I loved the cover and wanted to adore this book based on its fantastic blurb but unfortunately I didn’t connect with it like I do with most children’s books. It felt somewhat disjointed and I wanted to hear what Betty had to say about bullying and being yourself. The pictures were sweet. I wondered about some of the choice of words as I’m not sure a young child would know or care who Liszt is or what opus means.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and LuJu Books for the opportunity to read this book. I’m sure a lot of children and parents alike will love this book but I’m afraid this one wasn’t for me.
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
In a world that seems to encourage us all to look, talk, think, and act the same and is in a constant state of comparison, how can we teach children from a young age that their differences are actually their strengths, not their weaknesses?
It all begins with what we show them and tell them, and a wonderful starting point for this important conversation is the engaging, beautifully illustrated new book Batty Betty by children’s author Kathryn Hast (LuJu Books). What sets this book apart from others in the stack is its storyline – which is purposefully, delightfully whimsical even as it tackles tough subjects – as well as its lyrical style. Hast wanted to be sure it was just as fun for both parents and children to read while also illuminating ways to approach and take on real and often difficult scenarios.
Enter: Abel, the tuba; Eve, the sad banana; and Betty, a giant who dances unapologetically to her own drum. When Abel goes out marching by himself, he finds a sad banana named Eve who has been bullied by local beavers. As it turns out, she’s not alone. The beavers are also out for Betty, who stands out with her towering height and “batty” behavior. Abel sets out to defeat these beavers, but soon discovers it’s not about winning – it’s about finding your own music amidst the ruckus and noise.
This book is perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a superhero and for anyone who’s ever felt, or been made to feel, not good enough. So, basically everyone.
I really enjoyed the storyline and the positive messages that shine through between the non-stop action and laughs. There was something to love about every character, even the villain. Max Brunner (author) and Dustin Mackay (illustrator) complemented each other so well to bring the story and graphics together it would be easy to believe that one person was responsible for both the words and pictures. Their collaboration on this book was seamless and I hope they team up again for future projects. The choice of fonts was in keeping with the style of book and the illustrations were brilliant. I loved the mix of black and white with selected areas of colour to make details pop.
This would be a fantastic gateway book for kids who aren’t usually a fan of reading as they’ll experience firsthand how much fun reading can be. If you buy this book for your child make sure you steal it from them to read it yourself as well. The laughs aren’t just for kids. As I was reading I could easily imagine this book being made into a movie.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for the opportunity to read this graphic novel. I’d recommend this book both to the young and the young on the inside, and I’ll be rereading it again very soon. I really hope there’ll be a sequel. There’s no way the Defectives only have one story to tell!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Laser vision isn’t so hot when you’re cross-eyed, and supersonic flight’s a real downer when motion sickness keeps you grounded.
Twelve-year-old Marshall Preston is a Defective – a person with superhuman abilities that are restricted by some very human setbacks. While other kids are recruited to superhero teams, Marshall’s stuck in seventh grade with a kid who can run at super speed but can’t turn a corner, another with a radioactive peanut allergy that turns him into a swollen Hulk, and a telepath who reads everyone’s thoughts out loud.
Defectives like Marshall aren’t exactly superhero material, but when he uncovers a plot to destroy one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, Marshall and his less-than-super friends set out to prove that just because you’re defective doesn’t mean you can’t save the day.
This graphic novel is a great introduction to a vitally important topic. I wish something similar had been available when I was growing up. I’d love to see it provided to students during sex ed classes in schools. The graphic novel format is much more inviting than the photocopied notes that were painfully plentiful last century when I was at school.
The discussion questions and resources at the end would be useful as a jumping off point to aid teachers in facilitating classroom discussions. I could see this book being used by parents to help them bring up this topic with their children and also to inform parents about the issues that affect kids today that they may not have had to deal with when they were growing up due to changes in technology. Even school leavers may find this book useful as issues surrounding consent don’t magically disappear once you reach adulthood.
This book dispels many myths surrounding what is and isn’t consent in a clear, conversational way. There are some parts that read more like adults talking than teenagers but I’m not sure this can be completely avoided. By touching on various scenarios relevant to consent, including perspectives of males and females, and making the point that the need for consent is the same regardless of a person’s sexuality, this book gives the reader enough of an overview to be able to apply what they’ve read to scenarios they may face in their own lives (or bring clarity to what they may have already experienced).
One of the resources listed at the end of the book is a YouTube video that explains consent so well that I think it complements this book perfectly.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
“Consent is not the absence of ‘NO’, it is an enthusiastic YES!!”
While seemingly straightforward, Tia and Bryony hadn’t considered this subject too seriously until it comes up in conversation with their friends and they realise just how important it is.
Following the sexual assault of a classmate, a group of teenage girls find themselves discussing the term consent, what it actually means for them in their current relationships, and how they act and make decisions with peer influence. Joined by their male friends who offer another perspective, this rich graphic novel uncovers the need for more informed conversations with young people around consent and healthy relationships.
Accompanying the graphics are sexual health resources for students and teachers, which make this a perfect tool for broaching the subject with teens.
Unfortunately, while I was very interested in this book based on its blurb, it wasn’t for me. While Brandon and Jenny’s early friendship was sweet and lovely to read about, I found their character development didn’t sit right with me. Maybe I’ve read too much about mental illness but I picked up on Brandon’s Dissociative Identity Disorder in the prologue and found the turn of events too predictable, except for the final twist which just seemed implausible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Brandon and Jenny have been best friends since they were 5. When Brandon’s mum dies in a horrific accident, his dad’s behaviour darkens and Brandon turns to Jenny and her mum for everything. But dealing with such intense issues so young aren’t what our minds are meant to do. The mind needs help to cope.
Jenny loves Brandon, but as a brother. She notices how quickly Brandon falls into himself while she’s away for college. And even more so when she brings her boyfriend home to Las Vegas.
One fateful night, Brandon breaks down and confesses his love to Jenny, sending their relationship into a whirlwind of chaos and destruction.
Um, is it politically incorrect to say you enjoyed a book about depressed teens who have attempted suicide? Oh, well, here goes … I really enjoyed reading Sunshine is Forever.
Growing up reading The Baby-Sitters Club books I was determined to go to camp in America and have fun with a bunch of new friends from camp like Kristy and co. Even after watching all of the Friday the 13th movies I still wanted to be a camp counsellor. Much to my dismay I never went to camp as a kid or counsellor, but find me a book about teenagers going to camp, any camp, and I want to read it.
So, here we are at Camp Sunshine which incidentally leaned closer to Friday the 13th (minus the sex) than BSC. In fact, had Jason shown up to deal with Asshole Jim around the time of his introduction I probably would have happily provided him with directions and a mug shot.
I would hope that Camp Sunshine would never get accreditation to open in the first place because other than half an hour of token therapy a day, the workers may as well have been singing Kumbaya with the kids for all the good they were doing. A padded cell used as punishment? Really??? I kept thinking as I was reading this book, ‘please don’t let this resemble the way mental health is dealt with in America’, but having seen some documentaries about American LGBTQ conversion therapy I wondered how far from the truth it actually was.
My time reading this book was divided between smiling at Hunter’s observations and monikers he chose for his family, friends and prison guards (oops, sorry, therapy staff) and sadness at the situation all of these teenagers were in. With themes including guilt, forgiving ourselves and others, and taking responsibility for our actions there were obviously going to be portions of the book that were very difficult to read but like witnessing an imminent train crash I couldn’t look away. I had to know if the crash was going to happen or if there’d be a near miss.
Hunter’s conviction that it was only through Corin’s love and acceptance of him that he could be happy was both sad and believable. It’s much easier to assign roles for other people to attempt to make them responsible for the outcome of our lives than to look inside and take responsibility for ourselves.
I spent most of the book waiting as patiently as possible to find out what secrets were hidden in Corin’s thick green file and wasn’t surprised at their theme when all was revealed. However hard it was to read I did like the symmetry it set up between Corin and Hunter. While the noose around Hunter’s stomach was guilt, Corin’s noose was shame.
I loved the point made that you get out of therapy what you’re willing to put in to it. I would’ve really liked to have read that miscalculations had been renamed at the end in conjunction with Hunter taking responsibility for his actions, but that’s essentially nitpicking.
I liked that some things were left undone at the end. It wouldn’t have worked as well if everything was wrapped up with a pretty bow. Life’s messy and while we’d love to believe in them, Insta-Fixes aren’t as plentiful as we’d like to think.
I felt this one sentence summed up depression better than the DSM-5 could ever hope to:
“If you knew me, you probably wouldn’t like me, either.”
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Inkshares for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
After a life-changing decision, Hunter decides that he can’t go on …
… which lands him in Camp Sunshine, a rehab center for depressed teens. Hunter is determined to keep everyone there out of his head, especially his therapist. But when he meets Corin, a beautiful, mysterious, and confident fellow camper, all Hunter wants to do is open up to her, despite the fact that he’s been warned Corin is bad news.
When Corin devises a plan for them to break out of the camp, Hunter is faced with the ultimate choice — will he run from the traumatic incident he’s tried so hard to escape, or will he learn that his mistakes have landed him right where he’s meant to be?
Sunshine is Forever captures the heartbreaking spirit of The Fault in Our Stars, the humor of Orange is the New Black, and the angst of Catcher in the Rye.
What’s not to love about a book about loving books?! I Love a Book is adorable! This book could singlehandedly grow a new generation of bookworms, introducing them to the portable magic found between pages.
I would have loved reading this as a child and was delighted reading it as an adult. While other adults have coffee table books that make them seem more cultured than they probably are, my coffee table books consist of children’s books and I look forward to adding this one to them.
The words flow so well and the illustrations complement the poetry beautifully. The illustrations are extraordinary! Brightly coloured and detailed, they captured my imagination. Each time I look at a page I see something new. There are stories to be discovered in each of the illustrations. I both want to tell those stories and hear from children the adventures they see taking place on each page.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – MoonDance Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’d happily recommend this book for child and adult bookworms alike.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
This is a celebration of books, reading, and our imaginations, I Wish I Could Write a Book opens with a list of types of books and where to find them. The simple, lyrical prose then becomes more frantic as a young reader encounters pirates sailing the sea, a classroom of monsters “learning math with their paws,” and even an animal doctor making house calls in a helicopter.
With lavish illustrations nearly spilling off the page, the young reader finally makes a startling discovery about his own imagination and creativity. This book is for anyone who loves books and wants to instill this passion in the next generation.
I Give You My Heart is unlike any fairytale I’ve ever read, easy to read yet with so much depth. There’s wisdom to be found in this book and I expect with each reading there would be more to be discovered. I immediately reread this book when I finished it for the first time and gleaned more from it the second time, although I’d be interested to know the author’s ‘story behind the story’ so I could fully understand the layers of this book.
Unlike other fairytales I’ve read I feel like this one needs to sit with me for a while as I don’t feel, even after the second reading, that I’ve grasped the full meaning. I’m not sure at this stage that I’d want to read this book to a child as I don’t think I could answer any of their questions about it to their satisfaction. The illustrations are beautiful and intricate, and some have a slightly haunting feel to them.
I’m not sure if I’d recommend this book or not. I know as a child I would have passed it over and feel as an adult that maybe I’m trying to read too much into its meaning. I’m wondering if children in the Netherlands grow up reading fairytales like this and because I’m from Australia I’m missing something.
Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Yuto receives a special gift. A gift that will change his life. A gift that moves him and brings him comfort, warmth and shelter. A gift for life. A gift to pass on. A poetic fairy tale with valuable life lessons, 56 pages of stunning artwork and magnificent laser cutouts that will enchant you. The story is about a special life-changing gift; I Give You My Heart is an ideal gift itself, one that will change the life of all who read it.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book! Jessica and Alyssa, please write a sequel. Also, if you could possibly start talks with some TV networks to commence work on The Lost Causes Season 1 that’d be awesome.
The Lost Causes shouldn’t have worked so well … but it did. It took on so many themes and genres that it should have read like a book that couldn’t make up its mind what it wanted to be when it grew up … but it worked. Now this isn’t exhaustive by any means but we had murder, conspiracy theories, addiction, child abuse, abandonment issues, trust issues, mystery, humour … yet it was cohesive. How is that even possible?! Did Jessica and Alyssa use the serum on themselves to work this magic, and where can I get some?
I was so conflicted reading this book. I wanted to read slowly because I didn’t want to miss anything yet I wanted to rush through it to see how it wrapped up. I wanted to know who we could trust but the suspense was so much fun I wanted it to last. I wanted to find a character I hated or bored me but it wasn’t to be.
I can’t think of another book where I’ve made it to the end and still haven’t decided who my favourite character was. This book was primarily written in segments focusing on each of the five Lost Causes – Z, Sabrina, Andrew, Justin, and Gabby. Now, this usually annoys me in books because I find it can disrupt the flow and make the book feel disjointed … but it worked here. It started with Z and I immediately bonded with her, partly because of her attitude and partly because she was rocking my hairstyle. I was sure she’d be my favourite character. Then I discovered that my favourite character was constantly changing, depending on who I was reading about at the time. So at this point, I give up. They’re all my favourites!
The banter between the five was realistic and I loved that their growing bond wasn’t all sunshine and roses. They annoyed and didn’t always understand each other, and why should they? They had such diverse personalities. They had no reason to become Insta-friends. Also, I cannot give enough praise for the fact that the teenagers actually spoke like teenagers!
I don’t want to give away any spoilers but suffice it to say that the plot kept me guessing, I wanted to know what happened next with both the plot and the relationships between the characters and I had so much fun reading this book. I even half expected Mulder and Scully to walk in and join the investigation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read this book. In case you missed it the first time, Jessica and Alyssa, please write a sequel!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Misfits. Outcasts. And the only ones who can find a killer.
They’re the last people you’d ask to help with anything, much less a murder investigation. The rich girl, the obsessive, the hypochondriac, the addict and the hot-tempered athlete—people think they’re beyond help. Lost causes. But where the world sees losers, the FBI sees its only hope.
With the help of a dangerous serum, the FBI erases the teens’ past problems and unlocks a psychic ability within each of them. In return, all they have to do is help find the killer who’s turned their small town upside down.
But as they close in on a suspect, they expose a conspiracy that puts them directly in harm’s way and makes them wonder who—if anyone—they can really trust.
If anything happens to them, will anyone even care?
If I had ever wanted to consider taking drugs this book would stop me from trying them. While the images of purple skies and the thought of being able to manipulate what you see and hear during hallucinations sounds intoxicating and inviting, I’d much rather use my imagination to do the same thing minus the side effects.
I found it so hard wanting to continue reading when there wasn’t a single character I liked or cared about. Pen, our protagonist, is one of the most self centred characters I’ve ever come across. Her self esteem is in the toilet (unlike her vomit which invariably ends up wherever she is at the time) and while she gets used by almost every other person in the book it was hard to feel sorry for her as she was in turn using everyone else as well.
Overall I was disappointed by this book. What started out promising turned into a series of descriptions of people getting high and the last quarter of the book felt rushed. I rarely ever work out who the murderer is in books until the big reveal, yet I figured out not only who they were but their motive early on. Hint: it’s the only person in the book with a motive.
The lack of attention to detail really annoyed me, with contradictions consistently made with what we’d already been told, sometimes even as recently as the page before. Also, why is Pen continually surprised that she is hallucinating the day after she takes Fix when it’s already been established early in the book that Fix’s side effects can last for a significant period of time after you stop taking it?
What I wanted to eat while reading this book:
Absolutely nothing! Between the frequent descriptions of Pen wanting to vomit and what her vomit looked like there was no way I was going to eat while reading this book. I guess those descriptions do make a valid point about drug addiction though … no matter how disgusting the side effects, if you’re hooked on a drug they pale in comparison to the need to get high.
I was so excited about this book after reading the blurb and the first couple of chapters but if I’d borrowed it from the library I doubt I would have made it past chapter 4. However, as I’d requested a review copy, I felt I needed to persevere. Thank you to NetGalley and Flux for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Penelope Wryter’s life has been a mess ever since her sister committed suicide a year ago. Now Pen’s hooked on Fix, an illegal drug that makes her feel, think, and see differently. The hallucinations are intense, but there’s one vision that keeps Pen coming back for more – Nate. He’s the only person who cares about her. Too bad he’s just a side effect of the drug. Pen knows she’s going nowhere fast. She’s desperate to change. But when she tries to say goodbye to Nate, he professes his love for her making her more confused than ever. Then, when a girl from school goes missing during a bad Fix trip, Pen realizes she may be in a lot more danger than she ever imagined. Unless Pen straightens up and faces reality quick, she might be the next missing girl on the list.
As soon as I read the blurb for Waste of Space I knew I was in for a fun time and couldn’t wait to start reading. I started smiling within the first few pages and I’m not sure I stopped until after I realised the book was over. Although my smiles at the beginning related to the absurdity of the situation the characters were unwittingly getting themselves into, the last smile was due to the satisfaction that came from imagining the beauty and perfection of that final image.
Reality shows are such guilty pleasures. I’ve felt squeamish during Survivor‘s food challenges, eaten chocolate while watching The Biggest Loser, experienced the horror akin to watching a car crash unfold every time something disgusting is found during a Hoarders episode and revelled in feeling boringly normal each time a new My Strange Addiction unfolds on my TV.
I love that Gina Damico took a satirical spin on reality shows. I’m not usually a fan of books that feature transcripts as I generally find them quite incohesive but was pleasantly surprised with how well my attention was maintained throughout the transitions between transcripts of video footage and phone calls, and the intern’s commentary.
I haven’t read one of Gina Damico’s books before but found her writing to be very visual. With the descriptions of the people, locations and situations I could easily watch mini movies in my mind of all of the action. If The Asylum were to take it on I could see this book being made into a really fun B grade comedy/drama/action movie. I’d definitely watch it!
Waste of Space took me longer to read than I’d expected because I kept stopping to go find someone to read a funny passage to, such as the explanation of what went wrong in the season four finale of Alaskan Sex Igloo. I loved the concepts of the other reality shows described in this book as well, including America’s Next Top Murderer and The Real Housewives of Atlantis. I had to try to suppress a giggle when reading about these because I’m sure if they were real I’d be settling in to binge watch them as we speak.
That said though, beneath all of the fun and some silliness there were some deeper truths to be found about conquering your fears, not judging a person solely by the image they portray on the surface, facing the painful events in your past and the impact they continue to have on you, and the value of trusted friends.
I was intrigued by both Nico and Titania from when I first met them and looked forward to seeing how their characters unfolded throughout the book. Watching their characters interact with their fellow Spaceronauts and each other was entertaining and I liked discovering the defining moments in their pasts that eventually led them on board the Laika. As much as I liked both Nico and Titania, my favourite character ended up being Kaoru, the girl who consistently told it like it was … albeit in Japanese which none of the other Spaceronauts understood.
What I wanted to eat while reading this book:
Bacon (sorry, Colonel Bacon!).
If I were to nitpick:
I was a bit annoyed by some crude scenes that I didn’t think were necessary and added nothing to the plot or character development.
I kept waiting for the disclaimer saying this book was sponsored by IKEA.
What I’ll be doing once I finish writing this review:
Researching Gina Damico’s other books to add to my ever growing to be read pile and working out which one I want to read first.
I know I’m going to want to reread Waste of Space and highlight all of the passages that made me laugh so I can easily find them again when I feel the need to randomly quote them.
Catchphrase forever!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Cram ten hormonal teens into a spaceship and blast off: that’s the premise for the ill-conceived reality show Waste of Space. The kids who are cast know everything about drama—and nothing about the fact that the production is fake. Hidden in a desert warehouse, their spaceship replica is equipped with state-of-the-art special effects dreamed up by the scientists partnering with the shady cable network airing the show. And it’s a hit! Millions of viewers are transfixed. But then, suddenly, all communication is severed. Trapped and paranoid, the kids must figure out what to do when this reality show loses its grip on reality.
Schizanthus Nerd 