fairrosa: So.. you gave this book 5 stars. Is it that great?
Lily: Yes. Because I felt that it made you very emotional and so you had a connection with the book.
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fairrosa: Why do you like All-of-a-Kind Family?
Lily: I liked this book because it’s about five girls and they have adventures and it’s very exciting.
fairrosa: Do you have something to say about the second book?
Lily: Yes. It has a lot of tension.
fairrosa: How? What happened?
Lily: There was a disease going around and they didn’t want to catch it.
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Pages: 280
Publisher: Dial (Penguin Putnam)
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
Every scene is necessary in this tightly written and thoroughly researched historical novel. The events unfold as the momentum gains and as Toyo’s self-understanding grows – subtly but with such forces that I could not put the book down. The opening scene of detailed Seppuku (suicide by cutting open one’s own stomach) ritual and some of the High School hazing methods are definitely not for the faint of heart. Yet this is not a book about violence, but about honor, loyalty, teamwork, inner strength, and physical strength, as well. All the necessary components of a successful baseball team.
To link the spirit of Bushido (Way of the Warriors) and baseball presents such a fresh look on the American’s National Pasttime that will inspire many young readers to think about the sport they love more deeply and meaningfully. This is an amazing and perfect book!
Note on Cultural Inaccuracies: My suspicion was confirmed by a Japanese friend that since Gratz is not Japanese, nor is he an expert in the Japanese language, some cultural inaccuracies occur in the book. The most glaring problem for me is the use of first names of anyone elder. It simply is not done — not then, and not even now in the 21st century. A son will never call his own father by the first name – no matter HOW much he detest his own father. When calling an upper classman, one will always use honorifics: -san and -sempai attached to either the first or last names; and when the younger students are addressed, the older ones might use -kun. These can be easily researched — even a simple google search or any entry level Japanese language text book can reveal the correct usage of these honorifics. Since it IS still an integral part of the Japanese culture, the ignoring of such practice shows a certain mentality from the author and the publisher. What a shame!
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Pages: 256
Publisher: Little, Brown
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
I had to try twice to finish this book. During the first attempt, I got SO annoyed by the piled-on, not-always-so-clever, made-me-cringe similies and metaphors (dried shitake mushroom of a heart?) that I simply had to put it down. I couldn’t believe that the author was getting away with such a case of over-writing syndrome.
However, since I had to read it for the Asian Pacific American Award of Literature, I braced myself to continue reading. Gradually, I accepted that this habit of overusing figures of speech belongs not to the author but to the narrator, who is both an over-achiever and someone who does not recognize her own strengths. Lots of humor and cultural references (although they can be somewhat stereotypical) – both realistic and with quite a bit of exaggeration make the book eventually an entertaining read, albeit a bit of a mess in plot twists and tangents. But, hey, a half-half Taiwanese-White American girl whose father went absentee when she was just a tot, whose mother is pushy and demanding, whose brother just got into Harvard, and whose first love turns out to bit quite a jerk, is nothing short of a messy situation.
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Pages: 140
Publisher: Hougton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
Since so many people love this book, I was unwilling to read it, afraid that I’d find it undeserving in some way. But, I, too, fell in love with it right away. My admiration of the author’s skill in telling a simple and yet complex story sustains until the very last word on the very last page. What a refreshing experience.
The characters, major or minor alike, have such depth. Many things are unsaid about them, but the reader senses a strong “knowing” of their souls from the few key moments in life Lowry chooses to present. The elegant text, deceptively simple, reminds me of my favorite Dickinson poems: a few words, arranged just right, describing the most common personal experiences, can encompass the immensity of the collective human minds — conscious or subconscious.
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Pages: unpaged
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
This picture book in comic book style is near perfect in every way. The narrative is fluid, the story is exciting, the cultural details are accurately portrayed both in text and illustraion, and the pictures are expertly rendered. I am impressed at how O’Brien effectively conveys varied moods by simple changes of each facial feature.
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Pages: 387
Publisher: Greenwillow
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
Such an intriguing, subtle, and exciting book! Since I did not read the first two in the trilogy (The Thief and Queen of Attolia,) the first chapters of this one are somewhat confusing because all the relationships between characters and the political complications are presented in the most ambiguous way. I know this is Turner’s style and became appreciative of this ambiguity as the tale unfolded in front of me. I learned to just sink into the story, follow the lead of the narrator and let go of my impulses to make sense of everything, trusting that all will make sense eventually. And it delivered: all the threads are gathered at the end and the knot is tied up neatly, very satisfying! And I couldn’t help but falling in love with the characters — all of them, but mostly, of course, with the King and the Queen, whose love for each other rises out of the page and grabs hold of me, almost physically. This read is quite an “experience.”
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Pages: 172
Publisher: Putnam (Penguin)
Edition: Hardcover (Galley), 2006
Mina’s story is told with such quiet power by An Na that it’s almost unbearable to read. So much stuff is laid on the shoulders of this one child: her mother’s expectations, family secrets, lies, her sister’s wellbeing… It is almost unrealistic. But it does feel real — her relationships with all people in her life, from the former childhood friend to the new boyfriend, from her helpless sister to her dominating mother, all ring true. Suna’s story is not as fleshed out, although she is given her own chapters — they are all quite dream-like, which I believe is An Na’s intention, and yet, I’m left with a sense of dissatisfaction at the incompleteness of her story, especially toward the end.
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– for the first 300 or so pages – for the last 200 or so pagesPages: 528
Publisher: Riverhead
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
If I hadn’t wanted so much to finish the series of Otori tales, and hadn’t heard that the ending is truly worthwhile, I would have put down the book at page 215 or so. The first half of the book needs so much editing! Hearn’s static character descriptions (a long paragraph on the appearance and the personality of each major and minor character), while charming in small doses, become an annoyance when too many new (or old but forgotten by book 4) characters are introduced this way. And the repeated explanation of “The Way of the Houou” leaves me feeling that Hearn cannot trust her readers’ intelligence to have grasped the philosophical underpinning of the way of peace. The plot development is also painfully slow.
I have no problem with the fact that this is a story of Takeo and Kaede when they are adults — but it really would have been better for me if there has been a better balance of politics and tribe skills (up the fantasy element, down play the political struggles). Someone mentioned on Amazon.com that it is disappointing how Kaede is reduced to a plain character troubled by traditional prejudice (against the twins), the lack of a male offspring, and other petty feelings. I can agree with that — Takeo continues to be a fully drawn character but Kaede becomes quite shadowy. Her feelings are told without the possibility of deep understanding by the reader. Her final actions, however, are in keeping with her passionate nature. Her old coolness in facing adverse situations sprang from her love and trust for Takeo. Thus, she cannot possibly keep her cool when that foundation is destroyed.
But… the ENDING — the last 150 pages or so… MY GOODNESS. I often shed tears over incidents and characters in books, but the violent sobs and non-stoppable stream of tears are uncommon, even for me. Two days after closing the book, the sorrow still tinges my mood.
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Pages: 166
Publisher: Philomel Books
Edition: Hardcover 2006
Ellen Potter really knows how to build upon the utterly unbelievable scenarios and make them seem oh-so-plausible. Her New York City apartment buildings (as in the Olivia Kidney books)expand into wonderlands that even the lovers for Carrollian twists and turns will find tantalizing. The mystery, the unique characters, (11-year-old Clara Francofile who owns nothing but simple black dresses and a keen sense of the social standings of each celebrity coming through her parents’ restaurant and her co-star Annabelle Arbutnot, pre-teen master burglar, for example) and the satisfying resolution all just WORK! A truly fun read.
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Pages: 259
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Edition: Hardcover, 1997
When I say a novel is comprised of a series of character studies, I usually mean that in a negative way. I usually mean that there is no story or there is no emotional impact. However, when I say that there are impeccable character studies abound in Habibi, I mean that Nye is so skilled at “sculpting” her characters that they all come to life, each of them in 3D glory! Their relationships — from a street vender who appears in two brief scenes, to Liyana and her family members and her new found friends — are incredibly real and moving. Yes, there is not a strong story-arc and yet you don’t feel like you’d put the book down — you want it to go on for a long long time. You want to know what happens to the budding romance between Liyana (American/Arabic) and Omer (Jewish) in the city that divides them by ethnicities (Jerusalem). You want to know how Poppy’s (Father) new found cause of making the country better and more peaceful develops. You want to watch Rafik (Liyana’s cool nerd of a younger brother) grow up and see what kind of girlfriend he’ll have.
A tender book about a violent time and place that is both important and more than well articulated. Nye’s native skill as a poet adds sparkle and dimension to her story.
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Pages: 324
Publisher: HarperCollins
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
I’m so glad that this series did not end with either a completely depressing scenario or a sappy silly one. It felt emotionally profound and satisfying. But… did the series really end? How about that extra chapter? How about The Beatrice Letters (which was published not long ago and which somehow “predicts” the next adventures AFTER The End has ended.)
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Pages: 355
Publisher: William Morrow
Edition: Hardcover, 2006
This book is such a treasure — from the cover design to the very interesting, informative introduction, to each of the 30+ stories and poems. It is odd to think of this book with such fondness and deep, comforting satisfaction when most of the stories are unsettling, dark, often with unrestrained gore and tragic situations. I wanted to write my reaction to each of the story… but simply didn’t have time. Here are some of my favorite pieces. The short summary is just so I won’t forget what the stories are about…
October in the Chair
(the little boy running away, meeting a little ghost boy…)
Forbidden Brides of the Facelss Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire
(meta-fiction of a young writer, living in a world of fantasy and trying to write his own “realistic fiction”)
Bitter Grounds
(a “zombie” like traveler, assuming another’s identity…)
Other People
(very short and philosophical piece of demons in hell)
Harlequin Valentine
(tricking and being tricked — do not lightly give away your heart — pinning it on the door, with blood dripping..)
The Problem of Susan
(what happens to Susan after the Last Battle from the Narnia books…)
Instructions (poem)
(instructions to one who finds herself trapped inside a fairy tell)
My Life (poem)
(tall-tale goth and funny)
Feeders and Eaters
(a really creepy cannibal story)
Goliath
(a possible story from the world of the movie Matrix)
The Day the Saucers Came (poem)
(humorous accumulative love letter)
Sunbird
(what happens when you have eaten all the rare and precious foodstuff – and not so-foodstuff – in the world)
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Pages: 99
Publisher: FSG
Edition: Hardcover, 2004
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Pages: 192
Publisher: Candlewick
Edition: Paperback, 2004 (2000)
Lily says, “The book is cute. I like how much friendship they show to each other.”
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Pages: 128
Publisher: Vertigo
Edition: Paperback, 2000 (1999)
Beautifually haunting, both in text and illustration. Typically Gaiman. And I am a sucker for his style. The tenderness of a tragic love is revealed with poetic, dream-like prose. Gaiman is masterful in conjuring up not only paradoxical phrases, but paradoxical imagery and emotions: we find beauty in the macabre, humor in the tragic, hope in the despairing…
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Pages: 152
Publisher: Pantheon
Edition: Hardcover, 2005
This amusing and thoughtful graphic novel seems to not know whether it exists to answer some really big questions (about life, love, religion, humanity, prejudice, etc.) or to further confuse the readers on all fronts! I love the Cat, and adore the Rabbi. Both are very well-drawn (in text and in pictures) characters. However, I do not take to the way how most of the panels are presented: the illustrations serve as accompaniment to the descriptive paragraphs: very few of them include dialogs between the characters.
It gets to be tedious after a while and the author/illustrator’s voice/hand become too apparent for my taste. Once again, the last part of the “story” seems disjointed from the rest of the book and the sense of lacking a resolution makes me unhappy…
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Pages: 240
Publisher: First Second, Roaring Brooks
Edition: Paperback original, 2006
I cannot pin down my own reaction to this graphic novel. It is beautifully produced: glossy paper, clean layout, the comic illustrations are quite skillfully done, and the storytelling is at moments quite intelligent. But, that what I felt most reading the book was how all parts of it are “adequate” and how I was aware of all these components at the same time finding myself not terribly moved in any way. I was not offended, either — even by the buck-teethed, slant-eyed, Engrish-speaking caricature of a Chinese cousin (I knew that he served some form of purpose other than ridiculing the Chinese as a whole.) I felt little revelation — even when the three story lines finally get twisted together, the surprise factor only lasted a short moment and then the bigger lingering question remains: “Are these three stories organically entwined due to an unyielding internal creative force or are they forced together because it seems like a cool idea to connect a current day ABC’s destiny to an old Chinese Legend?” For me, the resolution definitely lacks the power to convince me that this tale cannot be told better.
The best part of the book actually is the very short, very straightforward, very truthful retelling of the Monkey King story — I wanted more of that!
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Pages: 160
Publisher: Orchard Books
Edition: Hardcover, 2002
Lauren Child’s child-like voice manages to be both super innocent and highly savvy. Clarice Bean is utterly a little gem and utterly charming, in an I-might-find-her-a-bit-annoying-in-real-life-for-a-friend-or-a-student-but-it-sure-is-fun-to-read-her-thoughts kind of way. I love the illustrations and the creative typesetting.
The only slight gripe I have is the “fake” story that Clarice Bean loves to read so much (Ruby Redford mysteries) within the book does not grab me, but distract me from Clarice’s story. However, Lily is reading it now and she actually likes the Ruby Redford mysteries better than the main plot. Shows how tastes dictate!
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Pages: 190
Publisher: Hyperion
Edition: Hardcover, 2005
It’s a fun and quick read. Stacy Friedman’s voice is lively and funny. The story, although utterly unbelievable, is actually charming at moments. However, it is highly predictable and sugar-sweet: everything works out in the end so do not worry about having to feel sorry for anyone.
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