This book needs to find itself.  There seems to be too many ideas thrown on the page with a thought to see what sticks.  The reader is in a land where time has stood still.  There was a crystal that keep the moon and time from moving on. However the crystal has broken and a shard is missing.  Sound familiar?  Yeah I thought so too.  I wish this was a homage to the Dark Crystal, but except for the basic concept it is nothing like it.  Half way through group of children are sent on a quest to find the shard.  They are excited to finally grow up, but at the same time, they have been cautioned to not grow up too fast.  It’s a slough to keep track of this story.  It’s not even saved by the art.  It’s nice but seems old.  Makes one think of Prince Valliant meets Kirby. 

 

Harbinger means someone who brings forth or starts something. Many times harbinger is tagged with evil as in someone who brings the evil. And that would fit with this book. A man wakes up and has no idea who he is but there’s two people talking. It’s almost as if one is in his mind and one is himself. He is known as the harbinger, he is a superhero, but also a super villain, depending on which side of the coin you look at. With no memories all he knows is he wants to be better and make the world a safe place even if it’s him people need to be saved from. The story was a bit slow and it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on. Is this two people or is this a case of DID. Overall I liked this story but I don’t care if I come read the sequel 

 

I had such a hard time getting into this book. Rutabaga is a chef, and they love to cook. But their love of cooking gets them mixed up in all sorts of adventures. Like plucking mushrooms off a long lost enchanted sword. Or following a Viking like clan as they defeat the creature that killed their queen. Overall this book was OK I just didn’t care about it or the characters. I do have book 2 however I doubt I read it. 

 

Book two was not a letdown. The kids know that monsters are going to eat them if they don’t escape the house now they just have to plan and figure out how to take everyone with them. But there is a traitor in their midst. This traitor reports back to mom and we don’t know why. Plus mom has brought on a new assistant, that doesn’t always listen to mom. This series is a lot of fun, it’s a lot of heart, lots of adventure, and a tad bit horror. In other words it’s something for everyone. Now on to book 3.  

 This book was simply amazing.  It is an extremely alternative history of the Harlem Renascence.  In this world, people with a corrupted soul become these monsters that must be killed or must be cured.  And being it’s the 1920’s and his is Harlem and most of the monsters were people who believed in lynching and segregation.  But there is one family that is the best at making their bitter root brew that can save someone from this life.  They work with the police and everything, because they want a better world.  On its own, the story is amazing, and the artwork is so detailed.  But add historical reference I knew nothing about, and I was googling “red summer”, 1919 deaths etc.  This book, a historical fantasy about monster killing, read this reader down a research hole to learn about things not taught in schools.  It makes the reader curious, and eager to learn more and only the best books can do that. 

This book was not at all what I was expecting. The description tells you it’s the story of the beginning of the modern computer era. However it’s really four students from different backgrounds that come together because of bulletin board servers in the early 90s. These kids are just learning about computers but actually learning more about themselves and who they can trust. This book was a super-fast read. The artwork is all done in black, white, and blue which really sets a somber tone. This book says its volume one and I really think I want volume 2 but I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for it. There are trigger warnings for this book, there is abuse of a child. It’s right in the beginning and it’s verbal, not quite physical but still physical, and really grabs the reader off from the beginning. However this still makes for a fabulous read for any high schooler or adult. 

 

Not what I was expecting, but better than I hoped.  The best way to describe Hotel Manifique is a cross between Caraval and Gunslinger Girl, however, it ends better, and doesn’t leave you going, “that’s it”.  Jani is a big sister trying to make a better life for everyone.  Upon seeing that the Hotel Manifique is hiring, she knows that is exactly where she and Zosa need to be.  They can earn enough money in a year to live move back to the homeland and live comfortable for a few year.  But the hotel is more than Jani ever expected.  While it is believed to be full of magic, and it is, it is not as wondrous as imagined, its dark and deadly.  For some strange reason the hotel does not affect Jani like it does other worker.  She get to keep her memories and other specialties others do not.  Is it because Bel is helping, or is the handsome Bel who mans the door, hindering Jani and her quest to see her sister has a good life.  This book was a lot of fun.  Some of it was extremely predictable, others not so.  It wraps up in a happy and satisfying end which one would expect.  There is no need or want of a sequel.  This book delivers what the cover, the title and description tell you it will.  It whisks the reader to a land of magic where every day is different, and magic isn’t always good. 

 

This book was humor perfect for elementary.  As an adult I had a few too many eye rolls, but I know my nephews would love it.  Felix finds his way into a new dimension and meets Calcite, this ball of fluff who is a bit reminiscent of Danny DeVito.  He is super scared of trolls.  Through this comic adventure to two team up to get Calcite home and learn that trolls may not be as bad as they seem.  

 

I am a big fan of graphic novels.  When I say Stuart Gibbs bestselling series was going graphic I had to read it.  I still love the story of a school that teaches kids to be spies and then sends them on missions. The graphic novel was decently done.  The illustrations are fine, but there was something about the way it was colored that turned me off a bit.  Please be aware I was reading a digital galley and that may be the reason why.  Overall these books are a lot of fun for kids of all ages, and now they are in a format that will appeal to reluctant readers, and maybe even lead them to picking up the rest of the series in chapter book form. 

 

Zathura is a spinoff of Jumanji  The original Jumanji movie stays close to the original book.  Zathura was also made into a pretty fun movie, but there connection to Jumanji was never made within its plot.  And the movie is quite a bit different from the book.  Two brothers are playing outside and discover the game Jumanji.  However, it contains a second board with a trip to Zathura.  The boys begin to play, and just like Jumanji strange things start to happen.  The house ends up in space, there is a meteor shower, and robots come to life to kill aliens.  However, the moive goes about an hour longer than the book.  In the book, the oldest brother is sent back in time 5 hours and the story ends with him NOT playing the game.  While I did like the book, this is one time I can say for sure the movie was better.