MG Book Review: Flip, by David Lubar

General Information
Publisher: Tor
Year of publication: 2003
# of chapters: too many to count
# of pages: 300
Genre: Science Fiction
Website: www.davidlubar.com




Plot summary (from Amazon):
If you could become anyone in the world, who would you be?

Did you ever wish you could be anyone else but who you are? Twins Ryan and Taylor do it all the time. Now their dream is about to come true. They've discovered mysterious alien disks that allow them to "flip"--to become legendary heroes from the past.

But who?

Positive Points

The chapters were extremely short, a few pages each. As a result, I kept reading one more chapter, and one more, a lot faster than I would have if the chapters had been longer. This would appeal to reluctant readers. The chapters alternated among several characters' POVs, which in this book added a lot to the story.

The parent-child relationships and the effects it had on the kids were painfully realistic. I just wanted to slap the dad for saying certain things to his son.

I love the duality of the twins: the girl is a good student, always neat and organized and on time; the boy never finishes anything (or so his dad says), gets in trouble at school, and often gets grounded. It's interesting to see the story from both viewpoints, and from the bully's viewpoint as well. Every character felt real. I love the brother-sister relationship. The author has a good grasp of what it's like to be a kid.

In this book, the kids find disks from outer space that allows them to personify historical figures and experience their world. I had fun trying to figure out what characters the kids changed into, which was sometimes revealed only later. But at some point, it gave me that uneasy feeling; those discs could be compared to using drugs, escaping your reality for a while and being in a different state of mind. I'm not sure if it was the author's intention or not.

Negative Points
There were a few mild swear words, which I don't think belong to MG novels. This book was in the YA section in the library, although the characters are in eighth grade. I guess it's one of those in-between books that could either be upper MG or younger YA.

Other than that, I really can't find anything negative to say. Very well written and fun to read.

What makes this book unique
I've never read anything quite like this: very, very short chapters; so many POVs; sci-fi mixed with historical mixed with contemporary. I loved everything about it.

Overall Impression
The summary from Amazon doesn't do it justice. I'm glad my kids recommended I read it. I might not have picked it up otherwise. Great read!

My Rating:

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MG Book Review: The Mapmaker and the Ghost, by Sarvenaz Tash

General Information
Publisher: Walker & Company
Year of publication: 2012
# of chapters: 35
# of pages: 242
Genre: Adventure / Historical Fiction / Paranormal
Website: sarvenaztash.blogspot.com



Plot summary (from Amazon):
Goldenrod Moram loves adventure, especially when it comes in the form of mapmaking. An avid fan of the legendary explorers Lewis and Clark, she decides to start her own exploring team, the Legendary Adventurers, and to spend her summer vacation discovering the unmapped forest right behind her home. This simple task is complicated by a series of unique events-a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady has her searching for a legendary blue rose. Another, more unfortunate, encounter lands her in the middle of a ragtag bunch of nicknamed ruffians. Throw in the trapped spirit of Meriwether Lewis himself and her well-meaning but nuisance of a little brother, and Goldenrod Moram is in for the quest of a lifetime . . .

Positive Points

This story combines adventure (exploring a forest to draw a map), historical (Lewis and Clark), paranormal (a ghost), and fantasy (a blue rose that blooms only every fifty years). The blue rose and the ghost play a role in the plot, especially around the end, in this otherwise realistic story. Is this what we would call magical realism? Interesting genre.

The author definitely has strong writing skills. The story was told from multiple POVs, but it works well in this story. I especially liked the chapters told in Goldenrod's younger brother's voice, Birch. He sounded just like a real little kid.

The characters were very interesting and unique in their own ways. 

Negative Points
The six members of the Gross-Out Gang each had two names: a real name and a nickname. It was hard to remember them. I had to make a list to keep track.

What makes this book unique
The combinations of genres, as I mentioned earlier, is what made this book special. And if you like maps and exploration, this book is definitely for you.

Overall Impression
A little confusing at times with all the names and nicknames, but overall a very enjoyable read that appealed to the explorer in me.

My Rating:

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MG Book Review: Wishing Will, by Daniel Harvell

General Information
Publisher: self-published
Year of publication: 2014
# of chapters: 17 + epilogue
# of pages: (e-book)
Genre: Fantasy
Website: danielharvell.com




Plot summary (from website):
Outcast middle schooler Will Cricket wants a new look, popular friends, cool parents and enough coordination to dribble a basketball - but he never actively pursues any of it. Instead, Will makes wishes.

When the magical wishing corporation known as the Sky Castle Network and Enterprises (a.k.a. the SCENE) agrees to grant him his ultimate wish to be someone different, he must work for his reward. Becoming a super-powered agent for the organization, Will teams up with a celestial wish agent with delusions of Hollywood stardom, a shape-changing half-Genie, a narcoleptic Dreamweaver and a stick-in-the-mud wish lawyer.

Together, they grant the wishes of Will’s classmates and family members, helping the same people who pick on Will every day. As if these challenges weren't enough, there's a mystery surrounding his peculiar grandmother and a malevolent force bent on enslaving humanity. Will might have to fight not only for his wish but also for the entire world!

Positive Points

I love the theme of wishing throughout the novel (starting with the title): shooting stars, repeated numbers, wishbones, four-leaf clovers, and expressions such as "Be careful what you wish for."

The plot hooked me from the first few pages. I couldn't put it down, despite the negative points listed below. What a fantastic story! The main character, an overweight kid who is basically a nobody at the beginning of the book, has to grant seven wishes in seven days anonymously, using one different special ability each day (which he discovers on that very day), in order for his own wish to come true. I totally loved it! And Will's character growth throughout the novel was a big plus (no pun intended).

The characters were interesting ... okay, a little wacky, but I found them original and fascinating, especially Tang (short for Tangible), the half-genie kid with changing hair color; Hollywood, the star (no, literally!); and the crazy grandma, who made me laugh so much!

Negative Points

I ran across some formatting, grammar, and spelling mistakes. In my Kindle version, the text was in two different font sizes, randomly alternating between small and medium, which was quite distracting and could have been caught with one simple proofread. Normally, numbers up to one hundred are spelled out in fiction works. Other grammar and spelling mistakes, such as Spider-Man (should be one word), were sprinkled throughout the story. Nothing that can't easily be fixed with a light proofread, but it was distracting.

The writing could have been stronger at times. It was pretty good in general but some dialogues seemed forced, stating facts the characters should already know, more for the sake of informing the reader.  Some action scenes were not realistic; for example, Will's door cracks open, but before his dad gets in, a whole lot of action happens. How long does it take to open a door? There were redundant details and telling at times, such as "(...) so bright he couldn't see anything. Effectively blind, (...)"

What makes this book unique
The theme about wishing and the use of superpowers are what I found the most interesting. That, and the crazy grandma. And Tang. Okay, I'll stop.

Overall Impression
I just wish this book had been traditionally published. Even with the use of a professional editor, self-published authors run the risk of publishing a book with errors and spots of poor writing, which one single editor can't catch in one single pass. But despite the negative points I mentioned, which might have caused me to put a book down and not review it, this was definitely worth my time. With a little more polishing, it could potentially become a bestseller. And judging by the epilogue, I think there might be a sequel coming. I hope there is!

My Rating:

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MG Book Review: Jesper Jinx and the Sneezing Season, by Marko Kitti

(Book #2 in the Jesper Jinx series)

General Information
Publisher: self-published
Year of publication: 2014
# of chapters: 6
# of pages: (e-book)
Genre: Contemporary
Website: www.jesperjinx.co.uk


Plot summary (from Amazon):
Jesper Jinx is eleven, and probably the unluckiest person in all of Puffington Hill. Everything he touches seems to end up in sweet disaster. Hence his nickname 'Jinx'.

It's Spring time in Puffington Hill, and the most unforgettable Sneezing Season ever for Jesper! In this book, packed full of new wonderfully wicked adventures, you're going to get to know Chloe, Jesper's long time future-girlfriend, and meet a Purple Buzzard from the tropical island of Buzzupurplu. Also, there's Rosie, the grinning Squirrel with an attitude and the infamous Diary Wars.

Positive Points

I enjoyed reading book one, and I was delighted when the author sent me book two to review. I noticed some of the negative points I had mentioned in the first book are not present in this second book. I love seeing authors improving their writing skills with each book they write. Now I'm looking forward to book three!

I love the characters and the humor in this short, easy-to-read book. I believe it would appeal to kids 8-12 years old who are too old for picture books but not quite ready for full-length MG novels yet.

The illustrations are very cool and complement the story perfectly. 

Negative Points
I found a few mistakes, not many, but I wish this book could be traditionally published. Just a little more editing would make this book perfect.

What makes this book unique
This book is a collection of loosely connected short stories, all with the same main character. Easy to read and humorous, Love it!

Overall Impression
I believe it would appeal to reluctant readers in particular, or anyone who likes a light, short read.

My Rating:

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MG Book Review: Karmack, by J.C. Whyte

General Information
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Year of publication: 2013
# of chapters: 24
# of pages: (e-book)
Genre: Fantasy
Website: karmack.webs.com




Plot summary (from Amazon):
A strange little creature enters the lives of three tough guys at Higgins Elementary. And from that point on, pranks come back like boomerangs, smacking the bullies right in their fifth grade butts!

Sully, the leader of the gang, is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. Sully learns that the creature’s job is to balance all the bad pranks the bullies have pulled over the years. Karmack warns that if this fails, “dreadful, awful doom” awaits them all.

Sully soon realizes that he must save not only himself but his friends, who have no idea why they keep getting boomeranged by Karmack!

Positive Points

I love the theme: what goes around comes around, quite literally in this book. And the main character, a fifth-grade bully, learns it the hard way, with a little help from Karmack, a creature only he can see.

It was interesting to see Sully's thought process and character growth throughout the novel. Not many books are told from a bully's viewpoint. I absolutely love the ending! It was a bit predictable, but it still made me tear up. And I'm not an emotional reader.

I love stories that teach a lesson without being too "preachy." This is one of them. 

Negative Points
The writing could have been a lot stronger. I nearly stopped reading after a few chapters, but I'm glad I didn't. The story itself is really good, but the way it is told could be a lot better. There were a lot of POV shifts, hopping from one character to another in the same chapter, which distracted me. It would have been better to stick to Sully's thoughts and emotions, telling the story strictly as he would perceive it. I also noticed a lot of "telling" rather than "showing." With a little revision, this story could really shine and be used for character education.

What makes this book unique
This is the first children's book I read that teaches about karma. Great theme! In this book, it's pushed to the extreme, but I'm sure young readers can learn a thing or two and think about how this relates to them in their own lives. I have my reservations about karma, but I still think it's a fascinating topic.

Overall Impression
The story is amazing, but the writing could have been a lot stronger.

My Rating:

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