Book review by Aarene Storms: The Tea Dragon Society

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill (graphic novel)

Young Greta is learning to be a blacksmith from her mum, but yearns for something more. Then she rescues a lost "tea dragon" and returns it to the owner, who offers to teach Greta -- and later, Minette -- the art of caring for tea dragons, keeping them warm and fed and harvesting the precious, magical tea leaves that grow on their horns.

This brief, beautiful graphic novel features diverse characters: Greta is a person of color, and is also part-goblin, Minette has a brain injury and a tail, the tea master is an elderly ?coyote-person? and the tea master's spouse is in a wheelchair. But the characters take backseat to the narration, and the joy of the thing is in the quiet, kind story.

Recommended for misfits, tea drinkers, and dragon lovers, ages 10 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Video book review: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Aarene Storms' video book review

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

by Kim Michele Richardson

Listen to the review HERE - 3 minutes

This is Aarene Storm's view as she reviews 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

Read more...

Video book review: Virtual doorstops

Aarene Storms book reviews live!

Here's local librarian Aarene Storms with a video book review on "Virtual Door-stops," -- books that are so big (in real life) that you could use them to prop open doors.

All these books are available for download onto your device, so they aren't heavy at all -- just really long books, perfect for a long day of reading.

And here it is - on You Tube - no special sign up required: HERE

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Pumpkin Heads

Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

It's Halloween night, the last night that high school seniors Deja and Josiah will work together at the local pumpkin patch theme park.

Josiah is mooning over some girl who usually works at the fudge shop, and Deja is ready to help him find love among the gourds ... but somehow, the fudge shop girl is always a step ahead of them as they sample the caramel apples, explore the corn maze, and get chased by the resident Billy Goat.

Light romance and fun seasonal drawings in this charming graphic novel. Recommended for readers who love Halloween and sweet stories.

Ages 10 to adult, no cussing or nekkidness, but some truly obscene food (pumpkin bomb, anyone?).


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Bake Like a Pro

Bake Like a Pro by Falynn Koch (Maker Comics)

Magician's apprentice Sage is disappointed when she is assigned to work with the village baker. Baking doesn't seem very magical! But (with the help of Master Korian and a kitchen full of talking ingredients) Sage soon learns that cooking = chemistry = magic.

Contains recipes and friendly explanations for the processes and ingredients. Cookies, breads, cheese biscuits, cake and pies are all discussed, with fun comic illustrations to make the science a little sweeter.

Fun comic illustrations combined with science nerd stuff and food? I'm so there. I only intended to glance at this book when it crossed my desk and ended up reading the whole thing.

And now: to the kitchen! Recommended for ages 8 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book reviews: Aarene Storms talks dragons

Who doesn't love a dragon?

Librarian Aarene Storms, whose wonderful book reviews we have been publishing for a decade, has decided to go digital along with everyone else.

Her newest experiment: booktalking videos. 

She plans to produce (at least) one of these each week, focused on a different topic. 

This time, the topic is DRAGONS, and features a book written for adult audiences, a teen book, and a book for kiddos.

HERE it is!

In addition to the video, she has made a book list of many, MANY dragon books that are available in download format. 

Here's the link to that

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Knights vs. Dinosaurs

Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan

Merlin's response to the bragging of King Arthur's knights: send them on an adventure where they will find real terrible lizards.

And that's how this adventure starts, with

• Sir Erec (who brags a big too much)
• Sir Bors (who bullies a bit too much)
• Sir Hector (who reads a lot, but probably not too much)
• Squire Mel (who carries heavy stuff like weapons)
• and the mysterious Black Knight (who is mysterious)

They expect to find a dragon. Maybe two dragons.

Instead, they find dinosaurs.

This is my new favorite book for middle grade readers. Fun characters, fun adventure, super-fun dinosaurs. Highly recommended for readers ages 8 and up, and listeners ages 5 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

audiobook read by Robin Miles

Willow Chance was adopted as a baby by parents who understand and delight in her peculiar genius and her fascination with the natural world and with diseases. Then, her parents are both killed in a car wreck, and there's nobody around who understands Willow.

Or is there?

Willow is "temporarily" taken in by the Vietnamese-speaking family of a girl she barely knows ... and soon, everything begins to change.

Fabulous narrative that swaps between 1st person (Willow) and 3rd person (everybody else) to tell this story of a unique young women's search for home and family.

Highly recommended. No cussing, no kissing, no violence, no drugs ... but there are a lot of digressions on topics like broken hearts, the importance of the color red, and the life cycle of sunflowers. The audiobook read by Robin Miles makes a comfortable companion on the road.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: The Clincher

The Clincher by Lisa Preston (Horseshoer Mystery #1)

Rainy Dale is relatively new in town, but already she's made some friends and some enemies ... and there are more than a few folks that she's not yet sure about. When one of her horseshoeing clients turns up dead, Rainy must sort through clues and suspects to find the real murderer--preferably, before the murderer finds Rainy.

This quick-paced whodunit will appeal to readers who like quirky characters and lots of red herrings. The detective is carrying some mysterious baggage that will definitely hinder her, but she also has some unusual skills that will come in handy. The setting in rural Oregon is well-realized, and the horse-y details are just right.

Highly recommended.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Mighty Jack and Zita the Space Girl

Mighty Jack and Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke (graphic novel)

(Mighty Jack #3, Zita the Spacegirl #4)

What could be better than a new Zita the Spacegirl graphic novel?

Only this: Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl : together in one action-packed story full of aliens, giants, goblins, magic, science, and all the other wonderful stuff that Ben Hatke crams into his fabulous graphic novels.

If you like Zita or Jack, you're going to love this book. If you don't ... what's wrong with you, srsly? :-)

Fighting between the heroes and various blobby bad guys, but no blood, no cussing and no nekkidness. Highly recommended for all creatures, ages 8 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Wayward Son

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell (Simon Snow #2)

Simon Snow is still the worst Chosen One ever, and now he's the worst Chosen One with no magic who refuses to get off the couch. Baz is the vampire boyfriend who loves Simon and doesn't know how to help. Penelope is the other friend who doesn't know how to help.

And then, Agatha (the other-other friend) needs rescuing (again), so Simon (finally) gets off the couch and flexes his wings (yes, wings) and the whole gang heads out on an All-American Road Trip, where they meet up with were-skunks, dragon-mountains, Renn-Faire Vampires, and so much more.

Come for the plot, stay for the characters. The story started slowly, and if it weren't for my prior love of this author and these characters and this world, I'd have abandoned the book days ago. Happily, I didn't abandon it, because once they got the vampire into the convertible heading across Illinois, I wanted it to go on forever, with the little twists and turns that Rainbow Rowell writes so awesomely.

Blood (vampires, duh), cussing (in British and American), magic (of various types), fighting (with words, swords, and other implements of destruction), kissing, Thai food, SUVs, off-page sex, underage drinking, and other good stuff.

Highly recommended for ages 14 to adult, but read book #1 Carry On first if you want the whole thing to make sense.

 
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Deer Woman

Deer Woman : a vignette (graphic novel)

edited by Elizabeth La Pensee and Weshoyot Alvitre

Deer Woman (also called "Deer Lady" in some indigenous groups) comes to the aid of women and girls in trouble, stomping their assailants with her strong hind hooves.

Sometimes she is alone, sometimes she brings others with her. She triumphs, always. The stories in this collection are strong, and the illustrations are stronger.

The book was hard to read -- I had to walk away several times to allow my heart to slow down. There are so many trigger warnings here: violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, blood. And they are all necessary to tell this story.

Take the time. Give yourself permission to read, and to walk away when you need to. And then come back, and finish reading.

Recommended for all humans.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Cheshire Crossing

Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir and Sarah Andersen (graphic novel)

Dorothy Gale. Alice Liddell. Wendy Darling.

Powerful girls who, somehow, visited magical worlds and returned safely.

But now, they are considered (to say it politely) crazy.

When the three meet up at a very unusual asylum, adventure is guaranteed to happen ... and they gain help from the perfect person to offer help with magic.

Cute, fun, and totally distracting. In other words: ideal for avoiding real life.

Cartoon cussing, a kiss or two, and lots of magic. Recommended for readers (like me!) who like that sort of thing, ages 12 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Swordheart

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Halla is a sensible, middle-aged widow who has kept house for an elderly uncle since the death of her (unloved) husband. Now, her husband's (unloved) family is after Halla and her (desirable) inheritance. Choosing suicide over a forced marriage to a clammy-handed cousin, Halla draws the sword left in her inheritance...and meets the handsome soldier held captive within the blade.

Then, things go terribly wrong.

Outstanding world-building (in the realm of the "Clocktaur" stories, but this stands alone), and most of all, totally hilarious. I giggled through the entire book, and I want more stories about Halla!

Extra points for gender-fluid characters, outstanding non-humans, really cool and complicated magic, problem-solving that doesn't depend only on fireballs and swordplay, and a romance protagonist who isn't 17 years old.

Recommended for fantasy readers with brains, ages 12 to adult. Some on-page sexual situations, some cussing, some nekkidness, a little bit of blood, quite a lot of magic.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Words on Fire

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The year is 1893, and 11-year-old Audra lives quietly with her parents in Russian-occupied Lithuania. The czar is determined to obliterate all traces of Lithuanian culture. All things Lithuanian are banned: the language, the religion, even the books of the conquered country, and soldiers will use any excuse -- or no excuse at all -- to harass, arrest, and even kill peasants who show signs of resistance.

When Audra's parents are arrested and shipped out to Siberia, she falls in with a peculiar band of criminals who sneak into adjacent Prussia and buy books to smuggle back to their homeland. The task is dangerous, probably even deadly, but Audra insists that it is a task her parents would want her to undertake.

This story of war and resistance is well-researched and well-told. Audra's growth from timid child to cunning smuggler is inspiring, and the end of the book (while statistically unlikely) is satisfying for readers invested in the story.

 
Recommended for ages 12 to adult, especially those who "want another" after reading Between Shades of Gray (Sepetys) and The War That Saved My Life (Bradley).

  

No cussing, no kissing, no nekkidness, but plenty of frightening scenes of injury, violence, and death.

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Sunny Rolls the Dice

Sunny Rolls the Dice by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (graphic novel) with color by Lark Pien

In 1977, 7th-grader Sunny tries so hard to be a "groovy" teen. Her best friend Deb seems to know all the rules about fashion, boys, and general coolness, but Sunny just doesn't get it. 

The only time she's really comfortable is when she's down in the basement playing Dungeons and Dragons with guys from school, slaying giant spiders, evading traps, and escaping from a Gelatinous Cube. 

Why don't her skills in the game transfer to real life? Or... do they?

I honestly wonder if authors Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm were watching my own geeky forays into adolescence while writing this book, and I daresay that even readers who weren't (errr, "aren't") gamers will relate to Sunny's awkward efforts to fit in without losing herself. 

Aarene, age 19 playing Dungeons and Dragons

(Yes, this is a photo of me, age 19, playing D/D at the public library in Bellingham)

Recommended for adolescents ages 12 to adult.

No sex, drugs, nekkidness, or cussing.

The only rock 'n roll is the Bee Gees and Styx, does that even count?

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Trail of Lightning

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

The climate has collapsed world-wide, and society has collapsed with it. One of the few remaining livable places is Dinetah, formerly known as Indian Country, and it is ringed by a 60' wall that makes the current US southern "border wall" look like a toddler's sand castle.

In this place, at this time, is Maggie Hoskie, and she hunts the monsters that have come with the end of the last world and the beginning of the new one.

She is aided (sometimes) by immortal beings and creatures out of myths and nightmares. But there are more monsters than monster-slayers, and that is going to be a problem.

If Joe Leaphorn, Harry Dresden, and Mad Max spawned a daughter, she would be a lot like Maggie Hoskie. And her story would be a lot like this one... but this one is maybe even more bad-ass.

The action is intense, the monsters are scary, and the blood flows copiously at times. Also, there's some cussing, and some kissing, and some magic. First in a series. Recommended.

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Last Bus to Everland

Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron

At home in Edinburgh, Brody is overlooked and bullied. Everything about his life is difficult. Then, Nico shows Brody the door to Everland: a magical door that only opens at 11:21 on Thursday nights.

Inside Everland, Brody is able to embrace all of his dreams, but most of all, Everland is full of people who understand Brody-- unlike the real world, where nobody understands anything.

Brody and Nico and their friends explore the wonders of Everland, playing music, attending parties, and wearing outrageous costumes. It seems like a place where they could stay forever-- and like Peter Pan's Neverland, it might be a place where they never need to grow up.

Then, the doors out of Everland start disappearing, and Brody needs to make a choice: stay in Everland with Nico, or return to his home and his family.

A diverse cast of main and supporting characters make this compelling story even more wonderful.

Highly recommended for ages 12 to adult, especially those who are still waiting for a Hogwarts letter, sometimes check the back of the wardrobe for doors, and always leave the window open, just in case.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: The Great Alone

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

It's 1974. Dad is a Vietnam POW survivor and has massive PTSD, including nightmares and rampant paranoia. Mom figures that if she loves him enough, he'll stop bashing her around. Daughter figures if she can keep a low-enough profile, everything will be "fine."

They decide to move to a (then) remote area of Alaska. BECAUSE 6 MONTHS OF DARKNESS WILL DEFINITELY MAKE THINGS BETTER?!?!

As the narrative steadily chugged towards catastrophe, I could not look away-- in fact, I had to shut off the audiobook and switch to print so I could survive it faster.

Recommended, but there are plenty of triggers, including a lot of domestic violence, cussing, sexual situations, bullying, mental illness, alcohol, PTSD, and blood.

Best to read this in summer, when it isn't so dark out there.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: On the Come Up

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas 

Bri is 16, daughter of a famous (late) rapper, and she thinks she's ready to take the stage, but other stuff keeps getting in the way: her neighborhood, her school and even her family.

Less violent and intense than this author's first hard-hitting book The Hate U Give, but still full of grit and real life.

The characters are diverse without being stereotypes. 

There's room for a sequel, but the story clearly stands alone. 

Buckets of cussing, some kissing and sexual situations, some off-page drug use, some violence.

Recommended for readers ages 16 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org

Read more...