Graphic Pick: Fish Girl

Fish Girl
by Donna Jo Napoli
Illustratons by David Wiesner
Clarion Books
2017
192 pages
ISBN: 9780547483931


Ethereal illustrations by David Wiesner capture the beauty of Fish Girl and her aquarium home. Colorful sea creatures are realistic and beautiful. A friendly orange octopus is the epitome of a true friend. Fish Girl is a captive in an aquarium. Caught as a baby "mer-son," Fish Girl owes her life and sustanence to Neptune, the sea god. Neptune is the only parent figure Fish Girl has ever known, and he claims he saved her from death, giving her a home at the aquarium. The only thing he asks is that she "perform"--allowing visitors to glimpse a sighting of her. She is not allowed to fully  appear to anyone and cannot interact with the human guests. Neptune warns her that if people really believe that she's a mermaid, someone will come and take her away to study and cut open. This is enough to frighten her into subservience.

One day, this all changes when a curious twelve year old named Livia bonds with her. Fish Girl cannot speak and has no legs to walk, but she dreams of being human. What would it be like to have legs and walk on dry land and wear real clothes and  attend a yoga class? Livia continues to sneak visits with Fish Girl whom she names Mira (short for Miracle) and wonders where Fish Girl came from and just who Neptune really is. After one of her visits, Mira questions her keeper's intentions as well. She searches Neptune's office and finds overdue bills and a photo of Neptune fishing on a boat.Mira realizes her "father" is not the god of the sea but a common fisherman and he's been lying to her about everything.

Mira  decides she wants out and enlists the help of Octopus in her foray. Her friend will do anything for her and does.

Fish Girl is the strange but wonderful story of a mermaid and a human who become friends and later sisters. It is full of friendship, hope, possibilities and love.

Magnificent art will win over even "boy" readers who thinks that Fish Girl is a "girl" story. One reviewer on Amazon reported that her son said, "while he said this was a "girl story" (a huge insult for a 4th grade boy), he eventually succumbed to mom's pleas and read it and called it, "pretty good, but still would have been better with boys" ... Which is basically a rave review for him..." That being said, if boys are led to this book, they will likely enjoy the story and the fantastic graphic content. 


Highly, highly recommended for fans of graphic novels and middle school readers. 

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review. 

Picture Book Pick: Naughty Kitty!

Naughty Kitty!
by Adam Stower
Orchard Books
2014
40 pages
ISBN: 9780545576048

visit the author's sketchbook

Heartwarming, heavenly  and hilarious, Naughty Kitty! will tickle little readers' funny bones! Lily wanted a new pet and her first choice was a dog, but her mother said no to that. Lily ends up with a cute kitten who seems nice and fluffy enough, but trouble is brewing in this household and it's just around the corner.

 Readers may catch on from a newspaper peeking out of the mother's handbag on the first pages. Before the appearance of big trouble, the paper sits on the kitchen table and alert readers will see a glimpse of what appears to be a large jungle cat at the back door. Lily's back is turned as she leaves the room so she doesn't spot him.

Animals  have escaped from a nearby zoo. When a wild  visitor gets into the house and eats cake from the counter, trashes the kitchen, and rips the living room chairs, Lily blames the only suspect, little, tiny Kitty. The tiger causes even more trouble when he lays on all the beds and leaves a stinky mess. Lily never realizes the true culprit. Young readers will laugh as they see an escaped tiger who is causing all the trouble. They will probably point out the tiger and wonder why doesn't Lily see him. Poor little Kitty takes the blame and shame, and Lily is none the wiser.

Illustrations by the author make Kitty come to life. Kitty is absolutely captivating: his blissful smile as Lily hugs him, his look of surprise to see wild animals in the back yard, his shameful look when Lily discovers the mess in the kitchen--make Kitty a real character with personality.

From the cover: Naughty Kitty! is, "...for anyone who has been blamed for something they did not do."

Highly, highly recommended for all young readers and pet lovers. Naughty Kitty! is an entertaining read and is sure to cause smiles all around.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher.  I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

YA Pick

Lockdown: Escape From Furnace I

by Alexander Gordon Smith

Faber and Faber, 2009

273 pages.

In this gritty and disturbing YA novel, Smith creates Furnace Penitentiary, the "toughest maximum security prison in the world for young offenders." Furnace makes the U.S. prison system--even maximum security lockdowns like Rikers Island--look like a child's tea party. Framed for his best friend's murder, Alex gets a life sentence in this hellhole. Even though Alex is guilty of breaking and entering and bullying and fighting, readers will like him. He shows his true colors once he enters the Furnace. Championing underdogs and saving lives, Alex fights for the rights of the little guys. He stands toe to toe with the most brutal of the prison gangs, the Skulls.

The prison itself is wedged in a massive gorge beneath the Earth. Rock surrounds them on all sides. There is no escape, only death. There are no safeguards for prisoners' rights. In fact, the guards would rather see the prisoners dead than alive. The sadistic warden welcomes new boys by saying, "Beneath heaven is hell, boys, and beneath hell is Furnace. I hope you enjoy your stay."

Sometimes "they" come for you in the middle of the night. Sometimes you come back and most of the time, you don't. Alex is determined to find a way out. He enlists the help of his cellmate and two other boys who came in with him. They come up with a risky plan to blow a hole through solid rock using gas from the kitchen's stoves. If it works, they will probably die in the explosion. If caught, they will die. If they stay in Furnace, they are guarenteed death. This is a no-brainer for Alex. Readers will not be able to put this book down.

Exciting and ferocious. Action-packed. Reluctant readers will enjoy this thrill-ride. Highly recommended for YA collections, grade 7-high school.