A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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The Way Past Winter

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Grit, determination, and just a little bit of magic fill the pages of The Way Past Winter.  An old enemy plays his hand.  Can the survivors find a way to put an end to it all? Affiliate links will be used in this review, held on behalf of Raincoast books. 

the way past winter

The Basic Details

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is the author of this Chronicle books published middle school read entitled The Way Past Winter.  Youths grade 5 and up will be delighted with the bravery of Mila as she faces her greatest foe.   A mage Rune helps her along the way.  It is a page-turning adventure the shows the resilience of family, magic and friendship.   Will it be enough to see them through the end?   Will it see them past to the end of winter?    I received an advanced reader’s copy of this 284-page book.

The Way Past Winter

Based on Slavic folktales, this children’s sibling book from Chronicle books is a fast paced novel guaranteed to keep the reader interested in what will happen next.  As an adult reader I finished it in about an hour (mind, I am a fast reader).  

You’ll find five different images delineating each chapter heading, they show the progress in the story.  Scattered art work also help introduce the different sections of this tome based in fantasy and magic.  Since I received an ARC copy I don’t know if the images will be in greyscale in the final copy.

sample page, the way past winter

Font size was larger, making it an easy fast read.  Very comfortable for a youth 10 and up to engage with. 

the way past winter

I really liked the variety in the girls characters, so very different from each other and yet very focused on helping each other. It was in essence… family being family despite their differences.  This makes for a good read.  🙂   

Should you get it?

Yes.  I think so. 

I enjoyed it although the story went in a different direction than I thought it would.  My thought was it would all be about respecting the earth and the things of the earth. It was less about that, and more about family and combatting the things which made life difficult. 

The Way Past Winter shows the resilience of family and friendship. A determination from three unremarkable girls to make things right again. 

It would be interesting to use it as a character study as each of their girls, their brother and the mage are quite different.  Or as a way to jumpstart a conversation about how to care for the earth, or looking into Slavic folklore and how it influences different genres of books.   It’s a good story to just stand on its own as a fantasy novel. 

 

The Nightmare Thief

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Nicole Lespereance has put together a book that honestly.. I’m going to give you a mixed review on.  The Nightmare Thief gave me the willies when I started reading but I found myself compelled to read on until I saw a good solution coming about.  I’ve learned to do this with books so I don’t get bad dreams!  Mind…I am easily put on edge by books and this one did a good job of doing that for me, yet… it contained good themes and for the right reader would be an excellent fit.   Affiliate links will be used. 

the nightmare thief

Themes I Liked

I loved the quirkiness of the parrot, the family connectedness, the love of family, the willingness to reconnect with old friends, and the alertness to potential danger in people.  LOVED those aspects.   I loved the determination of Maren (the female protoganist) to solve her problem and not be beaten by a very creepy antagonist.    Those aspects, for the right reader, make this a very doable middle school reader.  

Sourcebooks is the publisher of Nicole Lespereance’s read, The Nightmare Thief.  Running at 288 pages, the intended audience are children 8-14 years old, though I see it better for youth 10+.  I am reviewing an advanced readers copy for Raincoast. 

What Do you Get?

A novel!  That’s what you get!  🙂   Yes I know, stop being silly. 

But seriously, in The Nightmare Thief, you’ll find the characters are well-protrayed.  With a very creepy villain who couldn’t let go of her past and clung to her hurt.   Who gave the protagonist a reason to rethink some of her thoughts.  Our protagonist has a love of family and developed a willingness to reconnect with old friends (letting go of the hurt).

sample page, the nightmare thief

Very little art work grace the pages.  It gives a great image of what a dream packet might look like eh?

Such an interesting concept presented.  Using dreams both to heal and to be a weapon.  Could you imagine such a thing?  And the nasty villain had such a unique way of delivering them.  NOPE.. no spoilers in this post! 

Should you get?

As I said when I started this review, a mixed opinion.  

I don’t get why people read books to scare them. I definitely wouldn’t understand someone wanting to buy a scary dream.  Not my thing.  

But I do get that people like to read and do and live with some fright in their lives.  I suppose it’s good to get the old heart pumping eh?  

With that in mind, I would say older elementary students through middle school just might enjoy reading The Nightmare Thief.  Enjoy a creepy villain, be delighted by a girl discovering her courage, and using her skills. 

Just Like That

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Two troubled teenagers.  One running from trouble, one recovering from a close friends death.   A boarding, a head mistress, and add the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the 1960’s.  Mixed all together you have the makings for a good story in Just Like That.  Just so you know, I’ll be using affiliate links as I go through this review.

just like that

Details for Just Like That

Gary D. Schmidt wrote Just Like That.  This professor at Calvin College is a Newberry Honor winner. This middle school read runs at 400 pages, with 40 chapters. Published by Clarion Books (a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), I am reviewing on behalf of Raincoast books. 

You’ll find the font is comfortable for reading.   There is no decoration or illustrations to be found.  Just a good, comfortable in your hands book to read.   I received an ARC soft-covered version, it comes in kindle, audio or hardcover so however you like to read you are covered.  🙂 

What do I think?

I enjoyed this read.  It is not as light-hearted as some middle school reads.   Sometimes life hands you some hard-shakes and you need to figure out how to work your way through them.  In Just Like That we are privileged to watch two teens work their way through. 

Some really bad stuff happened with one teen but readers never witness to it, more like after the fact information.   I did not read every word as I wanted to get this review out to you, but I didn’t run into anything that raised flags. I love watching growth happen in characters, to see them become more than.   Don’t you?

You need to understand that Just Like That is set during the 1960’s so revolution and change were a big part of the history.  Difficult things happened, peoples lives were changed dramatically and sometimes it was very difficult.  

A friend commented that the cover looked scary and when you consider the time that the book is set in, it’s makes sense.  It was scary in a lot of ways.  Changing societal norms, war, protests, and so much change.  It was scary.  But that’s just the backdrop.  It’s not the STORY.  The story is two teens working through hard stuff and coming out in the end just like that.  It’s a good story and needs to be read in light of what it going on in the world around them.  Just as it should be. 

Go out and get it.  It’s a book well worth reading and will introduce your readers to some of the struggle of the 60’s.    

Outside In

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Sometimes you run across a book that can be read in different ways.  Outside In is one such book. Between the images, and my take on text used, I had one impression, but when I read the description, I can see another vantage point.   Books like this linger with me, perhaps this one might linger with you as well.   This is my review.

Outside In Review

What I am Reviewing

Deborah Underwood (best selling New York Times author) wrote Outside In which has been published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  Cindy Derby used a mixture of dark dreary colours with bright pops of colour to illustrate this hardcover picture book.   Written for primary school children, at 40 pages it is a nice book to share with a lap-child or for beginning readers to pick up.  

Because of the different perspectives, you can take with Outside In, it’s an imaginative book with good nature themes. 

Reviewing on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

The Details on Outside In

Cindy Derby’s artwork has left me feeling very conflicted about which way I should read this book.  Parts feel very low and depressive, and other parts feel very bright and ready for almost anything.  At the same time nature abounds, making this tome a place of exploration and dreaming.   It makes for an intriguing look-see.

Outside In

Ooh… the colours in the leaves eh?  Juxtapositioned against the bleakness of winter.  How sad and quiet it can be in the winter, unless we look for the colour and life within it. 

Outside In

Too often that bleakness stays with us.  Bring the light in, bring nature in, rejoice in the colour and life!

The large text size makes it easy for child and adult to read easily. 

sample page outside in

Should you get it?

Outside In is such an interesting book.  Nature, colour, and emotions.  There is much to see and discuss in this picture book. 

Bring nature indoors whether with light or colour.

Don’t get stuck in a rut of quietness within. 

All Together Now

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I love when books surprise me.  I didn’t expect much from All Together Now when I initially glanced through it.  My expectation was that it would be a fairly mindless read in a graphic novel format.  Instead, I received a coming of age book, watching a young lady learn important skills. A good book for middle school readers. 

All Together Now Review

What I am Reviewing

All Together Now is a graphic novel written by New York Times bestseller Hope Larson.   Published by Farrar Straus Giroux, this novel is done in shades of red with highlights of black and white.   It is the second part of the Eagle Rock series, the first in the series entitled All Summer Long.  At 192 pages it is an easy read for youth 10-14 years old. I reviewed at ARC copy for Raincoast Books. 

The story centres around Bina and three important people in her life.  Austin, Darcy and Enzo.  

The Details for All Together Now

All the coloured parts are done in shades of red and pink (and all the points in-between).  The text is easy to read. 

sample page all together now

The story is told over the period of four months, from September through December.  Teenage angst, the love of music, the creative muse, and romance (or the lack of it) fill the pages. 

sample page All Together Now

Readers will navigate the ups and downs of friendship in the real-life depictions of Bina and her friends.  Mistakes will be made, and growth will be the end result.  Readers will easily identify with the well-developed characters. 

all together now

Should You Get It?

If you have young people who like graphic novels and coming to age type stories, this will work.  To this reviewer, it is more of a girl book (centring around a girl, and growing up as a girl are themes) then one geared for boys.  Not saying that some boys wouldn’t like it, but overall.. Girls.  🙂 

I loved the good parental involvement.  Bina’s parents and older siblings seemed to be very real people, working to help, and offering good practical advise. Her relationship with her friends is just what you would expect from a middle schooler.  Confusing and mixed up, full of ups and downs as young teens start to figure themselves out. 

Caution: as so many books do these days, All Together Now contains some LGBTQ elements that creep their way in.  Not in an “in your face manner” but in a quieter format, which perhaps might be more troubling.  Just something to be aware of. 

Monster and Boy

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Monster and Boy, oh my, what a fun little book for me to review.  So quick and easy to read, it will be perfect for children just getting out of picture books and looking to branch out to chapter books.  A cosy, fun book sure to please.  Let me show you what this review book is all about. 

Monster and Boy - Barnaby

About Monster and Boy

Raincoast BooksFrom the cover: When Monster (who lives under the bed) meets Boy (who sleeps in the bed), Boy starts to scream – and Monster promptly swallows him. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

And so we are off on the first adventure of Monster and Boy.  Hannah Barnaby writes with a warm and cozy voice.  You’ll find illustrations throughout, mostly line drawings in black with green overlays.  It is a fun book geared to intrigue young readers with humour and adventure. 

Published by Henry Holt and Company books for young readers.  An ARC copy reviewed for Raincoast Books. 

Monster and Boy

This fantastic book is not in any way a difficult read.  I’m not going to say that all the words are simple, but most of them are ones that most lower elementary children should know.  

Monster and Boy

Simple two-toned illustrations by Anoosha Syed conveyed the emotions and actions of the monster and the boy.  You will find illustrations on each of 144 pages of this 14 chapter book.   I loved the simplicity of the drawings and how they conveyed so much: laughter, fear, sadness, and mischievous.  It’s all right there.  Such a fun read for children 6-9 years old. 

Monster and Boy

One of the things I most appreciated in Monster and Boy is that both had lessons to learn in the adventure they had together.  It was not one-sided,

I loved how the author liberally used humour.  I can well imagine the guffaws of laughter I would hear if I read this book aloud with a group of children.   My son would have been chuckling in his seat at this age.  

Should you Get it?

Should you buy Monster and Boy?  I am SO reluctant to buy books for youngsters as they tend to short-lived loves. BUT would I buy this as a birthday, vacation, keep busy, Christmas, and/or you’ve been a good child book?  Certainly!  It’s such a fun read, and so easy for young readers.   It will be fun to see what Barnaby does with the rest of the series. 

The Last Lie

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Take a moment to imagine a world where only 500 words were allowed.  This list could be easily memorized and summed up the total words you could use EVER.   Anyone using more words could find themself in jail.  Take a moment and think about that.  What would that mean to you?  The Last Lie takes this idea and continues the exploration started in the first book The List.   Come walk with me through this intriguing work. 

The Last Lie

What I am Reviewing

Patricia Forde is the author of The Last Lie.  A fictional middle school read published by Sourcebooks.  Life in a dystopian society, with intrigue, unexpected twists, mystery and bravery.  288 pages, 34 chapters.   I received an ARC copy to review from Raincoast Books. 

The city of Ark is no longer safe. Before the rebellion, everyone could only speak List, a language of just 500 words. But when Letta became the Wordsmith, the keeper of all the words that have ever existed, she learned that being able to express yourself is what makes us human.
And now, the new ruler has wicked plans to eliminate language once and for all: If babies never hear a single word, they will never learn to speak.
Letta and the other rebels must find a way to defeat the evil for good before they lose the very thing that will set them free.

The Details on The Last Lie

When I read the back of the book (copied above) I was immediately intrigued.  What would it be like to live in a word with only 500 words?  As I got into reading I noticed a neat thing with the chapter headings.   They were all words with definitions.  

The Last Lie by Patricia Forde

There was a section of the book that just captured me.  Letta and company had stumbled onto a cabin with newspapers plastering the walls.  Letta, the wordsmith, was captivated.  She just wanted to stay there and write down the words.  It made me think of another book I just reviewed,  The Keeper of Wild Words where discovering new unique words was a joy.  This joy, that wonderful abandonment in words, that Letta had is so profound. 

the last lie

Should you Get it?

I’m trying to think if there is anything objectionable for a middle school student. The thing with the babies is horrible, but nothing directly in your face.  There are some nasty threats made that might alarm sensitive minded youngsters. Some romantic interests are expressed, but nothing happens. The bad guys are predictably fairly bad (but aren’t they almost always?).

Overall The Last Lie is a well-written story, with good characters that don’t seem too far-fetched.  The story-line fit well with the overarching theme. And in the end, it worked out, though differently then what was planned. 

If you are a fan of Patricia Forde, or enjoyed The List, or have a fondness for dystopican literature, The Last Lie is well-worth reading.