A kids' tale that features a vivid storyteller who’s also a wise teacher.
Belenky’s (Capt’n Bob’s Adventures in Child Psychology, 2015, etc.) new children’s book charmingly relates the adventures of Milly, a black Labradoodle with a flair for persuasion.
These five tales, perfectly pitched for middle-grade readers, begin with a first-person (or rather, first-dog) origin story. Readers learn about where Milly was born and about her human “parents,” Mother Mary and Capt’n Bob. Milly is smart—so smart, in fact, that she attends a local law school and receives a degree. This helps her defend herself from accusations of stealing tennis balls, and her argument convinces the judge, a miniature schnauzer: “I say that if a ball is thrown to someone, whether dog or person, it becomes a gift, fair and square,” says Milly. “It is then his or hers to chomp on. That is how the world works.” At the end of this tale, questions for the “Intelligent Reader” appear: “Does Milly really steal tennis balls?” What makes a dog “good” or “bad”? “If you needed a lawyer, would you or would you not hire Milly? Why/why not?” Not only are these queries amusing, but they also encourage youngsters to appreciate the differences between species. In addition, the book helps readers appreciate pets’ quirky personalities. The use of Milly’s voice instructs in lively ways, as she says early on: “Capt’n Bob writes short stories about me that are mostly lies or exaggerations at best.” Of herself, though, she says that she’s “famous everywhere for my open mindedness.” At one point, for instance, Milly desires a pet of her own, so she goes to an elementary school to see if there are any children on sale. The book is full of humor and worldly awareness; a tale about Milly’s distrust of squirrels, for example, ends on a compassionate note when she visits an elderly pair of them at their home to sip some fermented pine sap. The final story, about why wolves (and sometimes dogs) howl at the moon, looks at the mysteries of mortality in a gentle, magical manner.
A kids' tale that features a vivid storyteller who’s also a wise teacher.Pub Date: April 5, 2017
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 49
Publisher: Lulu
Review Posted Online: June 5, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An unflinching portrayal of the devastating effects of domestic violence.
After a horrific domestic violence incident, Zoey Ward and her family finally find their footing in Las Vegas only to have their lives overturned by a house fire.
Learning that her father has been recently released from prison, Zoey suspects he had something to do with the blaze. After their lives go up in flames, literally, Zoey along with her mom and her younger siblings, Kate and Cole, flee Las Vegas with the help of her older brother, Will, and his best friend, Tristan. They take refuge in California, where Tristan and his sister welcome them into a world where things seem hopeful and more stable than anything they have ever known. Yet the fear of being hunted down by her father consumes Zoey. The story is narrated from Zoey’s and Tristan’s first-person perspectives, and Gray (Run Away With Me, 2017, etc.) has masterfully captured the uncertainty and terror that come from domestic violence. Tristan and Zoey share a budding romance in which Zoey slowly but surely learns to love and be loved in a nondestructive, healthy way despite her fears and reservations. With everything she has been through, Zoey is the underdog readers will find themselves rooting for. Gray spares no detail in this intense tale. All characters are assumed to be white; Tristan is dyslexic, and there are several queer characters.
An unflinching portrayal of the devastating effects of domestic violence. (Fiction. 16-adult)Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-4281-8
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
A compulsively readable YA novel that seems like an adult romance, which may appeal to older teenagers looking for something...
An orphan enters a world of privilege and decadence after she’s taken in by a wealthy family in this debut YA romance.
Seventeen-year-old Ella Harper is determined to overcome a difficult childhood. Raised by a single mother, she’s never met her father; however, she has a few clues as to his identity: his name is Steve, and her mother met him while he was in the U.S. Navy. After her mother’s death, Ella moves to a small town in Tennessee, enrolls in school, and takes a job as a stripper. One day, a man named Callum Royal comes to her school and tells her that Steve died and he’s her new guardian. They served together in the Navy, he says, before they built a successful aviation company. He’s helping to settle Steve’s estate and support the daughter whom Steve never located. Wary of his motives but hoping to learn more about her father, Ella accompanies Callum to his estate, where she meets his five sons, Gideon, Reed, Easton, and twins Sawyer and Sebastian. Their mother died under questionable circumstances, and they have a strained relationship with Callum. They’re also openly hostile toward Ella, particularly Reed. Ella soon discovers dark undercurrents in the family while also discovering her attraction to the sullen Reed. They fall in love, but secrets from the past soon threaten their relationship. Watt’s novel moves along at a brisk, enjoyable pace, and it’s built on an intriguing premise with well-developed characters. She doesn’t overplay her hand by revealing too much too soon; instead, small details, such as a mysterious bruise on Reed’s face, lead to shocking revelations later in the story. Ella is a dynamic, sympathetic protagonist who appreciates Callum’s generosity while trying to remain grounded. Although her relationship with Reed begins on an antagonistic note, it gradually evolves into one that crackles with passion. However, some of their scenes together are more erotic than many written for adult novels, so they might be more appropriate for an older YA or adult audience.
A compulsively readable YA novel that seems like an adult romance, which may appeal to older teenagers looking for something in the vein of Gossip Girl.Pub Date: April 4, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68230-456-3
Page Count: 370
Publisher: EverAfter Platinum
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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