Review: Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Sarah

Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway. Bloomsbury, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Face Value: Standard. This cover is totally unexceptional. It looks like it could be almost any generic middle grade fantasy to come out in the past five years. From the color palate to the trees to the mysterious castle in the background and the girl at the center, nothing about this cover strikes me as particularly unique. That said, nothing about this cover is all that bad either. It’s not memorable, but having read the book, it’s also more or less accurate and not unpleasant to look at. But there’s nothing to distinguish it on the shelf, so you’re going to have to take my recommendation that the book itself is much better than average.

Does it Break the Slate? Yes! Delightfully so. First, the obvious – Abby is a great protagonist. She’s brave but also believable, and a loyal friend and a goodhearted person.

But also, the world that Caitlen Rubino-Bradway has created here is decidedly not one where gender precludes power. The most powerful character we encounter is Abby’s older sister Alexa. We interact with a number of women in respected, powerful roles, and it doesn’t seem to be a major part of the story’s conflict. Instead, the major power struggle in this book is, interestingly, skill based – the more magical power you have, the “better” you are, regardless of anything else. However, these skills are not earned – they are something you either have or you don’t. So it still creates its own class system based on whether or not you have magic. It’s interesting to see these power dynamics play themselves out in this particular fictitious world.

Who would we give it to? Easy sell. Middle grade readers who are into Harry Potter and The Lightning Thief but aren’t quite ready for The Hunger Games will be all over this. It reads young  – it won’t have much crossover into older middle school, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I love finding decidedly middle grade novels, that third, fourth and fifth graders will be all over, and that are meant for them. Continue reading →

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Review: Huge by Sasha Paley

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Brianna

Huge by Sasha Paley. Simon & Schuster, 2007. Currently available.

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Face Value: I like the bold statement of the blocked out s’more on the cover. The cover image has a bit of sarcasm, which forecasts the biting tone of much of the characters’ dialogue. This was the cover on the copy that I got from the library. It’s fine, but I like the re-issued cover better…

ABC Family did a television series based on Huge, and this is the book cover that was re-issued to coincide with the series. I love that the model on the cover accurately represents the characters in the book. Remember my complaint about the too-skinny model on the cover of Small Persons with Wings? I am so glad that the same problem does not apply to this updated cover.

Does it break the slate? Sadly, no. Huge has so much promise at the beginning. I was really hoping that Wil and April would defy my expectations – and they did for a while, but both characters take sudden and predictable turns at the end of the story, creating a neatly wrapped up ending that betrays the potential these two female characters show at the beginning of the book. Also, the fatphobia exhibited throughout the book counts severely against it.

Who would we give it to? I would give this book to anyone who watched Huge (the television show) on ABC Family so that they could read it and tell me what they think of the book versus the series. I have heard such good things about the show, and I thought that the book would be great. I have been unsuccessful in finding episodes online, so I cannot compare the two. I want to know if, in this rare case, the TV show is actually better than the book. Readers, are any of you familiar with both the book and the show? What do you think? Continue reading →

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Review: Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Sarah

Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott. Candlewick, 2011. Currently Available.

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling

Face Value: For the most part, I like this cover (top) The girl’s face is identifiably Japanese (sadly, not always a guarantee), and we see her whole face. I love illustrated images, rather than models in cover art. Overall, I think that it’s really pretty, intriguing and accurate. I definitely like it better than the British version (bottom), where Suzume’s face is obscured by generic cherry blossoms.

Does it Break the Slate? Yes! In answer to this, I’d like to quote Zoë Marriott’s bio on the inside flap of the book jacket, talking about why she wrote this particular book:

“I never liked Cinderella as a little girl. She seemed like the worst kind of wimp to me, and I hated the fact that she needed someone else to come along and rescue her. Then one day I was thinking about a completely different idea for a book set in fairy-tale Japan – and suddenly the two story ideas collided, and it occurred to me: What if Cinderella wasn’t a wimp at all? What if she was strong and brave and out for revenge all along?”

With this concept at its heart, it seems inevitable that the book would be Slatebreaking, and it lives up to expectation. Suzume is a strong, dynamic character who is fueled by her desire for both revenge and rightness. While this is certainly not the first badass Cinderella we’ve read about (or even reviewed on this blog recently) this is a character and a story that is breaking all kinds of slates in its own way, not just as an answer to a decidedly un-Slatebreaking traditional story.

Who would we give it to? Well given that this is my second review in as many weeks of a Cinderella adaptation, I think that it’s still fair to say that there’s a widespread audience for fairy tale retellings. Shadows on the Moon is a more subtle adaptation than some of the others’ I’ve read – it really holds up on its own strength of story and character – but the essential Cinderella elements are all there, and fairy tale aficionados will appreciate the cleverness with which the original tale is woven into the story.    Continue reading →

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Review: The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci & Nate Powell

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Brianna

The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci & Nate Powell. Roaring Books Press, 2012. Currently available.

Genre: Graphic Novel Fiction

Face Value: What a spectacular cover. The fierce young Medusa on the cover glares right at you from her perch on the shelf, practically insisting that you must pick up the book and read it. I love that the back cover shows a totally normal everyday scenario – a girl walking into a school – and contradicts the unusual image on the front. It made me even more eager to read it. The book looks like a typical novel because of its hardcover binding, but the cover illustration showcases its dual identity as a graphic novel.

Does it break the slate? This is definitely a Slatebreaking book. Tessa and Lulu are sister characters that embody both the universal and the specific. Their relationship will feel familiar to any sister reading the book, yet the details of their situation are crafted in a way that makes it all feel fresh. As sisters, they have a remarkable bond – but that bond is challenged by the opportunity to blossom into popular young women desired by boys. The girls have to decide which is more important: their desire to be socially viable, or loyalty to a sister. Although Tessa made choices that were not Slatebreaking, she learned from the consequences and steeled herself against the jealousy and competition plague girl culture and female relationships.

Who would we give it to? If this were not a library book and my sister didn’t live far away, I would send it to my sister immediately and ask her to read it. I think that readers who have sisters will get the most out of this book because that sibling relationship is so integral to the story. As for the appropriate age of reader, this book is hard to pin down – it fits somewhere in between the middle grade and young adult categories. The writing and storytelling is sophisticated, but the characters are young, in 8th grade and 10th grade.

Caution – spoilers ahead! Continue reading →

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Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Sarah

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Feiwel & Friends, 2012. Currently Available.

Genre: Science Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling

Face Value: It’s definitely striking. It’s this cover that caught my eye ages ago, and drew me to the book in the first place. I really like how stylized it looks – it looks like sci-fi, the cyborg element is just hidden enough to be eye-catching. I’m not certain how I feel about the glamor element. Yes, of course, I get the shoe thing. It’s Cinderella. It’s a very effective way of demonstrating to the reader some of the elements of the story. But in actuality, Cinder is a mechanic and her feet are uncomfortable. You wouldn’t catch her in a shoe like that.

Does it break the slate? Yes. Partially the slate is broken because of Cinder herself as a character – certainly she takes her life in her own hands (as much as possible) and partially because the book raises complex issues of identity, ownership and humanity regarding the treatment of cyborgs like Cinder.

Who would we give it to? One of my professors in graduate school was fond of telling us (with regards to theatre for young audiences productions), “You can do anything you want, as long as you call it Cinderella.” And to a certain extent he’s right – fairy tale adaptations have their devotees, and Cinderella is the quintessential fairy tale adaptation. This one, with its dystopian vibe and robot element, well, it’s hard to imagine it won’t be popular. I can imagine a ton of kids who would be immediately drawn in by this book. Continue reading →

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Dear America Review: With the Might of Angels by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Sarah

With the Might of Angels: The Diary of Dawnie Rae Johnson, Hadley, Virginia, 1954 by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Scholastic, 2011. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fiction from the Dear America series

Face Value: As Brianna pointed out, these recent reissues of the series still capture a lot of what made the 90s versions of the books feel so special. I don’t like them quite as much, but honestly that’s mostly just my own nostalgia talking. And this really is a pretty cover. Dawnie looks just right, sincere and determined and the buildings in the background capture the world of the story quite well. Also – they now put the author’s name on the book cover, which the earlier incarnations did not. I still sort of love the magic of it feeling like a real diary of a real person, but also they have some big names writing these books, and I’m glad to know who they are upfront.

Does it Break the Slate? Definitely. Like most Dear America heroines, Dawnie Rae Johnson is insightful and engaging. Dawnie is also incredibly brave. She takes a huge risk and faces challenges as a 12 year old that most of us as adults wouldn’t be able to handle. She stands up for herself, her family and believes in her own right to a good education. And Andrea Davis Pinkney also does a great job of writing her as a completely believable kid. I am nothing but inspired by this character, and think others will feel the same.

Who would we give it to? We need more books about this topic. There are some really good nonfiction ones (I read Melba Patillo Beals memoir in 8th grade and remember details from it like I read it last week) and Sharon Draper’s Fire from the Rock is a good fictional account. But I think it’s essential for kids to know about integration, how horrific it was for the kids and families who made it happen and how big of an issue this was not very long ago.  Continue reading →

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Dear America Review: The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Brianna

The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, Seattle, Washington, 1941 by Kirby Larson. Scholastic, 2010. Currently available.

Genre: Historical fiction from the Dear America series

Face Value: This is the first book from the 2010 relaunch of the series. Because the old 1990s covers are so familiar and meaningful to me, I was happy to see Scholastic maintain some of those elements in the updated series. They are still beautiful covers featuring illustrated portraits of the protagonist. The picture of Piper on this book is very realistic, and you can tell that it was created in 2010 to look like something from the 1940s. The images on the older covers were often taken from paintings that were created in the time period about which the book was written. I miss the old portraits, especially because Piper in the portrait looks much older and more mature that the 7th grader we meet at the beginning of the book. I appreciate the background detail in the portrait, hinting that Piper will somehow be involved with the U.S. American incarceration camps that came about after the United States got involved in WWII. The updated covers also feature gold embossing which makes the hardcover books look more like an actual diary. It’s a nice touch.

Does it break the slate? At first, Piper is nowhere near a Slatebreaking character. She is obsessed with a boy and worries more about whether or not she will be allowed to wear lipstick than about the social unrest in her own community and nation. She grows to become a much more self-aware young woman, and she also grows in her understanding of the cultural dynamics at play during the heat of WWII. Although Piper may not take charge in advocating for Japanese American citizens’ rights, the significant changes in Piper’s attitude and behavior demonstrate how a young woman can mature into her social conscience. She is well on her way to becoming a Slatebreaker.

Who would we give it to? Any young reader living on the West Coast should be reading about the internment of Japanese American citizens during WWII. I would pair this book with a nonfiction title about the incarceration camps and encourage kids to read both. Of course, kids all over the US should know about this part of our nation’s history, but I think it is especially important for those children living in regions where the internment camps were located. There was an internment camp in Arizona not far from where I live now, and it made my skin crawl to read about the terrible conditions at the Idaho camp and to think about how awful it would have been in the summer in Arizona. Continue reading →

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Dear America Review: Dreams in the Golden Country by Kathryn Lasky

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Sarah

Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 by Kathryn Lasky. Scholastic Inc, 1998. Currently Available.

Genre: Historical Fiction from the Dear America series

Face Value: The interesting thing about these covers is that they really aren’t all that different from one another. But the design of them overall is so intentional and was so incredibly appealing to me when I was in middle school. From the attached ribbon to the cut pages to the fact that they were never released in paperback, they always felt so incredibly special. I love that this is an actual painting and I love the backdrop of the New York market.

Does it Break the Slate? Totally. Zipporah demonstrates the classic Slatebreaker tendencies of being curious and determined, seeking out and valuing education and being passionate about something she fights to participate in (theatre in this case). And her older sisters provide Slatebreaking mentorship in different but both very important ways.

Who would we give it to? Since we’re reviewing several books from this series this week its interesting to think about who we would recommend specific books to, as opposed to the series in general. Definitely I think that the series at large is terrific for middle grade readers who like historical fiction. They tend to be well written, thoughtfully constructed and compelling narratives that do a great job of capturing vital moments in history from a young woman’s point of view. As for Zipporah’s story in particular – I know it appealed to me as a kid, being a Jewish girl who loved theatre. And based on the demographic of people I went to college with I think I can safely say that represents a reasonably large audience. Continue reading →

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Dear America Review: A Picture of Freedom by Patricia McKissack

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Brianna

A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl by Patricia McKissack. Scholastic, 1997. Currently Available.

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction.

Face Value: The old cover – the one I remember from childhood – has all of the hallmarks of a great Dear America book cover. The portrait on the front is from an old painting.

A Picture of Freedom was one of the original Dear America books re-released with the series update. The new version has a cover that is much less appealing to me. I find that the new portrait of Clotee feels too contemporary. She looks scrubbed clean and fresh when I picture Clotee as someone who is careworn and exhausted, yet still strong. I miss the historical feel of the images pulled from older paintings.

Does it break the slate? Yes, and in one of my favorite ways – a young woman secures her identity and finds a way to change circumstances through literacy. Clotee covertly learns to read and write, and she uses this powerful but dangerous knowledge to aide the people that she loves.

Who would we give it to? Well, we’ve already discussed how this series appeals to girls in early and mid elementary school – especially those with a penchant for historical fiction. Clotee’s story would be a good addition to other readings about slavery and life on Southern plantations. Because this explores slavery from a girl’s perspective, it might be nice to pair it with something like Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Bradley. Clotee’s perspective is a unique one, exploring the differences between the duties of slaves who worked in the house and slaves who worked in the fields. Continue reading →

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Dear Dear America: A Tribute to the Dear America Diaries

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Brianna

As Sarah and I made our summer plans for the Slatebreakers blog, we decided to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with a whole week of posts dedicated to the most patriotic Slatebreaking series we could think of: the Dear America diaries. As children of the 90s, we both grew up reading book after book from this series. We weren’t the only ones, either. The Dear America books were in heavy rotation from the public library and were also a popular choice from the Scholastic book order. There are spinoff series, like the My America series aimed at boy readers, the Royal Diaries, and even series about the history of other nations, including Dear Canada. A few of the books were even made into videos! We tried valiantly to get a copy of one of the filmed stories for review this week, but they’re not easy to find. Also, no one we know has a VHS player. (If you have seen these videos, please comment! We’re dying to know: Are they good?)

As we reminisced, we identified some of the factors that made these books so endearing: Continue reading →

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