Showing posts with label aarene storms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aarene storms. Show all posts

Book review by Aarene Storms: Saving Sky

Monday, June 27, 2011

By Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"Saving Sky"  by Diane Stanley

7th grader Sky Brightman and her family live self-sufficiently off-the-grid in a not-too-distant future, when war with terrorists has led to alert days and rationing. They are relatively isolated from shortages and violence...until Sky's friend Kareem is targeted by Homeland Security.

The situation is not far-fetched, and the potential for this story to "be real" overshadows a stereotypical cast of characters. Readers looking for realistic fiction will enjoy this quick, sweet story. No cussing, no kissing, no on-page violence. Ages 12 to adult.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Book review by Aarene Storms: Missing

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

By Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"Missing" by Becky Citra
13-year-old Thea and her dad have move around a lot in rural Canada, working odd jobs and never keeping them, never staying very long in a single place, and Thea never manages to make friends at the schools she briefly attends. 

The job renovating guest cabins at Gumboot Lake might be different, however. The kid down the road is actually friendly to her, and introduces her to his family and friends. In addition, there is an abandoned horse who "came with the property", and Thea is determined to tame Renegade and teach him to trust people again. 

Then, Thea discovers that the ranch is also home to a long-unsolved mystery: the strange disappearance of a little girl.

Gradually, clues emerge--not only about the missing child, but also clues about Thea's dead mother. The mystery is engaging, the horse details are adequately accurate, and the story will appeal to reluctant readers, especially horse-loving girls. No cussing or kissing; appropriate for readers ages 10 and up.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Book review by Aarene Storms: The True Meaning of Smekday

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"The True Meaning of Smekday"  by Adam Rex

In her essay entitled "The True Meaning of Smekday", 11-year-old Gratuity "Tip" Tucci describes her life after the invasion of Earth, first by the alien Boov, and then by the even-more-alien Gorg. 

Her mother has been abducted by the Boov, so Tip and her cat Pig get into the family car to drive to the relocation center in Florida ... but along the way, they meet up with some unlikely folks including a band of lost boys at Happy Mouse World and a hip Boov mechanic called J.Lo.

Screwball comedy ensues, as Tip, Pig and J.Lo save Tip's mom, and defeat the Gorg in a very unexpected way. The comic illustrations add to the fun.

No sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, violence, or cussing. Recommended for readers 10 to adult; this is a great choice for reading aloud. Share it with a friend!
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Book review by Aarene Storms: Ireland

Monday, June 6, 2011

Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"Ireland" by Frank Delaney

Ronan O'Mara is nine years old in 1951 when he first meets the seanachi, a wandering storyteller who travels on foot through the country of Ireland collecting stories and leaving stories behind in the hearts of his listeners. The boy is entranced not only with the tale of the building of Newgrange "before Stonehenge in England, before the pyramids of Egypt", but also with the storyteller himself, to whom he is irresistibly attracted. When the seanachi moves on, Ronan wants so much to follow that he spends the next decades in search of the old man and the stories.

Tales of Ireland, from prehistory to the Easter Uprising, are beautifully interspersed with the story and fortunes of Ronan O'Mara and his family. Some stories are familiar; most are not. All are told with a huge epic narrative arc comparable to the novels of James Michener.

This is one of the most compelling, enjoyable books I have ever read. Recommended for readers ages 14 to adult who love a big, satisfying read. No on-page sex, but adult situations are implied. The blood and heartbreak of the Irish Post Office rebellion may be distressing to sensitive readers. A good choice for book discussion groups.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Book review by Aarene Storms: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by C. Alan Bradley

11-year-old Flavia deLuce is the youngest daughter of a fine old English family fallen onto hard times in the early 1950's. Fascinated by chemistry--and obsessed with poisons--Flavia is delighted rather than terrified when she finds a dead body in the cucumber garden. The murder (of course it is murder!) is the most interesting thing that has ever happened to Flavia, and soon she is hot on the trail of the murderer.

Eccentric stamp collectors, incompetent police detectives, a loony local librarian, an overly-motherly housekeeper who is a terrible cook, and some high-class sleight-of-hand are all part of a who-dunnit adventure that Agatha Christie would envy.

Although the protagonist is a precocious young girl, the book is written for an adult audience with cultural and historical references that younger readers would miss. The audiobook narrated by Jayne Entwistle is a delight. This book is the first in a series of "Flavia deLuce" mysteries.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Book review by Aarene Storms: Cloaked in Red

Sunday, May 15, 2011

"Cloaked in Red" by Vivian Vande Velde

"It's hard to determine the theme of "Little Red Riding Hood," says the author. "Don't go into the woods? Don't talk to animals who are capable of talking back? If you're going to make fun of your grandmother's appearance, make sure it truly is your grandmother..."

In this slim volume, the exasperated author re-tells the story of the girl in the red hood eight new and different ways in an attempt to make sense of the old tale. The result: eight clever interpretations with fresh characters such as a werewolf-granny, a nearsighted woodsman, and an especially clever red cape.

Fairy tale enthusiasts will enjoy the cheeky narrations. Recommended for ages 12 to adult.

(Also recommended: The Rumplestiltskin Problem by this author: fractured retellings of "Rumplestiltskin")

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern
Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach Library

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: "Blackout" and "All Clear" by Connie Willis

Thursday, May 5, 2011

by Aarene Storms, youth services librarian, KCLS Richmond Beach

Blackout by Connie Willis
All Clear by Connie Willis
audiobook editions read by Katherine Kellgren

The historians at Oxford in 2060 can time-travel to the times and locations of important historical events. The technology isn't perfect, but forty years of travelling through history has streamlined a lot of procedures so that historians cannot change history.

That's the theory, anyhow.

Polly, Mike, and Eileen are working independently on historical research assignments during WWII. Polly is studying shopgirls in London during the Blitz. Mike wants to observe heroism at the evacuation of Dunkirk. Eileen poses as a maid in a country manor to see the effects of the children's evacuation. All three become closely involved with their subjects...and each notices some glitches in their time-travel drops. Have they inadvertently changed history and created a paradox in which the time-travellers from 2060 don't even exist?

Blackout ends abruptly, and the action is picked up immediately in All Clear, the second part of this "double-decker novel". (The author notes that the two volumes are really a single book which the publisher released in two parts).

In All Clear, the reader learns that the glitches with the time-travel drops are worse than previoiusly known: not only will malfunctioning drops not open to allow historians to return home to the year 2060, the drops won't even allow the people in 2060 to travel back in time to share information or supplies with the people who are stranded in the past.

With bombs dropping overhead and a deadline approaching, the Oxford historians are desperate to find a way home. The characters from the future and the past are riveting, the history is deeply and flawlessly researched, and the action will keep readers glued to the book.

No sex, minimal cussing. There is, however, plenty of bloodshed--tactfully described whenever possible--relating to the casualties of war and bombing attacks on British cities and towns during the war. In reading these books, I learned more than I knew there was to know about English life in the 1940's, and I found it absolutely fascinating.

If you are seeking a story as hypnotic as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I recommend that you open up a copy of Blackout and All Clear.

For an extra treat, check out the audiobook edition of Blackout and All Clear, read by award-winner Katherine Kellgren, available from the library on CD and downloadable audio.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern



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Book Review by Aarene Storms:The Grimm Legacy

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

Elizabeth, the unloved stepchild and new kid in school, has no friends and not much fun in her life until she takes a job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository-a lending library for significant objects rather than books. Down in the basement are items collected by the Brothers Grimm as part of their fairy tale research: magic carpets, talking mirrors, dancing slippers, silk purses made from sow ears and more. But something is wrong with the magic in the items...and Elizabeth's coworkers are the main suspects.

A light mystery in a delightful setting that will charm the (magical) socks off of library staff and book lovers. Note that many of the illustrations are correctly cataloged!

No sex or cussing or bloodshed. A little bit of romance, a few kisses and some magic! Recommended ages 14 to adult.

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Plain Kate

Monday, January 31, 2011

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Kate's beloved father is a woodcarver, and she learns the trade from him. Although she is too young to be his apprentice, she shows remarkable talent for carving the magical objarka that people wanted to buy for luck...until the day that her father dies of the sickness they call the "witch's fever." Then, despite her skill, almost nobody wants to buy a lucky charm from Kate.

She seems destined to starve--or worse, for the villagers are beginning to think they should blame Kate for the witch's fever--when a strange man with magical powers offers Kate a bargain: he will take her shadow, and she will gain escape from the town and her dearest wish. She makes the deal, and begins her amazing adventure.

Plain Kate is a likable character, but the scene-stealer in this book is Taggle, the cat who is enchanted into speech. Taggle is funny, clever, selfish, vain, and tremendous--in short, he is no ordinary kitty, but rather a cat that TS Eliot would welcome into his book of poetry.

Those who love magic and those who love cats will be unable to resist this book. No cussing, no kissing, some magic, some blood, and more than a few tears.

Highly recommended for readers 12 to adult.

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: The Magician's Elephant

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Audiobook read by Juliet Stevenson

The fortune teller's words seemed to make no sense: to find his sister, whom he'd been told had died years earlier, young orphaned Peter DuChene must "follow the elephant." 

This begins a remarkable series of magic and miracles through a mythical Old World town in the midst of a bitter winter. The characters are outrageous and amazing: a missing sister, a singing beggar, a blind dog, a crippled stone carver, a magically-conjured elephant and most especially, a policeman who continually and hopefully asks: "What If?"

Inventive, surreal, and poetic prose narrate a fable to captivate readers and listeners, ages 8 to adult.

The audio book is highly recommended for all ages.

Aarene Storms is a storyteller and a librarian at the Richmond Beach Library
 

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Shiver

Sunday, October 10, 2010


Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Seventeen-year-old Grace has been fascinated with the wolves that live in the woods near her Minnesota town ever since she was attacked by the pack as a child and then rescued by a single wolf.

Eighteen-year-old Sam has been fascinated by Grace since the day of her attack--the day that he, in the form of a wolf, rescued her and returned her safely to her home.

Grace and Sam finally meet up in human form when he is injured by hunters. The teens quickly fall in love...but how long can their love last? Soon, the winter cold will force him back into the shape of a wolf...and this time, the change may last forever.

This tale of star-crossed lovers is a natural choice for fans of Twilight as well as readers who want a supernatural romance with better writing than most of the current vampire books available. There is some implied (off-page) violence when local hunters decide to kill the wolves, and some tactful ("Star Trek"-style) sex scenes between Grace and Same.

Shiver is the first in a series; book #2 Linger was released July, 2010.

Recommended for readers ages 12 to adult.

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Young adult fiction

Pretty, popular high school senior Samantha Kingston loves Cupid Day--the day when she will get tons of roses from her friends and admirers, party with her friends, and finally (maybe) have sex with her boyfriend. Instead, she dies in a car wreck after the party.

She is (justifiably) surprised to wake up the next morning...only to discover that she has awakened on the morning of the previous day, before the roses, before the party and before the accident. In seven "Groundhog Day do-overs" of her last day, Sam learns more about her friends, her boyfriend, her teachers, her family and herself. What will happen when she learns everything she needs to know?

Sam's gradual transformation from a shallow "popular girl" to a real person worth caring about is gracefully executed and results in a couldn't-put-it-down book. The story references sexual situations, drug use and teen drinking.

Highly recommended for ages 14 and older. 

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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Skinned

Friday, July 9, 2010


Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Review by Aarene Storms, RB Teen Librarian

17-year-old Lia is rich, popular, pretty, athletic...and technically, dead.

Futuristic technology has allowed Lia's brain to be salvaged from the traffic accident that killed her body. With her memories downloaded into an indestructible mechanical body, Lia tries to re-enter her old life where she left off. However, society now treats her as non-human, her friends have moved on, her boyfriend is freaked out and her family doesn't want her back. Only Auden, an outcast boy from Lia's old school, is willing to be her friend. But, is there any future to a relationship between an imperfect, easily-damaged "org" and an immortal "mech head?"

This thought-provoking novel is first in planned trilogy that explores the definition of humanity. It contains few wispy hints of sexual activity (nothing on-page) and no cussing. Drug use is part of this society's normal experience-Lia's exclusion from drug use activities gives her and the reader an interesting perspective.

Recommended for readers who enjoy dystopic and futuristic novels, ages 14 to adult. 

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Book Review by Aarene Storms

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Wonderland by Tommy Kovac, illustrated by Sonny Liew

Wonderland has never recovered from Alice's visit and the housemaid Mary Ann is still being mistaken for "the Monster Alice." In this splendid graphic novel, Mary Ann falls down a Treacle Well, encounters the Queen of Spades, is nearly beheaded by the Queen of Hearts, has tea with the March Hare and the Mad Hatter, and chats with the Cheshire Cat--and still finds the time to fret about jam stains on her apron.

The author and illustrator are completely comfortable in Wonderland, and do not spend any time explaining the original backstory. Readers who have only seen the old animated Disney movie will be as fuddled as Alice herself, but those familiar with Lewis Carroll's stories will chortle for joy at this unique treatment of the tale and characters. Calloo! Callay!

No cussing, no kissing and no futterwacking - but tons of fun.

Recommended for readers ages 10 to adult.

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Book review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Monday, April 5, 2010

Book Review by Aarene Storms, Richmond Beach Library

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The most horrible day of the year in District Twelve is "Reaping Day," when two young people are randomly chosen to participate as Tributes in the brutal Hunger Games. When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen's younger sister is chosen, Katness doesn't hesitate: she volunteers to take Prim's place in the game that will test her resourcefulness. In order to survive, she must win the game. In order to win, she will have to kill the other Tributes.

Plot twists abound and the suspense is absolutely brilliant. Themes of oppression and rebellion are intricately woven with a tale of survival and abiding love. The audiobook read by Carolyn McCormick is riveting. Adventure, action, violence and compassion.

A few kisses; no sex or cussing, but plenty of blood.

Highly recommended for ages 12 to adult.

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Book Review - Rapture of the Deep by L.A. Meyer

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

by Aarene Storms, Richmond Beach Library
 
On the very morning of her wedding to Jaime Fletcher, intrepid Jacky Faber is grabbed by British Naval Intelligence once again and given a new assignment: to locate a sunken Spanish treasure ship and retrieve the gold therein to bolster British coffers which have been depleted in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte. Disguised as sponge divers on a scientific exploration mission, Jacky and her faithful crew are accompanied by characters returning from earlier Bloody Jack books, including the noble Captain Hannibal Hudson, the handsome Lord Richard Allan, the lowlife-slimeball Lieutenant Flashby, and--at last--Jacky's own beloved Jaime. They are joined by a full cast of new characters as well, including pirates, barkeeps, cockfighters, orphans and treacherous Spanish sailors.
Action, adventure, brawling, singing, dancing, swimming and shooting.

Bloody Jack fans, rejoice!
This series is recommended for readers--and listeners-ages 8 to adult.

The story contains some minor cussing (in English and Spanish), and some bloodshed (including post-battle medical scenes) and some very tactful sexual references, none of which should alarm any but the most fainthearted of readers.

Audiobooks from this series narrated by Katherine Kellgren, including Bloody Jack and Curse of the Blue Tattoo, have collected some of the most prestigious awards available for audiobook recordings. I eagerly await the release of the audio of Rapture of the Deep, which I fully expect will live up to the high expectations set by earlier offerings.

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