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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Northwind) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

Today I have another Gary Paulsen book for you about a boy’s adventure in a canoe heading up north.  Inspired by Paulsen’s love of sailing and trips up the coastline, we are deep dived into the determination of a lad to survive.  Northwind follows the life of Leif after his village was wiped out by disease.  His protector told him … head north!  So off this young lad goes, heading north.  We have the quiet pleasure of following him on his journey.

Looking at Northwind

Published by Farror Straus Giroux, Northwind gives us a further glimpse into the history of Gary Paulsen.  I found this read to be much different from the other Gary Paulsen’s books I’ve read.  How to train your dad was fun and  Gone to the woods was biographical in nature.  Both had the same feel to them.  Fast paced, fun, adventure ridden.   Northwind feels much quieter, more contemplative, a boy learning much about himself and the world around him. 

Part of the quieter, more contemplative feel is the poetry contained within the pages.  We learn the story behind Leif and Little Carl and why they were in this little camp.  

The sorrow and hardship brought to this camp at the very beginning of the book more-or-less sets the tone.  Leif and Carl are sent out with the goal that perhaps they will be spared this terrible illness.  It doesn’t work out that way, and in the end, it is Leif that sets out on his remarkable journey.

He discovers so much about himself and the world around him in this 256 page hardcover book I received from Raincoast Books. A rather deeply introspective book where the importance of learning from the world around you is emphasized. 

Word Pictures abound

A book of easy reading with little in the way of illustrations.  You’ll find chapter headings with simple images surreounding the title.  Word pictures fill the pages.  Orcas pushing a canoe, a bear standing on a shore’s end, the rich colour of black berries hanging over the water, and the danger whirlpools. 

I could see this determined boy, weak from fighting cholera, gradually building strength.  This boy revelling in his ability to make a fish spear, reading the wildlife, dealing with crows and seagulls, and making his own food.   I found myself worrying, what would he do when winter came?  The story, just it gradually built up Leif’s skills, slowly drew me in. 

Should you add Northwind to your shelves?

Youth ten to fourteen will find this an easy to read book.  Took me perhaps an hour to read it (if that).  The language is simple, the words evocative, drawing out the wonder of the landscape, showcasing determination. 

You won’t find Northwind to be a fast-paced adventure story. Rather it is one that follows the meandering of a river, the hunt of a bear, and the skill of a pack of orcas. It allows for the quietness of death and the thrill of the hunt. 

A quietly written simple book it would fit well with a geographic study of the coastline, or in studying the north, or learning to really see your environment.   

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Friends Forever) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

Friends Forever is an interesting graphic novel walking us through the life of one 8th grader and all the challenges of that stage of life.  From awkward relationships, and expectations of parents, and how sometimes it all gets the better of a body.   Issues of self-esteem, mental health, relationships, and faith. Life is so complicated when you are in grade 8!

What I am Reviewing

Forever Friends, from Raincoast Books, is a graphic novel written by Shannon Hale.   It covered the life of Shannon as she starts and goes through grade 8.   At 304 pages, it’s written fully in graphic novel format.  LeUyen Pham is the illustrator.  This is a full-colour graphic novel written for youth 10-14 years old, though I think older youth would enjoy reading it as well. There is an introduction along with 6 chapters that cover different aspects of Shannon’s life.  This is the third book in Friends series.

Digging Deeper into Friends Forever

Six chapters make up the pages of Friends Forever.   Beautiful, famous, boys, successful, perfect, and nothing.  This is an 8th grade girls life. Boys, school, debates, friendship, awkward situations and more.  We not only watch Shannon live her life, but get access to her inward thoughts as well. 

Such a nice touch that… seeing her thoughts.  Not always matching what she showed externally.  Fantastically, her faith plays a role. This is sometimes helpful, and sometimes a challenge. 

With the wide use of a colour palette, Shannon’s life is brought into full view.  The use of colour brings depth and life to the story.  The story boxes show variety in their layout as well.   In the end notes I learned that much in this story is true.  Shannon, the author, uses her life as way to tell the story of being in eighth grade with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder.  It’s hard, and yet not hard.  It’s the moments that make life difficult at times you know? 

Don’t you just love when someone stands up for you?   I just love this scene, it’s so real.  Made my heart smile… even though that uncertainty shown eh? So nice to have good friends eh?

As mentioned earlier, this is the third book in the series.  For your convenience I’ve linked the other two as well.  Real Friends and Best Friends. 

Should you Get it?

I think that Friends Forever is well-worth reading for any girl and maybe for some guys, but it is a girl friendly book okay.  Growing up is hard.  Grade 8 has it’s own special worries, but so does grade 9 with it’s new expectations.  I suppose in some ways it depends on how your middle and high schools are divided up eh?  

Seeing Shannon navigate these years and being privy to some of her inward thoughts reflects the angst of these years between child-teen and teen-adult.  You expect much of yourself and have hopes and dreams, that often you need to balance out with the dreams of others. And sometimes your friends can be thoughtless.  

Shannon’s struggle with mental health mirrors what can so often happen in these years when you get lost in the struggle.  Her parents and family work hard to help her and I was delighted to see that, and her friends rallied around… so amazing.  Good friends, good family, it’s the best!  🙂 

Heads up, there is a creepy Santa, who really shouldn’t have been allowed to be a Santa. I wish that Shannon had been written doing something about it.  At the same time I know how difficult it would be to do so.  It’s like … who do you tell? Like Shannon, running away is a good option! 

This book reminds me of Besties which I have reviewed as well. 

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated.  

Did you know that I love Brandon Sanderson books?  I do!  In fact they are among my favourite reads ever!  🙂 AND even though I should be reviewing another book before this one I could not wait to share this one with you.   Lucky you eh? 🙂  

Written with young readers in mind, Mr. Sanderson takes you on a funny, wild ride with Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians.  Who could imagine the deceptions we’ve been living under?!?!?!?!

What I’m looking at today

My hubby said “I wish I was a reviewer!  You are so lucky!” and then as I kept giggling, he asked … “you going to be done with that soon?” 

This Tom Doherty Associates book runs at runs at 320 pages, I received an ARC softcover from Raincoast books for my review.  It also comes in hardcover. This is the first in a series and I’m hoping I get to read the next.   Sanderson writes this novel from the point of view of Al (short for Alcatraz) and the adventures that immediately follow his 13th birthday. 

The illustrations were done by Hayley Lazo.  I noted the cover I received is different that the image on Amazon.   This is the first book of five in the series. 

Learning more about Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

What you’ll receive is a first person narrative, fast paced fantasy by Brandon Sanderson.  Written for middle schoolers the humour and action fit this age group. 

I loved the humour, the one-liners, and the self-deprecation of Al.  It’s great seeing him grow and learn more about himself and figure out how to be a better person. 

The chapter headings were creative, featuring a variety of illustrations. All helping to tell the story of evil librarians and their plot to take over the world.  The Free Lands must not become the Hushlands.  

I admittedly got a bit tired of the narrating of why authors did stuff spiels that every so often appeared, but looking at as a homeschooler I can see the appeal.  So you learned that authors do thus and such, find an example.  🙂   But that might take away from the actual enjoyment of the read.  Within the context of this book it made sense for him to explain why writers write as they do. 

Illustrations dot the pages created by Hayley Lazo.  In my copy they appeared in grey scale.  Isn’t it lovely when pictures add depth to a story? 

I really liked the cover of this book,  it drew me in immediately and made me wonder what’s with the glasses?   Note: the glasses are very important! 

Should Alcatraz be in your shelf?

I do think this book, Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, is well worth reading just for fun. It is an hilarious, fast-paced book sure to entertain. 

My hope is that it might get youngsters thinking about how much of what they learn is controlled by outside influences, and hopefully get them fighting some of that.   You know, think for yourself, not just what you’ve been taught!