Book Review - Murder At Midnight by Avi

Murder At Midnight by Avi


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Fabrizio wants nothing more than to please his master, Magnus the Magician. But everything Fabrizio tries to do seems to be the wrong thing. Until Magnus is arrested by the Primo Magistrato Signor DeLaBina for doing magic. Now it is up to Fabrizio to save his master's life. But who can he trust? Prince Cosimo? Count Scarazoni? Or even King Claudio himself? As the clock on Magnus' life keeps ticking, Fabrizio must decide who is telling the truth and who is the traitor.

This is a "quick read" mystery for young readers who are confident in their reading comprehension. The world of Renaissance Italy is confusing in itself, it seems everyone wore a black robe. Then Avi gives us the added elements of magic, treason, and betrayal to deal with. In trying to keep the reader interested in the intrigue, Avi falls short on developing the characters fully. I did not gain connection to any of the primary characters, while the secondary were mere shadows. The progression of the story also slows somewhat due to trying to remember who is who; who is working for whom; and what they have said - between the prince and the count. While these characters in no way physically resemble each other, they seem to be interchangeable. Each claims to be helping Fabrizio and at some point seems to betray him. I am still not sure if I feel this helps the mystery or hinders it, making it too confusing. I would recommend this for readers ages 10 - 12 because it takes a good comprehension level to follow.

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Book Review - The Frog Scientist by Pamela Turner

The Frog Scientist by Pamela S. Turner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Tyrone Hayes loves frogs. He doesn’t just love frogs, he really loves frogs. He has taken his love for all things green and slimy and turned it into a way to help the declining frog population. Tyrone is a frog scientist. He conducts research as to why, across the whole world, the number of frogs is decreasing. In 1989, it was discovered that all around the globe, frogs were dying at an increased rate. Thankfully that was the same year and Tyrone graduated from Harvard University, and became The Frog Scientist.
I really liked this book. It was informative and interesting at the same time. It is well organized and laid out. The photographs enhance the storyline by adding information. I think the subject matter is one that would interest the middle grade reading levels and is pertinent to today.
I would recommend it to children from grade 4 to adult.

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Random Thoughts

I am taking a bit of a break from reviewing books - to simply reading them. I have around 90 books to read by this fall so may not have time to post reviews. I will try my best to keep up with posting but please don't be too hard on me if I fail.

Book Review - Anything But Typical by Nora Releigh Baskin

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Jason Blake’s life is made up of words and acronyms. The NT’s (Neurotypicals) in his life don’t understand him and find it hard to communicate with him. He is in SPED (special education) because he has ASD (autistic spectrum disorder.) Or possibly NLD (nonverbal learning disorder,) or even PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder – non-specific.) All Jason really knows is that he does not fit into the typical world. He does not look you in the eye when you talk to him; his hands and fingers flap at the end of his wrists; and it seems it is always too noisy around him. The one thing Jason does well is control words – writing stories. When Jason writes he can make sense of his world and be who he is on the inside. His writing attracts the attention of Rebecca, a girl from another town and state who reads his stories on the internet. But when the time comes for him to meet Rebecca, will she be able to see past his outside to find what is inside Jason?
As I read this book all I could think about was whether it would touch children who read it like the author intended. Truthfully, I have to wonder if children – be they tweens or teens - would really enjoy it. I think the subject matter is one they would have hard time understanding or empathizing with. While there are some children who have a fuller understanding of the world, very few would be able to truly comprehend the troubles in Jason's world. And while I enjoyed it, at times I found it a little dry and boring. While on a reading level of 12 yrs. or older, I would recommend it only to adults, especially those who deal with the problem of autism on a regular basis.

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Book Review - Stick by Steve Breen

Stick by Steve Breen


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Stick is about a small frog by the name of Stick. Stick likes to do things himself. Until on day, Stick tries to catch his own lunch. Maybe his eyes are too big for his stomach, because Stick gets carried away - really carried away. He goes over the swamp, through a city and out to the ocean. Now Stick must find his way back.
Stick is a semi-wordless picture book. The illustrations tell much more of the story than the words so this a great book to share with your non-readers. You can make up your own mind what Stick is feeling as he flies through the air stuck to a dragonfly or balloons. The illustrations are beautiful and the expressions on the faces of the people, animals and Stick, as he is taken from one place to another, are delightful. I would recommend this to adults reading to those children who are getting ready to read but not quite there yet. Or for older children who like to make up the story themselves.

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Book Review - Ain't Nothing But a Man" by Scott Reynolds Nelson

Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry by Scott Reynolds Nelson


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Author Scott Reynolds Nelson seeks to find the truth behind the folksong “John Henry”, the story of a contest between John Henry, a strong steel drivin' man, and a steam drill. Was there really a man named John Henry? Did he challenge and beat a steam drill? Nelson takes us step by step through the process that he used to answer these questions and more to find the real John Henry.
I put this book on my "must read" list. John Henry is a icon in American folklore - the symbol of man vs. the machine. No one truly knows who the real John Henry was or even where the legendary contest took place. Many have sought to find this information, and Scott Nelson will not be the last. However, the journey Nelson takes on his historical quest to find John Henry and the meaning behind the song is both entertaining and educational. Did he find the real John Henry? You will have to read the book and draw your own conclusion.

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Book Review - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Calpurnia Tate is smack dab in the middle of six brothers, and the only girl. She loves to float in the river and walk through the woods. When she confesses studying the surrounding flora and fauna to her oldest brother, Harry, he gives her a journal to "write down (her) scientific observations." With this she embarks on a whole new journey into scientific discovery. It isn't too long before Callie Vee finds a fellow naturalist in her grandfather. But this is 1899 Texas, where girls are supposed to cook and sew, boys are supposed to hunt and get dirty, and no one is supposed to look at, let alone read, Darwin's The Origin of the Species. With a little help from her grandfather, Calpurnia enters this forbidden world.
Boys and girls alike will enjoy this book, especially if they love nature and discovery. Adults will enjoy seeing the relationship between Calpurnia and her grandfather grow and blossom through the course of the book. The late 1800's and early 1900's was a time of wonder and discovery, with new inventions happening everyday. The telephone, automobile and even a simple window fan are all exciting and new for the characters in this book. Seen through Calpurnia's eyes, the reader get a taste of the wonder and awe that discovering something new inspires.

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