Chapel_Hill_StephenA
Chapel Hill Public Library
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Added Jun 05, 2017
Laser Moose and Rabbit BoyLaser Moose and Rabbit Boy, Graphic Novel
by Savage, DougGraphic Novel - 2016Graphic Novel, 2016
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 06, 2017
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 06, 2017
Comment:
I loved everything about this book. Anna-Marie McLemore's writing would fit in with Jeffrey Eugenides or Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but also has a style that's completely unique. There isn't a single character in this book I wasn't attached too. Sam and Miel and Aracely and even the (really creepy and wonderfully written) Bonner sisters. This lush fairy tale is a bit of a slow burn, but patient readers who love magic and romance will be hugely rewarded at the end. If I were the king of the American Library Association, this book would have won every single award. Even the ones it doesn't qualify for. It's just that good. I cant wait for more books by this amazing author.I loved everything about this book. Anna-Marie McLemore's writing would fit in with Jeffrey Eugenides or Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but also has a style that's completely unique. There isn't a single character in this book I wasn't attached too. Sam…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 06, 2017
Comment:
American Street is a roller coaster of emotions and surprises that, ultimately, I didn't want to get off. The manifestations of Fabiola's vodou Iwas in her new life in urban Detroit is beautifully done and takes the book in a totally unexpected direction. I loved the characters in this and I felt like I was eavesdropping on a real conversation during all the dialog. I came away from the book with a lot to think about. For better or worse, many of the issues that come up in this story are pretty timely in 2017, so you'll definitely come away from this with a lot to chew on. Ibi Zoboi is hugely talented, and I can't wait to see what she does next.American Street is a roller coaster of emotions and surprises that, ultimately, I didn't want to get off. The manifestations of Fabiola's vodou Iwas in her new life in urban Detroit is beautifully done and takes the book in a totally unexpected…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 06, 2017
Comment:
I say this with the utmost regard, but Adam Silvera is an author who will rip your heart out, grind it up, and laugh at you while you bleed. History is a pull-no-punches exploration of grief, memory, and mental health. These characters were fully realized and surprised me at every turn. Even when I hated the things they did, I still found myself rooting for them and relating to them. Silvera does a nice job of balancing light and dark, and the ending is ultimately hopeful. If you love a feel bad book or just need a good cry, this may be your next favorite.I say this with the utmost regard, but Adam Silvera is an author who will rip your heart out, grind it up, and laugh at you while you bleed. History is a pull-no-punches exploration of grief, memory, and mental health. These characters were fully…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 31, 2016
Comment:
You bet I loved Nanette's Baguette! This silly rhyming story about Nanette's first time buying a baguette on her own builds in a wonderful way and even adults will be cackling by the end. Mo Willems writing is almost Seuss-ian, and I love the paper collage art style. This is another Mo Willems classic!You bet I loved Nanette's Baguette! This silly rhyming story about Nanette's first time buying a baguette on her own builds in a wonderful way and even adults will be cackling by the end. Mo Willems writing is almost Seuss-ian, and I love the paper…
The Very Fluffy Kitty, PapillonThe Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon, Book
by Kang, A. NBook - 2016Book, 2016
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 20, 2016
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This is an adorable story with sweet, earnest text that feels like a classic. Papillon will definitely be a warm and welcome addition to your kids' list of bedtime reading favorites.
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2016
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I'm a huge fan of Jon Klassen's hat books and this is a wonderful way to end the series. This one is much friendlier than the other two (spoiler alert: nothing bad happens to anyone - I know some people don't love the endings for the first two books) but has the same wit. I particularly loved some of the more surreal dialog exchanges (Turtle 1: Are you asleep? Turtle 2: Yes, I am asleep. I am dreaming.) Definitely give this one a go, even if you didn't love the other hat books.I'm a huge fan of Jon Klassen's hat books and this is a wonderful way to end the series. This one is much friendlier than the other two (spoiler alert: nothing bad happens to anyone - I know some people don't love the endings for the first two…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2016
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This one would be lots of fun to read to a group of kids. The book is trying to become the happiest book ever and invites readers to participate in that process. There are some great lessons here (but nothing overly didactic) about being happy even when things aren't perfect, not judging things based on appearance, general kindness, etc. Highly recommended!This one would be lots of fun to read to a group of kids. The book is trying to become the happiest book ever and invites readers to participate in that process. There are some great lessons here (but nothing overly didactic) about being happy even…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2016
Comment:
This is a beautiful book about the power of stories. The words are warm and soothing and the art is a brilliant combination of layered written words and illustrations. This is one that parents and kids will both love and will be an frequently requested bedtime read.This is a beautiful book about the power of stories. The words are warm and soothing and the art is a brilliant combination of layered written words and illustrations. This is one that parents and kids will both love and will be an frequently…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Oct 14, 2016
Comment:
This is a wonderfully inventive and beautiful book. Ellis has created a secret bug language and doesn't provide a translation, so the fun comes in guessing what it is they're actually saying and watching the mystery unfold. This is great for a one-on-one storytime and is an excellent example of how a picture book can turn a story into a creativity sparking, interactive experience.This is a wonderfully inventive and beautiful book. Ellis has created a secret bug language and doesn't provide a translation, so the fun comes in guessing what it is they're actually saying and watching the mystery unfold. This is great for a…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Aug 31, 2016
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Miranda Sings is the Andy Kaufman of the YouTube generation. Okay, that's a wee bit hyperbolic; no YouTuber will ever be Andy Kaufman. But Miranda Sings wraps social commentary in surrealism (and a lot of red lipstick) and it's generally effective and hilarious. For the uninitiated, Miranda Sings is comedian Colleen Ballinger playing an overly confident teenage girl who gives bad advice, sings poorly, and makes bizarre, uncomfortable faces, parodying similar tendencies in less successful shows. As far as YouTuber books go, this one is charming and weird and not a terrible thing to give your kids and a faithful recreation of Miranda's YouTube channel. It's not going to win her any new fans (turns out her purposefully abrasive character isn't any more palatable on the page) but existing fans will like this one a lot.Miranda Sings is the Andy Kaufman of the YouTube generation. Okay, that's a wee bit hyperbolic; no YouTuber will ever be Andy Kaufman. But Miranda Sings wraps social commentary in surrealism (and a lot of red lipstick) and it's generally effective…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Aug 27, 2016
Comment:
Oh my crickets, I love this little book so much. Ooko's slightly off kilter way of seeing the world is adorable and hilarious, much like the charming illustrations. This book is such a fun way to show kids that changing yourself just to make friends never ends well. You'll definitely want to read this one over and over again.Oh my crickets, I love this little book so much. Ooko's slightly off kilter way of seeing the world is adorable and hilarious, much like the charming illustrations. This book is such a fun way to show kids that changing yourself just to make friends…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Aug 21, 2016
Comment:
What a kooky, wonderful ride Spontaneous is. To call this book a dark comedy is an understatement - it's uproariously original and funny and extraordinarily dark (turns out the threat of any character literally exploding at any second is just as tense as it is hilarious.) Spontaneous makes Heathers look like the Powerpuff Girls. This story is high satire and, like any good satire, there's so much to think about and consider after the last page is turned. Mara has a super original voice, and I loved how she broke the fourth wall in her narration. In this totally absurd story, though, there's so much truth about growing up (though it's subtle and never beats you over the head) and it resonated with both teen me and adult-me-looking-back-on-teen me. If you love Libba Bray or Andrew Smith, you'll love Spontaneous.What a kooky, wonderful ride Spontaneous is. To call this book a dark comedy is an understatement - it's uproariously original and funny and extraordinarily dark (turns out the threat of any character literally exploding at any second is just as…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Aug 18, 2016
Comment:
What a strange little series this is. Think Adventure Time + sports (but not so sports heavy that it would turn off a non-sports person.) I love the vintage manga Astro Boy inspired art, and this book does an exceptional job of throwing you right into the action without a lot of unnecessary backstory. I did find myself wishing the jokes were a little more over the top, but I'm definitely interested to see what future volumes have in store for Mug and Wiz.What a strange little series this is. Think Adventure Time + sports (but not so sports heavy that it would turn off a non-sports person.) I love the vintage manga Astro Boy inspired art, and this book does an exceptional job of throwing you right…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Aug 11, 2016
Comment:
If super (super super) sad but ultimately uplifting realistic YA is your bag, you may just fall in love with The Serpent King. Jeff Zentner (who, unrelated to the book, is a hysterical human and a person you should follow on Twitter if that's your thing) has created a fully realized, living, breathing place in Forrestville. As someone who grew up in rural North Carolina, parts of this book made me physically anxious because they rang so true. The trio of protagonists grow and develop over the story in a masterfully subtle and wonderful way. Also there's a section towards the end that's about 50 pages long during which I cackled nonstop. I don't want to spoil it, but you'll know and it's genius. My biggest critique of this book, though, is in its secondary characters. You know pretty quickly that Dill and Travis have terrible parents. But, like, they have REALLY TERRIBLE parents. Comically terrible parents. I understand how it fits into the overall narrative structure, but had those characters been a bit more subtly drawn and developed, I think the story would have only become more resonant and complex. Either way, I recommend this book, and Jeff Zentner is definitely an author to watch.If super (super super) sad but ultimately uplifting realistic YA is your bag, you may just fall in love with The Serpent King. Jeff Zentner (who, unrelated to the book, is a hysterical human and a person you should follow on Twitter if that's your…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Jul 20, 2016
Comment:
Books for kids about grief are pretty hit or miss. They're usually a little too didactic or too clinical or too abstract. Death is Stupid, however, is none of those things. Title aside (which is a cute reference to the text but cheapens the book a bit without that context, I think), this is a wonderful book to read with a child who is experiencing loss. This book dispels a lot of ideas about death and grief that are sometimes forced upon children by well-meaning adults in order to lessen the blow (i.e. grief looks a certain way or parents shouldn't also grieve or "it's like sleeping" etc.) This is done in a very kind, gentle, and relatable way. This book does a great job of embracing the unknown that comes with death (rather than try to explain it away) and it offers some concrete ideas to express grief over a loved one's passing. The book itself is beautiful - the text is hand written and the images have a unique collage style. While looking for books about death and grief isn't something most people want to do ever, it's comforting to know that, when the need arises, books like this one exist.Books for kids about grief are pretty hit or miss. They're usually a little too didactic or too clinical or too abstract. Death is Stupid, however, is none of those things. Title aside (which is a cute reference to the text but cheapens the book a…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2016
Comment:
If you love silly, fun adventures, you'll love Super Happy Magic Forest! As our unwitting heroes quest to save the Mystic Crystals of Life so Super Happy Magic Forest can keep having epic dance parties they trek through intricately illustrated fantasy lands which will reward eagle-eyed readers with hidden silliness. This is perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos, Lily the Unicorn, or Adventure Time.If you love silly, fun adventures, you'll love Super Happy Magic Forest! As our unwitting heroes quest to save the Mystic Crystals of Life so Super Happy Magic Forest can keep having epic dance parties they trek through intricately illustrated…
Finding WinnieFinding Winnie, BookThe True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
by Mattick, LindsayBook - 2015Book, 2015
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Apr 28, 2016
Comment:
This book is worthy of all the hype and a deserved high note for Sophie Blackall after the somewhat problematic A Fine Dessert. This could be a great story to introduce kids to the classic, non-Disney-fied Winnie the Pooh stories. Adults will likely find this a more emotional read than kids will (because of the warm fuzzy factor - no need to brace yourself for bad things to happen to Winnie) but this is a perfect quiet bedtime story for all.This book is worthy of all the hype and a deserved high note for Sophie Blackall after the somewhat problematic A Fine Dessert. This could be a great story to introduce kids to the classic, non-Disney-fied Winnie the Pooh stories. Adults will likely…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Apr 28, 2016
Comment:
I would love to just for one day see the world in the way that Daniel Clowes does. It's hard to reconcile Daniel Clowes, the creator of the beloved teen angst classic Ghost World, and Daniel Clowes, the mastermind behind this psychedelic time bending noir-ish murder mystery, but somehow he executes both with equal mastery. The acid trip color palette is an interesting juxtaposition with the grizzly murder that happens in the opening pages, and one that really sets this book apart. Also some fairly grotesque illustrations and ideas are made much more digestible with this art style (to the point that you'd even call them beautiful? It's hard to describe without spoilers but you'll understand if you read this.) I did find Jack to be a rather flat character and it can be a bit hard to keep up with what's happening, but otherwise I would highly recommend this to any sci fi, mystery, or graphic novel fan.I would love to just for one day see the world in the way that Daniel Clowes does. It's hard to reconcile Daniel Clowes, the creator of the beloved teen angst classic Ghost World, and Daniel Clowes, the mastermind behind this psychedelic time…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Mar 31, 2016
Comment:
If you need a book with a lot of action and a clear conclusion, this is not for you. This book is all about language and tone and April Genevieve Tucholke is a master of both. It feels like this is written through the lens of a fun house mirror; everything is strange and distorted and inexplicably creepy. The three characters are also quite unusual but masterfully created, particularly Poppy. Really weird but really good.If you need a book with a lot of action and a clear conclusion, this is not for you. This book is all about language and tone and April Genevieve Tucholke is a master of both. It feels like this is written through the lens of a fun house mirror;…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2016
Comment:
Full disclosure: I was not fully prepared for this book when I read it. The Andrew Smith/John Corey Whaley/AS King comparisons made me think this would be dark but also darkly comedic and satirical. There are hints of those things but really this is just dark. Very very very dark. That said, Ostrovski's premise is huge and interesting and there are flashes of greatness and a truly original voice. I can't think of any other YA writer who has done something exactly like this. The nonchronological progression is interesting and effective (though not quite as interesting or effective as I'll Give You the Sun) and the overall boarding school dread thing works pretty well (though Never Let Me Go this is not.) The flyers and documents are a nice touch (but probably not as well done as Illuminae... okay, so there are elements to this book that we've seen before. Never quite like this, though!)
Okay, it sounds like I hated this book which is totally not correct! This isn't a bad read by any stretch of the imagination and the author manages some really cool and different things but it's just all a bit rough around the edges. The only thing thing that 100% did not work for me was the total lack of character development. Noah is basically a tiny gay Nietzsche wannabe and that's it and reading him talk about pointlessness and the eternal void and whatnot for 200+ gets a little tough! And I honestly kept forgetting the other characters names which tells you how emotionally connected to them I was.
But again, I did not hate this as much as it sounds like I did! I think it could be a really interesting jumping off point for discussions on a lot of topics and it's certainly a book you'll think about for a while. I just wish I had known what I was in for before I had started. You may love this! You may want to chuck it into a ravine when you're done with it! (Please don't do this with a library copy.) But you will definitely have a reaction and you will definitely remember this book.Full disclosure: I was not fully prepared for this book when I read it. The Andrew Smith/John Corey Whaley/AS King comparisons made me think this would be dark but also darkly comedic and satirical. There are hints of those things but really this is…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 14, 2016
Comment:
I'm not sure there's any genre Tim Federle can't write. Picture books? Check. Middle grade? Check. Literary cocktail recipe books? Check. The Great American Whatever is his first foray into YA and, unsurprisingly, it's awesome. It's impossible to not like snarky, sullen Quinn. Federle's exploration of grief and depression is unnervingly honest and heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. This is one of the best coming of age stories I've read in a long time.I'm not sure there's any genre Tim Federle can't write. Picture books? Check. Middle grade? Check. Literary cocktail recipe books? Check. The Great American Whatever is his first foray into YA and, unsurprisingly, it's awesome. It's impossible to…
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 13, 2016
Comment:
Ballet Cat is back! This time she's trying to convince her hesitant friend Butter Bear to do some high leaps. If you're already bemoaning the fact that the next Elephant and Piggie will be the last, the silly, sweet, and slickly illustrated Ballet Cat may just become your new favorite easy reader series. Also, fair warning for parents, "I was promised underpants" may become a household catchphrase after you finish reading this particular volume.Ballet Cat is back! This time she's trying to convince her hesitant friend Butter Bear to do some high leaps. If you're already bemoaning the fact that the next Elephant and Piggie will be the last, the silly, sweet, and slickly illustrated Ballet…
Snappsy the Alligator (did Not Ask to Be in This Book!)Snappsy the Alligator (did Not Ask to Be in This Book!), Book
by Falatko, JulieBook - 2016Book, 2016
Chapel_Hill_StephenA's rating:
Added Feb 13, 2016
Comment:
Snappsy is just going about his business when a pesky narrator turns his day into a story. This is a hilarious little book that manages to explain story conventions like narrators, rising action, illustrations, etc. and then expertly turns them on their head to create something silly and wonderful. This one is fun for kids and grown ups!Snappsy is just going about his business when a pesky narrator turns his day into a story. This is a hilarious little book that manages to explain story conventions like narrators, rising action, illustrations, etc. and then expertly turns them on…
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