The Edholm's Adventures
Our life in the Kansas City Kaleidoscope
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Greenwitch by Susan Cooper
Thursday, February 29, 2024
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
There are some authors that never disappoint, Nancy Farmer is one of them for me. I first read her Sea of Trolls and enjoyed her writing style immensely. All of her books are so different and take place in a variety of places around the world. I started this one with just as much anticipation that it would be just as enjoyable as the others I've read and I was not disappointed.
In this future time in our world cloning happens, although it is illegal. The clones that survive are treated like cattle for various reasons and not considered human for there can only be one person on earth with a unique DNA. This story takes place between the border of the United States and Mexico in the land of Opium where that substance rules everyone. The drug lords are kings and others are mere pawns to do according to their wishes. Amid this back drop enters a young boy who will challenge this system while fighting for his own life at the same time. The characters in this book are rich with description and nuance and are multi-dimensional which is why I love Farmer's writings. The subject matter may seem dark and violent, but because it's written for the teen audience it doesn't get too intense.
Recommend: Definitely
Science Fiction, Mexico, Drugs, Teen Fiction.
Monday, February 26, 2024
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Somebody On This Bus Is Going To Be Famous! by J.B. Cheaney
Thursday, January 4, 2024
The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors
This starts out in typical medieval fantasy fashion. Young girl grows up in extreme poverty, disaster strikes and she loses what little she had, nearly dies, is rescued, finds a new found talent and uses it to rescue her people. Even though it's not a fresh idea, the story is pleasant to read. Emmeline is the damsel in distress and Owen is her longed for love. And there is the typical ruthless bad guy (or bad queen in this case) who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
It was an average fantasy story with romance weaved in. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but probably won't pick it up again.
Recommend: Sure.
Young adult fiction, fantasy, magic, evil queen.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Books in 2023
As I looked back and counted up the books I've read in 2023 I was a bit surprised to see the low number of 27, with 6 of them rereads. Of the first time reads here are my top picks:
- Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham
- Eyes of the Forest by April Henry
- 23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Saturday, December 30, 2023
The Skull by Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen is an author/illustrator of children's picture books. His books are unexpected and surprising and just really good. In 2013 he won the Caldecott Medal as the author/illustrator of This is Not My Hat and in 2015 an Caldecott Honor as the illustrator of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett.
Over the holidays I was in a bookstore browsing with my son (an activity I need to do much more often) and saw this book by Klassen. I immediately picked it up added it to my "look for it at my public library list". This book is more of a chapter book format and not so much like a picture book. It is a very quick read, just 103 pages, with not a lot of text on each page. He took this from a Tyrolean Folktale. Tyrol is state in Austria, so it's essentially an Austrian tale. He put his own spin on it and includes in the Author's Note how his story differs from the original tale.
The story left me with lots of questions that I discussed with two of my boys as they read it as well. But I don't believe a good book should give you all the answers, just lead you to imagine and discuss the possibilities.
Recommend: yes please!
Children's fiction, illustrations, runaway girl, skeleton.