Best of All Worlds, by Kenneth Oppel

     The first book I've read by author Oppel since Ghostlight, which was scary and fun! Best of All Worlds is a little science fiction, a little weird (in a cool way), and a little romance. Where Ghostlight was different and over-the-top spooky and fun, Best of All Worlds is pretty slow, focused way too much on the romance (and I love a good romance, but Oppel makes too much of this story a romance thing between main character Xavier and Mackenzie).

    The Oak family - Xavier, his step mom and his dad - wake up one morning in a totally different world...not on the beach in the cabin where they fell asleep the night before but on a large, beautiful farm, with a beautiful big barn, and farm animals, all needing to be milked and fed and cared for! No stores, no other people, no cars or buildings (other than the barn).  They explore their new world while trying to decide on what exactly happened - taken by aliens? Taken by the government? In their three years in this place, a new baby brother is born, who doesn't know (or miss) the world they used to know. 

    Then the Jacksons suddenly appear. A new family with their own very strong opinions about how they ended up being dropped in this strange new world. The families cooperate but also disagree on where they are, how they got there, and what to do about it. Xavier would be in high school, and Mackenzie, already in high school, becomes his love interest. And so these plots intertwine.

    This wasn't a terrible book, and Oppel is usually a really good story teller. But as a dog I can readily point out when something doesn't "smell" right. Best of All Worlds made me want to read a really good science fiction story, maybe a classic like War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells or Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Or something newer, like Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. I often recommend Oppel to strong 7th grade and 8th grade science fiction fans, but this one...only for a die hard Oppel fanatic.

3 paws.

Black Star (The Door of No Return #2), by Kwame Alexander

  Black Star is the sequel to The Door of No Return (which I reviewed in Feb. 2023). If you only have a minute to read this entry, let me say this up front; if Kwame Alexander wrote it, everyone - you, me - everyone should read it! Like his many other wonderful books this one is written in verse, but I found myself wondering what it would be like to read his work in non-verse format. Perhaps one day I'll have the chance to find out...

    Black Star is being narrated by Charley, short for Charlene, who lives somewhere in Virginia sometime in the 1920s. She dreams of being the first woman professional baseball player, so baseball is a part of the story (but you don't need to have a lot of baseball knowledge to follow the book...but if you enjoy baseball, like I do, then it's a bonus!). She lives with her parents and grandfather, Kofi Nana (from the first book), who enjoys telling her stories to help her navigate the world. Living in the segregated South, she finds that what she doesn't know about Black history in America creates trouble for her and her family. Being twelve years old, her parents and family haven't shared the ugly parts of that era with her. But when she challenges some neighborhood bullies to a baseball game (who happen to be White), that reality becomes part of her life, too.

    Alexander weaves history with exceptional storytelling, and his word choices are so poetic and powerful...there is history here but also just the humanness that we all share, both good and bad. It's a shame that lately the forces of control are wanting to keep all of us from reading different perspectives about life in the United States, from the earliest times until now. Not knowing your history does not make it disappear - quite the opposite. Knowing your history, and the history of the place you live and perhaps were born in, is power. And necessary for all of us to continue to strive for a better world. Alexander informs, inspires, intrigues and entertains us with every book, and this is no exception, thankfully! 5 paws!

Simon Sort of Says, by Erin Bow

     A multi-award winning book by author Erin Bow. Not her first, although I don't think I've read anything by her yet. Simon Sort of Says was published in 2023, and it's been next to my reading kennel for a long time...I've really been looking forward to it, just waiting for the right time....books are like kibble - sometimes you've got to be in the right mood for a certain flavor!

    Simon lived in Omaha, Nebraska, but moves with his mom and dad to a very small town, a town without cell service or Internet, a town full of scientists who listen and watch day and night for signals from outer space. The "why" of that move isn't clear until about half way through the story, or so that is what was meant to happen. Unfortunately, the publishers describe the story on the back cover and totally and completely give the reason for the move away! I was shocked! A spoiler printed right on the back cover of the book? I have to say this really dampened the impact of the story for me...knowing before I started reading what I wasn't meant to know (according to Bow) until half way into the story! Paws across my heart, I've never had that happen before, and I read a lot of books!

    Overall, the book is really good - it is sad, happy, funny, exciting...Simon's mom works in a mortuary (so there's death, which is usually funny, somehow, in this book), and his dad is a Catholic deacon in the town church, which adds to the complexity of the characters and events. Simon's makes friends with Agate, who is a quirky super-smart neighbor who lives on an emu farm - there is a lot to this story to keep even a dog interested! But the reason behind the move to another town is key to the plot, and knowing why ahead of time was a let down. 

    Simon Sort of Says is a good read, award winner, and at times a page-turner. Knowing the plot twist was like having wet paws...not life changing but still kind of a bummer. Don't read the back cover when you decide to read this book, and I think you'll rate it higher than I can. It's not Simon's or Erin Bow's fault that the plot was divulged before I started reading, so I'll still give this one 4 paws. But it might have been 5...maybe when the book comes out in paperback and gets a new cover? 

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now, by Jason Reynolds

     If Jason Reynolds writes it, I am going to read it! So I was surprised when I started this book and looked at the title page (which is where I always start) to see this book is recommended for ages 14 and older. Hmm. Not really middle school age like most of his books are, although I know many 8th graders (and a few 7th graders) who want to read "up" from their age group and grade. My philosophy is that if the book is good to you, then it's good for you...mostly, so I decided to read it with an open mind to the age or grade level it would speak to.  In other words, I started this one a little hesitantly, knowing it may not fit into middle school library collection.

    Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is broken into sections, starting with the present. Section two occurs twenty-fours seconds ago. Section three is twenty-four hours ago. Then days, then weeks, then months. Basically, Reynolds is telling the story from back to front, letting you get to know the characters over time. This is a brilliant approach, in my opinion, because the more we know the main characters, the more we root for them in the book's overarching theme. He starts with a strong premise and builds the story from this moments, to moments leading up to this one, inviting you to keep getting to know Neon and Aria instead of passing judgement on them for what they want to do. If anyone can pull this off, Reynolds sure can...and he does! 

    This is the story of two teenagers, Neon and Aria - boyfriend and girlfriend - who have been dating for two years (twenty-four months), and are now ready to be intimate for the first time. So on the surface it's a book about two high school kids about to have sex. But the book is so, so much more than that! Reynolds tells such a good story, for Neon especially, but for Aria as well, and all of the people in their lives. Not all their relationships are good, and not all are bad, just like in the real world. Their decision to be intimate makes them both nervous and excited, but both know they are in love and they want to take their relationship to another level. 

    Reynolds handles this subject with kindness, realness, care, and love. As he notes at the end of the book, "Black boys deserve love stories, too." This is a wonderful love story for Neon, and for Aria, and for everyone who reads it. Because it's subject matter is mature (although Reynolds does not write the lovemaking scene or scenes into the story...he doesn't need to) you can bet it will be banned or challenged around the country. I hope that doesn't stop you from reading it, when you are ready. This Coretta Scott King Award winner really is a wonderful love story, and you will love Neon and Aria, and this book, long after you read the last page. 5 paws!

The Last Rabbit, by Shelley Moore Thomas

     Another "last", and another book with Irish roots...not on purpose, it just happened that way! Maybe a bit o'Irish luck? The Last Rabbit has this adorable drawing on the front cover of a young rabbit sitting on top of a grassy rock overlooking the ocean. By all accounts, the cover would have you believe that this is a whimsical fantasy tale - which it is, in part! It also suggests this book is for younger readers - which it also is, but perhaps not as young as you might think. Although author Thomas has created a cute fantasy story with rabbits as some of the main characters, there is also magic, and another of the main characters turns out to be a direct kin of Death. Yep, the Grim Reaper. So don't be completely fooled (or turned away) from this cutesy cover and title. This book will have some surprises for you, and is a fun story to boot!

    Albie was once a human girl, along with her three sisters. By accident, Albie turns all of them into rabbits. The crux of the book is Albie trying to get them all turned back to humans again. Thomas suggests some historical fiction in this story, although it seems way more "fiction" than "historical". It seems the island where much of this story takes place appeared once on maps just off the Irish coast, several hundred years ago. And then...it simply never appeared again. This is the history that Thomas has built her story around; where did the island go, why, and what happened to all life on the island when it was no longer above water?

    The Last Rabbit is a fun tale, with animals and people interacting throughout, and a fair amount of magic worked in as well. Even the ocean is it's own character, in a sense, and helps Albie solve her puzzle, along with an old magician, and, yes, Death. In that sense it made me think of Scythe, by Neil Shusterman, a brilliant mystery (not for younger readers) where Death is a main character. But other than that, The Last Rabbit is much more of a fairly tale with animal characters, such as Richard Adams' Watership Down or Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux. Moore's book is good, and fun, but not quite at the level as these two classics. But if you'd like a new fantasy story with animals as characters, this book will entertain you! Maybe not a "classic", but still pretty fun to read! 3 paws and wag!

Last of the Name, by Rosanne Parry

     Not the latest release by wonderful Oregon author Parry, but a really engaging historical fiction story that I truly enjoyed! Last of the Name is new to me but was actually published in 2019. It tells the story of brother and sister Danny and Kathleen, two teens from Ireland who have emigrated to the United States to escape the long history of oppression at the hands of the English. They arrive in New York in 1863 - right in the middle of our own Civil War. The Last of the Name follows them both as they do all they can to survive in a time and place where Irish are not necessarily welcome, and being children they are fighting for their lives day to day - to eat, to have shelter, and to navigate this entirely new country that is in the middle of trying to sort itself out. 

    I quickly found myself turning pages to discover what was coming next! I love how strong Parry made both characters, in their own ways, while never making it seem as if these teens were unrealistic. As an author Parry is very good at crafting strong voice in her characters, whether they are people, like Kathleen and Daniel, or wolves, or whales...she will put you right in the character's mind, regardless of the species, which is why I enjoy her stories so much!

    The action here is constant, and the storyline is unpredictable. Near the end of the story I was a little disappointed at how easily one of the big conflicts got resolved, but only the one time (and you may see that differently, of course!). But the dialogue and situations that the main characters encounter seemed very real. Parry did a superb job of weaving many of the historical elements of 1863 New York into the story - the war, slavery, the Draft Riots of 1863, prejudice, poverty...I found myself rooting for the two kids the entire way but not sure if they were going to make it through together! 

    I recommend any Rosanne Parry book to you, reader, and this is no exception. A fun page-turner with subject matter I have not read before, not from the vantage point of the Irish. A nice way to learn something new about our nation's history and the importance of considering other people's perspectives (empathy). 5 paws!

The Beat I Drum, by Dusti Bowling

  The newest book from Dusti Bowling, author of the wonderful Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. In fact, The Beat I Drum is the third book using Cactus characters, this one being a story told by Cactus character Connor Bradley, so you can look forward to some "appearances" in this book by Aven, the main character in the Cactus book!

    Connor is starting high school, and he and his mom have just moved to a new place, away from the friends he had knew and loved (including Aven and Zion). Starting a new school is stressful enough, but much more so for Connor, who has Tourette syndrome. This syndrome causes Connor to tic when he gets nervous, and the more nervous he gets, the worse his tics become. For him, his main tic is a loud noise that sounds like a dog barking. Not exactly the sort of communication style that most high school teens are used to, and not everyone at Connor's new school is okay with it. Luckily, a few kids are, and this small group of characters becomes Connor's new friend group throughout the story.

    The Beat I Drum is a book about being yourself, acceptance, and forgiveness. Bowling writes really relatable and believable characters in all of her stories, so it's hard not to cheer for Connor, but to also feel his stress and disappointments. He is trying to navigate his mom and dad's divorce, leaving the friends who accepted him for who he is, and making new friends when, at any moment, a loud bark could (and often does) erupt from his mouth. A difficult set of challenges, but one Bowling navigates with kindness and honesty.

    I remember when another librarian turned me on to The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, and since then I have read most of Bowling's stories. She is a good storyteller, and The Beat I Drum is no exception. It wasn't as powerful as Cactus, as many offshoot books aren't, but still an exceptions story that is worth your time! 4 paws!

The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon, by Grace Lin

     From the author of many wonderful books, including Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, comes the latest from author Grace Lin. The Gate, The Girl and The Dragon is a tale woven with the strands of three storylines. One is of the ancient Chinese gods, goddesses and spirits who live in their spirit world where they are responsible for caring for people. The second is the tale of a sculptor, in our current, modern world, who has found a concrete dragon's pillow and is working at creating a special stone object from it that he hopes will reunite him with his lost family. The third strand is Jin's story, a stone lion cub, who inadvertently melds the ancient and modern world together...when the door that connects the two closes. Jin is trying desperately to return to his family, which the ancients try everything they know to reconnect the two worlds, before disaster destroys them both.

    I'm not sure how clear this sounds, but it is an easy-to-follow tale, and wonderfully told. As a magnificent bonus, author Lin also illustrates this book, and I'll admit I bought my own copy of this book simply based on the beautiful artwork! It reminded me of the beauty that is The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate diCamillo. Like a book from many, many years ago, Lin's book is illustrated with gorgeous watercolor paintings, as well as the edges of the pages being decorated in red with gold dragons. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a book I needed to own, not just borrow from the library - and I was just as excited to read it!

    Each January the American Library Association chooses the best book of the previous year from all of the children's books created in the United States and awards it the John Newbery Medal. I don't pretend to know the future, but I would guess that this book will be among the finalists...and I fully expect it to win the next Newbery Award! 5 paws! Buy a copy if you can...

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, by Garth Nix

     How could you not read a book titled The Left-Handed Booksellers of London?!? Right? Fantasy and science fiction author Garth Nix has been writing books for teens for a very long time, and although I haven't read a lot of his books, I always enjoy the ones I do read. Booksellers is definitely a YA (Young Adult) book, not so much due to content but to the complexity of his writing and language. He is Australian, but this story takes place in London, England. These two elements combined mean characters use words and references that younger American readers may not be as familiar with, hence the YA grouping. Otherwise, there are a few moments of strong language, but mild compared to a lot of teen and YA books out today. I didn't see any other reason why anyone couldn't give this book a try!

    The Left-Handed Booksellers of London are not just booksellers, but ancient beings who also help protect the world from nefarious creatures and beings from throughout time. Nix creates his own world but bases the story's action in London - in 1983, to be precise. The line on the front cover of the book reads, "Authorized to kill...and sell books." Booksellers is a fantastical blend of authors and titles you may know, other "classic" literature, ghosts, giants, wolves, zombies, time travel...oh, and book selling. Oh, and killing. 

    The story reminds me a lot of a good Marie Lu book, or maybe even Veronica Roth, but especially of Terry Pratchett. This isn't a genre I read a lot of, but when I find a gem like this one I have a hard time putting the book down, and I'm always happy I tried it! Because of the references and language, I'm not sure many 6th graders would make it through this one (but try if it sounds interesting!). A sophisticated 7th grader, or an 8th grader and above, should give this a go! A lot of fun, a page turner, and I hated that it ended! 5 paws!

Willa and the Whale, by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown

     A heartwarming story about many things, but through it all Willa, the story's protagonist (main character) speaks with Meg, a humpback whale. If you can suspend belief and allow this to be part of the overall story, I think you'll really enjoy this book! If that is a little too fantastical for your tastes, you might want to choose something else.

    Willa has recently lost her mother and now finds herself living with her dad, his new wife and all of their young children on an island in Washington state.. This is a big change for Willa, who had been living in Japan with her mom. She is trying to make sense of her loss - mostly of her mother but also the friends she made in Japan - and meanwhile navigate all of the family changes and life's daily challenges, like school, Lizzy, (the girl at school who is always showing Willa how much better and smarter she is than Willa), Marcus (her once-best-friend who has grown distant since Willa had spent a few years with her mother living in Japan), and her new family. Her mom was a famous marine biologist, and Willa knows more than most about sea creatures and ocean life...when she meets Meg on a whale watching tour. Meg becomes a friend and confidant and helps Willa navigate everything she is facing, even the arrival of a beached whale in their small town that Willa feels compelled to help...but how?

    Willa and the Whale is the first book I've read by writers Morris and Brown, although not the first by this couple. And if it doesn't bring tears to your eyes a couple of times, I'd be surprised. The authors insert conversations between Willa and Meg into the story, and if you can let that be part of the beauty of the book then the whole story will work for you. I found that it worked for the most part, although it slipped off the track a time or two and the conversation seemed a little too forced. But if you like oceans, ocean life, or animal tales (not tails, although those are wonderful, too!), and a good, heartwarming realistic fiction story, I think you'll like this. Much like Sharon Creech or Kate DiCamillo, but not quite as polished...yet. 4 paws!