Book Review: The City of Ember (The Graphic Novel) by Jeanne DuPrau, Niklas Asker

The City of Ember (The Graphic Novel) written by Jeanne DuPrau and illustrated by Niklas Asker is being republished in 2023, the original graphic novel adaptation was done in 2012. As the lights begin to flicker, Lina finds a message from the past that she's sure holds the secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must race against time to decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!

I was glad to be reminded of The City of Ember, which I remember fondly as my time working with children's book in a public and elementary school library. I was happy to explore the graphic novel version, and spend some time with it. I thought the art and story come together very well to tell the story of how society can feed and ignore corruption in turn, and that sometime the curiosity, innocence, and hope of a few can trigger needed change.  The story and the art hold up well, and I think it was well done in both regards. This middle grade adventure is one that I think young readers, and us not so young, readers can still enjoy and get something from. If you loved this book the first time around, or might enjoy discovering it for the first time, it is very much worth the read. 

Book Review: Dreams Factory by Jerome Hamon, Suheb Zako, and Lena Sayaphoum

Dreams Factory is a graphic novel by Jerome Hamon, Suheb Zako, and Lena Sayaphoum. It was translated from French by Jeremy Melloul. The story is set in London, 1892. Like most children in the working-class town where she lives, Indira works the coal mines every day without protest. But when her little brother Eliott disappears, nothing matters anymore. She embarks on a desperate quest to find him and discovers that he is not the only child to have mysteriously disappeared. All clues seem to point to the same person: Cathleen Sachs, the wealthy owner of the coal mines. But why would she kidnap these children? 

Dreams Factory is a highly engaging story. First off, the art is simply splendid, and well worth a look all on its own. I did like the story, and the sibling devotion and complications are many layered and very well done. I thought the more fantastic elements could have used a bit more explanation or fleshing out however. I know the mystery of exactly what is happening is part of the suspense of the story, and it did have me at the edge of my seat. But I do have to admit that the last few pages had me a little confused and I am not at all sure of the particulars of what happened there. Maybe I am just not understanding, but I looked at the ending several times and still have some questions. Perhaps I still missed something, or am not putting the pieces together correctly and it will come to me later. I think expanding on the world and character building in the story would have made it even better. That being said, I still enjoyed the read and will be on the look out for more from this creative team and think the book will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. 

Dreams Factory is a well written and beautifully illustrated story. It captured my imagination and held my attention well past the time I finished reading it despite some flaws. 

Book Review: Unleashed (Jinxed) by Amy McCulloch

Unleashed is the sequel to Jinxed by Amy McCulloch. When Lacey Chu wakes up in a hospital room with no recollection of how she got there, she knows something is up. But with her customizable smart pet, Jinx, missing in action and Moncha, the company behind the invention of the robot pet, up to something seriously sinister, she’s got a lot of figuring out to do. Lacey must use all her engineering skills if she has a chance of stopping Moncha from carrying out their plans. But can she take on the biggest tech company in North America armed with only a level 1 robot beetle?

Unleashed is a thrilling sequel to Jinxed. It took me a little while to remember the details on the first book. But, the efforts of Lacey to remember exactly how she ended up in the hospital was an organic and well used tool to remind readers of what they read previously. I thought the mystery, technology, and conspiracy was all very well written and I spent most of the book trying to puzzle out who was going to be on the right side at the end of the book. As important as all that is to the story, we also get some great character development for Lacey and some of the other characters, and a few surprises along the way. I really enjoyed the read, and had to stop myself from shouting 'No' or other instructions to the characters more than once. My only disappointment is that this story is over, because I would love to know more about where everyone goes from here. 

Unleashed is exactly what I needed to conclude this duology. 

 Rise Up is the third (and final) book in the Last Pick series by Jason Walz. It is currently scheduled for release on October 6 2020. I do recommend reading this series in order. Wyatt is now the reluctant leader of the "last picked"—the disabled, the elderly, and those deemed too young to be useful for hard labor by their alien captors. But how can he and his ragtag allies take down an entire alien federation? Meanwhile, Wyatt's twin sister Sam and her girlfriend Mia are creating chaos all over the galaxy in an attempt to rescue Sam's parents. But even if the family is reunited, can they stay alive long enough to see the end of the alien regime?

Rise Up is a good continuation, and conclusion, to this story. Wyatt and Sam have their own crisis to resolve, and finally come together for the grand showdown. All the remaining major players are involved, and there is a great deal of hope and sacrifice on almost every page. There was a good deal of action and suspense, with some dark moments that left me worried that I would not enjoy the ending. The art style and skill in story telling was on par with the two previous installments, and the conclusion was satisfying with just about everything wrapped up. I am not sure if I was not ready for the story to wrap up that quickly, but I felt like there was so much that the story wanted to tell cramped in the last book. It worked, and it told the story well, but it felt like there was so much to keep track of at the end, who was where and what their role n the showdown was. I am sad to see this story end, and am very glad that I took the time to read it through to the end.

Rise Up is a solid conclusion to the series. Well resolved story with plenty of action, angst, and hope.

Book Review: Girl on Fire (School for Extraterrestrial Girls) by Jeremy Whitley

 Girl on Fire is the first volume of the School for Extraterrestrial Girls graphic novel series by Jeremy Whitley. Tara Smith’s parents are super strict with all their rules and routines, and Tara is a dutiful daughter. Rule #1: No friends her own age. Rule #2: keep her bracelet on, or else. But when she breaks her routine and then loses her bracelet she is in trouble. Outed as an extraterrestrial after wielding fire and losing her humanoid form, Tara is captured by the government. She’s given two options: get shipped far away where she won’t be a danger to anyone or stay on Earth and join a school for other extraterrestrial girls like her. Things at the school aren’t easy, especially for the girl whose only friends were textbooks. But Tara’s goal to learn how to control her powers is soon sidelined by the discovery that the people she’s called Mom and Dad all these years aren’t her parents. With her not-parents still out there, Tara must rely on others for the first time to figure out who she really is before she’s kidnapped a second time.

Girl on Fire is a teen, high school drama with flair. Tara discovers that her childhood has been a lie and everything she thought she knew about herself, her parents, and the world is not true. She has to adjust to that, on top of being a lizard like alien that creates fire. That is a lot to deal with, not add in boarding school with other aliens and trying to make friends while being anxious, awkward, and still not comfortable with herself. I found myself worried for her, relating to her, and cringing as she reacted in ways I cannot promise I would not mirror in her circumstances. The artwork does a good job of capturing the emotion and wonder of Tara facing all these changes. The different aliens, the facial expressions, and the action were very well portrayed and added a great deal to the whole. Despite the strangeness of the setting, the feelings, friendships, and fears of the individuals in the school were relatable and I think the book will speak to a wide range of readers on different levels. I enjoyed the read, and look forward to seeing what happens next. 

Girl on Fire is a wonderful graphic novel for middle school through adult readers. I think there is a little something for everyone here and I am eager to see where the next volume of the story takes us. 

Book Review: Last Pick: Born to Run by Jason Walz

Last Pick: Born to Run by Jason Walz is the second graphic novel in the series. I enjoyed the first book, and somehow missed this volume when it was first released. I highly recommend reading them in order.

Four years ago, aliens kidnapped most of mankind, leaving behind those they deemed unworthy—the “last picked.” The future for Sam is bleak and unthinkable. A galaxy away from her twin brother, she is a pawn in the aliens’ bloody civil war. But with her new friend Mia, Sam has found a way to resist her captors and hold onto her humanity. Back on Earth, Sam’s twin, Wyatt, is leading a resistance of his own. With a ragtag army of the old, the young, and the disabled, he has a plan to bring the fight to his alien captors. But to defeat the aliens, Wyatt may need to befriend one.

Born to Run is a solid sequel. We get both the continuation of Sam's story in captivity on an alien planet, and Wyatt's fight to save his friends and Earth from the same captors. Each story mirrors the other, with self discoveries and small hints at what might come in the future. I think the balance between action and character growth was well done, and I liked getting to see how Sam, Wyatt, and the groups in each location dealt with the obstacles that they had to face. There was a good deal of social commentary, but those that have read the first book should be prepared for that, about being better than our oppressors and using brain over brawn and violence to keep moving forward. Of course there is also that no one is a throw away, everyone has intrinsic value and will surprise those that underestimate them. The artwork is wonderful, and it captures the action and heart of the story. The characters have personality, and frankly look so tired of having to keep fighting for survival and a better future for everyone. My biggest frustration is a common one in action based graphic novels, the cliff hanger. While many things are dealt with and the story has moved forward significantly, this volume ends with a whole new series of questions and problems to be dealt with. 

Born to Run is a good continuation of the story. Readers that enjoyed the first volume of Last Pick will definitely want to pick this one up, and everything that comes after.

Book Review: Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton

Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton is a humorous reference book. Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead which reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology. Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. 

Zombies of the World is an interesting take on zombie lore. Written as a non fiction book it is the story of zombie evolution, classification, and explanation. I think the illustrations were very well done, and a perfect pairing to the text. I like that the history and science possibilities are heavily featured. The approach is rather like the mermaid mockumentory from a few years back, that might have some readers wondering if there is truth in the book rather than fiction. I also enjoyed the dry humor that is inherent in this style of writing, but it might fall flat for those looking for a more obvious humor. The descriptions of the zombie varieties were my favorite part of the book, and the section I think are the most universally appealing. I rather liked the approach, but think that it is best suited to serious zombie fans.

Early Book Review: Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch is a middle grade series starter that is currently scheduled for release on January 7 2020. Lacey Chu has always dreamed of working as an engineer for MONCHA, the biggest tech firm in the world and the company behind the “baku”—a customizable “pet” with all the capabilities of a smartphone. But when Lacey is rejected by the elite academy that promises that future, she’s crushed. One night, Lacey comes across the broken form of a highly advanced baku. After Lacey repairs it, the cat-shaped baku she calls Jinx opens its eyes and somehow gets her into her dream school. But Jinx is different than any other baku she’s ever seen…He seems real. As Lacey settles into life at school, competing with the best students in a battle of the bakus that tests her abilities, she learns that Jinx is part of a dangerous secret. Can Lacey hold on to Jinx and her dreams for the future?

Jinxed is ba well written start to a new series. Lacey is a smart and determined middle school girl, who has her faults and makes mistakes but tries to to the right and best thing. The world and character building is well done, feeding readers the information they need at a good pace, neither overwhelming them with too much information at once or making them wonder if they missed something. I liked Lacey's character and the relationships she maintains or builds with those important to her- even if she makes some mistakes along the way. I liked the premise and the execution of it.  I thought that the technology in the story is well done, and not unrealistic when the story on how and why it was developed in considered. I would not be surprised if someone was already working on something of this nature. The implications of the technology is also well thought out and positioned in the story to be game changers.The characters are all complex, and even the ones we only see in passing feel complex and multi layered- leaving them plenty of room to play major roles in the upcoming books. My only complaint with the story is that it does end with a cliffhanger. The majority of the story is wrapped up and crisis managed, but there is a big new problem to deal with. I cannot wait for the next book so I can read all about what happens next. 

Jinxed is a very well written middle grade novel with great series potential. I am eager to see where Lacey and the other characters go from here. 

Book Review: The Tracker (The Dregs) by Leslie Georgeson

The Tracker is the first book in the eight book (not all yet available)  Dregs series by Leslie Georgeson.  I’ve done despicable things. My soul is damaged. My body impaired. That’s what happens when you are a soldier for The Company. I was discharged a year ago. Now I am a dreg. Worthless. With a bounty on my head. I’ve become a creature of the night, hiding in an underground maze during the day. Because I’m not ready to die yet. She comes to me one night, needing my help to find her sister. The moment I see her, I want her. Her goodness calls to me, makes me yearn for the impossible. She brings life back to the deadness inside me. I’m no good for her. I will do nothing but corrupt her. But I’m a callous bastard. I can’t resist her. I try not to care for her, but somehow she slips under my skin. She makes me weak. And there is only one thing in this world I am afraid of. Weakness. I’ll never be good enough for her, so I have to finish this job and send her on her way. Before she destroys me.

The Tracker is a story that manages to get a lot of world building, character development, and other series groundwork laid down without having it completely overtake the action and romance of the story. I like that Jessica is a fully developed character with a mind and drives of her own. She is willing to do anything to save her sister, and is fiercely loyal to the dregs once they have gotten to know each other. Tracker and his teammates have serious issues to overcome, and I like that they own those issues and do not pretend to be perfect. I found Tracker to be well written and consistent with his past and position- and really enjoyed reading about the connections between the dregs.I was left wanting to see how it turns out for all of them, and want them all to find a happy ending. I will admit that there were a couple things that dragged a bit for me, but I think they were all necessary to set up for the conclusion of this book and the set ups for the future volumes.

The Tracker is a good start to a series with suspense, romance, and plenty of twists and turns. I have already downloaded the second book and added it to my 'to read' list.

Book Review: Sovereign (Nemesis) by April Daniels

Sovereign is the second book in the Nemesis series by April Daniels. I highly recommend reading this series in order, as character and story development in  the first book, Dreadnought, is vital to fully enjoying this book. Since I enjoyed the first book so much, I do not think it will be a chore for any that need to go read, or reread, that first.

Only nine months after her debut as the fourth superhero to fight under the name Dreadnought, Danny Tozer is already a scarred veteran. Protecting a city the size of New Port is a team-sized job and she's doing it alone. Between her newfound celebrity and her demanding cape duties, Dreadnought is stretched thin, and it's only going to get worse. When she crosses a newly discovered supervillain, Dreadnought comes under attack from all quarters. From her troubled family life to her disintegrating friendship with Calamity, there's no trick too dirty and no lever too cruel for this villain to use against her. She might be hard to kill, but there's more than one way to destroy a hero. Before the war is over, Dreadnought will be forced to confront parts of herself she never wanted to acknowledge. And behind it all, an old enemy waits in the wings to unleash a plot that will scar the world forever.

Sovereign is a complex and thought provoking book with character development that is impactful and  sometimes as painful as the physical battles the characters undergo. Danny is still struggling with the changes of becoming Dreadnought and the devastating battles fought in the first book. She needs to deal with the physical and emotional scars while trying to fight crime , keep her promises, get free from her parents, and deal with the social complications of her life. Despite the powers and her intelligence, Danny is still young and reeling from abuse and betrayals,  mistakes and assumptions are made making matters worse. I really enjoyed seeing Danny, Doc Impossible, Calamity, and the rest of the group come into their own and fight for what they think is right while trying to stick to their codes. I was floored by the honesty and raw truth of the characters- and how real the confusion, doubt, and complexity of their thoughts and emotions were. It is hard to get the balance of growth, feels, and action right- and this book hit it perfectly. 

Sovereign is a book that I put off reading for far too long. I loved the first book so much that I was worried it would not meet my high hopes, thankfully that worry was unfounded. However, my worry of wanting more right now from the author was well founded. I am hooked and want more. I highly recommend Dreadnought and Sovereign to readers from middle school age right on up to adults. The only people I think would not enjoy it are those with something against the LGBT community, and they might need to read it the most.

Book Review: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is a space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name. Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

Dragon Pearl is so much more than I expected. It is a coming of age adventure full of science fiction, mythology, and more. I loved Min's character- she has her faults but is willing to admit them (at least to herself). While in most cases she is reactive to the world around her, she also takes steps in a proactive way when she can. I liked the collection of characters and that no one is fully what they seem- there is good, bad, and mistaken inside every character. I really loved the amount of fantasy and mythology that is woven through an adventure travelling between planets. Ghosts, goblins, dragons, other supernatural characters on spaceships and being people with flaws and the urge to help themselves and/or others made even the most unexpected character real. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way, and lots of personal character growth for Min. I simply loved the read and am sad only in the fact that I finished the book, and that it took me so long to start reading it!

Dragon Pearl hits all the right notes of science fiction and fantasy for me. The characters and adventure blew me away and I cannot wait to see what Min and Jun get up to next.

Early Book Review: Last Pick by Jason Walz

Last Pick by Jason Walz is the first volume of Jason Walz's dystopian graphic novel trilogy. It is currently scheduled for release on October 9 2018. The kids last picked are humanity's last hope. Three years ago, aliens invaded Earth and abducted everyone they deemed useful. The only ones spared were those too young, too old, or too “disabled” to be of value. Living on Earth under the aliens’ harsh authoritarian rule, humanity’s rejects do their best to survive. Their captors never considered them a threat—until now. Twins Sam and Wyatt are ready to chuck their labels and start a revolution. It’s time for the kids last picked to step into the game.

Last Pick is a very well written and drawn graphic novel. Sam and Wyat are a team, the twins only have each other since the aliens took their parents. They are focused on survival, and the hope that Wyatt's skills will help them find their parents. Sam goes out on scavenging trips to find what they need, but she also helps others get food and whatnot along the way. They end up facing bigger challenges as more aliens appear and their actions make the aliens look weak.They need to stay free, find their parents, and help the others that remain with them find and keep hope. Tall order for two newly minted sixteen-year-olds, but they might have the skills, intelligence, and more that they need. I like that the relationship between the twins, and their natures, is shown. I like that while Wyatt is different, and his sister has struggled with that, she has his back and sees his good qualities as greater than her own 'normalcy'.  The aliens are also not all the same, or all powerful and evil, I liked the use of one that is more like use in mentality than different. I liked the action, and the introduction and building of the world and characters. I am engaged and still thinking about the world and characters, and eager to see what will happen next. Although, I am not thrilled with the level of cliffhanger.

Last Pick is a great start to a series. My biggest issue with the book is that it left me with too many questions and not enough answers. I wanted some kind of resolution, and felt like ?I was left we a bigger question than the one that started the story. 

Book Review: Space Cat by Ruthven Todd, Paul Galdone

Space Cat is a children's book originally published in 1952 by Ruthven Todd, with illustrations by Paul Galdone, that has recently been reprinted.Everyone goes to the moon in stories these days - why not a cat? So we have the ambitious young cat, Flyball, going off in a rocket and having extraordinary adventures. He is a delight in his space suit - a descendant perhaps of that famous adventurer Puss in Boots. On the moon he becomes, of course, a super-cat, rescuing his master and finding surprising things in a cave. Children will love Flyball's story - grown-ups, reading it aloud, will see in it a slight take-off on the popular science-fiction thread.

Space Cat is a fun adventure that is made sweeter by nostalgia. Adults that remember this book from its first printing, and readers new to the story, will be able to get lost in Flyball's perspective of the world and his adventures. I like reading about Flyball thinking about how he is in charge, even when denied his wishes. I think my cats have the same mentality. I think animal lovers, adventure fans, and science fiction fans will all enjoy this high flying adventure. The story is vintage, and fans of science fiction will be amused at some of the ideas about space travel, and the moon, from the story from the time in which it was written. I must admit that Flyball's little songs got a little tiresome, and by the end of the book I was just skipping over them. 

Space Cat is a product of its time, and a fun read for early chapter book readers that like space, adventure, and cats. Those looking to revisit a loved or remembered book from their childhood might also want to pick it up and see it it stands up to your memories.

Book Review: Geek Ink: The World's Smartest Tattoos for Rebels, Nerds, Scientists, and Intellectuals From the Creators of inkstinct

Geek Ink: The World's Smartest Tattoos for Rebels, Nerds, Scientists, and Intellectuals from the Creators of inkstinct offers readers a look at some cutting-edge designs from some of the most sought-after and acclaimed contemporary tattoo artists worldwide. These tattoo ideas feature themes from science fiction and fantasy, as well as a wide range of topics across science, mathematics, literature, and philosophy. It also includes commentary from creators of the Inkstinct project (which connects people with the finest tattoo art from 380,000 studios worldwide and has an Instagram fan base of more than 1 million) and interviews with world-renowned masters like Eva Krbdk (460K followers), David Cote (232K followers), and Thomas Eckeard (169K followers), this is the definitive tattoo inspiration sourcebook for hipsters, bookworms, scientists, academics, engineers, and, of course, geeks!

Geek Ink: The World's Smartest Tattoos for Rebels, Nerds, Scientists, and Intellectuals is a fascinating wish list for me. I have three tattoos, and one that I always wanted but never got. However, I am always looking at ideas for more ink that I will likely never get- because life and raising kids tends to eat up any discretionary funds before I can even consider spending the money on some more ink. I loved the chance to learn more about some of the most talented tattoo artists from all over the world and their styles. I love the art and the discipline that goes into this kind of work. The dedication and love of art is inspiring. As with any art form, some styles are more pleasing to me personally than others, but even the styles that do not speak to me are impressive. I just wish that any of the artists were local, and that I could afford them.

In the gallery portion of the book I loved the variety and artistry that was on display. The collection is organized by theme, making it easy to find the perfect piece of art to lust after. My personal favorites can be found in the animal, fantasy, science fiction, and literature sections. However, there were beautiful and artistic pieces in each section that might inspire readers. I did not find a tattoo to beat out the one that has been on my mind for years now, but folks in need of tattoo inspiration might find something perfect for their own next work of inky art. 

Early Book Review: Badass Braids: From Vikings to Game of Thrones, 50 Maverick Looks for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fanatics by Shannon Burns

Badass Braids: From Vikings to Game of Thrones, 50 Maverick Looks for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fanatics by Shannon Burns is currently scheduled for release on April 3 2018. When she’s not studying for her PhD in social neuroscience, Silvousplaits (a.k.a. Shannon Burns) is creating and posting weekly instructional videos on her YouTube channel of DIY hair art that mimics the hairstyles of valiant men and women in the best historical, sci-fi, and fantasy shows and movies. Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Vikings, and The Hunger Games--oh yeah, she's done them all. In Badass Braids she shows you how to transform your hair step-by-step. You'll look just like your favorite heroes and heroines in no time. With an introduction to the styling techniques for different kinds of basic braids, interviews with behind-the-scenes stylists and actors, and original styles inspired by fan-favorites.

Badass Braids: From Vikings to Game of Thrones, 50 Maverick Looks for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fanatics has me wishing I had my long hair back, and willing to go through the awkward regrowth process so that I can try more of these out. This book offers readers a good deal of information on the tools and tricks for perfect braiding. I liked the amount of detail given about the different combs, brushes, other tools and decorations that could be used and how or why you might want to use one or another. The tips and instructions are all well done and very detailed, but never talk down to the readers, which sometimes happens in how-to books of every variety. I also like that there is information on the character each style is based on with each style, both including who they are portrayed by and some information on the real character from history, literature, and so on. The combination of photographs, illustrations, and step by step instructions make the process easy to follow on your own.

Badass Braids: From Vikings to Game of Thrones, 50 Maverick Looks for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fanatics is a wonderful book for hair and braid lovers, and those looking to emulate the characters from various shows and movies. It could also be helpful for cosplay, conventions, and other costumed events. While not everyone needs this book, anyone wanting to expand thier knowledge of hairstyles in general, and braiding in particular, would do well to get this book. 

Book Review: Future Threat (Future Shock) by Elizabeth Briggs

Future Threat is the second book in the Future Shock trilogy by Elizabeth Briggs. To fully appreciate and understand the characters, you really do need to read this trilogy in order.

Six months ago Aether Corporation sent Elena, Adam, and three other recruits on a trip to the future where they brought back secret information—but not everyone made it back to the present alive. Now Elena’s dealing with her survivor’s guilt and trying to make her relationship with Adam work. All she knows for sure is that she’s done with time travel and Aether Corporation, but Aether’s not done with her, Adam, or fellow survivor Chris. The travelers on Aether’s latest mission to the future have gone missing, and Elena and her friends are drafted into the rescue effort. They arrive in a future that’s amazingly advanced, thanks to Aether Corporation’s reverse-engineered technology. The mission has deadly consequences, though, and they return to the future to try to alter the course of events. But the future is different yet again. Now every trip through time reveals new complications, and more lives lost or never born. Elena and Adam must risk everything, including their relationship, to save their friends.

Future Threat is a book full of adventure, twists and turns, and people struggling to come to terms with the world. I understood Elena's stress and struggles, and think that they were completely consistent with her character and what she has gone through. The growth of Elena and Adam's characters, and their relationship is very well done, and a cornerstone to the story, and was as compelling as any of the action. The new characters, and the varying futures, were well designed and slowly revealed their depth as the story continued. I found the twists and turns of the trips to the future to be very dramatic, and had me holding my breath on a few occasions. I loved seeing some of the possibilities and worried over the changes as the story continued. I will admit that I rather suspected the guilty party of all the bad things that happen to the team pretty early on, but the journey the story takes us on as Elena puts the pieces together was very suspenseful and gave all of the characters room to grow and show their true selves to the readers, and each other.

Future Threat is a solid follow up to Future Shock, and I enjoyed the read. I like that while each book seems to build perfectly on the previous, the ending of each book feels complete- with only hints that more might follow. I already have the third book waiting on my Kindle for me- since it took me way to long to pick this one up, and I am confident that the third book will continue with the same or maybe even higher quality. My biggest regret with this book is how long it took me to get reading.

Book Review: Shattered Warrior by Sharon Shinn, Molly Knox Ostertag

Shattered Warrior is a graphic novel written by Sharon Shinn and illustrated by Molly Knox Ostertag.  It is ten years after Colleen Cavanaugh's home world was invaded by the Derichets, a tyrannical alien race bent on exploiting the planet's mineral resources.  Most of her family died in the war, and she now lives alone in the city. Aside from her acquaintances at the factory where she toils for the Derichets, Colleen makes a single friend in Jann, a member of the violent group of rebels known as the Chromatti. One day Colleen receives shocking news: her niece Lucy is alive and in need of her help. Together, Colleen, Jann, and Lucy create their own tenuous family. But Colleen must decide if it's worth risking all of their survival to join a growing underground revolution against the Derichets. 

Shattered Warrior is a graphic novel that begins as a story about survival and struggles in a world as a second class citizen. I liked Colleen's resilience and strength- and while she is not afraid of taking risks for what she deems the greater good she is not overly reckless. I liked the character development and the extended cast of supporting characters. I think the us verses them was a little too easy- even though there were good and bad people among every group in the book, the Colleen and the resistance too easily dubbed the Derichets as worthy of death. While that might have been for effect- the current political climate makes me a little too sensitive to this kind of attitude. Although, it could very well have been part of the author's intention to open people's eyes to the dangers of this kind of attitude I have found those with that mindset see nothing wrong with that idea and would take this as further validation. 

Shattered Warrior is a thought provoking graphic novel, but I think there are issues that could have been further or better explored. The artwork, characters, and conflicts are well done and interesting. It was a good graphic novel, I just thought that it could have been even better and was hoping for more.

Book Review: Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy by Gareth Wronski

Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy by Gareth Wronski is a middle grade novel. Holly Farb is not the Princess of the Galaxy. She may be top of the class in every subject, but she can’t even win a school election, never mind rule the Milky Way. The aliens who kidnapped her have gotten it all wrong. Unfortunately Holly’s alien pirate kidnappers believe that she’s the princess they’ve been looking for, and so she finds herself hurtling through space on an alien pirate ship together with her teacher, Mr. Mendez, and Chester, the most annoying boy in her class. Now all she has to do is escape the pirates, find the missing princess, and get back to Earth in time for her big test on Friday. But it turns out that space is a pretty big place, and before they can go home, Holly, Chester, and Mr. Mendez must face down space cruise liners, bounty hunters, giant worms, perky holograms, cosmic board games, sinister insectoid librarians, and a robot who is learning how to lie. Between running from space pirates, defying the President of the Universe, and meeting a host of rather unusual new friends, Holly starts to wonder if there might be more to life than being top of the class after all.

Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy is the adventure of one young lady that has never felt in control, but has always tried to get her attention by being smart- because that is what she is good at. All she wants is to be important, to matter, and she does not even seem to get that at home. When pirate kidnap Holly, her teacher, and the new kid the real adventure starts. I loved the twists and turns, and while I expected a twist as to who the princess was, that twist was only one of the several possibilities that I had considered. I liked that while I knew something was coming, it was not so completely obvious that it was my only thought. I also liked how interconnected, but unusual, some of the turns the story took. The only thing that happened that I completely expected was the President of the Universe's attitude when push came to shove. While Holly began as a pessimistic and self pitying character, her actions and thoughts were understandable and I liked how much she changed and grew as the story continued. Chester, while not what they seemed at the beginning, changed and grew with Holly. I think it was their relationship and changing understanding that really pushed the book forward, even more so that the danger and adventure from space pirates, asteroid belts, the criminal element in a dive bar, and more that they faced along the way. I really liked that even in the moments of highest drama and danger there was an underlying sense of humor and fun. I love a story that does not take itself too seriously, and this book hit the balance of fun, danger, and emotional growth very well.

Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy is a middle grade adventure with a coming of age story arch and sense of humor that appealed to me, and that I think will appeal to many other readers that have ever felt as isolated and 'other' as Holly.