Book Review: Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider by Sara Latta, Jeff Weigel

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider is an informative graphic novel written by Sara Latta and illustrated by Jeff Weigel.Nick and Sophie, two cousins, are about to visit CERN for a tour of the mysteries of the cosmos. Sophie's a physics wiz. Nick, not so much. But by the time they're through, Nick and Sophie will both feel the power of hidden particles, fundamental forces, dark matter, and more. Ideas that are explored hinge on the question "What is the universe made of?" At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, scientists have searched for answers to this question using the largest machine in the world: the Large Hadron Collider. It speeds up tiny particles, then smashes them together, and the collision gives researchers a look at the building blocks of the universe. Our two characters explain and explore together.

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider started off a little weak for me, because not everyone has a teen cousin with access to the Hadron Collider- or do they and I have just been missing out? Once I got past that little issue I was left trying to understand the science that Sophie is trying to explain to Nick. It starts off fairly simple, with ideas in physics that I already had a decent grasp on, but it progressed to ideas that I had to read a couple times to really feel like I had a grasp on. I think the graphic novel does a good job of introducing and explaining the information, and readers that are already enamored of science will greatly enjoy the read. I think it would be a wonderful resource for high school and even college courses that are covering these ideas, as a refresher or additional resources. I do think that it tries a little too hard to be cool, however those interested in the subject matter will be able to look past that, but it will make it less enjoyable for those reading the graphic novel for coursework of under and kind of duress (like teacher or parent suggestions).

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider is an interesting and informative read. I think young readers that have some interest in science, and physics in particular, will enjoy it the most.

Book Review: Lunarbaboon: The Daily Life of Parenthood by Christopher Grady

Lunarbaboon: The Daily Life of Parenthood is a collection of comics from  Christopher Grady that explores the daily family life with Lunarbaboon. The comics show life's everyday parenting moments from the perspective of a 30-something dad together with the laid back Mom, wild child Moishe, baby Matilda, and their cat.  Moods of the art range from the hilarious (defeating closet monsters with a “stun” blaster that offers surprising facts about bears, Mars, and cats) to the sweet (the gray scale-to color transition out of depression at the touch of a loved one).

Lunarbaboon: The Daily Life of Parenthood is a collection that hit all the right notes with me. I love the online version of this comic, and found the collection to be just as enjoyable, even though I had seen some of them before. I like that Grady includes the funny and enjoyable moments of parenthood along side the sad, frustrating, and sweet moments. The honest and slightly jaded look at life is one I can relate to, and lose myself in. I enjoy the perspective and the combination of humor and more serious emotions. I think that parents from a variety of backgrounds and situations will see something that reflects the daily moments in their lives. The only downfall is that I had seen some of the comics before, my only change would be for more new art, but I am sure that more will come our way in time. 

Early Book Review: Minnie and Max are OK!: A Story to Help Children Develop a Positive Body Image by Chris Calland, Nicky Hutchinson, Emmi Smid

Minnie and Max are OK!: A Story to Help Children Develop a Positive Body Image by Chris Calland, Nicky Hutchinson, Emmi Smid is a children's book that is currently scheduled for release on May 18 2017. Minnie has had a bad day at school. Some children made fun of her looks, and she wishes she was more like them. Max, Minnie's dog, wishes he looked different too. And he doesn't understand why Grandma doesn't like his singing! When Grandma sees that Minnie and Max aren't OK, she takes them to the park. There, they see lots of children and dogs - all with different shapes, sizes, colors and special traits. If they all looked the same, would it be better or worse?

Minnie and Max are OK! is a charming read for children dealing with any self esteem issues. While the official blurb for the book focuses on body image, I think any child that feels like they are different- via physical, emotional, economical, or any difference really- can benefit from the book. I think readers that might join in on mocking or commenting negatively on others might also benefit from the read, since it would help them understand how hurtful their words and actions can be. This would be a good book to share with preschool and early elementary school students- either through class  or one on one reading. It would be a great discussion starter on diversity, kindness, and bullying. Best of all there are questions for parents or other adults to share with children to further enhance the lessons of the story.

Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a middle grade novel by Kelly Barnhill. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is an interesting story, and I liked the overall story. The growth of some characters, and the changing perspectives made the story quick paced, although it might be confusing for some. I think the stories in italics might be the most confusing for some readers, but if they stick it out until the end those stories and changing perspectives give the readers a much more comprehensive understanding of the story and individual characters than they might have otherwise. I really liked the reversal of 'good' and 'bad' characters- where those in opower and acting as the good guys are so much different than they seemed, and the same holds true for those characters initally believe to be dangerous. I enjoyed the character and world development and think that the book was well written and an enjoyable read. My biggest issue with the story is that while it focuses on Luna and how she effects the world, we get much more information about her from others than from her. I would have liked more of the story to come from her perspective, however I still greatly enjoyed the read. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a solid fantasy. I think many middle grade readers will enjoy the read, and it might even make the reread pile for some. 

Book Review: The Sound of the World By Heart by Giacomo Bevilacqua

The Sound of the World By Heart by Giacomo Bevilacqua is a illustrated journey originally published in Italian, and recently translated to English. An experiment in social isolation turns into a journey of self-discovery as a photojournalist commits to chronicle 60 days in New York city without talking to a single person. More than just an exercise in observation and self-control, he's hoping to forget a troubled past and mend a broken heart. But the city has a sneaky way of throwing the best laid plans and noble efforts to waste revealing secrets that lie right in front of him. All he has to do is open his eyes.

The Sound of the World By Heart is a visually stunning graphic novel that starts with a simple idea. I found that the artwork and the intent made the book a much more emotionally engaging book than I expected, although it did verge on pretentious. Samuel Page is our main character, and I will admit that I found the text hard to read on occasion, but I think that was a combination of font and my digital copy rather than something that will be an issue in a paper copy. I loved this look at contemporary New York City- and think that the visual really saved the book when the narration begins to meander a bit. I thought the love story and emotional journey was interesting, but I think the book wanted to be more philosophical that I was interested in reading, and that diminished my enjoyment a little. 

The Sound of the World By Heart is a beautiful graphic novel, with a good intent but a tendency to veer off toward pretentious. However, it is worth looking through for the artwork alone. 

Book Review: Little Professor and his Robot Factory by Marianne Parry

Little Professor and his Robot Factory by Marianne Parry is a children's book including three stories following the adventures of three of Little Professor’s robots and their little helper friend Scooper Man. The stories are; Magnet Man: Soon after being created, Magnet Man decided to explore the world outside the factory, but his magnetic properties soon find him attracting a metal sign, a gate, a drainpipe and a car. These give him the appearance of a fearsome monster, which sends the local people scuttling inside their homes. Then there is Electric Man: Magnet Man’s friend, Electric Man can do sums very quickly and is soon put to use in the local school, helping a class teacher. He uses funny voices to make the lessons fun, but when the teacher is away, the children misbehave and he has to teach them a different sort of lesson. And finally Light Man: The third of the best friends, Light Man envies their adventures out of the factory but is soon to have one of his own. When that comes to an end, he involves all three plus Scooper Man in a street party with the now delighted local people.

Little Professor and his Robot Factory was a struggle for me. While I love all things science, silly, and robotic I just could not get into this book. While there were some fun aspects and some educational aspects neither really grabbed me. I wanted to love it- I expected to love it. However, I picked it up four or five times and never really felt engaged with the story. I think the ratio of text to pictures was off for the beginning reader target audience, either that or the scientific information and themes were geared too young for the readers that would be more comfortable with the amount of text. I want more science, more pictures, and much more fun to make this a better read. 

Book Review: Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) by Greg Rucka; Liam Sharp

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) is written Greg Rucka, with artwork by Liam Sharp,  Paulo Siqueira, and Matthew Clark. After suffering an unimaginable loss, Diana must rebuild her mission as Earth's ultimate protector and champion. However, in the midst of her grief, her Lasso of Truth stopped working! Start down the rabbit hole as dark secrets from Wonder Woman's past unravel her present!

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies takes Diana and readers on a journey of discovery. The various origin stories and timelines of Wonder Woman are explored as she tries to figure out what is real and what is not. I will admit that I have not read or follow Wonder Woman over the years, so I know the basics of the original origin story, but I was not aware of all the variations that had been used. I liked seeing some of the things I did know crop up, and characters I know from one place or another play their part. The art work was extremely well done, with details and lines that really made the read worth it. As a whole I found it well done and entertaining, but with my lack of knowledge of the universe here I am not sure that I will stick with it.  

Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Lies (Rebirth) offers a fresh look at Wonder Woman, and offers just what the title promises, a rebirth for our heroine. Well worth the read for fans, but readers like me without background knowledge might not enjoy it as much. 

Book Review: Lady Mechanika (Volume 1) by Joe Benitez

Lady Mechanika (Volume 1) by Joe Benitez is a graphic novel that collects the entire first Lady Mechanika mini-series The Mystery of the Mechanical Corpse (originally published as Lady Mechanika #1-5), including its prequel chapter The Demon of Satan’s Alley (originally published as Lady Mechanika #0), plus a complete cover art gallery.

In a Victorian world filled with flying dirigibles, clockwork automatons, and elegantly fashionable attire, a young woman with mechanical limbs and no memory of how she got them searches desperately for the secrets to her past. The tabloids dubbed her "Lady Mechanika," the sole survivor of a mad scientist's horrific experiments which left her with mechanical limbs. Having no memory of her captivity or her former life, Lady Mechanika eventually built a new life for herself as an adventurer and private investigator, using her unique abilities to solve cases the proper authorities couldn't or wouldn't handle. This book chronicles a young woman's obsessive search for her identity as she investigates other mysteries involving science and the supernatural. 

Lady Mechanika is an exciting story, with stunning artwork. I think I enjoyed the artwork, despite the constant need to make female characters well endowed without the physical limitations this creates in realist, more than the actual story. I did like the characters and the steampunk setting. All were well developed and maintained- with the text matching the art style and time period, which was nice. I liked that the text was fairly easy to read, even on the digital galley I had. However, I did find pits of the story to be a little expected, but that could because of the sheer volume of fantasy and steampunk style books and graphic novels I have read. For instance, the amnesia trope has been done, and perhaps over done in my opinion. This does not mean that the book is bad, far from it. The art is stunning and the story well written. I was just hoping for more, particularly with Mechanika's character. She was good, but I really was hoping for her to be even better.

Lady Mechanika is a story that is entertaining both visually and through the storyline. While not perfectly unique, or my favorite graphic novel of the year, it is still an enjoyable read that is worth a look.

Early Book Review: Princess Lila Builds a Tower By Anne Paradis

Princess Lila Builds a Tower is a picture book by Anne Paradis that is currently scheduled for release on May 16 2017. Princess Lila lives in a beautiful castle and has everything she could ever desire—well, almost. She yearns to venture beyond the forest, explore her country and meet people her own age. But the forest is off limits. Resourceful and ingenious, Princess Lila sets to work building a tower to catch a glimpse of the forbidden land. Thus begins a thrilling adventure: she becomes the manager of a vast construction project involving an impressive number of materials, obstacles and solutions. At last, with the help of the castle’s staff, she constructs a tower that extends above the trees. After the plucky princess takes matter into her own hands, will she find what she was looking for?

Princess Lila Builds a Tower is a great story for any child that is tired of the limits imposed on them. Lila is a princess that is bored and lonely, and tired of being stuck on the castle grounds all the time. When she has the idea of a tower, so see can see beyond the walls, she does not just order it done. She takes part in the engineering, the ideas, and the hard labor of making it happen. I really like that she was so fully involved, and that readers got to see just how involved the building process can be. When she, and her crew, finish building she gets her chance to see far in the distance, and finds a young boy on a matching tower looking back at her. I think this was a nice touch, showing that anyone can work hard to achieve their goals.

Early Book Review: Gnome-a-geddon by K.A. Holt

Gnome-a-geddon by K.A. Holt is currently scheduled for release on May 2 2017. Buck is a super fan of the book series, The Triumphant Gnome Syndicate. He knows all the trivia. The properties of the Troll Vanquishing Mace, and even what kind of snack Custard, the Gnome of the West, prefers. But when the book’s author disappears in a cloud of smoke at the release party for book three, and Buck’s little sister disappears into a bottomless dumpster, Buck realizes that the world of gnomes and trolls might really exist. What the heck? As it turns out, the real Custard (don’t call him that) needs Buck’s help to find the Troll Vanquishing Mace. And Buck needs to find his sister. So Buck and his best friend Lizzie set off on an adventure that would make any fan’s head spin. But not everything is as Buck expected—it seems the books did not tell the whole truth about this not-so-make-believe world. Buck soon discovers that real life doesn’t work like a story, and the heroes and villains might not be who they seem. Holy trolls! What’s a super fan to do? Buck is about to fulfill the ultimate fantasy: going on adventures with his favorite characters, and getting the chance to save the world. Assuming he can figure out whose side he’s really on.

Gnome-a-geddon is a book with a fairly unique concept. While there have been a few books that share a few characteristics, I really felt like this book took it in a slightly different direction. I liked that our main characters change and grow, both in self awareness and in ability to look at things differently. Buck is a good kid, who cares about those around him but with the natural craving to be special and a hero like his favorite book and game characters. He tries to be a good person, even while dealing with his craving to be more. Lizzie is a smart, strong, and independent girl with a good instinct about people and situations. They make a good team, especially when they listen to each others and those around them. I liked that the good guys and the "bad" guys are all ambiguous. No one character is all good or bad, and the idea of moving past prejudice and generalizations about any person is key in the entire story. I think the idea of unexpected heroes and strengths was very well done and just might have younger readers open to accepting help and seeing skills in others that they might otherwise dismiss. I am very interested in seeing more from the author, maybe in this same world, in the future.

Gnome-a-geddon is an entertaining and enjoyable read with a fun concept. I think there is a wide range of middle grade readers that will enjoy this read and be looking for more.