Category: Review

Dating Dilemmas #1: The Dating Debate – Chris Cannon

Of course I had to read an actual romance novel during 💔 Achy Breaky Heart Month! 💔. Apologies to Chris Cannon in advance for choosing The Dating Debate. Chris, you may recall that I previously reviewed Boomerang Boyfriend and I’m sorry for any therapy bills you incurred as a result. I remain staunchly anti-romance yet your blurbs keep sucking me in. Excuse me while I continue one of my many arguments debates with Nina and West.

Me: Hold on. Weren’t you just having an anti-Valentine’s Day rant a few pages ago?

Nina: Yeah, but –

Me: Yet now you’re planning to go to the Valentine’s Day dance at your school with the boy next door, who is gorgeous and can speak fluent Harry Potter.

Nina: Uh-huh, but note that I’m not going with the gorgeous boy who doesn’t get Harry Potter at all.

Me: Okay, so I get the book thing but why are all of the guys gorgeous?

Nina: Well, I am one of the main characters in a romance novel.

Me: Hmm… So, West. Are all the girls in this book good looking as well?

West: Well, duh! Nina is cute, obviously. I’ll bet that even spatula makeup girl is a stunner. Romance novel, remember?

Me: Gotcha. So, West, you’re named after a direction. Are you a Kardashian offspring by any chance?

West: I dunno. Let me go ask my mother.

Nina: Whoa! You have a mother?

Me: So, Nina, back to the whole Valentine’s Day dance thing. You don’t like Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day dances and you don’t want to go, yet you’re going with the gorgeous next door neighbour just to be stubborn. Is that right?

Nina: That pretty much sums it up. You want some chocolate?

Me: Obviously! Thanks! [grabs the chocolate and starts munching] Why don’t you just stay at home and read a book on Valentine’s Day? That’s what I’ll be doing.

Nina: Sounds great, but unfortunately as a main character in a romance novel it’s in my contract that my decisions don’t have to make sense and if I stay at home I can’t all of a sudden fall in love with the gorgeous boy next door, then find something to cry over before we decide we’re meant to be together forever due to our mutual love of Harry Potter.

Me: Okaaaay… So, West. Any thoughts?

West: I just hope Nina doesn’t find out my secret. Any chance we can change this from a romance novel to another genre so I can keep my personal business private?

Me: Nope, but I’d love that because I’m sick of watching you two kiss and argue.

West: This is going to end in tears. I just know it.

Me: Yeah, me too, but what can you do. Romance novel, after all. Personally I think the two of you need some therapy to sort out your trust, self esteem and shame issues before you seriously consider dating. I hear Lisa’s mother is a good therapist. Hey, what’s the deal with you two juggling issues beyond your years within your respective families, yet you act like 12 year olds when you’re dating?

West: You’re asking me? I’m just doing what Chris Cannon tells me to do! You’re the one with a choice here! Why are you reading this book when you’re so anti-romance?

Me: Sucked in by Harry Potter, just like you. Chris Cannon found and exploited my weakness – again. [sigh] And she just had to go and include an adorable dog too, didn’t she.

West: Tell me about it! I’m still trying to get dog fur out of my clothes.

Nina: So, you coming to the bookstore tonight with Lisa and I?

Me: Of course! Got any more mini bars of chocolate?

So, Chris Cannon, you sucked me in again. If I can enjoy the non-romance parts of your romance novels then I can certainly understand the appeal for readers who actively seek out that genre. I really enjoy the way you write, despite the genre.

If you ever decide to write a YA book that doesn’t major on romance and holds onto the social issues themes but delves deeper into them, I’ll be front row centre of your cheer squad. Regardless, I’m definitely interested in reading your next book (sorry!).

My Nitpicking: Without giving anything away I think there was more to one person’s mental health diagnosis than what was revealed in the book and would have loved for this to have been dealt with further as they were an interesting character. Unfortunately they came across as though the wheel was spinning but the hamster was dead and I think they were actually a lot smarter than they seemed.

My Nitpicking – The Sequel: Some of the characters without much page time came across as fairly two-dimensional. However, with the length of the book and the issues raised in it, there probably wasn’t enough room to add another dimension to these characters. Their contribution wasn’t pivotal to the story anyway.

Favourite Sentence Snippet:

“then he kissed me again, a slow, deep kiss that scrambled what was left of my brain.”

Vindicated! Kissing in romance novels does cause brain damage in characters!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Teen Crush, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Nina Barnes thinks Valentine’s Day should be optional. That way single people like her wouldn’t be subjected to kissy Cupids all over the place. That is, until her mom moves them next door to the brooding hottie of Greenbrier High, West Smith. He’s funny, looks amazing in a black leather jacket, and he’s fluent in Harry Potter, but she’s not sure he’s boyfriend material. 

West isn’t sure what to make of Nina. She’s cute and loves to read as much as he does, but she seems to need to debate everything and she has a pathological insistence on telling the truth. And West doesn’t exactly know how to handle that, since his entire life is a carefully constructed secret. Dating the girl next door could be a ton of fun, but only if Nina never finds out the truth about his home life. It’s one secret that could bring them together or rip them apart. 

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is not for anyone who has to get in the last word, but it is for all book nerds, especially those who live next door to so called unapproachable gorgeous guys. There’s no debating the chemistry.

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I Love You More Than the Smell of Swamp Gas – Kevan Atteberry

Welcome to 💔 Achy Breaky Heart Month! 💔

I’m kicking off my love inspired bookfest with this fun Kevan Atteberry book for quirky adults and their kidlets, who are going to be quirky too, like it or not! 🤪 If I was the type of person to get all gooey over Valentine’s Day, this is the book I’d want my Valentine to buy me.

Papa monster and junior monster are chasing a skink through the stinky swamp under the gaze of a full moon. The young monster sees Papa enjoying himself so much and wonders if Papa loves him as much as the purple-horned skunk, the ghost bats and other wonderful creatures and creepy crawlies that they encounter along the way. Papa’s answer is always an enthusiastic ‘yes!’, and that he loves him more.

This is so much fun to read aloud, with rhymes of the “bubbling slime” and “thick gooey grime” variety, a perfect bedtime story with laughs and reminders of how big a parent’s love is for their child. If I had a kidlet I’d be making up my own “I love you mores” to accompany this book and would use it to increase the silly in our home. However a calming story may be needed after this one if you expect your child to go to sleep because this one has the potential to increase both excitement and decibels.

I really enjoyed the illustrations, with some left of centre takes on familiar animals. My personal favourites were the purple bloodsucking ducks with green wings, fangs and kind of dopey expressions.

I was also very partial to the spider parade, all of whom also had fangs. My favourite headstone was the one for Edgar Allen Potato. 😃

I smiled my way through this book and would happily do so over and over … and over …

P.S. It may be a small bookfest because I’m allergic to romance. 🤮

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Little monster wonders: Does Papa love the swamp more than he loves his little monster?

Papa and little monster are on a skink chase in a dark, stinky swamp. 

Do you love me as much as the skink that you chase … or the smell of the swamp … or the beasts in this place? 

From the author-illustrator of Bunnies!!! and Puddles!!!, as well as the illustrator of Tickle Monster, Kevan Atteberry, comes a monstrously tender and silly tale guaranteed to elicit lots of giggles and monster hugs. 

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Silver Hair – Lorraine Massey & Michele Bender

Besides the celebrities that are now dying their hair grey silver (why!) there are plenty of examples of those letting nature takes its course, and they look stunning. Exhibit A: Jamie Lee Curtis. With an Exhibit A that’s so gorgeous we don’t really need an Exhibit B.

If you’re sick of the hair dye merry-go-round, especially those with dark hair whose roots show almost as soon as you dry your newly coloured hair, Silver Hair is a useful book to help you take the plunge. While I understand that it’s only hair, it is a surprisingly scary thing to contemplate what you’ll look like if you step away from that little bottle of dye.

With plenty of photos of celebs and the woman next door either letting their silver shine or showing the multi-coloured transitional phases, this book shows that you can actually look good while your hair is mid grow out and gorgeous with silver.

Besides the beautiful photos there is also plenty of information. Silver Hair dispels myths, addresses common concerns, provides advice on managing the partly grown out look and mindset that goes with it, prepares you for the compliments (yes, you read that correctly), and there are plenty of stories of ordinary women who have ditched the dye.

You’ll also learn tips and tricks for managing and caring for silver hair, along with some recipes for homemade hair care products. Other than focusing specifically on your hair you’ll learn clothing, makeup and accessorising tips that will enhance your new look.

My Nitpick: Okay, so maybe that’s not the right term to be using for a book about hair. 🤨 Anyway, while I loved the different ages represented in the women in this book I was disappointed that in just over 200 pages there was only one man included.

So, what did I do? Between requesting to read this book and actually reading it I went from waist length coloured hair (sometimes chocolate brown, sometimes purple with a rainbow of extensions) to a buzz cut. My poor hairdresser, who was literally the girl next door growing up, was suitably traumatised but, after asking several hundred times if I was really sure, went for it and I love it.

I’ve got occipital neuralgia so mine was partly a medical decision but I can hand on heart tell you that it’s the most liberating thing I’ve ever done. Do I get some funny looks out in public? You bet. Do I care? Nope! That was a surprising but welcome side effect – while Samson’s strength was in his hair, apparently my tendency to people please was in mine.

Now if my hair is longer than my eyelashes I’m ready for it to get buzzed. I’ve saved time, money and plenty of care factor for the true priorities in my life, A.K.A books, and my only regret is that I didn’t take the plunge years ago.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Whether you’re naturally graying, weaning yourself off the dye, or coveting the chic #grannyhair trend, your hair will shine with this empowering guide.

Here are step-by-step tips on letting nature take its course – or using lowlights, highlights, blending, and toning to transition with minimal drama (and avoid a skunk line). Tips on haircuts, tricks for the best care (conditioning is crucial). Products, including the DIY variety. Plus, the most flattering clothing and makeup to accentuate any shade of gray. With unique treatments and techniques from hair guru Lorraine Massey, Silver Hair is a call for celebrating and enhancing your natural radiance, with thrilling results.

Welcome to the inspiring guide for every woman who’s ready to find her true colors. Written by the authors of the national bestseller Curly Girl, here is everything you need to know, from going gray stylishly to living silver gorgeously, including Silver Lining Stories and before-and-after photos of real women. Going silver is not just about a certain look, or saving time and money at the stylist – it’s about fulfilling a deeper desire for authenticity, empowerment, and the freedom to be oneself at any age. So let’s get started.

Featuring:

  • The many perks of naturally silver hair
  • Style and beauty to play up the silver
  • Toners and color blending
  • Avoiding the skunk line
  • Hair care routines
  • DIY recipes, including Lavender and Verbena Herbal Hair Tonic
  • Face-framing silver streaks.
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The Way I Feel – Janan Cain

This book has all the feels! Well, a lot of them anyway. If I had a kidlet this is the book I’d be choosing to explore feelings with them to help them distinguish one from another. 

I love that there’s no judgement about having a specific feeling and that no feeling is labelled either good or bad. Taking us on a poetic journey through silly, scared, disappointed, happy, sad, angry, thankful, frustrated, shy, bored, excited, jealous and proud, Janan Cain has created a wonderful tool to help kidlets to be able to identify their own and others’ feelings. 

Janan’s illustrations really exemplify what each feeling can look like. From the colours used in the scene to the expressions on the kid’s faces and the font used to name the feeling, along with the scene itself, each illustration captures the feeling brilliantly. 

I think my favourite illustration is the excited one. You can see the person “bouncing like a rubber ball”, with starbursts where they’ve landed. The colours are bright and the excited word with its multicoloured letters and funky squiggles looks like it too wants to jump off the page. Maybe I like this one because I’m well known for my jumping up and down excited moments, but it’s a fun feeling and like all of the other illustrations it’s gorgeous.

There’s even a page for parents at the end of the book to help guide discussions with their child about their feelings.

I found this book at my local library (yay libraries!). I’m definitely going to make a point of telling my librarians how cool this book is.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids need words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name all things in their world. The Way I Feel uses strong, colourful and expressive images which go along with simple verses to help children connect the word and the emotion. Your child will learn useful words, and you will have many chances to open conversations about what’s going on in her/his life.

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Rapture – Matt Kindt

Illustrations – CAFU

The artwork in Rapture is brilliant! The people, creatures and landscapes really come alive. Not realising there are a swath of comics related to the characters in the Valiant world, I came into this one completely unprepared, basing my interest solely on the cover image.

I was thankful for the page that gave a bit of a heads up on who’s who in the zoo but knowing nothing else about the characters or the world I felt I missed out on a lot. The story was interesting, there’s plenty of action and the illustrations were incredible, but I didn’t connect to any of the characters so I wouldn’t recommend coming into this world via this graphic novel. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Valiant Entertainment and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

On a scarred landscape, two otherworldly armies prepare to battle one last time, vying for control of a massive tower named from an ancient language no longer permitted to be spoken. One army is led by a primeval force named Babel, whose goal is singular: to breach “Heaven” no matter the cost. The only thing standing in his way is a gray-haired barbaric warrior, filled with rage and regret, a man who sees this battle as his last chance for redemption. But he knows his depleted forces have little chance of victory unless aid comes.

Enter Tama: A 12-year old girl on the crest of a hill overlooking the battle, who has just become humanity’s only hope. The last in an ancient line of mystics who protect the Earth, she has foreseen this battle and knows millions will perish if she’s unable to stop it. Now Tama and her ragtag team of malcontents – Ninjak, Shadowman and Punk Mambo – must somehow defeat an elder god hell bent on piercing the heavens. New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O Manowar) and artistic sensation CAFU (Rai) lead a Tolkien-esque journey into the space between life and death … through the Deadside … and into the many worlds that lie beyond right here with a spellbinding and horrific standalone volume! Collecting RAPTURE #1-4.

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Quark’s Academy – Catherine Pelosi

Augustine, Celeste and Oscar have all been accepted to spend a week at the prestigious Quark Academy during the summer holidays. During this week they will be taught by Inventors and work on their own invention. On the final day the children will present their completed invention during a nationally televised Best Invention Competition.

Augustine, whose parents are both scientists, is interested in the weather. Celeste’s interest is in black holes and she has unfinished business with another competitor. Oscar loves science, in particular chemistry, and wants nothing more than for his parents to notice him like they do with his ‘golden child’ big brother, Toby.

The students soon learn that there’s more to Quark Academy than meets the eye and they’re going to have to use their combined skills to solve the mystery and return home at the end of the week.

I loved the ideas during the first half, in particular the extracting DNA from two animals, people or plants with the view to cross-modifying them. The different responses by the various students to the task was really interesting as it gave insight into their personalities. I also appreciated the ethical issues raised surrounding science and inventions – just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.

Unfortunately I found the second half of the book, when all of the action was happening and the unravelling of the mystery, somewhat disappointing. I found myself wanting more quirky science ideas and I wanted to see more of the students working on their inventions. I didn’t have any emotional connection to the characters, the final third felt a little disjointed and the end wrapped up too quickly and neatly for my liking.

Overall this book had potential and I expect the target audience (8 to 12 year olds) will enjoy the fun and the mystery, but as an adult reader that reads a lot of novels aimed at children I wanted more focus on relationship between the students, in particular the other twelve students who for the most part have no role in the book.

I had trouble stopping myself from comparing this book to Jackie Yeager’s Spin the Golden Light Bulb, which I read a few weeks ago and adored. Perhaps if I had read Quark’s Academy first I would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Hachette Childrens Books, Australia for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

SCIENCE IN PROGRESS – ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Junior science geniuses Augustine, Celeste and Oscar can’t believe their luck when they’re accepted into an elite and mysterious science academy summer camp run by the elusive Inventor Quark.

From the moment they step inside the gates of Quark’s Academy at the end of Molecule Drive, they know they’re in for a week they’ll never forget. But things at the academy are not quite what they seem, and the three quickly realise that they’ll need to put their squabbles aside and their heads together if they’re ever to get out of there alive …

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Little People, Big Dreams #10: Ada Lovelace – MÂŞ Isabel SĂĄnchez Vegara

Illustrations – Zafouko Yamamoto

Whatever device you’re reading this review on, you have Ada Lovelace to thank for it. The child of poet Lord Byron and Lady Byron, Ada had big dreams. Although her mother tried to dissuade Ada from her passion of inventing and replace it with her own love of mathematics and logic, Ada was able to combine her mathematical talent with her dream.

She was introduced to Charles Babbage who was working on a machine that could solve maths equations quicker than people could. Ada thought she could make the machine do even more impressive things and so she worked on a code that would tell machines what to do, a code we still use today.

To say Ada was a visionary is an understatement. She became the world’s first computer programmer a century before computers were even invented!

Despite obstacles including illness and simply being a woman in the 1800’s, Ada proved that with determination and hard work, she could achieve greatness in her field. She was so ahead of her time that her work went largely unnoticed and unappreciated during her life, yet her contributions are vital to our everyday lives over 150 years after her death.

If Ada has something to teach us besides girl power, it’s that you should follow your dreams and not allow anyone to squish them.

This is only the second book I’ve read in the Little People, Big Dreams series. There’s enough information in them for kids to learn about the basics of the person they’re reading about’s life and their contributions to our society but not so much that they’re bogged down with dates and boring bits.

The illustrations are interesting and have a childlike quality to them but I would have preferred there to be more bright colours and for the peoples’ faces to be more expressive.

While I would have used books like this one for school projects, it wouldn’t have been the type of book I would have chosen at the library to read for fun. I was all about Roald Dahl with his wacky and whimsy worlds and cared little for non fiction, but that’s just me. I definitely appreciate this type of book now and can see how it would have inspired me to want to follow my dreams had I read it as a child.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Meet Ada Lovelace, the British mathematician and daughter of poet Lord Byron. Part of the beloved Little People, Big Dreams series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the colorful life of Lord Byron’s daughter, from her early love of logic, to her plans for the world’s first computer program. 

As a child, Ada had a big imagination and a talent for mathematics. She grew up in a noble household in England, where she dedicated herself to studying. Her work with the famous inventor, Charles Babbage, on a very early kind of computer made her the world’s first computer programmer. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical images and a detailed profile of the mathematician’s life.

Little People, Big Dreams is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

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Grug and His Kite – Ted Prior

🎵 “Let’s go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let’s go fly a kite

And send it soaring” 🎵

Now that I’ve successfully transferred the Mary Poppins song that’s been playing on repeat in my head ever since I first saw this book (you’re welcome!), I’ll tell you what I think about Grug and His Kite.

I loved it!!! I bet that was a surprise since I love all Grug books!

I was disappointed that Cara didn’t make an appearance in this one as I would have loved to have seen her expression when Grug and his kite become airborne and do some pretty impressive aerial acrobatics. The eagle was well drawn but spent the book looking kind of cranky. I suppose sharing the sky with a kite that looks like Grug may have been slightly outside of its usual routine, but with Grug around you never know what’s going to happen! While it’s not my favourite Grug book, it’s still awfully cute and fun to read.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Startle the birds and touch the sky with Grug! 

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Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide – Jane Mersky Leder

Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide doesn’t talk down to its audience; instead speaking to teens in a down to earth way. You would imagine that a book with a focus on teen suicide would be all doom and gloom, but that’s not what this book is at all. Letting teens know that it’s brave to seek help when they need it and providing tools for people at risk of suicide along with their friends, Dead Serious provides understanding and hope.

It dispels the myths surrounding suicide, provides information about some of the issues teens face that may lead them to become suicidal, offers plenty of tools to use and hotlines to contact, and empowers teens. Information is also provided so you can recognise warning signs in other people that may indicate they are considering or planning suicide.

Sections focus on some of the experiences people have that increase the risk of suicide, including anxiety and depression, loss through death or divorce, bullying, being LGBTQIA, abuse and homelessness. There’s also strategies outlined that teens can use to help their friends talk about what’s bothering them, including using mirroring in conversations.

Usually it’s friends that first find out that a teen is suicidal, not adults, so it’s vital that teens know what they can do if they learn a friend is feeling like that. Thankfully this book emphasises that it is not the responsibility of a friend to keep their friend alive or to keep this information a secret, but to inform a trusted adult who can seek help for the friend who needs it.

While reading about people who have considered, attempted or died as a result of suicide is always going to be heart wrenching and confronting, the stories are not gratuitous. They’re provided as examples and I expect they would be powerful to read for someone who is considering suicide as there’s often nothing more comforting than learning you’re not the only one who feels a certain way or has experienced specific problems.

I loved that there were song lyrics between chapters. Songs have had such a huge impact in my own life. There are some songs that make you feel like someone understands you and you can hold onto them when life gets rough. I thought they were a great addition to the book.

Stories are also shared by people who are left behind after a friend or family member has died from suicide. These are vital as when you’re suicidal it is very easy to believe that by you dying it will make everyone else’s life easier or that no one will care that you’re gone anyway. The experiences shared by those left behind make it clear that nothing could be further from the truth.

What I Didn’t Like

The Cover Design – Sorry, but I didn’t like it. I know this is only cosmetic and I know suicide is an extremely serious topic but the cover looks bleak, depressing and uninviting. By looking exclusively at the cover design I wouldn’t have expected this book to offer the hope that it does.

In the chapter on bullying the author concedes that bullying is a risk factor that increases the chance of suicide but also includes the following sentence:

“However, what the experts don’t know is whether bullying directly causes suicide or suicidal behaviour.” (64% – please note this quote is from the ARC so may not be representative of the final text)

I found this sentence offensive (just because the experts haven’t decided something doesn’t make it any less true) and I’m sure parents who have lost their children to suicide after they were tormented by bullies would have some things to say to counter this claim. In Australia there has recently been a highly publicised story of a gorgeous 14 year old, Amy “Dolly” Everett, who died on 3 January 2018 after relentless bullying. I thought of Dolly’s family when I read that sentence and am sure they’d beg to differ with the ‘experts’.

Overall, I feel this is an extremely valuable book. One of my early childhood friends died by suicide in her early 20’s and I still think of her and her family. Even though I hadn’t been close friends with her since we were about 10 and hadn’t seen her after we attended different high schools, I still wonder if there was anything I could have personally done to make a difference in her life in the lead up to her death. I can’t even begin to imagine what those close to her must still be feeling all of these years later.

I applaud the author and the people who contributed to this book, and thank them for their openness, courage and honesty about their experiences. I believe their words will make the difference to people who are thinking of suicide and those supporting them.

It’s so hard to see around corners when you’re a teenager but please take it from someone who attempted suicide when they were a teenager. There are so many wonderful things I would have missed out on that I couldn’t have even begun to imagine at the time if I had died back when I thought my life was over. There is hope and there is good to be found in this life, even if all you’ve known until now is pain.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pikko’s House for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Are you under a lot of stress? Feeling too much pressure to get good grades? Trying to avoid social media because you’re being bullied? Grappling with your sexual/gender identity? Feeling depressed – even suicidal?

What are the reasons why teens decide to take their own lives? What can be done to stop them? Through stories, studies and strategies, Dead Serious helps teens, parents and educators navigate the choppy waters of adolescence and provides tools that can help break the cycle of teen suicide. 

Teen suicide is preventable. 

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Zita the Spacegirl – Ben Hatke

Why have I never heard of this series before?! Have I been hiding under a meteoroid? This was so much fun!!!

When Zita and her friend Joseph find a hole in the earth that wasn’t there before, they have to check it out. There’s a meteoroid with something inside it. Something that has a red button. Of course Zita is going to press it! A portal appears and something grabs Joseph and pulls him through. After some mild freaking out Zita follows him through the portal into another world with a multitude of alien species. Or perhaps she’s the alien?

Zita witnesses Joseph being kidnapped and is determined to find him and return them both to Earth. Along the way she meets new friends including One, Mouse, Strong-Strong and Randy. Together they journey against the clock to find and save Joseph, for there’s a countdown happening in this world. There’s only three days left before an asteroid will destroy it!

This is one of those graphic novels that has few words but is big in story and scale. The illustrations of all of the new creatures Zita comes across are generally either cute, amusing or downright creepy. I love a ‘girl on an epic quest’ story and this one is action packed. I smiled throughout the story and can’t wait for the next instalment.

All of the copies at my local library are on loan so I have to wait to find out what happens next! I’ll do my best to not read any reviews of Legends of Zita the Spacegirl because I want to go into it the same way I did with this one – loving the cover and knowing nothing at all about the story.

Reread 18 May 2018

Here we are almost 4 months after I first adored this graphic novel and I still haven’t read Legends of Zita the Spacegirl. What’s wrong with me?! (Please don’t answer that!) The bright side is that I decided to reread this one so I remembered where I left Zita and her friends.

I had so much fun during my reread. I appreciated and paid more attention to the details this time around, including the wonderful expressions on Zita’s face throughout the story. I loved her wide eyed OMG, the button worked! expression

and giggled at the “BLRG!” horror of raising herself from the ground covered in giant snail slime.

Character wise, I had completely forgotten about dopey Jerry who joyfully declares the good news that “In three days an asteroid is gonna explode us all!” to attempt to fix Zita’s leaking eyes. The monster wearing the “The End is Nigh” sandwich board is wonderful. I adore all of the monsters featured with the chapter number signs although I’m quite partial to chapter two’s sod on legs with leaves on its back and bugs hanging out with it. I think I need a plush Strong-Strong to cuddle.

The illustrations are as engaging as they were when I first saw them. What surprised me during this read was how quickly I connected with each newly introduced character. Within a couple of panels I was all in, which is pretty impressive considering that there are entire novels where the author doesn’t manage to connect me to a single character. Overall I think I enjoyed the story even more the second time and would happily read it again.

Favourite Invention – Doorpaste, which would be useful in countless Looney Tunes cartoons.

Favourite Line –

“My favourite food from the meat category is sugar.”

(from the Early Zita Sketches page, not the story)

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Zita’s life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of an eye.

When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.

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