Tag Archive | friendship

Adventure! Villains! Hugs! INSCRUTABLE DOCTOR BAER & THE CASE OF THE TWO-HEADED STATUE, by Jerzy Drozd (graphic novel)

Jun17
Book cover of The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Headed Monster, graphic novel by Jerzy Drozd. A suit-attired bear with a complex magic staff and book races to escape a huge malevolent creature spewing crimson gore, followed by a piglet in a hooded cloak and a giant tortoise.

Cursed objects,
their histories carefully chronicled,
their spirits welcome to stay safely here!

Pickles the pig and Taft the gigantic tortoise are sure that seeing the many strange and scary curiosities in Doctor Baer’s collection will prepare them for dangers they’ll face later as aspiring adventurers.

Magic protects all entrances to the Doctor’s always-night mansion, so when Taft gets stuck in the doorway, evil sorcerer Gallus rushes through the gap to steal the powerful Stone Guardian statue!

Pickles and Taft fight against the sorceror’s battlesteed Wilhemina, toppling the statue which breaks in four pieces, each snatched by an again-cursed being that flees the mansion with its prize!

The four wisps of elemental magic released from the Guardian attach themselves to Doctor Baer’s staff and assist the crew of adventurers as they race against Gallus and Wilhemina to find all four artefacts.

Can the map in Doctor Baer’s painstakingly curated volume of daemon knowledge locate the pieces?
Do a tiny pig, a gigantic tortoise, and a professorial bear have any chance against evil Gallus and powerful Wilhemina?
Will the world ever be safe if Gallus can reassemble the Stone Guardian?

A graphic novel filled with the power of friendship and magic (especially hug magic), more adventure than Doctor Baer ever imagined, and darn cute characters trying to overcome obstacles to help others!

Full disclosure: I backed this graphic novel on Kickstarter and liked the PDF so well that I purchased a print copy from Bookshop.org!

Who is your favorite comic critter?
**kmm

Book info: The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Headed Monster / Jerzy Drozd, with color assistance from Aaron Polk, Sarah Pagliaro, Chloe Cordero, Steve Hamaker, Daniel Connor. Iron Circus Comics, 2024. [author site https://jdrozd.com/doctorbaer/] [publisher site https://store.ironcircus.com/products/the-inscrutable-doctor-baer-and-the-case-of-the-two-faced-statue] Personal copy; cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Who caused THE LOSS OF THE BURYING GROUND treaty ship at sea? by J. Anderson Coats (YA fiction)

Jun10
Book cover of The Loss of the Burying Ground, by J. Anderson Coats. Teen girls stand back-to-back, one looking upward defiantly, the other looking down in sorrow. The large sailing ship called Burying Ground is in front of them, surrounded by enormous waves.

Cora boards the ship with her mother and father, the newspaper man who’s documenting the peace treaty with those dastardly Ariminthians and its evil royal family.

Vivienne boards the ship as lady-in-waiting to the princess, whose father will sign the peace treaty with those dreadful Durans who train from childhood to wage war.

Every person, parcel, package, and pocket inspected by the other nation’s guards before being allowed onto the Burying Ground, and yet it blasts apart in neutral waters!

The two young women are its lone survivors, stranded on an island far from shipping lanes – Vivienne unwilling to outlive her princess, Cora determined to leave and get revenge.

Pirates come to their island! The girls work together to outwit them and escape, only to find that their rescue may enflame the war that the treaty was meant to stop!

How can Vivienne get her vital secret to the Royal Mother?
How can Cora avoid being scapegoated for the ship’s sinking?
Will the anti-war underground network help them?

This story of resourcefulness is told in alternating chapters by Cora and Vivienne, as each struggles against lifelong prejudices poured into them by propaganda and the powerful.

By the author of historical fiction set in pasts not always our own, like The Night Ride (recommended here https://booksyalove.com/?p=13684) and R For Rebel (https://booksyalove.com/?p=9958), who offered advance copies of this book on BlueSky – of course, I said yes!

What “everyone knows this about those people” have you learned was actually untrue?
**kmm

Book info: The Loss of the Burying Ground / J. Anderson Coats. Candlewick Press, 2024. [author site https://www.jandersoncoats.com/the-loss-of-the-burying-ground] [publisher site https://www.candlewick.com/9781536244434/the-loss-of-the-burying-ground/] Review copy via author and publisher; cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Learning to pitch, becoming brave, PAINTING THE GAME that she and Dad love, by Patricia MacLachlan (MG fiction)

May27
Book cover of Painting the Game, by Patricia MacLachlan. A softly smiling young girl with dark braids wears a baseball cap and leans forward, pitcher's mitt on left hand, gripping a baseball behind her back with right hand. A trio of grinning goats looks on.

Summertime,
baseball time,
finally pitching time?

Lucy loves playing baseball with her school friends Tex and Robin, but in her family, Dad is the pitcher, currently on a Massachusetts minor league team and working for a chance to play in the majors.

After watching Dad and his catcher Edgar win for the Salem Red Sox, the 11 year old decides to practice pitching very early in the morning, before her artist mother is awake and out in her painting studio.

Dad, Edgar, and his dog Ruby stay over on a rare 2-day break, bringing new baseball gloves for the three friends, watching them play a summer league game, laughing together at how well Ruby can catch and throw a baseball with her mouth!

Does Lucy have enough courage now to pitch for her team?
What are Mom’s secret paintings about?
Will the major league scouts at Dad’s next game see his great knuckleball talent?

This pivotal summer for Lucy, family, and friends unspools in her measured sentences and deep thoughts, much like a novel-in-verse – a beautiful story of baseball, friendship, and determination.

The last book written by the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, Lucy’s story was published after MacLachlan’s death in 2022, now available in paperback.

Have you ever watched a minor league baseball game?
**kmm

Book info: Painting the Game / Patricia MacLachlan. Margaret McElderry Books, hardcover 2024, paperback 2025. [author note https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Patricia-MacLachlan/38022587] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Painting-the-Game/Patricia-MacLachlan/9781534499959] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Lake, cousins, a treasure map! Is THE FIREFLY SUMMER their last one? by Morgan Matson (MG fiction)

May21
Book cover of The Firefly Summer, by Morgan Matson. On a lake with cabins and woods on either shore, life-vest-wearing tweens float beneath the title words, on standup paddleboard, kayak, canoe, inflatable pizza slice raft. The girl in center has an old map and is pointing the way the group should go next.

Whoa, this is utterly not the summer that Ryanna had meticulously planned while enduring sixth grade in LA and gaining a new (very nice) stepmother. Dad is directing a movie in Europe, and they’ll join him later in summer.

But then grandparents she doesn’t remember (Mom died when Ry was 3) invite her to their old summer camp at a lake in upstate New York, to “get to know where she’s from while she still can” – the anxious 11 year old decides to go, at least for a little while.

Wow, so many trees and family members! Ry has a rocky start with one cousin, meets a kid from across the lake that all the Van Camps are mad at, is supposed to jump into the lake with all her clothes on?

As things calm down, Ry appreciates her grandparents and aunts and uncles sharing their memories of Mom since they all spent summers together at Camp Van Camp. S’mores around the campfire, photos of Mom in her favorite thinking place – why didn’t Dad keep in touch with this side of Ry’s family?

This may be their last summer here since the neighboring property owner claims their land is his – if only they could find the deed agreement that Gramps and his old friend signed…

Mom’s favorite mystery book at age 12 inspired the treasure map that she drew! First clue is a quote by da Vinci that’s carved into the dock railing – the five cousins decide to hunt for the treasure.

The kid Ry met in the woods is the cousins’ former friend Holden, super angry that his dad wants to build ugly glass condos where the camp is and very willing to help hunt for the deed and the treasure!

Days and weeks fly by as the tweens swim, joke, argue, invent outdoor games, puzzle out clues on the map. Are they getting closer to finding that deed or is this their final summer of fireflies and family time together?

What’s your favorite summer-only memory?
**kmm

Book info: Firefly Summer / Morgan Matson. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, hardcover 2023, paperback 2024.[author site https://www.morganmatson.com/the-firefly-summer] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Firefly-Summer/Morgan-Matson/9781534493360] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Time for summer fun and romance – MEET ME AT WONDERLAND! by Julia DeVilliers (YA fiction)

May20
Book cover of Meet Me at Wonderland, by Julia DeVilliers. A teen girl in t-shirt and shorts holds a wearable moose head behind her back. She looks across the title written down a signpost at a taller teen boy wearing same t-shirt who has 1 foot on a soccer ball, with roller coaster in background.

Ferris wheel! Roller coaster!
Cotton candy! Pizza!
Stinky moose costume… well, someone has to wear it.

Coco is SO happy to finally be old enough to work at her family’s amusement park! After Mom’s cancer treatments and a crappy school year, the 14 year old needs to be surrounded by happiness at Wonderland.

Wearing the heavy Morty the Moose costume on her very first day, Coco crashes into new employee Henry, a cute guy who’s not from their small Adirondacks lake town.

Soon she and Henry are competing for staff MVP award, a far cry from the soccer glory that Henry crashed out of when he messed up his ankle recently.

Coco’s longtime friends at Wonderland think Henry is great; his long-divorced dad doesn’t. Luckily, the gigantic lakeside mansion is filled with the silliness of young Tuesday, daughter of Dad’s current girlfriend.

As summer goes on, Coco shares with Henry how her grandparents started Wonderland and how much it means to her.

Uh-oh – Dad’s big business deal is trying to buy out Wonderland! How will Coco ever forgive Henry?

Told in alternating chapters by Coco and Henry, this “moose-cute” summer romance is a roller coaster with a bit of bumper cars before meeting at the candy counter.

Happy book birthday, Meet Me at Wonderland!

What’s your favorite amusement park ride?
**kmm

Book info: Meet Me At Wonderland / Julia DeVilliers. Aladdin, 2025. [author site https://www.juliadevillers.com/] [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Meet-Me-at-Wonderland/Julia-DeVillers/9781665964241] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Marauding killer robots, crime, superheroes, and the SECOND CHANCE OF DARIUS LOGAN, by David F. Walker (YA fiction)

May12
Book cover of The Second Chance of Darius Logan, by David F. Walker. A black teen wearing a hoodie stands on a dark wrecked street corner, hands in his pockets as he stares across at brightly lit intact city buildings.

Superhero-fueled kid dreams,
teen nightmare cop chase!
What next?!

His abusive uncle drank up Darius’ survivor checks following the killer robot Attack that slaughtered thousands, including the young Black boy’s parents and newborn brother.

After bouncing around foster homes, one bad decision has the now 17 year old facing prison… or a Second Chance with the Super Justice Force that stopped the Attack from annihilating humanity.

At SJF World Headquarters, he meets superheroes like Captain Freedom whose merchandise enthralled him as a kid and metahumans with exceptional abilities, as well as other Second Chancers – criminals (including former supervillains) given this same opportunity to rehabilitate before it’s too late.

Darius likes his boss Manny and how they support SJF’s crimefighting work on Earth and beyond, appreciates Dr. Sam getting him into Second Chance, and tries to avoid security chief Maslon who’s hated Darius since the moment they met.

Completing school with online classes, meeting beautiful Elladia (Manny’s niece), getting leave to visit new superhero friends’ home for a cookout – great!
Being confined to World HQ, repeated drug tests and meeting with a counselor, being harassed by Maslon – not great.

When outside forces try to infiltrate HQ, his familiarity with every corridor and room helps Darius in the hunt – but what do they want to steal?

A high-stakes story of despair and hope, evil and redemption, friendship, love, and justice – first YA novel by long-time comic writer, filmmaker, professor, and journalist David F. Walker.

Your favorite superhero?
**kmm

Book info: The Second Chance of Darius Logan / David F. Walker. Scholastic Press, 2024. [author site https://davidfwalker.com/] [publisher site https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/the-second-chance-of-darius-logan-9781338826425.html] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Such a good dog! BOO LOVES BOOKS, by Kaye Baillie and Tracie Grimwood (Picturebook)

May6
Book cover of Boo Loves Books, by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Tracie Grimwood. Below title of "B o pawprint L o Heart e s Books" are a large tan and black medium-furred long-nosed dog and a small round-faced red-haired girl with 2 short side-ponytails and a plaid school uniform dress. They are lying on their tummies on the floor, looking at a picturebook together and smiling. More picturebooks are stacked nearby.

Everyone in her class loves to read, except Phoebe.

She doesn’t know all the letter sounds and doesn’t like being wrong, so she just keeps quiet.

What’s that? Miss Spinelli’s class will go someplace away from school – to read?!

Phoebe worries at home and on the bus and at the animal shelter. She doesn’t know much about dogs – how can she read to one?

Very, very shy Big Boo is scared of Phoebe? Miss Spinelli stays with them: “Your voice is all he needs.”

Big Boo doesn’t care when Phoebe gets stuck on a word, so they keep reading together!

A lovely story about the power of reading and being accepted, this 2020 release by an Australian author and illustrator duo is well worth finding, especially now during Children’s Book Week https://everychildareader.net/cbw/.

Is there a reading to shelter animals program near you?
**kmm

Book info: Boo Loves Books / Kaye Baillie, art by Tracie Grimwood. New Frontier Publishing, 2020. Distributed in USA by Lerner Books. [author site https://kayebaillie.com/] [illustrator site https://traciegrimwood.com.au/] [publisher site https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/20570] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

Always stylish, meet BAIT THE TOAD! by Kendra Powers (nonfiction)

May2
Book cover of Bait the Toad, by Kendra Powers. Photo of a large toad wearing a shiny black top-hat with red band, while sitting calmly on a large branch.

In his garden or on the road,
oh so dapper is Bait the Toad!

From his quiet beginnings on the banks of the Rio Grande River to rising TikTok star, Bait remains a humble toad.

His polymer clay hats range from seasonal to casual to fancy, each custom-made by his photographer/caretaker.

Of course, the natural world is his first love, and he’s become very fond of orchids, too.

Includes his style tips for toads and a reminder that “frogs and toads are entirely different – and while frogs must be kissed to become princes, toads are plenty royal on their own, thank you very much.”

This small-format book of Bait’s most charming photos is a great gift for amphibian lovers and a fun story-starter for kids – “what journey are Bait and the orange cat starting?”

What’s your favorite type of hat?
**kmm

Book info: Bait the Toad / Kendra Powers. Catalyst Press, 2023. [author/photographer interview https://www.catalystpress.org/post/author-q-a-kendra-powers] [publisher site https://www.catalystpress.org/bait-the-toad] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

W is WHERE WOLVES DON’T DIE, where a Native young man seeks safety and himself, by Anton Treuer (YA fiction) #AtoZ

Apr26
Book cover of Where Wolves Don't Die, by Anton Treuer. Shows red and black bear drawn in Ojibwe iconic style, title and author written on its body, mouth open in a snarl, claws swiping at the pair of wolves attacking its belly and back.

Noise, dirty snow, crowds,
prejudice, bully at school –
he longs to escape the city!

After Ezra defends his friend Nora against white bully Matt at their Minneapolis school, and then Matt’s house is set ablaze, the Native teen and his dad head quickly to his grandparents for winter break, on the First Nations rez in the Canadian forest where Ezra truly feels at home.

When Nora visits her grandma there, the Ojibwe teens decide to solve the mystery so Matt will leave them alone forever. Nora heads back to school, Dad goes back to teach at college, and the fifteen year old goes far into the woods with Grandpa Liam to run the winter trapline for the first time.

Lots of snow, lots of very hard work setting traps for lynx, marten, fox, and beaver. Checking and resetting the traps each day, offering tobacco in honor of each animal’s life taken. Staying alert for scavengers and predators that would steal their harvest. Doing homework every night, listening to Grandpa read aloud.

Why did Grandpa raise Dad up here on the trapline for so many years?
Will Rose discover who set the fire and trapped Matt’s uncle and dad inside?
Can Ezra forgive his dad for not keeping his mom away from the workplace that caused her cancer?

And in these remote woods is Chi, the biggest black bear, so large that a wolf pack won’t attack him as they would a normal black bear… may he stay sleeping as they finish trapline season!

A strong story of heritage, self-knowledge, friendship, love, and family history.

The first fiction book by Dr. Anton Treuer, professor of Ojibwe, whose Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians, But Were Afraid to Ask (Young People’s Edition) I recently recommended: https://booksyalove.com/?p=14672.

Today is Independent Bookstore Day, so visit https://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder to locate the one nearest you! Or use https://bookshop.org/ to have books shipped directly to you, with your favorite independent bookstore as the seller.

How far away would you go to escape an enemy?
**kmm

Book info: Where Wolves Don’t Die / Anton Treuer. Levine Querido, 2024. [author site https://antontreuer.com/] [publisher site https://www.levinequerido.com/where-wolves-dont-die] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

V is for young violinist and friends – AFTER THE WALLPAPER MUSIC, now what? by Jean Mills (MG Fiction) #AtoZ

Apr25
Book cover of After the Wallpaper Music, by Jean Mills. Shows a young teen girl with long flowing red hair, playing a violin whose music swirls up and around the title.

Music soothes, charms,
tells stories, connects us,
divides us?

“My violin has magic powers and transforms into a fiddle at night, and that’s when I play the Newfoundland tunes for Auntie Flora,” says her 13-year-old namesake (pg. 7) who enjoys her great-aunt’s traditional music as much as the classical pieces that she, Kristy, Bas, and Vlad play as a string quartet.

Year 8 begins with a new classmate! Simon’s rock star dad was invited to lecture at the university in their Canadian town. Sadly, his younger sister was killed in a car crash this past summer. Simon is very quiet at school.

When the quartet instructor announces a Battle of the Bands contest coming up and her friends want to play a video game theme song instead of an edgy modern classical composer, Flora isn’t thrilled.

Unexpectedly, Simon asks Flora to bring her violin to his house, and they try jamming to rock music with different instruments – amazing! They’ll enter the Battle of the Bands, too!

Juggling homework, quartet practice, and rock practice is tough – now Aunt Flora has fallen ill and must stay in the hospital! Mom, Dad, and big sister Agnes keep things going at home and nursing home – very tough.

Will her quartet friends get used to Flora playing with Simon, too?
Which band will win those New York City concert tickets?
Can Flora go back to playing the quartet’s classical “wallpaper music” only?

A school term filled with changes and changes! (Look for the lyrics and music to Auntie Flora’s favorite in the back of the book)

When have you had to decide whether to continue a project with friends or go your own way?
**kmm

Book info: After the Wallpaper Music / Jean Mills. Pajama Press, 2024. [author site https://jeanmillswriter.com/] [publisher site https://pajamapress.ca/book/after-the-wallpaper-music/] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher via Publisher Spotlight.