Firefight

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

This is the second book in Brandon Sanderson's Reckoners Series. The first one was Steelheart. This one was also so good! I won't say much about plot summary because this is definitely a series where you should read the first book first.


I will talk writing, though. I found myself appreciating the writing when our narrator, David, was describing a new place. Instead of smelling like something in particular, it smelled some way compared to what his past experiences would have been. I appreciate things like that. It really adds believeability to the narrator, and therefore makes it easier to believe the whole book.

This book was really enjoyable, and that's saying something for a second book. As we all know, second books are horrible about ending in a satisfactory way. This one did a good job though -- some super interesting progress was made in the storyline, for sure.

I probably can't recommend it more strongly than this: This is the only YA series I'm reading right now. I'm finding myself drawn more to other genres right now -- so much so that I've left other YA books that I'm interested in on the shelf. Not this one. Do yourself a favor and read it. I like it better than The Hunger Games, better than Divergent (for sure), and better than a bunch of other books too.

Ok guys. I blogged. Been having some hangups with that -- I believe they call it perfectionism when you just want to do everything right but it prevents you from doing the thing? Babysteps.
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Edited to add: Here is an affiliate link to the book. If you make a purchase through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Happy reading!

 

Please make this book into a movie: The Shadow Hero

More books like this, please!

1. What is it about? 
   The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang & Sonny Liew is, first, the story of Hank Chu, living in *almost* the 1930's. Hank likes working at the family grocery store in Chinatown with his dad. But from the day his mom is saved by asuperhero, The Anchor of Justice, she knows exactly what her son should do with his life. This is a book in the great tradition of superhero comics, but it's also very self aware. Reading the end material made the book (which I loved) even cooler. Because it told me that, secondly, this book is an imagining of the origin story of what might have been the first Asian American superhero.
   
2. Who would like it?
   Alexander. All of my former GN book club (Jesse, Lauren, Amanda and others!). ME! Jacob. The general superhero-loving public. According to the NY Times, "any Taiwanese-Chinese-American." This book is just so spot-on in it's tongue-in-cheek awesomeness. I'd give it to 12 up. Plenty of superhero violence, but no gore, no language, no sexual content. (The author did dedicate it, "For my kids.")
   
3. What is your favorite line from the book?
   "I'm going now. When you get home, wake me up, all right? I'll make you something to eat." Or maybe, "Bleh! I'm dead! I'm dead!"
   
4. Who is your favorite character? Definitely the mom, Hua Chu. But I also love the dad, and Red, and the Tortoise, and Uncle Wun Too . . .

The final word: Read it before the movie comes out! You've got a little time because it's not optioned yet, as far as I can tell. :) But seriously. This book rocks.

The story is awesome, and Sonny Liew's art is great at depicting motion and fight scenes that don't confuse. In fact, it's great at everything! Except everybody has duck lips. But you get used to that. Seriously -- framing, coloring, unique and varied panels that improve the story instead of distracting from it. The art flows amazingly well, and adds SO much.    

If, like myself, you would like to purchase this book, you are welcome to use my affiliate links, below.

Barnes and Noble

 




By the way, I simply had to ask author Gene Luen Yang where he came up with one of the villains' names. This particular gangster is named Mock Beak. Where does a guy get a name like that? Here's what the author had to say:

The Shadow Hero's Mock Beak is inspired by (1) Mock Duck, this really intense Chinatown gangster, and (2) the 1 tile of the "sticks" suit in mahjong. All the gangster characters are named after mahjong tiles. -- Gene Luen Yang, (@geneluenyang), here and here 10/29/14.

Totally awesome. And now I want to play mahjong. In the book, the gangs are called "the tong of sticks" and "the tong of stones." I can definitely see the bird influence in the art & actions of Mock Beak. Those talons! *shiver*

I hope you read this book and then tell me how much you love it. Ok? Ok.
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(Notes about the special way I'm reviewing Cybils nominees, here.)
Other books by Gene Luen Yang that I have reviewed, here.
I reviewed Wonderland, with art by Sonny Liew, 5 years ago.

Meanwhile

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

Aw, yeah! Choose your own adventure, graphic novel style!  Both Jacob and I had a lot of fun reading this book. In it, you make choices for Jimmy.  The first choice: vanilla or chocolate?

Interesting tidbit: It's no surprise that the book is peppered with fantastic inventions; the author had to design a computer program in order to create the best layout for the book.

Jacob's 2 cents: 1. It was clever, 2. and kind of morbid, once you figure out what's going on.

To which I respond: What choose your own adventure isn't kind of morbid?

The Cardturner

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Alton's wealthy great-uncle has gone blind, but he can't give up bridge.  Alton becomes his cardturner with one major rule -- never ask "Are you sure?"  Alton knows nothing about bridge, and that's the way his uncle likes it.  But spending 12 hours a week as a proxy player changes that, and piques Alton's curiousity about his uncle's mysterious past.

It's Louis Sachar! Of course its good!  You know, Holes?  Wayside School?  Small Steps?

I found myself laughing while reading this book. Partly because there were some funny lines and scenarios, but also because the dialogue was so realistic.  I'd say "Hah! I can see those exact words going back and forth between my mom and my teenage brother!"  So very well done on that score, and on character development too. Leslie, the little sister, was my favorite.  She doesn't show up a ton, but she's great.  Since I'm a little sister, I can say that I guess.

There was a lot of "bridge gibberish" -- but it wasn't tough to get through.  Sachar gives you an easy out, if you want to skip the details, but for me the play-by-plays were no worse than they would be with any other game/sport.  And now I kind of want to learn to play bridge...

Guest Review: The City of Ember

Post by Alysa
I've been meaning to read The City of Ember for a long time, and have even checked it out of the library once. However the inestimable and cooler than cool high school senior Micah has beat me to it. Here is what he says about it!

Once upon a time, there were two children living in a city. The only city in the whole history of history. The trouble is, you can only live by yourself for so long, especially when you don’t know how to make light bulbs (it’s always dark), and your running out of food (there’s no one else to get it from, and where would you grow it when it’s always dark?). Doon and Lina want to save the city of Ember, but they don’t know how.

And so it begins. Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember was a decent read for the 270 pages in which it lasted, but the short duration and easy reading style make it perfect for beginning- to mid-level chapter readers. Mystery and intrigue shroud the city of Ember, and draw the reader invitingly in. How did it get to be the only city? Is it really the only city? Why is it falling apart? Why is it that the children have to save the city? At the same time it’s quite age appropriate, I can’t recall any swearing, and there’s no racy romance scenes or anybody dying that usually accompanies mystery, but it still creates the conflict and tension that drives a story forward and piques the reader’s curiosity. Children will most likely be captivated and adults will at least be mildly intrigued.

As an older reader the story ends at just the right time, leaving the reader satisfied with the events that have transpired but still waiting for the promise of tales to come. If I was a younger reader however, I think I might be demanding the next book. As Kirkus Reviews puts it “The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment.” Well, I don’t see any cliffs, and maybe I’m not clamoring, but if I happen to see The People of Sparks on the same $4.00 shelf as the first book, I may just stop and consider how bad a shape my wallet’s in.

So there you have it! The reason, Micah tells me, that the book was on sale is that it has just come out as a movie. Anyone seen it? Anyone wanna do a short review of the movie for us? Email everead at gmail dot com.

Spreading the Love (but not so thin that you can't taste it)

Here is some linkage to a fun graphic novelist that would be a great pick for all the children (or people with inner children) on your Christmas list. His site is Don't Eat Any Bugs and I recommend reading the first chapter of A Cheese Related Mishap. Jacob and I were laughing about the scientist and the penguin ("Penguins aren't made for the cold!"). Then there are samples from YARG!, Another Dirt Sandwich, and coming soon is Cupcakes of DOOM!

Anyway, just poke around a bit. If your family is anything like mine, you won't have a hard time pegging who would go for the work of Ray Friesen. I can think of two people (besides me) who would love his thing. Just look at his author shot. I mean, c'mon!

The Hunger Games

So, basically you have two choices with this book. 1. You can read it now, and spend the next year dying for the sequel, or 2. You can wait to read it until the trilogy is complete (or more complete) and get sucked in for however long it takes you to read them, instead of just however long it takes you to read one of them.

What I'm trying to say here is that The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a good book. It's got adventure (boy has it!). It's got danger. It's got politics. It's got romance. It's gonna be a big hit with teens -- guys and gals alike. I made Jacob read it because I needed to talk to someone about it right away.

The Hunger Games. Picture the ancient Roman Gladiators meeting the modern reality show Survivor. In a time that is kind of between the future and the past, but definitely not the present. Also picture fireballs and mutant wasps and all manner of weaponry. Yeah, you're not going to need to worry about language or sensuality, but weapons get plenty of use.

Jacob's 2 cents: "Only 2 cents? I don't know if I can narrow it down to that. . . . Read it. But don't expect a satisfactory ending." Yeah, it was very cliffhanger. This one, I must recommend specifically for Micah, but like I said, the rest of you only have 2 choices. Read it now, or read it later.