An engaging and child-friendly look at a growing lifestyle.
A young girl adapts when she and her family move into a tiny mobile house in this debut illustrated children’s book.
Sissy, a biracial girl, loves her life, especially waking up in her big, spacious room. One day, Sissy’s parents inform her that soon they will be moving out of their house and “going Tiny.” They explain: “Our new Tiny House will be on wheels…we can live wherever we want!…Living Tiny means we can own Fewer things and have More experiences.” Sissy is skeptical, especially when her mom says, “We must look at everything we own and keep only the things that have a necessary purpose or are very special to us. We’re going to do what’s called a possessions purge.” Sissy feels reassured after talking to friends who already live tiny. They teach her how to repurpose old items, such as turning her baby blanket into a pillow, and how to take pictures of her “Favorite Things” and put them in a memory book. Sissy feels good about donating her old toys to families in need and becomes very excited when the tiny house arrives. She is thrilled to explore the house on wheels and especially loves her tiny bedroom; the bookshelves feature maps and home-schooling works, indicating that her new journey is just beginning. Flansburg and Norrgard offer an inventive concept here. Weber’s (I Belong, 2018, etc.) illustrations are colorful and appealing, featuring friendly faces and realistic depictions that skillfully complement the text. Throughout the story, the authors deftly demonstrate their knowledge of the tiny house movement. The book also includes a page listing facts about tiny houses and a short history of Sissy (who was “named after” Norrgard’s tiny house, Sisu). The tale’s positive message should be welcomed by teachers and librarians. But the work relies heavily on telling instead of showing, with some long-winded descriptions (“The twinkle lights that used to be on her headboard were now wrapped around the handrail, and, just as she predicted, her homemade sun catcher glittered and danced in the light that streamed in from her new skylight window”). Still, the topic is timely, and Sissy’s situation will be relatable to many kids as the concept of tiny living gains traction.
An engaging and child-friendly look at a growing lifestyle.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-936-426-22-5
Page Count: -
Publisher: Audrey Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A thrilling, history-filled adventure.
Cantwell concludes his Tollan trilogy with high school time-traveler Peter Collins’ greatest adventure yet.
In previous books in the series, Peter and his friend Rosa traveled to ancient Mexico with the help of the serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Now they journey to Tenochtitlan, the city of the Aztecs, where they must set history on its right course. Tasked with no little feat, Peter and Rosa reach the heart of one of the most contentious times in Mexican history. When a conquistador—known in Spanish as Cortes—comes to the Aztec city, Peter and Rosa help Emperor Montezuma deal with the newcomer. Together they must figure out if the man is Topiltzin—the human reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl—or a stranger bent on conquering the city by force. Eventually, Quetzalcoatl does in fact return, and he brings Peter and Rosa forward in history to the city of Choula, where they try to bring peace to the nascent country of Mexico by convincing the Spaniards that Mexicans deserve love, respect and equality. Cantwell superbly recreates ancient Mexico with colorful descriptions of city buildings, citizens’ attire and specific details like blood in the streets from human sacrifices. Despite offering an admirable message for kids, the trip to Choula feels out of place and more like a mere detour. Additionally, readers are swept away before seeing the fall of the Aztecs, which is a bit disappointing; the end of Topiltzin’s story is merely told to reader rather than shown. Nonetheless, Cantwell brings his trilogy to a satisfying conclusion, as Peter and Rosa realize they’re more than just friends, and Peter finally learns the shocking truth of his parentage.
A thrilling, history-filled adventure.Pub Date: Nov. 20, 2012
ISBN: 978-1475958492
Page Count: 122
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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A simple, engaging dystopian YA tale of freethinking and self-determination.
In Fridgen’s debut young-adult dystopian novel, a young girl, her grandmother and her only friend race to escape the repressive, walled city of Philadelphia.
In a near-future, post-apocalyptic world, human society has separated into city-states based on religious belief. Teenager Ruth3:5 lives in Philadelphia, where all aspects of life are determined by the GovernChurch. Men and women are separated at age 13, electricity is rationed, and fathers visit their families for ChristBirth services and to threaten and beat their wives and children. Girls who show too much independence are forced to join the Magdalenes, where most die young after being used as prostitutes by the men of MensTown. Biblecation has replaced education—people are even named after Bible verses. No dissent or questions are allowed. But Ruth3:5 has a mind of her own and wants to use it. When she publicly challenges the accuracy of a Bible passage, she sets off a chain of events that leads her to flee from Philadelphia with her grandmother and male best friend, Two Sam, in search of the fabled city of Manhattan, where people are still allowed to think for themselves and believe what they want. The story delivers a dystopian fable in the vein of 1984 or Brave New World, but where Orwell warned about the dangers of a totalitarian state and Huxley wrote of mind control through drugs and distraction, Fridgen focuses on the dangers of religious fundamentalism. However, the novel is also a fast-paced adventure with likable main characters, written in a unadorned, competent style. Throughout, the author handles dialogue and character development well, although some readers may wish that both were a bit more complex at times. That said, Fridgen smartly explores the impact of his world’s version of fundamentalism on the daily lives of women and convincingly connects the rigid belief system to sexism and brutality. In the end, however, how compelling readers will find the fable may depend on how dangerous and believable they feel the threat of religious fundamentalism to be.
A simple, engaging dystopian YA tale of freethinking and self-determination.Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2012
ISBN: 9780615701790
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dreamlly Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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