Time for some PRE-PUB funny business with.... Comics Squad #2: Lunch!

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well for those of you looking for an update, here goes.....the Cybils reading is ALMOST over, with only one book remaining (if it will ever ARRIVE...*grr*), but the discussions/debates are still going strong.  Who would have thought it would be this difficult to sift through seven titles for a winner we can agree on?  I mean I know which are my top picks but we'll see what happens....and no, I can't spill the beans.  You'll have to remain in suspense.  ^-^  Moving forward...

Today's featured title is a tasty treat celebrating its BOOK BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!  Yes, a party today, a party tomorrow, we book folks LOVE a good book party now don't we?  ^_^  This particular title is in the minority of the books I read/review seeing as it's chosen format is the comic, but that's just the beginning of the fun behind the cover...although the cover is rather fun in and of itself (see below).  Ladies and gents, before this hot little title starts to cool, allow me to introduce today's book of choice....

Comics Squad #2:  Lunch

by

 Matthew Holm, Jennifer L. Holm, Cece Bell, Jeffrey Brown, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jason Shiga, Cecil Castellucci, Sara Varon, PEANUTS, Nathan Hale

9780553512656

Random House Books for Young Readers

Like I said, it's COMICS but we're not talking just a one liner like the newspaper or your daily email might carry.  These are full fledge mini-stories from some of your favorite authors, starring your favorite characters, and what else...LUNCH! That's right.  Each story centers around LUNCH in some fashion or another to fit the theme of this collection.  From food allergies discovered to food in prehistoric times, lunch on a WWII destroyer to lunch ladies you definitely want on your side, there's a little something for everyone. 

My personal favorite was of course the PEANUTS inclusion...who can resist a good Snoopy tale after all.  The most confusing one for me was the choose-your-own-adventure style read trying to solve a who-done-it.  The twists and turns allow several outcomes including one where you land in the past (*gulp*) but it was a little difficult to navigate across several different pages.  Best suggestion:  choose wisely and your outcome will be just what you intend. 

To conclude, a delicious addition to a well balanced meal perfect for lunch time snacking or a full on meal (i.e. you can read it in dribs and drabs or all at one go).  You'll find familiar 2D faces you've grown to love or grown up loving starring in adventures unlike those you've seen before that will have you hungry for more (oh look...there's a #1 in the series too entitled, Recess!).  Recommended read for Children's Fiction fans of all ages.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks to Cassie at Random House Children's Books for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the authors, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to hit store shelves January 26, 2016 via Random House Books for Young Readers, so be on the lookout for it at a bookstore or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!



Chicagoland Detective Agency: The Drained Brains Caper by Trina Robbins

Hi there!

Welcome to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

Whether you've been following the site since the beginning or you are new to the crew, you and your bookish conversations are more than welcome here.  So pull up a chair, keep your wish list handy (you never know when you might need to add something to it), and let's take a look at a new title.  Today's book of choice is...

Chicagoland Detective Agency:

The Drained Brains Caper

by

Trina Robbins

Illustrated by

Tyler Page

Megan Yamamaura wants to buy a tarantula, but not for the reasons you may think. (Okay, so I can't fathom a reason, but the one given is really good.)  It's actually to have a soft fuzzy critter to have and hold (*shudders*) that won't make her Dad break out in hives (allergic to pet hair...not a pretty picture). In search of her new "fuzzy friend", she visits the local pet store.  Unbeknownst to her, they don't sell actual pets, just pet supplies, a fact which RAF Herandez, the young man who happens to be working behind the counter when she visits, ever so rudely informs her of.  (Guy seriously needs an attitude adjustment.)  Leaving empty handed and in tears (bad RAF, bad!), the next morning brings more bad news. This summer, Megan will be attending school (the horror!).

That's right! The private and stuffy sounding Stepford Prepatary Academy....problem is, things aren't always what they seem (when are they ever?). Upon entering the classroom for her big first day, Megan discovers a hint of what that something not quite right might be. Aside from the conformity that she hates and strides to remain free of encroaching upon her individuality (short version:  she likes to BE herself...not such a bad thing), all the students appear to be prone to accidents.  How so?  They're all wearing bandaids.  Strange....definitely, I mean considering the ENTIRE classroom is involved and presuming it's not a fashion statement.  What's worse is when the school cafeteria serves liver and onions and not one single kid blinks an eye or turns up their nose at it.... (*double shudder*)  Well, everyone that is except for Megan but we know she's a new arrival...apparently into the land of WEIRD!  What's going on with everyone and why on earth do they all seem to agree on everything?  She's about to find out first hand and the truth of the matter will definitely surprise you....

So, I came upon this little read thanks to the good folks over at NetGalley and their tweeting wonder. I hadn't actually been to the site in a while when I saw a few of their tweets at random (yep, I follow them...not in a creepy stalker way, but on Twitter...) and said to myself...self, you need to take a look at the site again! Hey, what can I say, egalley's are fine and all, but I much prefer my actual books. The weight, the feel, the smell....everything about them, but NetGalley had several great titles that caught my eye, this one included. (Thanks, NetGalley!)

Where to start, where to start. I've just recently been sampling the world of comic books/graphic novels, and while I'm not ready to sing their praises in general, I can definitely say that I have found a few gems that I am more than happy to share with you, my readers...this one included. Megan is a great leading lady. Her non-conformist nature would paint her as an outsider but she really just wants to be understood and accepted for who she is (anyone else second her thoughts there?). Who is she? Well for one, a haiku expert in training! For those of you that may not know, a haiku is a type of poem generally consisting of three lines with the following pattern:  five syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables. Something like this...

Avid reader here,

Next adventure is unclear;

Reading is for life.

Okay, so Megan's are better, but that one was just off the top of my head so you can't fault me that much.  They add to the story and show how she is feeling at each given point. She even perfects the art of text haiku's (as in via cell phone with text abbreviations)!  Combine this skill with her resourcefulness and you're certainly in for some interesting times.  Next we have RAF, her new though reluctant best friend, in fact her only friend at the time, and his secret program project.  He's so focused on it you want to give him a quick slap back to reality, but it actually comes in handy later on...and is the source of a humorous pun that you definitely don't see coming.  Add in the evil and dog hating (how can you hate dogs?!) Dr Vorschak, a talking dog which was a result of the evil doctor's experiments (though that detail goes unnoticed) plus the mystery of the school and TADA...a mystery with fun on the side is born.  I have to say there was one character that only makes something akin to a cameo appearance at the end of the book but in that one frame has major impact and imparts a wonderful message.  Raf's mother, who is against animal testing, is speaking to Raf about a certain newly acquired pet.....

"Nobody has the right to OWN another living creature.  So you're not his owner, you're his GUARDIAN." 

Who'd have thought I'd be quoting from a comic book?  Hey...never say never and this one was certainly worth the quote. 

This book celebrates its birthday TOMORROW (09/01/10) so be on the lookout for it in a bookstore near you (or click here for more information on pre-order options).  For those of you planning on reading this little adventure, it is book one of a new series!  The next book is mentioned at book's end though to wet your appetite....Chicagoland Detective Agency:  The Maltese Mummy.  Any guess as to whether or not I'll be watching for it?  (Yep, definitely.)

 

Egalley for review was made available via NetGalley and the publisher, Graphic Universe, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.  (THANKS!) Are you a book blogger interested in egalley reading opportunites?  Be sure to visit NetGalley on the web or follow along on Twitter for all the latest listings.  For more information on the publisher and their full catalog of titles, check out their site.

Until next time...happy reading!

GRAPHIC NOVEL: Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani (Disney Fairies Graphic Novel, #2)

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...where we try our best to satiate your reading appetite with a bookish post each day.  Once you've finished investigating today's post, be sure to check out the contests currently running on the site as listed in the right hand sidebar.  One is for a thrilling mystery novel for adult readers and the other is for a soon to be released YA title suitable for all ages.  Don't miss out!

Today's featured title is one aimed at younger readers but suitable for one and all.  Hmm, I seem to say that a lot but really, reading is an activity that can be shared by all and if a story is THAT good, why not share amongst reading levels?  After all, you each take something a little different away from it anyway so the more the merrier!  Of course, when Disney is involved, it's easy to see why "all ages" is a proper fit...shall we continue?  Today's book of choice is....

Disney Fairies Graphic Novel #2:

Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani

by

Teresa Radice and Augusto Machetto

illustrated by

Emilio Urbano, Giulia Conti, Daniela Vetro, Roberta Zanotta

A great follow-up to the first book in this graphic novel series full of magic, beauty, vibrant color, with rampant messages of good feeling. Contained within this colorful work are 5 unique stories that carry a thread of similarity...friendship.  Though each one is a special read indeed, I did have two favorites amongst these treasures.  First, 'The Most Beautiful Dress'. In this tale, Beck is in need of a dress for the Festival of Dazzling Colors and we all know how hard finding the perfect one is.  By story's end, she shows everyone that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and a little imagination can go a long way.  My second choice of fairy inspired wonder goes to 'The Wings of Rani'.  In this story, it is revealed just why Rani doesn't have wings like the other fairies.  Though graphic novels don't always tend to incorporate anything incredibly deep or profound (personal opinion guys, personal opinion), this one surprised me quite a bit.  It is a story of sacrifice and the efforts of one fairy doing the most she possibly can to make sure their world, her friends, and her family, survived to see a new day...much more than I would have imagined.

Certainly a recommended read for Disney fans regardless of age, though the little princess (or prince) in your life may fancy it solely for themselves...and who could blame them!  The colors are vivid as are the adventures that Tinkerbell and her fairy friends embark on.  The stories tend to move quickly but the images are well worth slowing down to investigate further and explore the details included.  There's a little pixie dust to spare in this Disney-esque collection....none of which you'd want to miss. 

For a sneak peek inside this installment in the series, visit the Papercutz website.  This book was released June of this year, so be on the look out for it at a bookstore near you!  Special thanks to Penny Sansevieri at Author Marketing Experts, Inc. for the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this company, be sure to visit their website. 

Until next time....happy reading!

Comic-al Fun: 'Kit Feeny: On the Move' by Michael Townsend

Hello everyone!  Why would you look at that!?!  It's already the 28th of the month...where did the time go?  (**calling** Here tiiimmmee! Oh, tiiimmmee!)  It seems like only yesterday we were starting all the spooky fun that comes along during this part of the year...*SIGH*...wait, what am I saying?  We can keep the fun going all year long!  There's no need to wait for a particular time of year to roll around...we can get the party started (*singing*"...on a Saturday night!  Everybody's waiting for me to arrive"....now Pink's song will be stuck in my head for a few hours....yours too?) any time we like.  YAY for the world of book blogging!

A quick reminder to those of you that have not entered, we have two contests running currently.  One ends the 30th, the other on the 31st.  Check out the links to both in the right sidebar under "Current Contests".  And now...on to today's book!  The ARC (advanced reader copy) title for review today came to me as a result of a mini-Twitter contest from Random House Kids.  (Thank you!  Love the prize!)  I just received it on Monday, but couldn't wait to read it...it just looked too cute!  (You'll see...)  Without further ado, today's choice is....

Kit Feeny:  On the Move
by
Michael Townsend

Meet the Feeny's.  You have mother, father, two sisters, and Kit...sound fairly typical right?  Believe me, the story is anything but!  The Feeny family is preparing to move (To where you ask?  It remains unknown...but think further than a drive, closer than a boat trip.) and one member of their group is less than happy about this turn of events.  Kit wants no part in this adventure, and yet as in life so goes it in fiction, he must go with his family....it doesn't mean he has to like it!  From secretly trying to move his friend along with him (in a box with loads of pillows) to the "awesome stupid" (gotta love that phrase from the book) Hawaiian shirts he picks out for his new school wardrobe, you never quite know what Kit will do next.  Add to this equation a bus-riding bully, and (twin?) kid sisters that are more concerned with how they look and smell (strange add-in yes, but funny!) than their brothers plight.  Not to worry, Kit has a plan...or should I say several!

Let me start out "my" portion of the review by saying I am not a comic book reader. (GASP!  I know...shocking right?)  To all of you die-hard fans of this genre whether it be the single issue comic releases or the $10 a pop manga books that seem to fly off the shelves at the bookstore, I just can't see the draw. (STOP!  It's no use writing up a long email to explain the virtues of it to me and try for a "conversion"...it won't happen...sorry!  However, I do respect each readers right to like what they like and share it with others!  With that in mind...may I continue now?  **pause for your approval** Thank you...moving on.)  So, when I first saw this book offered through a Twitter post, I didn't immediately submit a DM (for those of you not on Twitter...that means 'direct message').  Time passed and the world kept turning....low and behold, another tweet appeared offering the same book.  Well, I checked it out this time to see what I as well as others were perchance missing.  The cover looked cute, the story sounded decent...one DM later and I had won myself a copy. (Yay me!)  Boy was I glad that I did....

First off, it is an ARC copy.  Now there is nothing wrong with them (personally love them since more often than not you get them before the book is released to John Q. Public) but due to their nature, they can be quite plain in design.  I mean you are reviewing the story, not just the awe inspiring (or not) cover.  This one was a bit different.  Take a closer look at the picture at the top of this post.  Go ahead, I'll wait. (insert Jeopardy music here....da da da dada da da da, da da da da DA da da da da da....you're back?  Good..)  Did you see what the caption says?  In my opinion, that was a really cool way to work in the ARC fact.  It blends right into the book, yet makes a statement of its own. 

Next, we have the drawings....so much fun!  Staying mostly to the pencil drawn, black and white classic effect with orange thrown in for a little twist, it makes you feel like you are reading something made just for you by a close friend, instead of a mass produced title.  (That's a good thing!)  On to the cast of loveable characters...I really liked how they interacted with each other.  Although some of the references in the conversations bubbles were sort of odd (in my opinion), it was thoroughly enjoyable!  The bully with his bad attempts at humor, the mom with her well-intentioned meddling, even the sisters with their crazy taunting were all a blast.  Now Kitt on the other hand...

He's not actually a trouble maker, despite the situations he gets into.  Really he is just your normal average kid dealing with leaving all he knows behind in exchange for everything unknown....scary prospect at any age.  He does the best he can (and better than some) in his new surroundings, ultimately discovering the truth hidden beneath the surface.  Whether near or far, a friend will still remain a friend.  It's okay to make new friends...you're not dishonoring the memories you share or knocking them out of the ranking of "first friend".  You are simply moving forward and adding more loved ones along the way....your own merry band of followers to laugh, cry, smile, and share the ups and downs of life.

Special thanks once again to Random House Kids for the terrific Twitter contest prize!  (Love it!)  Be sure to check out their website or "follow" (still sounds creepy...) them on Twitter for the latest and greatest.  Also the author's name near the top of the post links to his website.  Check out the author bio page...laughs abound.

COMMENT CREATOR
So let's see...what shall we talk about today, besides the book/review of course....ah, how about this.  Keeping on the same topic as this book (moving), have you ever moved a great distance from your hometown?  What was the best thing and worst thing about the experience?

My family moved from Pennsylvania down to Florida in the early 1990's.  It was quite a change.  Missed my friends, although we did write to stay in touch....loved the more casual school uniforms!  Oh, was not a fan of the heat though (still not too much)....we left 5 inches of snow and arrived in upper 90 degree weather.

Until next time....happy reading!