Strays, by Gia Gordon

     The second, and newest, book from author Gia Gordon. Strays already starts high on my "like" list, because it has a dog on the cover, and it's called Strays, which is the equivalent of "rescue", of which I am one - a rescue dog, I mean! So, a book about rescuing a cute little creature like me is already a story I want to read, although it still has to be a good story...   

    ...and Strays is! A good story, I mean. In the book, antagonist (main character) Campbell sees someone open their car door on the side of the road and put a dog out onto the street...and drive away. She is appalled (which most anyone would be, right?), and she sets out to make sure this dog gets cared for. The stray is not the only abandoned character in the story, however, as you will discover when you read this book. It seems that several of the humans are also trying to find their home, their center, their safe place. 

    I have not read Gordon's first book, My So-Called Family, although in an interesting twist, I have it sitting next to my round dog bed (my favorite reading spot at night), and I didn't even know I had both of her books in my possession! But Strays is really good and reminds me a lot of a book I read a few years ago, where some kids decide to help find homes for some shelter animals as part of a school community service project...I cannot remember the title at the moment, but when it comes to be I'll come back and add it here. Do you know the book I'm thinking of? Please tell me if you know! 

    As for Strays...my 5 paws seal of approval!

Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler, by Amelia Tait

     The first book by British author Amelia Tait, Lily Tripp is a cute story about a young girl who is facing some challenging life situations - a bully, a crush, a bestie (or is she...?), an annoying boy who keeps annoying her, and...oh, every New Year's she wakes up in a different year! Not just a slightly different year, but a completely different century! Lily describes her time in places like Ancient Rome, but throughout the story she actually finds herself in 1621 and 1972 - two very different times in history. Everyone she knows travels with her, but only Lily realizes she is time traveling. Her friends and family exist in each new place, but they don't realize they truly belong in the present.

    The book is written from Lily's perspective (first person), in the form of her writing in her diary. Some of the entries are quite short, but it's tough to find time to write when you've been cleaning the chamber pots all day (there is no indoor plumbing in 1621...ewww!). Author Tait does a nice job writing in Lily's voice, so overall the book flows very nicely from start to finish. 

    However, the entire story centers on a few characters (mentioned above); a bully (named Georgia), a bestie (named Poppy), a crush (named Ollie), and an annoying boy (who never seems very annoying to me...named Joey). All of this is fine, but then there is the time traveling part of the story...and I'm not sure why. It doesn't really add anything to the story overall, or to any of the characters, in my canine opinion. Tait manages the different times and places pretty well, with one or two facts about a place kind of forced into the story unnaturally. But really this is a decent story about a soon-to-be-13-year-old who is trying to figure out her life. This is the setting of a lot of books for young readers like you, and some authors can turn that into reading gold, right? 

    Lily Tripp is funny and likeable, and there are a couple of laugh-out-loud moments in the book. It isn't a bad book, but not a must-read, either. I liked it, but a few times wanted to finish so I could start my next favorite read. Probably best for middle grade readers, but a late elementary reader could manage it, too. Warning: You may find yourself wanting to re-read your Dork Diaries books again! 

3 paws and a wag!

Mind vs. Machine, by Steve Sheinkin & Maurice Ashley w/artwork by Thien Pham

     I have read some newly released books in my dog days, but this may be the first time I am reviewing a book that isn't released yet (it comes out in September)! Pretty cool right? My copy of the graphic novel Mind vs. Machine is an Advanced Reader's Copy, or ARC, which means a book that is close to what the real book will look like, but not entirely, and sent to avid readers (like me!) who get to read and review it before everyone else...I feel so special!

    Regular readers of this blog know that Steve Sheinkin is one of my all-time favorite writers, and that he creates amazing stories in non-fiction that read like some of the best fiction I've ever read. Mind vs Machine is no exception! Maurice Ashley is a 3-time National Chess Champion, as well as an author. Thien Pham is an award-winning graphic novelist and educator. What a dream team to create a book about the year when the best chess player (Garry Kasparov) known in the world at that time (1979) played a 6-game tournament against a computer. Man vs. Machine!

    I can't tell you who wins, but I can tell you that the story is very "Steve Sheinkin", so be prepared to finish it in one or two sittings! It's a very cool story, even if you aren't an avid chess player (like me...I prefer corn hole, but hey, I'm a dog - corn (yum!) and holes (fun!)). Ashley adds a lot of background info that helps the story make more sense, and the artwork is solid. One disclaimer; since this is an ARC, the artwork isn't completely finished, and even some of the panels are off center. But when this book is released those flaws will have been corrected, and all you'll have is a very cool, interesting graphic novel to enjoy! If you are already a Sheinkin fan, read this! If you enjoy graphic novels and/or non-fiction stories, also read this! I read it one day - I couldn't put it down! I think you'll love it, too! 4 paws (this may change to 5 paws once I see the finished book)!

The Second Life of Snap, by Erin Entrada Kelly

     On the back flap of this newest release by author Erin Entrada Kelly is a list showing all of her other fiction book covers (she also wrote the non-fiction book At Last She Stood). It seems I've read 5 of the 7...and now I've read 6! I guess I can include Kelly on my list of favorite authors?

    The Second Life of Snap is Kelly's latest release, and like her other books there is a strong science element here, which I always enjoy. In this book, which takes place in the not-too-distant future, Snap is a robot that is discarded by its maker and claimed by Zuzu and her dad. Zuzu lives in a barren, dusty place with no trees or water, far from the "city" where Snap came from. Zuzu and her friends make fun as they can with very little in the way of toys or games while baking under the shade-less sky day after day. Even though she does not like the idea of having a robot at first, Zuzu and Snap become friends, as much as being friends with a machine can happen.

    Like all of Kelly's books, this is well written, and there are a lot of clever elements included in the story. As I read Snap I marked two passages that I especially loved:

            "It doesn't matter where you look. It matters what you see."

and

            "I don't think it's ever too late to change things."

    I love how the author inserts these messages into her stories! I find these to be gems in her writing, and they stay with me long after the details of the particular book do. That's not to say The Second Life of Snap won't stay with you, because I think it will. At the same time, it wasn't my favorite Kelly book - that would definitely be We Dream of Space. But this is another solid read by this talented writer, and I recommend it to you! It definitely falls into the science fiction genre, and seems written for older elementary or early middle grade readers, although I think avid readers above and below this range could also enjoy it. I'm looking forward to her future work, and giving this 4 paws!  

George Washington: A Revolutionary Life, by Tim Grove

     This new biography was released in coordination with the 250th birthday of the United States, which you've likely heard about by now! This book was published in partnership with The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, the private non-profit group founded in 1853 that oversees George Washington's Mount Vernon home. The Association works to preserve, restore, and educate the public about Washington's life in all of its aspects.

    The highlight of George Washington the book is the color photography throughout - of paintings, drawings, maps...every page is beautiful to look at. It took many pages before the issue of slavery became more part of the overall story, and I admit to being interested from the start about how author Tim Grove was going to address this (or not address it, as happens in some books about our nation's earliest founders). But by the end of the book I was satisfied with the coverage this difficult topic received - Grove did not hide the fact that Washington was a slave owner, which has to be included if we are to understand his life and its successes.

    In all, there is a lot to learn here about our first president, and much of it was new to me as well (and I'm a well-read pup!). Starting his young adult life as a surveyor, he would also be a soldier, a farmer (the area of his life where he spent the bulk of his years and creative thinking, it seemed), and, of course, become involved in politics. He certainly had his struggles along the way, but from this book it seems that Washington was a bright man interested in making the world a better place in many areas (owning slaves not being one of them). I don't come across many biographies for young readers about our nation's presidents, but I mostly enjoyed this one and recommend it to anyone curious about Washington and his contributions to our country. 4 paws!

Troublemaker, by John Cho (with Sarah Suk)

     The debut chapter book by actor John Cho is a fictional account of the riots in Los Angeles, CA following the Rodney King incident in 1992. Troublemaker is a good, pretty intense story told from the perspective of main character Jordan, a middle school Korean American student who is struggling with his choices in school and in life. Following the filmed footage of King being beaten by police officers, tensions run high throughout Los Angeles (and around the country), and several days and nights of riots ensue. Jordan's parents own a store in Koreatown, which they fear will become a target of the rioting. Jordan, in an effort to reconnect with his father, sneaks out of the house at night and tries to deliver his father's gun to his dad in an effort to help him protect the store from looters. The evening does not go entirely as Jordan had planned, and Troublemaker the story unfolds.

    I found this book to be a real page-turner, with themes I expect from someone like Jason Reynolds. But the publisher suggests this is a book for readers ages 8-14, which would include readers as young as 3rd grade. As much as I like the story, and you know I love historical fiction, the topics introduced here do not belong in the elementary school library. This is a solid read for 7th graders or older, but I strongly believe younger than that is inappropriate. 

    I liken this book to Attack of the Black Rectangles by A. S. King - another great topic and story, but not for younger readers. These topics, as important as they are, are too complicated for elementary readers. I don't say that lightly, as I'm all about reading what interests you! But really, save this for middle school, please. 4 paws for the topic and story, but minus 1 paw for the errant target readership.   3 paws.

Odder, by Katherine Applegate

    From prolific author Katherine Applegate (meaning she writes a lot of wonderful stories!) comes Odder - not her newest release, but only a couple of years old, and who could resist the otter on the cover, or a story told by Applegate? It turns out...not me! Odder is an otter, living in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. She loves loves loves to play, and with her friend Kairi they explore the ocean and all of its wonders. But Odder's mom told her to be careful of certain things - sharks, humans - but why worry about those creatures when you can dive! And spin! And somersault!

    Applegate has written another heart warming story about an otter named Odder, based on a true story of an otter who was rescued by the humans at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Like all of her other books - The One and Only Ivan being one of my favorites - Odder is not only hard to put down, but it also tugs at your heart the whole way. You will love love love Odder before you even finish this book, and be rooting for her and everyone in her life (well, maybe not the shark...) long after the story ends. 

    The author includes a link to the real Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter cam, so I'll include it here so you can get started falling in love even before you read the first page! 4 (otter) paws!

The Last Dragon on Mars, by Scott Reintgen

     I saw the second book in this series at the public library, and I decided that if I was going to try it (because the cover looked very cool!), I needed to read the first book first! The Last Dragon on Mars is the first book in this series, although not the first book for author Scott Reintgen. I have not read any of his other books before, but after finishing this one, I definitely want to read the second book in this dragon series!

    I admit up front that I am not normally much of a dragon dog, and I've mentioned before that I don't read a lot of fantasy, either (although I probably should - I almost always enjoy it!). The first two chapters of The Last Dragon on Mars made me want to go back and read my favorite dragon book ever - Dragon's Milk by Susan Fletcher, over again. However, after the second chapter of this book, I was hooked! Reintgen creates a universe where every planet, moon and star has a companion dragon, and these dragons, like their planets and moon and stars, are very unique characters and have history with each other. The Last Dragon on Mars is about Dread, the newest dragon in our solar system, and the 12-year-old boy Lunar Jones, who Dread is somehow connected with. I can't tell you much more without starting to give away details that you, dear reader, need to discover for yourself!

    This first book in the Dragonship Series is fun, creative, easy to follow, and a definite page-turner! I sent my human right to the library for the next book (although it was checked out...darn! Waiting patiently....). Even though I'm reading something else now, I'll come right back to the next book as soon as it gets returned! I don't think this will appeal to younger readers as much, as it is detailed and well over 300 pages long. But for you dragon-loving 4th and 5th graders? And especially middle grade readers? Go get this, put up your "do not disturb" sign, and enjoy! This is a treat! 5 paws!

Olivetti, by Allie Millington

     The cover of this book shows a drawing of a typewriter with flowers growing from within it. If you don't know what a typewriter is, imagine a keyboard and computer - but all together, like a laptop - although there are no lights, or screen, or the need for electricity of any kind to make it work. It doesn't need to charge up, and it won't quit if it isn't plugged in for a little while. No cords, but it does make noise when you use it. A cool, clicking noise, and each brand or style of typewriter has it's own unique sound as you type on it. After some time the electric typewriter came along, and that one did need a cord and electricity, and made a nice humming sound when it was turned on, but the buttons still clicked when you pressed them. Still no lighted screen - Oh, and all of this was before the Internet existed!

    Olivetti is the brand name of a typewriter, and the title of this book by Allie Millington. Olivetti is also a main character in the story, which tells you right away that there is some amount of fantasy built into the book. But it isn't a typical fantasy book, like a Harry Potter, with magic and wizards and such. In this book Olivetti is the typewriter used by Mrs. Brindle through the years as she writes and records stories from her life. Along with her husband, Felix, and their four very unique children, they live a wonderful life in the city of San Francisco. But there is something in the family's past that has changed Ernest, one of the children. With the help of Olivetti, he is destined to face this unknown past, and he seems to be on a difficult course to discover himself as well.

    I read a lot of books, as you know, and I really appreciate it when I come across one that is simply different from all the others! That is hard to do, and not required for me to give a book my highest rating. But when it does happen, like it did with Olivetti, it puts a little more joy in my wag! This book isn't perfect all the way through, but I loved it just the same! I love the unique choice of main character (a typewriter), and I quickly came to love Ernest, and kept turning pages to find out what happened next...would Ernest be okay? Realistic fiction meets a typewriter with feelings and a story of its own. Author Millington really makes it work - I hope it works for you, too! 5 paws!

The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy, by Angela Cervantes

     The newest book by award-winning author Angela Cervantes (Lety Out Loud). The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy is about...well, the stolen trophy from the world's most popular sporting event, futbol's World Cup! Cervantes introduces main character Diez Espada, an aspiring detective who takes after his late mother, also a huge mystery fan. Named after his dad's favorite soccer player's jersey number, #10 (Lionel Messi), Diez embarks on a wild adventure to try and discover who has stolen the beautiful World Cup trophy right out from under everyone's watchful eyes! He has help from his 8th grade crush, Rio, and a cast of other fun characters. 

    Cervantes provides plenty of references to real-life mystery author extraordinaire Agatha Christie, and the rest of the characters she collects in this story make it fun to read. For some reason Diez and Rio, and the way Cervantes wrote this particular story, reminded me of one of my favorite book series, Artemis Fowl, even though Artemis was a science fiction/fantasy series as well as a James Bond-type adventure. I wouldn't say this book was a real page-turner, but I did enjoy it overall. A couple of times I thought the author dropped information into the story to help move the plot along in a less-than-natural way, but being that this is written for kids like you and not dogs like me, I decided to keep rolling with it and not let it get in the way of my enjoyment! It was a fun read, and I hope you'll think so, too!          4 paws!