'm not a fan of the cover art, Karen Foxlee has crafted a beautifully written story of adventure, friendship, magic, and danger for middle grade readers. Ophelia is an asthmatic, underdog hero who must rescue a magical boy and help him find a sword to defeat the evil Snow Queen once and for all.

Summary: This is the story of unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard who doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty, the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help. As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world. A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.

Although the publisher has rightly targeted this chapter book at ages 8-12, the narrative style feels better suited for older, more confident readers. Foxlee's magical adventure requires a reader who can appreciate the imagery and what I can only describe as an original "Brothers Grimm"-type feel. This story might actually make a really good read-aloud or bedtime story, too. You can view a sneak peak on Penguin Random House's website.

Personally, I would have liked to see this story written for an older audience, with thrills and chills to amp up the plot. The Snow Queen is a frightening villain (as scary as middle grade will allow without actually scaring anyone). The writing style certainly translates for a well-read audience who can appreciate the narrative. 

Content-wise, this is a clean read. There are no frightening scenes or objectionable language to upset the target audience. Frozen fans might appreciate hearing a story about the original fairy tale that inspired Disney's multi-million dollar success.

All in all, this is a beautifully written book with lessons about being brave and not putting vanity above all else (Ophelia's sister, and countless other girls, were captured by the Snow Queen because of this weakness). With plenty of starred reviews to back it, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a great choice for confident readers who love fairy tales and magical adventures. 

3 Stars

Review: Peter Puck and the Runaway Zamboni Machine

Hockey, a Zamboni®, anthropomorphic machines, and a great message: what more could you ask for in a young reader series for Canadian boys? 

Published by Tundra and written by Canadian author/illustrator team Brian McFarlane and Geri Storey, this Peter Puck book stars a Zamboni® who is feeling a little unappreciated at the arena. Luckily, his adventure out on the town reminds him that his friends appreciate everything he does and that his job is not only an important one, but one that makes him happy!

Summary: Peter’s good friend, Tony the Zamboni, longs for adventure. When Tony disappears, Peter and referee George Phair head out to find him. Tony loves being out in the big wide world, especially when he enters a race at the speedway. Peter arrives just in time to hop on and drive, but a run-in with two nasty drivers threatens to put them on the sidelines. Can Peter and Tony stay in the race? And will the runaway Zamboni return to the arena and prepare the ice for the big game?

From a marketing standpoint, Zamboni® stories are actually quite popular in Canada, and what child is not fascinated with watching them drive over the ice?  Overall, the series is written for young readers who are advanced enough to read confidently on their own, and who are between readers and early chapter books. Each spread has a picture and a page of text, which also makes the series great for parents reading to their kids. The language is very basic and pairs well with the expressive and colourful art for readers to piece the together the story.

This is a great Canadian young reader series for fans of books/shows that feature talking vehicles/machinery, and includes a positive "love the life you have" type of message. Fun fact: Brian McFarlane is a famous hockey sportscaster on Hockey Night in Canada AND he's the son of the author of many of the Hardy Boys books! 

3 Stars

Review: Grimmtastic Girls: Cinderella Stays Late by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Cinderella Stays Late is the first novel in the Grimmtastic Girls series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams. It is a charming and delightful twist on Cinderella's fairy tale for middle grade readers, ages 8-12. This is an excellent story to share with your child due to the number of references to fairy tales and key authors of children's literature such as the Brothers Grimm, Perrault, and Anderson. This is a PERFECT springboard into teaching kids about the classics — and teaching kids was the point of these classic children's tales in the first place!

I loved all the fairy tale allusions in this book. For example, Cinda's father repairs bridges and he's currently repairing London Bridges, which are falling down. And then there's the school secretary, Ms. Jabberwocky, who breathes fire and speaks nonsense, but after a while, the nonsense starts to make sense (I LOVED seeing some Lewis Carroll!).

Holub further engages the reader's interest by adding her own unique twist on Cinderella's story. Her stepsisters (aka the Steps) use Cinderella to get the prince to fall in LIKE with them —like not love — a very age-appropriate amendment. This story is about Cinderella going to the school ball to figure out what evil scheme the Steps are plotting, and to make sure that good wins out. However, kids will still find some of the classic elements in the story, such as the glass slipper, the magic wand, the ball, the concept of "until midnight", and more. 

Furthermore, Cinderella Stays Late is an extremely relatable story. Cinda is the new girl at school, she doesn't have pretty dresses, she prefers sports over girly activities like dancing, she's teased, and she comes from a fractured family. Young readers can dive into the story for the magic and fairy tale characters, but they can also find themselves in Cinderella's insecurities and flaws, and in her hopes and dreams. 

I'm still surprised by how much I love this book. It's engaging on so many levels and is an easy, light, and sweet happily-ever-after. Cinda has some unanswered questions at the end that leave the reader to think about and decide. For example, Cinderella wonders if the prince likes her. But even with all the questions Cinderella has, as with every fairy tale, there is a morale that young and impressionable girls will benefit from hearing.

There are more important things in life than worrying over whether or not a boy likes you — being yourself, school, friends, and above all, making sure good wins over evil. 

4 Stars

Review: The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley

The Dumbest Idea Ever! is a graphic novel from Jimmy Gownley, publishing March 1st from Graphix (an imprint of Scholastic). At 240 pages, it makes for a easy read for reluctant readers, and despite being a graphic novel, both boys and girls will enjoy the story. Based on the author/artist's own life, this is a highly enjoyable novel for readers ages 10-14.

Summary: What if the dumbest idea ever changed your life forever?

At thirteen, Jimmy was popular, at the top of his class, and the leading scorer on his basketball team. But all that changed when chicken pox forced him to miss the championship game. Then things went from bad to worse when he got pneumonia and missed even more school. Before Jimmy knew it, his grades were sinking and nothing seemed to be going right. How would Jimmy turn things around, get back on top at school, and maybe even get a date with the cutest girl in school? Renowned comics creator Jimmy Gownley shares his adventures as he grows from an eager-to-please boy into a teenage comic book artist and how the DUMBEST idea ever actually became the BEST thing that ever happened to him.

The Dumbest Idea Ever! is funny, true, and honest. Life is hard, and it never goes the way you plan for it go. This is a book that teaches readers that even when things don't go your way (you get sick, you miss your big game, you miss your chance with something, etc), that life has other plans for you; bigger and better plans. Eventually, things work out.

Readers can also learn about ways to deal with stress, frustration, and difficult situations. For Jimmy, and a lot of other kids, a creative outlet is often very effective. And for some (again, like Jimmy), this creative outlet might even be your true calling. Writing a comic book because it makes you happy, might lead you to what you're ultimately meant to do — become a writer! You never know what the universe is trying to tell you, so don't give up on the things you love just because other people think it's dumb. If you love it, it's worth something.

An inspiring, funny, highly relatable, and undeniably enjoyable book!

4 Stars 

Review: Inhuman by Kat Falls

Inhuman by Kat Falls is a YA dystopian novel from Scholastic Inc., but it's not like any other YA dystopian story out there. Inhuman reads like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and The Walking Dead. I also find it hilarious to note that Chicago is again the setting of this dystopian society. Poor Chicago. Why do YA authors think this city is going to hell?

Set in the future, the world has been ravaged by a virus that essentially turns humans into animalistic creatures. Those afflicted are trapped on the other side of a heavily guarded defensive wall in attempt to control another outbreak and to protect the population from the danger posed by the infected. This abandoned area of the U.S. is nicknamed the Feral Zone- something that you can't really appreciate until the courageous female protagonist (Lane) adventures through it on a mission to save her father.

Inhuman is a mix of horror, suspense, action, and adventure. There's guns, bloodshed, corrupted and power-hungry antagonists, a light love story, and of course-- humans who have turned into savage part-animals. The protagonist is courageous, smart, and yet another strong female character to inspire readers. I enjoyed the fact that she's not immune to the horror around her; she's humanized in her reactions to the violence and danger in the Feral Zone.

The book explores the differences between being human and being animal, suggesting that with or without a virus, we all have a little "feral" in us. You can be "all human" and still be driven to feral qualities or actions in moments of pure desperation or in an attempt to survive; it's human nature. We see that not all "animals" are feral, but we also see that all humans have some animal in them; whether they were infected or not. It's a vague reference to evolution in that this a virus that exposes who we are at the most basic level, by turning man back into beast.

Inhuman is a fact-paced adventure through a mutated, desperate, and violent world. It is a fantastic fantasy/dystopian story that is well-written, exciting, and different from the wealth of other dystopian YA novels out there. Kat Falls is an extraordinary writer! If you enjoy teen action/adventure and dystopian novels, this is a must-read!

4 stars

Review: How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad? By Jane Yolen

Part of the popular [and hilarious] How Do Dinosaurs series, How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad? is a hilarious addition to your child's bookshelf. Jane Yolen and Mark Teague team up to teach children about expressing their anger constructively and dealing with difficult emotions. Moreover, this book also teaches children that no matter what, parents will always love you.

A variety of dinosaurs fill the pages, giving the book a very slight intellectual edge (learn about dinosaurs AND manners!). The text is short and easy to read for young readers who want to follow along. Even better than the comical nature of the writing are the hilarious illustrations. You and your child will not be able to hold back smiles and laughter at the ridiculous nature of dinosaurs losing their tempers. The illustrations are sweet, humorous, and fun.

The book covers misbehaviour from frustration, to anger, to tantrums, to acting out as a result of exhaustion, impatience, or other negative emotions. Anger and emotional development are difficult subjects to discuss with kids--but Jane Yolen and Mark Teague handle this subject with wit, cleverness, and a dash of brilliance.

Girls and boys can appreciate the humour, and this book is a timeless classic. They can see the behaviour of the dinosaurs as inappropriate and as out of proportion as the sheer size of the dinosaurs themselves.

Parents, be comforted that this book teaches a life lesson in a subtle way. This book can be enjoyed again and again!