Books for Young Adults

Mind Games

January 5, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

A woman, good at her job, shaped by her childhood. Struggling to break free of her past. A threat. A livelihood challenged. Who can be trusted? Mind Games by Nancy Mehl is a faith-based psychological thriller. Will the trap be sprung? This is my review.

From The Cover

FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn’s methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable. She’s done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she’s the daughter of an infamous serial killer. But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, it seems her old life has followed her.

When a body is found that fits the poem’s morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle.

My Thoughts

I read this book in the afternoon of Boxing Day, and my hubby asked me at the end of it “what did you think?” The first words out of my mouth were “I think I want a second opinion on it”, followed up by “I need to think about it”.

There was much that I liked. Kaely was, for me, a believe-able character. She talks to herself, has make-believe people in her life, has a hard time trusting people, and knows her job well. People struggle with this… though I’m not quite sure why for some it.

For instance, I talk to myself all the time, and sometimes, especially if I really need to learn material, I will pretend that I am teaching a class AND that the class is answering me. If you think that’s weird… that’s fine, but a highly effective way to learn.

Anyways, The book. My thoughts are mixed. But it’s hard to say why. This is a psychological thriller. Most of the characters are well developed. The storyline runs real. There are twists in the storyline which keeps the story interesting.

But in the end, it just didn’t seem worth my time.

Now, that said, of faith-based psychological thrillers… this is one of the better ones that I’ve read. Therefore, if you are looking for a faith-based psy thriller… this one will do the trick. 🙂

Mind Games
Nancy Mehl
Bethany House
Series: Kaely Quinn Profiler, book 1
Trade paperback, 334 pages, adult
Faith based, Mystery,
Reviewed for Nuts About Books

Click on image for Amazon link

How I Resist

November 22, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

You know how sometimes you just want to DO something about a wrong you see in the world. You know how sometimes you can’t figure out just what you should do about it? How I resist is a book filled with inspiration to help you make good decisions about what to do when you see a problem. This is a book geared toward helping teens make a difference in their society.

From the Cover:

Now, more than ever, young people are motivated to make a difference in a world they’re bound to inherit. They’re ready to stand up and be heard – but with much to shout about, where they do they begin? What can I do? How can I help ?

How I resist is the response, and a way to start the conversation. To who readers that they are not helpless, and that anyone can be the change. A collection of essays, songs, illustrations, and interviews about activism and hope.

What you Get:

Stories, poems, and interviews. 30 in all. You get a book filled with the stories and thoughts of people pushing for change. Authors who write novels to show how a change is needed in society, parents who are raising their children to THINK about how politicians affect lives, people who stop those who are laughing and saying “my friends will suffer because of this decision” to help bring a face to a political decision, and more. Some of the stories are just stories showing how people are affected and one thing they do deal with that. Others are almost like letters of instructions.. you want to fight? Here are some steps to take. Yet others are people just talking about how they fight for what they want to see happen.

My Thoughts:

This is a very American focused book. Granted… I didn’t read every story or interview, but I read about 1/2 of them and they were all American focused. Many talking about the current president, and I didn’t really find it helpful. I didn’t. Perhaps it’s my mindset. If you want something changed, talk about it, work towards, get elected officials involved if you can, but talk and write and paint and work hard in your corner of the world to make a difference. You don’t like that black people are treated poorly then model good behaviour and challenge those who need to be challenged. You don’t like that abortion happens… get involved with folks who are fighting to make a difference.

I saw some of this mindset portrayed, but often times it seems like the suggestions were subtly hidden. This leaves me questioning would teens really make that connection? My lad, I know, would miss a lot of it. Giving my opinion on this book is rather difficult in fact. I would recommend that you read through the book before giving it to your younger teens… a couple of the articles had me going hmm… no.. don’t think I want my lad reading this piece. But I’m a Canadian, reading a book very much geared to south of the border with many of the troubles mentioned, ergo it seems all just a bit distant to me.

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation
Editor: Tim Federle and Maureen Johnson
Wednesday Books
Trade Paperback, 224 pages, 13-18 years
Activism, Social Issues, Prejudice, Teens

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Other books on Activism:
Teen Trail Blazers

Ellie Claire Art Journals

November 21, 2018 By Annette1 2 Comments

Last Friday I received three art journals in the mail from Ellie Claire; These journals offer an interactive way to get creative with your quiet time as you learn some lettering skills. They are gorgeous books with many features that I know you will love. These books are The Illustrated Word; Illuminate Your Story Journal and Faith & Lettering Journal

Illuminate Your Story Journal

is a beautiful hardcover book. Within the pages you will find beautifully coloured letters and some animals, knots and flowers. These letters are done up in different styles such at Ottonian, Celtic Half Unical, Gothic as well as others. Each letter of the alphabet is done in a step by step fashion to help YOU learn how to make these ornate letters as well. This would be such a great book to have along when you are studying illumination, monks (and their lettering), lettering in art class etc.

This hardcover book has a loop on the cover that I THINK is for holding your pen. It also sports an elastic band to hold your journal shut (or keeping the right pages held together). A light blue ribbon will hold your spot.

Faith & Lettering Journal

is a book that teaches you how to letter on a bigger scale. Using full verses, you are shown complete finished pictures to inspire you, as well as a two-page spread of six columns with a bible verse lettered out in one column, to be traced out in the next and then four columns to practice. Pro-tips are scattered throughout the pages. Some pages are fully lined, others with a matrix of dots and yet others with small graph paper. All the fully illustrated pages are beautifully done and in a variety of styles and fonts to inspire you. The goal: taking the time to meditate upon God’s word as you draw and illustrate the words.

This journal also sports a loop on the binding that looks like a pen/pencil holder. Reinforced binding holds it in place.

The Illustrated Word

is a bit different from the others. I look at this one and think.. art class anyone? Hidden within the pages of this lovely tome you will find art from the past, such as images of a “Natural Parchment Esther Scroll”. You will not only find images of the scroll, but a larger line drawn version that you can colour in. This is an colouring with a journal aspect to it. What I mean by that is you will find some of the art illustrations with a bible verse incorporated followed by a couple of journal pages with cut outs on them. Then another line drawing of a picture/painting/scroll drawing. The cut-outs will be either related to the bible verse drawing, or a full colour image of the line drawing without the bible verse. I hope that was clear! 🙂 It would be much easier to show you so see the images below. 🙂

My Thoughts:

These books are out of the ordinary for colouring and lettering books. I’ve reviewed a fair number of books like these over the years, and they almost always come as trade paperbacks with or without pull out pages to display your work. These are hardcover books sized to fit alongside your bible, or into a larger sized purse. They have many little details that cause them to be a treasure, from the pen loops, to the ribbon to hold your place, the wonderful paper they are printed on, lie flat quality, and the fine detail in the art work. They would make a lovely gift to anyone who likes to letter as they meditate upon God’s Word.

The art work in The Illustrated Word colouring journal doesn’t suit my taste. I love that the works are cited making them an excellent add-on to studying art of the Renaissance. Even though this one is not for me, this doesn’t detract from how lovely the book is and how it would definitely please another person, and be an aid to them in taking time with God’s word. I can totally see someone also bringing it along to church to take sermon notes or listening as a page is coloured in (cause busy fingers can help a listening mind).

Illuminate my story… I like this book, I do. Even though I don’t see myself as good enough to attempt to emulate her style, it’s nice to try you know? It’s small, fits nicely into my purse, has a loop to hold it shut so it doesn’t gather up all the other helpful stuff in my purse, and the lovely keepsake pocket in the back means if I doodle or practice elsewhere I can keep it as inspiration.

Faith & Lettering Journal by Krystal Whitten is just a pretty book. Like WOW.. so pretty and inspiring. She has some very good skills. I really liked the practice pages, divided into easy columns so if I totally mess up one practice session I can just move on to the next. Definitely worth getting. Gives you excellent practice time and teaches you how to make different letters.

Faith & Lettering
Illuminate Your Story
The Illustrated Word

Ellie Claire

Where to find.

Observe, Collect, Draw

August 15, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Observe, Collect, Draw is a journal to help you learn more about yourself (by collecting data) in order that you may become more connected to who you are. Doing this will enable you to be the creative, talented person that you are. So if you are an artist, or writer, or sculptor, you can bring forth your talents more easily. 🙂 This is my review.

From the back cover:

A guided journal with a fresh approach to the trend of journal-as-tool-for-self-examination. The journal is delightfully illustrated in the authors’ trademark style-accessible, whimsical, detailed. Blending inspiring examples with engaging instruction, this journal asks: What do we learn about ourselves when we measure our gratitude, confidence, and distraction levels? What do our collections say about who we are: our books, music, the clothes we wear? Observe, Collect, Draw! functions as a mini-course in information design, as accessible to beginners as it is engaging to seasoned info designers.

The Nitty Gritty

Three main Sections to this journal

Part one: learning to see. This is where you overcome your fear of the blank page while learning more about using the data you have as material.

Part two: Observing, Collecting, Drawing. Immersing yourself in the world of data by following guided exercises to observe, acknowledge, count and draw.

Part three: Crafting your visual language. You’ll find open ended ideas for drawing with the data you have collected, following your own rules and using your own style. Your work, done your way, using your own style and rules.

Throughout the pages you will find whimsical drawings starting with learning what Data is. Data is simply getting the math about the things that are in your life: plants, people, food, events, interactions, it’s all just data. It tells us who we are and what we do. What’s important to us is shown to us in the data we collect about our lives.

You can then take that data and turn it into a useful form.

Like when a person enjoys a beautiful sunset and takes those colours and turns into a painting, necklace or rug.

The goal of this journal is to help you figure out what the data is in your life, so that you can in turn take that data and be the artist you are meant to be. To that end, guided exercises are given to help you collect data.

For instance, grab up your camera/phone. Take a look at the pictures that are on it. Now map out what’s on it, animals could be blue, people red, houses orange… Whatever. Just map it out. Colour code and use dots and shadings to show connections. This gives you data.

You not only look at the good things of your life, but you also get into the harder things in life, like figuring out what makes you complain. What you complain about? Who do you complain to? It’s all data.

The more you document your life, the more data you can mine, which gives you more information you can turn into artistic endeavors. Once you have worked your way through all 35 exercises, you are invited to then draw. First you analyze the data you have collected, find the stories of your life, then experiment with how those stories look using colour, lines, images, and before you know it you have a data image. Once you have that, you work your way through 12 additional exercises, or if you will, drawing prompts.

These drawing prompts include things like the animals you see, your holiday souvenir, your family, small talk, social media and more.

My Thoughts:

I wasn’t too sure about this book when I first got it. It’s like HUH? I’m supposed to examine my life so that it makes my art better? Who in the world has time for that?!?!?!? But as I went through it, it started to make sense. The more you know about yourself and the way you put things together, the more you can bring yourself out in the art that you produce. It’s not a bad thing that, is it?

Is it worth getting? I think so. It’s good to stop and think about the things you do sometimes, helps a body to become more aware of personal foibles, strengths, interests they perhaps weren’t aware of, and gives ideas to talk about.. for instance today I was thinking about how much I like mint tea… making MY OWN mint tea, and then wondered if I could inspire others to like mint tea. This I thought about because of a page in this book. Good yes? Indeed.

Observe, Collect, Draw! A Visual Journal.
Giorgia Lupi
Stefanie Posavec
Princeton Architectural Press
Softcover, 160 pages
Journal, Art, Self-discovery
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Other Giorgia Lupi books you might be interested in
Dear Data.
Dear Data Postcard kit.

The Golden Vial

June 23, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

I can’t recall reading a book by Thomas Locke before, but The Golden Vial gives me a good feel for his work and causes me to want to read more. Nuts about Books sent me this book as a review.

I found the Golden Vial to be a book that drew me in. I wanted to know more about Dally and the enemy she and the land faced. BUT I found the book too fast-paced. Let me explain what I mean. The book moved at a good pace but I found that I wanted it to slow down and develop the characters a bit more and answer the questions I had.

It seemed like it was always GO GO GO GO and none of the stop, smell the roses, get healed up, take some time to see your surroundings, catch your bearings, and let’s give the reader a breather. Instead, it was “get injured, get up you are needed”. “You collapsed.. GET UP YOU ARE NEEDED”. Dally was never given the time she needed to truly heal properly and yet she was expected to do great and marvellous things. I suppose by the end of the book I was less amazed at her abilities to keep going and more annoyed with those who SHOULD HAVE taken care of her who didn’t really. Does the state of the world truly revolve around a girl that you just discovered five days before?

The annoyance I felt at them took away from my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

Was it a good story? For sure. I wanted to know what was going on.

Would I want to read a second installment? Yes, I’m curious to know more about the enemy.

Do I want more details? YES, the details on the actual people seemed light, it seemed glossed over a bit too much.

Should YOU go read it? If you like fantasy and seeing good triumph over evil because they outsmarted them.. YES. It wasn’t a “we are stronger than you scenario” but more of a “can we think smarter than you?” I have a firm appreciation for those types of books. Outsmart others and use the strengths you have.

The Golden Vial
Thomas Locke
Series: Legends of the Realm
Revell
295 pages, trade paperback
Fiction, Fantasy, Magic
Reviewed for Nuts about Books.
Find it on Amazon.

Google It!

June 9, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Google It! A History of Google that as soon as it arrived my 12 year old say “Oooh”. I posted a picture on facebook and a friend immediately said “oooh”. 🙂 Makes me smile when a review book like this comes through.

Written by Anna Crowley Redding, Google It! is the story of how two student’s mission to organize the the internet changed the world. 231 pages with images and history of how Google came into being and became part of the lexicon of modern society. 19 chapters divided into three sections.

From the start of this wonderfully informative book we are introduced to how two boys, who didn’t intitally like each other, became good friends and took a leap that changed the world. We are given a good walk through what life was like before Google came into being. I have to admit, the author made it seem like a terrible thing to have to call for directions, learn where the library was and to develop a relationship with book stores, libraries and teachers. I admit there were pros and cons to the system (needing to get there and be develop patience and all that), but it wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. 🙂

I was surprised to learn the original name for Google (see page 23 for that information). I was fascinated by the snippets of information interspersed throughout the storyline. They were very obvious .. either done in a lighter smaller text or on coloured pages.

A fascinating read on watching a powerful company work it’s way through it’s start up, growth, adulthood and more. It was so interesting to read through how it all came together, along with problems like dealing with China and how that was a difficult situation to walk through. I found it a quick, easy read. My curiousity was often peaked by unexpected relationships in the world of the internet. I wasn’t aware of just how far google’s reach actually was.

If you are interested in learning more about google and how it works, in the people behind it and it’s global outeach, old or young, this book is sure to entertain and enlighten. Go out and get it, borrow it from the library, and learn about a company that literally changed the world of the internet and became a household word.

I can totally see this book being fascinating for middle school geeky type students, who like knowing the history and facts behind the internet. It’s easily readibility and the mirade of facts presented in a story like manner (not a story but with loads of interesting facts told in a not boring way). It would be so easy to assign this as reading material and have your student do a report on it. I know that my lad will come back to me with “did you know” question/statements. It will be good to see if he enjoys it as much as I did.

Google It! A History of Google.
Anna Crowley Redding
Feiwel and Friends
231 pages, trade paperback
Google, History, biography
middle school through highschool
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Where to find: Amazon.ca

Review: Whoosh, Boom, Splat

January 27, 2018 By Annette1 6 Comments

STEM is all the rage right now eh? How can we encourage the learning of engineering, science, math and technology? Whoosh, Boom, Splat takes the love of launchers of all different sorts, to encourage hands-on experimentation in your middle school and up youth. 11 different types of launchers, with variations for several of them. It’s a rather neat book!

Whoosh, Boom, Splat is a revised and expanded second edition. In it you can learn to build jam jar jets, elastic Zip Cannons, clothespin Snap Shooters and more. These aren’t your average experiments. Things CAN go wrong and you might get hurt IF you don’t pay attention and follow the instructions. Lots of pictures and text accompany the instructions so if you take your time and follow the directions well, you can make a good variety of launchers to amaze and delight each other. This book is meant to be done with adult supervision (often as a safety measure) but also because some of the builds are harder to do.

Each of the 11 chapters has a good introductory section where they give you a real life application.. for instance with the jam jar jet we learn about the V1, a Nazi built cruise missile, that used a pulse jet. These jets are still used in cruise missiles today. With the mechanical toe we learn a bit about football and talk about Newton’s Second Law of Motion. We get to learn about a famous engineer Gianibelli with the clothespin snap shooter.

A complete tools and a separate materials list, plus step by step instructions walk you through each build. Numerous pictures accompany each set of instructions helping to make each step easy to follow.

I have to admit how much I appreciate the attention to safety and the clear instructions. It makes this book easy to use. We were able to build this explosive device! I also want to make the vortex launcher and clothespin snap shooter.

The lad had a lot of fun helping me make this, and if we could have gone longer we would have but what with having a new cat in the house whose a tad bit skittish, we thought this length worked and proved the lesson works. It also gave us a chance to talk about chain reactions and the atomic bomb.

My thoughts:

The strong emphasis on safety, along with the troubleshooting tips, and the historical origins of each machine made this a fascinating book. The experiments range in experience needed, but all can be accomplished by any teenager and up as long as they take their time to read and understand the instruction. The good images just add great instruction. This DIY projects will help teach STEM to your students.

Whoosh, Boom, Splat
    Build Jam Jar Jets, Elastic Cannons, Clothespins
Snap Shooters, and more Legendary Launchers. 
Revised and Expanded Second Edition
William Gurstelle
Chicago Review Press, 154 pages, softcover
STEM, engineering, technology, science, math, 
Middle school, high school
Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where to buy: Amazon Link.

Books for Young Adults

Mind Games

From The Cover

My Thoughts

How I Resist

From the Cover:

What you Get:

My Thoughts:

Ellie Claire Art Journals

Illuminate Your Story Journal

Faith & Lettering Journal

The Illustrated Word

My Thoughts:

Where to find.

Observe, Collect, Draw

From the back cover:

The Nitty Gritty

My Thoughts:

The Golden Vial

Google It!

Review: Whoosh, Boom, Splat

My thoughts:

Amazon Affiliate information

Tinker Crate Affiliate

Books for Young Adults

From The Cover

My Thoughts

From the Cover:

What you Get:

My Thoughts:

Illuminate Your Story Journal

Faith & Lettering Journal

The Illustrated Word

My Thoughts:

Where to find.

From the back cover:

The Nitty Gritty

My Thoughts:

My thoughts:

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