A discussion starter for readers who can look past the clunky writing.
In this Swiss import, translated from German, rudimentary color science and a few good friends help the new girl in town end a plague of grayness.
Robin—light-skinned and apparently preadolescent—stares at her new town and realizes that it’s devoid of color. In protest, Robin decides to wear her yellow raincoat everywhere. On her first day of school, that decision lands her in detention, where she meets brown-skinned Alani. They quickly become friends and resolve to resist the status quo. Robin encounters adult resisters who play music—outlawed along with color—and is menaced by a man all in gray. A fearful librarian loans Robin a book about color, inspiring a plan to transform the Gray City for the better. Robin, Alani, and the alienated musicians decide to sabotage a factory responsible for rendering everything gray. Oddly, as color returns, the children receive only a minimal reprimand from the factory managers, and not one citizen counter-protests. Relying more on telling than showing, the extremely short chapters are full of adverbs and awkward turns of phrase—perhaps because of translation issues. Nevertheless, suspense builds with each new scene—and, importantly, readers are treated to outstanding, detailed watercolor illustrations. Despite the somewhat clumsy prose, this story might work as a read-aloud in elementary or middle school classes that are being introduced to color theory; it could also spur conversation about conformity and societal norms.
A discussion starter for readers who can look past the clunky writing. (additional facts about colors) (Fiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2024
ISBN: 9780735845541
Page Count: 64
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
Certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers.
First volume of a planned three, this edited version of an ongoing online serial records a middle-school everykid’s triumphs and (more often) tribulations through the course of a school year.
Largely through his own fault, mishaps seem to plague Greg at every turn, from the minor freak-outs of finding himself permanently seated in class between two pierced stoners and then being saddled with his mom for a substitute teacher, to being forced to wrestle in gym with a weird classmate who has invited him to view his “secret freckle.” Presented in a mix of legible “hand-lettered” text and lots of simple cartoon illustrations with the punch lines often in dialogue balloons, Greg’s escapades, unwavering self-interest and sardonic commentary are a hoot and a half.
Certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: April 1, 2007
ISBN: 0-8109-9313-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
Wholesome? Yes. Proper hard work and teamwork values in place? Yes. Paint by numbers? Oh, yes.
Olympic gold medalist Morgan runs down the celebrity-sports-fiction checklist in this series opener: New school? Check. New friends? Check. New boyfriend? Maybe! New soccer team? Check. Inspire said team to take on snooty archrival private school? Check.
Quickly shedding perfunctory initial reservations, Devin sails into seventh grade at Kentville Middle School, makes instant connections in class and at Kangaroos soccer tryouts. She meets requisite bully Mirabelle at the latter, then goes on to be elected team co-captain. After a disastrous start to the season, she helps her team’s members and even the less-than-rigorous coach land on the same winning page. Following a sleepover, a dance, team-building drills and exercises, pep rallies, minor problem-solving and motivational strategizing, Devin prods the Kangaroos into position to beat the haughty Pinewood Panthers in a climactic rematch while also schooling Mirabelle, who has jumped ship to join the rival team.
Wholesome? Yes. Proper hard work and teamwork values in place? Yes. Paint by numbers? Oh, yes. (soccer glossary) (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: May 7, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4424-8570-9
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
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