Review: Cowboys and Aliens (Graphic Novel)

Last week When I went to see the movie Cowboys and Aliens my husband mentioned that it was originally a Graphic Novel by the same name.  I decided to look for it at the Borders Books close-out sale and found it. The whole book took me less than an hour to read and it does have the outline of the movie within it but I actually was amazed what the producer was able to get out of Rosenburg's original comics.Perhaps I should read the original rather than the mash-up book. Either way, the book is fun and so is the movie.

The ultimate showdown between Cowboys and Indians is interrupted...by an alien invasion. The Old West will never be the same. When an extra-terrestrial armada lands in the Wild West, they find themselves in a showdown with one tough posse of rough-and-ready heroes—and the Cowboys and Aliens graphic novel gives you the thrilling comic book stories that started it all off! Compiling every issue of Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s electrifying comic book series, this gorgeous, full-color graphic novel features the dynamic creative talents of Fred Van Lente, Andrew Foley, and Luciano Lima. ---Goodreads.

Review: Boom! by Mark Haddon

Fans of Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, will be thrilled to know that Haddon has out another wonderful book, though this one has a target audience of middle-grade kids.

Here's the summarary from the back of book:

From the moment that Jim and his best friend, Charlie, bug the staff room and overhear two of their teachers speaking to each other in a secret language, they know there's an adventure on its way. But what does "spudvetch" actually mean, and why do Mr. Kidd's eyes flicker with fluorescent blue light when Charlie says it to him? Perhaps Kidd and Pearce are bank robbers talking in code. Perhaps they're spies. Perhaps they are aliens. Whatever it is, Jimbo and Charlie are determined to find out. There really is an adventure on its way.

My family and I listened to this short book in two days of short trips around Washington. It was read by Julian Rhind-Tutt who does a marvelous job especially with the alien-speak parts.  It is really funny.  I commented to my daughter that she should consider this book for a class read-aloud if she gets an upper elementary position this year and she commented that she'd be afraid that she couldn't read out the alien bits. I told her it wouldn't matter since they are nonsense words anyway.  Just make something up! I really recommend that you listen to the audio version if you have a chance. It is a hoot.

I decided to order this book for my high school library, even though the targeted audience is younger than high school aged kids, because it is such a fun book.  I think I should be able to get it into the hands of reluctant readers, especially boys. The nice thing about the way that Haddon wrote the book is that one is never quite sure how old the main two characters are, I'd say somewhere between 11 and 14. By being ambiguous about the ages, high school students won't be put-off reading a book about kids much younger than themselves.

Thanks to Sue Jackson at Great Books to Kids and Teens for recommending this book to me.

Top Ten Books I Love But Never Reviewed

Hosted by the Broke and Bookish

The Top Ten question of the day relates to books that I have never reviewed either because I just didn't get a round to it or because I read the book before I started blogging. I started blogging in July 2009. The date in parenthesis is when I read the book.

1. Feed by M.T. Anderson---This was my favorite YA read of summer 2007. The feed is an implanted computer in brains. Teenagers are constantly bombarded with consumerism and marketing messages as the world falls apart. (July 2007, published in 1999.)

2. Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock--- I sing the praises of this series quite often on my blog, but I have never actually reviewed it. DJ Schwenk is a jock and works on her family dairy farm.  She helps out a family friend by working with the quarterback from the neighboring team. This story is very touching and fun.  I like the whole series. (September 2007, published in 2004.)

3. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell--- a coming-of-age tale set in England. Jason Taylor is the protagonist who experiences many trials because he is also a stutterer. Both my husband and I could relate to Jason and his troubles. (September 2007, published in 2006.)

4. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli--- This story is just about as perfect as any YA story I've ever read. I listened to the audiobook version of it and the performer was John Ritter, the late, great actor.  He did a magical job. (October 2007, published in 2000.)

5.  Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L.Going---my favorite book of the Fall of 2007. Though there is plenty in the book to make the book-burners prepare their coals, I loved the book.  It is very funny. (October 2007, published in 2004.)

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--- I'm guessing that I will see this book on others Top Ten lists today.  This book is remarkable for many reasons. One, the narrator is death. Two, the setting is Nazi Germany during WWII with a view of the war from within Germany. Three, the book is masterfully written and is very inventive. This book is on my Top Ten favorite YA books of all time. (November 2007, published in 2006.)

7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie--- this book is amazing on many levels. Reluctant readers actually will read this book and come back to tell me how much they liked it. It is also on my Top Ten YA favorites list. (April 2008, published in 2007.)

8. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank--- Published in 1959, this book addresses the question of what life would be like after a nuclear holocaust. Even though we know today that a lot of things that they thought about nuclear weapons were wrong, the book is very insightful about leadership, self-reliance, inventiveness, and the importance of community. (July 2008.)

9. Paper Towns by John Green--- Actually I should have all of John's book on this list since I think he is one of the premiere YA authors writing today. His characters are all multifaceted, interesting, and edgy.  This book has quite a bit of humor, too. (January 2009, published in 2008.)

10. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart--- I love this book about a plucky character, Frankie L-B. I have the hardest time getting kids to read it, though.  Perhaps if I mention it 100 times on my blog, some will finally give it a try. (April 2009, published in 2008.)

Monday, August 22 and I'm reading....

Hosted by Book Journey

What I'm reading:

Maine by Courtney Sullivan---the story of four women from three generations of a family and their beach property in Maine.

What I just finished:

Boom! by Mark Haddon---a middle-grade book by the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.  The book is a hoot.  Review to follow.  Look for it!

What I'm listening to:

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen---this is my first Sarah Dessen book and I can see the appeal for teen girls.

What I hope to read next:

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones--- Two street kids get tangled in a plot over their heads - and risk an unexpected connection - in this heart-pounding thriller.

Sunday Salon: August 21, 2011

I'm watching: Project Runway.  I can't help it.  I think I'm addicted to this reality show about fashion designers. I watch it every week with my daughters.

I'm thinking about: Joining Weight Watchers.  It is time

I'm listening to: The audiobook Boom! by Mark Haddon the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.  It was recommended to me by Sue Jackson, another blogger, and so far my family and I are really enjoying it.

I'm reading: Maine by Courtney Sullivan.  It is the book club selection of the month.  It is OK but I'm not sure we'll have a lot to talk about about during the club meeting.

Lists I am making: I am still working through a list of books which may make up my list of Mock Printz books for the workshop I hold in January before the actual Printz award winners are announced. I hope to read the books "Queen of Water" and "Blink and Caution" as other possible books for this list before I head back to school in September.

Today's Scripture in church: Acts 3:6-10. God's love is WONDROUS. My sister was the guest preacher and she did a great job.

I'm praying for: My nephew Jeffrey who continues to have troubles with the law.

Around the house: I'm getting cold feet about actually installing hard wood floors on the main level of the house.

From the kitchen: We've been grilling meat this week.  I made chicken kabobs on Wednesday and Don grilled a flank steak yesterday. I love cooking on the BBQ.

Funny event: My siblings and our families helped our parents celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary by singing a rendition of the song "1951" by Bob Bennett. We rewrote the words to match our parents young life together several years ago and now some of those words don't work anymore.  We all had a good laugh together.


Musical event: We had a musical week seeing the musical Les Miserables in Seattle last Sunday night and then today we went to a 17th Century musical program with my cousin's daughter, Erin, as one of the performers. Exquisite!

Review: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Where do I begin?

First, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey is one fantastic book...one of those books that has won a ton of awards and deserves to win more.  I mean it, this book is GOOD.

Secondly, the book is multidimensional. In an interview, Silvey sums up the novel as “a coming-of-age, regional mystery novel, stuffed inside a nervous little love story, garnished with family drama and adolescent escapism and anguish.”---Suite 101

The narrator of the novel is Charlie Bucktin, a thirteen-year old boy that lives in a small mining town in Australia in the 1960s. One night Jasper Jones, the local troublemaker, comes to Charlie's window and asks for his help. Out of admiration and fear Charlie goes with Jasper to a secret location and makes a gruesome discovery. Now Charlie is consumed with guilt at keeping this huge secret that has the whole town shook up. But while the mystery plays out, Charlie and his friend, Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese refugee, go about their friendship doing things like debating who is a better super hero, Batman or Superman, and goofing around like young teen boys can.

Charlie, who wants to be a writer someday, is also a voracious reader and he makes lots of literary references to his favorite authors: Twain, Harper Lee, Capote, and Kesey. In fact, some reviewers say that they think this book is the Australian version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Could Charlie's dad be Atticus Finch and the old recluse, Jack Lionel, really be the Bo Radley character?  I guess so.  It works. I really enjoyed the way that Charlie, as narrator, wove the ideas and thoughts of authors into the fabric of his life as he did with Mark Twain here:

Mark Twain might well have an opinion on everything. He might have been bestowed with wit I don't have and blessed with phrases I can't summon. He might write with the air of knowledge earned, he might invoke laughter and sadness or anger with herds of words. He might beguile and illuminate, frustrate and affect. He might gift you whole worlds to walk in, wide eyes to see through. But not even Mark Twain could describe just how soft a girl's lips are when they are pressed against your own. ---p.191

The novel Jasper Jones really does seem to have it all. It is has a coming-of-age tale that is both achingly real and hilariously funny at the same time. It has an intriguing mystery with a very sinister underbelly. The sweet romance that develops is both appropriate and awkward as one would expect from a thirteen-year-old and his love interest. There is friendship and loyalty, with the dialogue between Jeffrey and Charlie being the highlight of the book. Set during the same time period as the Vietnam conflict, it has the feel of historical fiction. It also has sports, but, unfortunately for me, I know nothing about Cricket though I did enjoy the description of the action (even if I had no clue what was happening.) And, as I said before, there were lots of literary allusions and references.

If there is one criticism I have, it is with the American publisher, Knopf Books for Young Readers/Random House, who decided that this book is YA lit. I'm fairly sure, but not certain, that the Australian publisher marketed this book to adults.  Even though the story is about teenagers doesn't automatically make it a teen book (think Elegance of the Hedgehog or Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie for examples of adult books with children/teen protagonists.) Though there is a lot on the story that teens will relate to, I think that the book itself may be a bit dense for the average teenager. That said, I do hope that teens like it and that Jasper Jones gets the attention that I think it deserves from the American Book Award committees: National Book Award and/or Michael Printz Award for excellence in YA Lit.  I just ordered a copy for my library and I hope to get it in to the right hands as soon as school starts in September.

By the way, just in case you were wondering, Batman is the bravest superhero. Read the book and find out why!

Chris Crutcher Challenge

Chris Crutcher Challenge.

This is an on-going, no time-limit challenge to read all of Chris Crutcher's novels. Join me as I read through all of the novels. Attach your review links in the comment section here.

• Period 8 (2013)
• Angry Management (2009)
• Deadline (2007)
• The Sledding Hill (2005)
• King of the Mild Frontier: an Ill-Advised Autobiography (2003)
• Whale Talk (2001)
• Ironman (1995)
• Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes (1993)
• The Deep End (1992)
• Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (1991)
• Chinese Handcuffs (1989)
• The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987)
• Stotan! (1986)
• Running Loose (1983)

(My progress on this challenge will be noted on My Challenge Page, with links to my reviews.)

Review: Ironman by Chris Crutcher

I LOVE CHRIS CRUTCHER! Well, I actually don't know Chris Crutcher but I do love his books, every single one I have read. This book is no exception. It is fantastic, not to be missed.

Ironman is the story of a boy, Bo Brewster, who is locked in a power-struggle with his father. He also ends up in an anger management group following angry outbursts at school related to quitting the football team. There he meets a bunch of kids who have serious anger issues, also. All the while he is training as hard as he can to participate in an iron-man competition (swimming, biking, running.)

In addition to being an author, Chris Crutcher is a Child and Family Therapist. He also spent nearly a decade working in an Alternative School in Oakland. Because of these experiences his books seem to be very authentic and realistic. Crutcher gets it that all kids don't come from healthy homes. He gets it that sometimes teens have to deal with parents who are abusive, addicted, or absent.  He understands that teens may have to be the financially responsible people in their families or the consistent care-givers to younger siblings. Yet, all of his books have some adult who understands kids and can help guide positive decisions. You might think that the books all sound too serious, but actually there are really funny scenes, too.

...Mr. Redmond is seeming more and more like a cartoon character to me, and rather than getting angry at him, I'm starting to get embarrassed for him. It has taken a long time for me to understand Mr. Nak's notion that my anger is a cover for fear, and only when I admit to that fear will I get control of my anger, or in fact have no need for it. I'm coming to understand when Redmond or my dad pushes me, and if I can acknowledge it, there's no need to cover it. Believe me, that's a lot easier said than done, because it's a natural, unthinking thing to haul out your rage in a flash so no one sees how scared you are. But understanding that-- truly understanding it-- is like being handed a secret of the universe, because people look different to me then. ---p.220

Ironman was published in 1995 so I was worried that it would be outdated, but the story seemed very current and relevant, aside from a few comments about listening to a Walkman.  Ha!  I hope that you give Ironman or any of his other books a try.  I such a big fan that I am going to start a Chris Crutcher Challenge to encourage myself and everyone who participates to read all his books.  Check out the Chris Crutcher challenge here.

My Top Ten Book-Related Places

Hosted at Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Favorite Book-Related Places

1. Graham-Kapowsin High School Library (My library!)

The circular part of the building is the library on the 2nd floor

2. Puyallup Public Library

It has really interesting architectural features inside.

3. Pierce County Library

This is the public library I frequent the most often.

4. Seattle Public Library

This thing is so cool inside and out.  It makes the top ten list of the coolest libraries in the world.

5. Suzzallo Library on University of Washington campus

This is a gorgeous library, it is almost like a cathedral. This is where I did my training to become a librarian.

6. Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon

This bookstore is a destination. Once you enter you need a map to find your way around.

7. Elliott Bay Books

I could spend a whole day browsing this Indy bookstore in Seattle.

8. Smith Family Bookstore in Eugene, Oregon

A bit on the junky side, but really helpful clerks and one can find true treasures.

9. King's Books in Tacoma, Washington

They have a great selection and a bookstore cat, too.

10. Hammocks

Backyard. Books. Hammock.  Ah..h..h

What is one of your favorite book-related places?

Friday Hops- JASPER JONES

 Friday Fun!

*First Line Friday at A Few More Pages.
*The Friday 56 at Freda's Voice.

Book: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

"Jasper Jones has come to my window. I don't know why, but he has. Maybe he's in trouble. Maybe he doesn't have anywhere else to go."  -Opening lines

"See, Batman is different. He's mortal. He's got a real life to risk. Superman just has to avoid Kryptonite. Big deal...Batman has the same vulnerabilities as the rest of us, so he has the same fears as us. That's why he is the most courageous...My point is this: the more you have to lose, the braver you are for standing up."-p. 56   (The main character, Charles, and his friend are fighting over who is braver, Superman or Batman.)

Jasper Jones is the town's juvenile delinquent, yet he needs Charles to help him with a problem.  But as you see from the second quote, Charles is still a young teen interested in super heroes.


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Hosted by GReads

Q. Author Block Party: 

If you could gather a handful of authors to hang out with, 

who would you choose?

 

A. I'd pick my favorite YA authors:

John Green

Libba Bray

Chris Crutcher

David Levithan

Cassandra Clare

Shannon Hale

Markus Zusak

Pete Hautman

Patrick Ness

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Featured blog: Jake at Teen Fiction Centre.  Congratulations, Jake!

Q. How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently? 

A. YA Lit didn't exist when I was a teenager, or just barely.  I read a lot as a pre-teen and young teen, then barely read in high school at all. When I did I liked reading romances.  Sigh.  They were so tame in comparison to what teens read today.  Ha-ha.  I remember swooning when the characters kissed hard.