Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Wings and Ruin
I have lots of thoughts about this.
What My Kids Are Reading 5/12/17
The 6-Year-Old
From the publisher: “An early reader based on the animated LEGO(R) Batman Movie(TM) starring Batman(TM) and Robin(TM)! When Bruce Wayne(TM) adopts Dick Grayson(TM), Dick discovers that “Bruce Wayne is . . . Batman’s roommate!” Now Batman wants this special kid’s help on a brand new mission to take down the Joker(TM). Featuring special appearances from Alfred, Superman(TM), and more. Includes full-color images from the film, plus a full sheet of stickers!”
I know this isn’t some great piece of kidlet literature, but . . . it’s fun! My kids love all things Lego, including the Lego Batman movie, and this is a fun book. It’s silly, and the words are longer but easy enough for my 6-year-old to sound out on his own. I really like all the leveled readers as well, because it takes the guesswork out of which books will be challenging and which books will just be frustrating for new readers.
The 8-Year-Old
From the publisher: “Fish-tory comes to life with two more fin-tastic stories featuring our favorite zombie goldfish Frankie from New York Times-bestselling author Mo O’Hara. When Tom and his best friend rescued Frankie the goldfish from his evil-scientist big brother’s toxic gunge their new pet came back as a BIG FAT ZOMBIE GOLDFISH. Frankie is good at saving the day, but can he become a real knight in shining armor during the medieval day reenactment joust? Then, can the school survive two BIG FAT ZOMBIE GOLDFISH? Find out when Tom’s evil big brother manages to clone a Jurassic Carp!”
This is one of those series that doesn’t necessarily appeal to me (as a reader, not as a parent) but clearly appeals to every other kid out there. My 8-year-old is no exception. He thinks these books are weird and funny and he also wishes that we could have a zombie goldfish. Definitely check this book out (the newest in the series) if your kid is looking for something different to read!
What We’re Reading Together
Well, this week is the first week that I don’t have any new book updates in what we’re reading together! We are still working through Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Review: Killers of the Flower Moon
“Tell everybody, when you write your story, that they’re scalping our souls out here.”
Killers of the Flower Moon is the best non-fiction book I’ve read this year, and possibly ever. Let me preface that by saying that if I had seen this book at a bookstore, I might have passed it by. Because we all judge books by their covers. But thanks to the wonderful Book of the Month Club (I have zero affiliation with them. I’m a paying member and it’s the best thing ever.) I’ve taken a look at books I wouldn’t normally give a second glance to. This is one of those.
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What My Kids Are Reading 5/5/17
The 8-Year-Old
From the publisher: “A vivid retelling of a major historical catastrophe written in an engaging, narrative style with direct speech and speech bubbles. Brings to life the gripping story of the “unsinkable” ship and its doomed maiden voyage. Dramatic illustrations, photos or maps on every page and Internet links to fun websites via the Usborne Quicklinks Website.”
My Titanic-obsessed son has checked this book out from his school library at least 3 times. This year. The writing is simple and interesting, the pictures are great, and I know he’s actually reading it and not just looking at the pictures because he’s constantly teaching me things I didn’t know about the Titanic! If you have a kid who loves history and the Titanic, this is a great choice!
The 6-Year-Old
From the publisher: “When a boy and his dog go for a hike, the boy trips on a fossil, and it comes to life, revealing an ancient plant. The boy is so intrigued that he breaks two more fossils that come to life—a dragonfly and a pteranodon. When these prehistoric creatures collide with present reality, the boy must figure out a way to make things go back to normal. Visually told through art, this “wordless story” will surely spark imagination and creativity.”
Right. I do realize that Fossil is a book without words. But hear me out on this! The illustrations by Bill Thomson are beautiful and done in a way that create tension in this story. As much as writing for children is important, I really believe that the illustrations in picture books are equally important, and Thomson has it down. This type of book also fosters creativity in a way that regular books cannot: whether I’m “reading” it or my son is, the story changes every time. It really allows for a child to create their own story in an easy, fun way. We also love Chalk
What We’re Reading Together
From the publisher: “Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket’s back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world’’ first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride.”
We have been on a Roald Dahl kick this year! We were going to start The Witches
Review: The Women in the Castle
“Hitler must die.”
This review took awhile to write because I wanted to talk about all of the things I loved about the book. This is one of my favorites, and so far it’s my favorite read of 2017.
The events in The Women in the Castle are triggered by the real-life event of a group of resistance fighters attempting to assassinate Hitler in the throws of World War II. They fail, are caught and executed, and their families are left to pick up the pieces during and after the war. The book focuses on three widows in particular: Marianne, Benita, and Ania. Three women living together in a crumbling castle, all with vastly different personalities, all with secrets to keep, must learn how to navigate post-war Germany in the 1940s and beyond. All three are widows with children to care for and reputations that, even though they are known to be resistance widows, have taken a beating simply because they are German.
I love books about aftermath. (Remember Me Like This: A Novel
The dichotomy between beauty and horror in this book is striking. The landscape, the women, even the crumbling castle, serve as the backdrop for the horrors of the Holocaust and its aftermath.
The Women in the Castle was a much heavier book than I expected, but in the best way. It is about post-World War II, but it delves into what happened during the war too, and the effects wartime actions had on “regular” people. It is a hard look at post-war life, which in some ways, for certain people, may have been more difficult than during the war, when roles and expectations were clearly defined. It’s one of those books that had me Googling that author and the subject matter the second I finished reading it because I wanted to know even more.
I highly, highly recommend The Women in the Castle! However you can get your hands on this book, get it.
There is a good, quick interview with the author, Jessica Shattuck, HERE.
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