Even though I'm on vacation in New England, I still have some really good books to share!
Novels:
THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF JACK, by Kelly Barnhill, is a completely original mid-grade fantasy, set in a small town in Iowa. Young Jack, who has been largely invisible his entire life, gets sent to live in a strange house, with his strange aunt and uncle. Magic bubbles beneath the surface here, and permeates the town. Suddenly, Jack gets noticed--he makes friends, he makes enemies, and he works on solving an ancient, very creepy mystery. Well-written, with solid world-building.
Book One of THE HYPNOTISTS: HYPNOTIZE ME
, by Gordon Korman, is a fun new series. Twelve year old Jackson Opus has eyes that change color, and lately people have been doing strange things just because he wants them to. At first, Jax shrugs it off, but when The Amazing Ramolo gets pulled into his own chicken act, strutting across the stage and clucking, Jax is forced to admit that something very strange is going on. He gets invited to join the Sentia Institute, where he learns that he has the power to bend people's minds. Sentia's founder, Dr. Elias Mako, wants to teach him how to control it. "We'll nurture and develop your gift in every way," Dr. Mako says. "And together we'll change the world."
YA science fiction THE FIFTH WAVE, by Rick Yancey, shows us what happens when the Others invade Earth. In the 1st Wave, everything electrical dies, and so do half a million people. In the 2nd Wave, all major coastal cities are wiped out by tsunamis. In the 3rd Wave, 97 percent of the remaining population is wiped out by a particularly gruesome bird flu. 4th Wave--soldiers kill the survivors, except for kids. The 5th Wave could be anything, but it's not going to be pretty.
And here are a couple of picture books I discovered (and rediscovered) recently while taking an online picture book illustration class:
HOW TO BE,
by Lisa Brown, reminds me of A Hole is to Dig, by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak. There are charming instructions on how to be a bear, a monkey, a turtle, a snake, a spider, a dog and, best of all, a person. Smart illustrations use lots of white space with inventive splashes of color.
I'm so glad I was encouraged to take a new look at VOICES IN THE PARK, by Anthony Browne. This is a trip to the park, as described by four different characters. Unique typefaces emphasize the differing points of view, which together form a cohesive story. Very clever, with masterful art.
Lynn
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