This graphic novel ventures into some pretty well trod territory, but the story is still interesting and engaging. The artwork is done in full color on glossy pages. At it's best it is stunning, but at times it's hard to tell what's going on as the artist loves using lots of dark colors and depicting shadowy sequences without the benefit of speech bubbles or narration. Overall good, but not overwhelming. Recommend this one to adventure fans grades 4 to 7.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Shadow Door by Bannister
This graphic novel ventures into some pretty well trod territory, but the story is still interesting and engaging. The artwork is done in full color on glossy pages. At it's best it is stunning, but at times it's hard to tell what's going on as the artist loves using lots of dark colors and depicting shadowy sequences without the benefit of speech bubbles or narration. Overall good, but not overwhelming. Recommend this one to adventure fans grades 4 to 7.
Cameron and his Dinosaurs by Scott Sawa
Mad scientist Professor Pointdexter P Poppycock has created four hyper intelligent dinosaurs to do his evil bidding. Unfortunately, because of their superior intellects they tell Professor Poppycock they are unwilling to hurt people and as result they must part ways. The dinosaurs meet a young boy named Cameron with whom they become fast friends. Soon Professor Poppycock is at it again, but this time with robotic dinosaurs programmed to follow his every command. Of course, Cameron and his dinosaurs are the only ones capable of standing in his way.
This was actually a surprisingly enjoyable graphic novel. The humor is slapstick and clearly designed for younger readers, but I still caught myself chuckling for time to time. The story was well-paced and although it was predicable still pulled me in. The artwork was enjoyable, lots of pastels and soft colors, and with distinct memorable characters. And the story had dinosaurs, how awesome is that? Recommend this one to fans of dinosaurs, robots and comic hijinx grades 3 to 6.
Posted by Radical Rex at 9:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, adventure, Cameron and his Dinosaurs, dinosaur, robots
Discordia by Dena K. Salmon
This book had a good premise and writing that was genuinely exciting and humorous. However, this book also has glaring plot holes that left me questioning what exactly was going on. Several times I turned back a page to see if I had accidentally skipped one, but alas it was the author that skipped a page not me. The ending had similar problems, in some reviews I saw it called a cliffhanger. I would would simply call it incomplete or perhaps unsatisfying. This book had a lot of potential and with a few rewrites may have achieved it, but as is this book fails to satisfy.
Recommend this to children who love video games or glaring plot holes grades 5th thru 9th.
Posted by Radical Rex at 1:11 PM 0 comments
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Olympian. I have a hard time picking out a favorite book in this series, because they are all so consistently great. This book is no exception. The pacing is intense, the plot is packed w/ action, but tempered an interesting story and a healthy dose of Greek Mythology. My one complaint was after the central conflict in the plot was resolved, the book dragged on for awhile trying to tie up loose ends, including a sequence regarding the fate of Percy's girlfriend Rachel that despite a half hearted attempt at being surprising ends so predictably it's almost painful. Overall a great book, though, recommend this one to fans of action, adventure and Greek mythology grades 4 to 10.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Feed's protagonist is Titus, an American teenager who, while on a trip to go partying on the moon, meets a girl name Violet, who helps him change the way he thinks about his world.
I really liked this book. The message was great, the story well told and the character's were realistic. Titus, Violet, their friends, they are all wonderfully flawed characters. Each one has his or her own short comings, which makes them so real, so easy to relate too. I was always pulling for Titus to make the right choices, but he's limited by his world-view, his upbringing, the culture he was raised in and his decisions through out the book reflect that. You can't expect a person to change over night and you can't expect a society change over night either. Overall an excellent book. Give this one to fans of dystopian science fiction at its finest.
Posted by Radical Rex at 10:51 AM 1 comments
Labels: consumerism, Dystopia, Science Fiction
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Lay Ups and Long Shots
Lay Ups and Long Shots is a collection of eight sports short stories by a variety of children's and young adult authors. The stories are generally enjoyable and usually funny.
My one gripe with this book was that it seemed like these sports stories were written for people who don't necessarily like sports. This probably isn't the best bet for the star athlete reluctant reader, but it would be great for an avid reader who loves humorous realistic fiction grades 4 to 7.
Posted by Radical Rex at 4:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, funny stories, Realistic Fiction
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Tim, Defender of the Earth by Sam Enthoven
In the meantime the government decides to start funding another scientist, Professor Mallahide, who is working on nanotechnology. Apparently all he needed was for the government to say they were willing to fund him, because that night he turns himself into a nanobot swarm.
But wait, there is yet another plotline to follow. Chris, a middle school student from
Anyway long story short, Professor Mallahide turns out to be a bit crazy and starts turning everyone into nanobots. So Tim the giant T-Rex comes back to fight him, but to do that he needs Chris to use his bracelet to focus the willpower of humanity into strength for Tim. In response the Nanobots form into a gigantic cockroach / centaur creature and fight Tim.
I don't know what happens after that, because I stopped reading. Honestly the only reason I made it that far was because I was on an exercise bike and dedicated to riding it for two hours. I was a captive audience.
I have to admit this book did have some really rad parts, especially when Tim and the cockroach / centaur / nanobots were battling. But the nanobots, as they were portrayed, were really overpowered and have no excuse for not rapidly assimilating the whole world and everything on it into the nanobot swarm. A+ for the idea, D+ for the implementation.
Give this book to children whose concepts of reality and reasonability have been completely destroyed by hours and hours of video game play, grades 5 to 8.
Posted by Radical Rex at 1:54 PM 0 comments