Sleep No More

author: Jeff Gulvin

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.00

book published: 1996

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/30

date added: 2015/03/30

shelves:

review:

'Sleep No More' is a police procedural that had me guessing almost the entire way. I liked it, but the story would shift time without notice and that was a little confusing.



Aden Vanner is a cop with a past. As a former army member in Ireland, he's got a penchance for violence. When he beats a prisoner, this lands him in the sights of Superintendent Morrison of the CIS (aka internal affairs for us Yanks). At the same time, there are a series of revenge killings, going on by a killer known as the Watchman. Morrison likes Vanner for the killings, and even though he's been suspended, Vanner decides he should figure out who's behind it. With Morrison closing in, can Vanner find the real killer? Or is Morrison right to suspect Vanner after all?



I liked it, and I didn't immediately figure out how it was going to go. There were occasional flashbacks that would take place suddenly within a chapter, and that was kind of confusing at first, but I got into the flow of it as the book went along. Not a bad mystery.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.









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Hinges: Book 1 Clockwork City (Hinges, #1)

author: Meredith McClaren

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.54

book published: 2015

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/30

date added: 2015/03/30

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Hinges: Book 1' by Meredith McClaren is a webcomic turned graphic novel and it was an interesting enough premise for me to want to read more.



Orio is a kind of clockwork doll that is new to the city of Cobble, a kind of massive steampunk city. As part of her orientation, she is supposed to pick a companion, but ends up with the mischievous companion Bauble. Bauble picks Orio, not the other way around. Orio needs to find work to stay in the city, but Bauble is troublesome. As they move about the city, they find themselves in situations and meeting new people. Orio's companion is not liked by most of the people in her new town, but Orion becomes fond of the strange curious creature.



I liked the art. It's kind of a cross between anime and steampunk. The story is kind of weird, but I think I was in the mood for something strange because I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. I'd like to see where the story goes from here as Orio and Bauble explore this unusual city.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this unusual graphic novel.





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The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden, #2)

author: Julie Kagawa

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.32

book published: 2013

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/30

date added: 2015/03/30

shelves: young-adult

review:

'The Eternity Cure' is book two in the Blood of Eden series by Julie Kagawa. You will need to start with book one or you'll be lost. It's an interesting post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and vampires and humans who have to make tough choices. Spoilers for the first book will follow.



Vampire Allison Sekemoto, or Allie, finds herself allied with her hated "blood brother" Jackal to try to save the vampire that made them vampires. He's captured and in pain, and Allie dreams about it. It means going back to Allie's old stomping grounds of New Covington, a place she hasn't been to as a vampire. There they find evil vampire Sarren has unleashed a plague to kill off the remaining humans. He's supposed to have a cure, so in order to save their sire, they need to track down and stop Sarren. If they can't do it, the entire world may end, as humans become infected and vampires starve.



It's a second book, but it doesn't suffer from the usual second book things. There is enough action to keep things going, but there are those horrible moments that happen towards the end to keep readers moving on to the next book. The good news is that it's out now, so the nailbiting time will be short.



It's a YA book, so it's got the requisite angsty love story elements, which are not my thing, but weren't so cloyingly annoying that they stopped me from reading. Kagawa is a good author and knows how to build a credible world and characters to populate it. I enjoyed it.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Harlequin Teen and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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The Battle Begins: The Story of Creation

author: Caleb Seeling

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.60

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/21

date added: 2015/03/24

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Battle Begins: The Story of Creation' is part of the Action Bible. This is a graphic novel version of the Bible, but it's best, at least in this case, to think of it more as a loose paraphrase than an exact translation.



The story starts in the time before the events in Genesis with the start of the fall of Lucifer story. Michael and Lucifer have differing opinions about this new creation idea, and Lucifer feels like he should be more important. This is setting the stage for later. We then move to the creation story with Jesus being the one doing the creating. We see John 1:1 quoted here, and this explains his part of the Holy Trinity and why he would be present during creation. God creates Adam, and Adam comes across as a bit slow on the uptake. He runs around shouting out names for animals and seems generally clueless. We then see the fall of Lucifer and his tempation of Eve and Adam followed by their ejection from the Garden of Eden. The book finishes with a scene from the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem in the New Testament.



The art by Sergio Carillo is quite good. I've liked his style in the Lone Ranger book that I read. This is my first read of the Action Bible series, and it looks like he does most of the art for this series which would give the series some nice consistency. Where I guess I might have taken issue is with some of the interpretive nature of the book. We know that Lucifer was cast out of heaven over pride issues. We know that he shows up in the Garden of Eden as a serpent, but we don't know the exact details, so what we get here is not a strict scriptural interpretation of those events, but a writer's paraphrase of events. The portrayal of Adam struck me as a bit strange. He seems clueless and a bit of an airhead. Granted, he's a newly created being, and maybe I've never given much thought to it, but it still seemed like not a very idyllic state, especially when he meets Eve and jumps up, ADD-like, to name a gazelle. Jesus is nice, but he seems not very clued in to the dissatisfaction happening with Lucifer. I wanted him to be more powerful and all-knowing. I liked it, but just not as much as some of the other reviewers.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from David C. Cook and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Silhouette (New Series Adventures, #53)

author: Justin Richards

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.73

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/19

date added: 2015/03/19

shelves:

review:

'Silhouette' by Justin Richards is the first 12th Doctor book I've read in the Doctor Who series and I liked it. It didn't hurt that it also took place in the Victorian era and featured the Paternoster gang of Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax.



When the Doctor and Clara visit a carnival, they find things are not as they should be. There are a series of strange murders and some suspicious characters. There is a strange woman who seems to be able to create animated objects out of paper, and a man who can make his face appear to be anyone else. Heading up this group is a strange man who doesn't seem to belong in Victorian London, or even on the planet Earth. With everyone following different leads, it all culminates in the revealing of the evil plot at the center. Can the Doctor and Clara save the day?



I liked it. The twelfth Doctor, at the point when this novel came out last fall, didn't seem to have any broad quirks like his predecessors. Having seen some episodes with Peter Capaldi, I'd say the book gets his character down pretty good. I like the strange characters that can manipulate objects or even their own faces. The bad guy came across as a bit too stereotyped, but it was all in good fun. And you can't go wrong with Strax, except there's just never enough of him. I liked it.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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Trees, Vol. 1 (Trees #1)

author: Warren Ellis

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.98

book published: 2015

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/19

date added: 2015/03/19

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Trees, Vol. 1' is the start of a series, and this volume is mostly just the set up. I liked it for the most part, but felt it got a bit bogged down about 2/3 of the way through. I thought it recovered by the end and think it's an interesting premise.



10 years ago large columns came from outer space landed on our planet. They are different sizes and groups. They are nicknamed trees, and for 10 years they have just stood silently with no indication why they are there. The story takes place in different places on the globe with different ways of approaching these strange trees. Some are artists, or scientists, or people on the fringes of their societies. An over-obsessed scientist finds strange black flowers growing near a tree in the Arctic, and they may lead to a breakthrough. Just as the story winds up again, the volume ends.



I like the premise. I liked the global aspect and the characters that were introduced. The stories don't connect at this point, but it's possible they might. Some of the fringe folks and their stories didn't seem to advance the story at this point, and I wanted to get back to what was happening with the scientists. I liked it, and I'd like to see where it's going to end up going.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Big Star Otto (Elephants Never Forget, #3)

author: Bill Slavin

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.29

book published: 2015

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/14

date added: 2015/03/14

shelves: graphic-novels, children-s

review:

'Big Star Otto' is the 3rd graphic novel in a series, which I didn't know when I sat down to read it. I was still able to follow the story and still enjoyed it quite a bit.



Otto the elephant and his parrot friend, Crackers, have made their way to Hollywood (after the circus escapades of their last book). They are looking for their monkey friend Georgie who has been taken by the man with the wooden nose (who bears a resemblance to the man with the yellow hat in another series with a monkey). Otto and Crackers find work with an agent, but before long they find themselves in all kinds of trouble. Can they find Georgie, and has show biz changed him so much that he won't recognize his old friends?



It's zany fun, but there is a bit of a message too. Animals are treated well, and not so well, and there are probably discussions to be had with young readers. Elephants are forced to work and threatened with sharp objects and electrical shocks, so it could be a bit traumatic for certain young readers. The drawings are very cartoonish, and I could almost imagine this as an animated series. Otto and Crackers are endearing and there are little odd jokes here and there and I liked it.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Kids Can Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun graphic novel.





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Judge Dredd: Anderson, Psi-Division

author: Matt Smith

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.20

book published: 2015

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/13

date added: 2015/03/13

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Judge Dredd: Anderson, Psi-Division' is a story featuring Judge Anderson. While Judge Dredd makes a cameo, just realize he's not in this one much more than a few panels.



Cassandra Anderson has a gift of precognition, and when she sees that a robbery is going to take place at one of Mega-City One's museums, she's not above inconveniencing museum staff to save lives. When the robbers reveal a dangerous new weapon that Anderson is immune to, she knows it's up to her to stop it. This leads her on a hunt for a criminal overlord that may exist or may just be a ghost story that criminals tell each other (Keyser Soze anyone?). Her adventures lead her to desolate swamps and see her teaming up with some strange people, like a fellow judge from Texas who can track using something called psychic geography. Will her gut instincts and cognition prove correct, or will they lead her into a trap? And what does it have to do with her birth, if anything?



I like Judge Anderson, and I feel like the book has all the design elements of the world of Judge Dredd, but I felt something was lacking. Perhaps it was lacking Dredd's stony sobriety, or the weird humor that seems to show up in the boundaries of the stories. Still, it was interesting to learn more about Anderson, and it's not a terrible story. There are some nice twists and turns before it's all said and done.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Starlight

author: Mark Millar

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.90

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/13

date added: 2015/03/13

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Starlight' by Mark Millar takes the type of Sci-fi adventure we found in the golden age of pulps and adds some fun twists to it. I really enjoyed the story.



40 years ago, Duke McQueen saved an alien world from destruction. He came back to Earth, and his life, only to find that no one believed him. Now, with the recent death of his wife, and his grown children busy with their own lives, Duke finds himself alone and unimportant. Until, the planet he saved so many years ago needs him again. Can his aging body save the day and save the planet again? Will he ever be able to convince his kids that he's really a hero?



I loved the concept. A Flash Gordon or John Carter who has aged, and then has to go back and be the same hero he was. It's as fun as it sounds. I loved the art by Goran Parlov, and all the various covers and the included cover gallery. I wouldn't have minded a little more difficulty on Duke's part to adjust back to being the hero he was 40 years ago. 40 years on a body takes quite a toll. I still enjoyed it and recommend it.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this adventurous graphic novel.





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The Book of Memory Gaps

author: Cecilia Ruiz

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.50

book published: 2015

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/11

date added: 2015/03/11

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The Book of Memory Gaps' by Cecilia Ruiz falls into strange categories. It's a picture book, but for grownups. It's funny, and poignant. It's a book of quirky vignettes.



The book explores different characters, all with seemingly Russian names as they cope with different kinds of memory loss. There is a boy wandering around with a bouquet of silverware. There is a sailor who returns every night to his wife, but in his mind, he's been gone a long time. There is a woman who is bad at remembering faces, but good at making perfume. This goes on and on. Different names. Different quirks of the human mind.



When I started reading, I wasn't sure if this was making fun of memory and mental illness, but when it was done, I found it more a celebration of what makes us human. We all have strange tricks that our minds play on us. I loved the illustrations, and I found the book funny and moving. It's rather short with only 64 pages and many of those blank (like our memories can be, I suppose), but it might make an interesting gift book for that birthday you forgot, or for yourself when you have an all too human moment of memory gaps.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Group, Blue Rider Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this very nice ebook.





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Give to the Heart Volume 2

author: Wann

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.12

book published: 2014

rating: 2

read at: 2015/03/11

date added: 2015/03/11

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Give to the Heart Volume 2' continues the story from the first volume. The men are still barely wearing shirts, and the disturbing level of female domination seems to be increased here.



Sooyi has managed to escape from her estranged husband, the god Lord Ganok. Ganok is in agony, but Sooyi is bent on his destruction. When she is aided in the wilderness by the strange man with glasses named Niroo that she met in the first volume, she accepts his assistance. He is hiding something, and Sooyi seems oblivious to it. Niroo seems to understand the technology of the world that has died. When they run into one of Niroo's old acquaintances, a man named Looden, things get tense and dangerous. Still Lord Ganok tracks his wayward wife. Still she seeks the Dead City and the death of her husband, but you'll have to wait until the next volume to find out what happens.



It's a romance title, so I can go with the men bearly wearing shirts, and the weird guy with the leopard print headband. I guess I don't understand the fascination with a woman being captured and tied up and threatened sexually as romantic. I let it kind of slide in the first book, but it's not for me. The art is still good, and the story has some potential.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Netcomics, and Diamond Book Distributors in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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Crazy About Hockey!

author: Loris Lesynski

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.00

book published: 2015

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/09

date added: 2015/03/09

shelves: children-s

review:

'Crazy About Hockey' by Loris Lesnynki is a series of poems for young readers about the ice sport. The book is illustrated nicely by Gerry Rasmussen.



There are all kinds of poems related to the history of the Stanley Cup, and when players started using face masks. There are humorous poems about how worn out hockey parents get even if they aren't on the ice. The drive to win, how much fun it is, and even the fights that break out are all covered in poems. Even if you don't play hockey, it's a lot of fun.



The poems are fun, even if the meter felt a bit off on some of them, and I loved the illustrations. The book is only 32 pages long, but I enjoyed it. I wasn't sure that poems and hockey would go together, but I'm glad that I took a chance on this book.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Annick Press Ltd. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.





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Authority (Southern Reach, #2)

author: Jeff VanderMeer

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.65

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/09

date added: 2015/03/09

shelves:

review:

'Authority' picks right up after 'Annihilation' in the Southern Reach Trilogy. While it clears some things up a bit from the first book, it definitely remains as weird and mysterious as the first book. By the end, the reader may have as many or more questions than after the first book.



While the first book focused on the biologist exploring Area X, this book features a character named Control who is stationed at the Southern Reach. He has taken over for the director, who was on the last expedition to Area X. He finds odd things in her office, like a plant living in a locked drawer, some strange waterlogged files, a wall with bizarre writing, and lots of bugs (as in listening devices). The people around him are quirky, and his boss is a thundering voice booming profanities at him at odd intervals. Through all this, he has to interrogate a person who has survived Area X and is simply known as 'Ghost Bird.' And what's with the bunny on the cover?



The book is about as strange as the first one, and the mysteries are slow to unravel, if they do at all. By the end, I still wanted to go on, but if you read for the first one and didn't care for the style, then this won't be an improvement for you. As for me, I'm on to book 3.





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Give to the Heart Volume 1

author: Wann

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.93

book published: 2014

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/08

date added: 2015/03/08

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Give to the Heart Volume 1' by Wann is an interesting premise for a story. My only question after reading it is "Why can't the male characters manage to keep their shirts on?"



In the far distant future, civilization as we know it is a distant memory. Humans live in new, primitive cities, but the old cities still remain. Three gods rule things. One of these is Lord Ganok, who rules the waters. He is the most tempestuous. Denying water, or sending too much. Some of this could be due to his missing wife.



Meanwhile, his wife is trying to find her way to the Dead City in order to destroy Lord Ganok. When he finds her, he has to decide if loving her means keeping her captive and making her miserable or letting her go and making himself miserable.



It's anime style, but it reads like conventional Western comic. The anime emotions are all evident as little comic heads, or character thoughts outside of word balloons. I liked the art and story. It's not complete in this volume, but as long as you know that, and that it leans more heavily on it's Asian story roots, it's a good story. I was a little put off by the overy aggressive domination of the poor human female in this book.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Netcomics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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The X-Files: Year Zero

author: Karl Kesel

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.74

book published: 2015

rating: 3

read at: 2015/03/06

date added: 2015/03/06

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'The X-Files: Year Zero' tells another story of Scully and Mulder, but more of a story of their predecessors from the 1940s. I liked it, but there have been better recent X-Files stories.



The present day story takes place in the New Jersey barrens. An animal control officer seems to be capable of giving prophetic messages. Mulder and Scully investigate and learn of a mysterious Mr. Zero. We also move back to the 1940s and meet special agent Bing Ellinson and his new assistant Millie Ohio. At this point in history, there are no female agents, but Millie proves to be equal to the task at hand. Before long, they run into a strange man named Mr. Xero who seems to be intertwined with a woman. Are they the same strange man? Why is he so interested in these two people?



Like I said, I liked the story. I liked the earlier story, and how the art changed to look like art from old comic books. It just felt like one of those middle of the road X-Files episodes I used to sit through to get to the good ones (like 'Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose' or 'War of the Coprophages'). It is good to have new stories with these characters.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, IDW Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





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March: Book Two (March, #2)

author: John Robert Lewis

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.64

book published: 2015

rating: 5

read at: 2015/03/06

date added: 2015/03/06

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'March Volume 2' continues John Lewis' gripping memoir. My review copy only had the first 25% of the book, but I'm confident I can review this based on what I've seen.



It's volume 2, and we're still not at the March of the title, but it looms closer. This book also starts with the framing story which is about the inauguration of President Obama. After a successful Nashville sit-in campaign, John and his fellow protesters try to take on movie theaters. When they are refused tickets, they just get back in line and try again. They receive abuse and open hostility for this, but they remain undeterred. Beyond this, there is an attempt to board a bus in the deep south and the tribulations involved in that.



The courage of these young protesters is perfectly displayed in a graphic novel format. Once again, artist Nate Powell does a tremendous job in a black and white medium. The style of the book is patterned after a comic that John Lewis remembers and the style is perfect for this story. I can't wait to find a full copy of this graphic novel and finish reading it.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Top Shelf Productions, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this important graphic novel.





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Gronk Volume 1

author: Katie Cook

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.88

book published: 2015

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/06

date added: 2015/03/06

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Gronk Volume 1' by Katie Cook is an adorable story of a monster who no longer wants to be a monster and the new family she finds herself with.



Gronk decides to leave her fellow monsters behind because they just don't find her very scary. She's actually pretty cute with her mop of orangish-blonde hair. When Gronk chases a kitty, she meets up with Dale who overcomes her immediate reaction and makes friends. Dale lives with her cat, Kitty, and her huge dog, Harli. Once they meet, the story becomes more a series of comic strips about their daily life. Things like Gronk trying to play on the cat tree, or Dale showing Gronk elements of geek culture through movies and games. The seasons are represented as well. The book ends with a nice Gronk gallery by other artists.



It was nerdy and cute and I really liked it. I loved all the referencs to Harry Potter and other things. The art is perfect for the story, and even though Gronk is a monster, there is nothing in here that kids couldn't read. I have Gronk Volume 2 on my reading list, and I'm looking forward to more adventures with Gronk.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Action Lab Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this cute graphic novel.





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The Queen's Shadow: A Story about How Animals See

author: Cybèle Young

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.96

book published: 2014

rating: 4

read at: 2015/03/05

date added: 2015/03/05

shelves: children-s

review:

'The Queen's Shadow: A Story about How Animals See' is a clever science lesson disguised as a whodunnit. I enjoyed the story and the science.



When the Queen's shado goes missing during a sudden blackout, all the animal guests are potential suspects. Mantis Shrimp, the royal detective, sets out to find out the truth. Since all the guests are animals, like a shark or a dragonfly or a snake, we get to learn how all of these animals see the world. We see eyes set back or can only see certain colors or with pit organs. Children learn that there is wonder in nature, and there are many ways to see the world around us.



The story is good and the science presented is interesting without being overwhelming. I liked the illustrations, but they seemed out of proportion at times. Also, some pages were a little too busy for me. But this is still a good book for a curious child who wants to learn something interesting about some of the creatures who inhabit the planet with us.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Kids Can Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this interesting ebook.





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Toad Weather

author: Sandra Markle

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.29

book published: 2015

rating: 5

read at: 2015/03/04

date added: 2015/03/04

shelves: children-s

review:

'Toad Weather' takes the premise of a rainy day, and a real event, and brings us an adventure that can happen on an ordinary day. The illustrations are a wonderful addition and make this a treat for children and the adults sharing the story with them.



Little Ally is bored on a rainy day, but her mom wants her to see something amazing. Grandmother is a little more reluctant to go traipsing around in the rain. Outside the ciyt is transformed into glistening streets and the sound of raindrops on different objects. As they walk through the city another sound grows louder and they see a large crowd. This is what Mama wants to show them. What could it be?



Based on a real life event that happens, it's a wonderful take on the kind of magic that happens all around us that we usually take for granted. As Ally views the city in the rain, we see it with fresh eyes. The story by Sandra Markle is great, and the illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez are beautiful renditions of the things that Ally sees with splashing raindrops and shimmering reflections on streets and sidewalks. I was drawn to this book by the cover, and was very pleased with the art and story I found within.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Peachtree Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this beautiful children's ebook.





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Rodeo Red

author: Maripat Perkins

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.39

book published: 2015

rating: 5

read at: 2015/03/04

date added: 2015/03/04

shelves: children-s

review:

'Rodeo Red' is the kind of kids picture book that I instantly wanted to read out loud in my best cowboy accent. It's an adorably illustrated book that instantly took my back to my favorite picture books growing up.



Rodeo Red and her favorite dog Rusty are completely content until her little brother "Side Swiping Slim" shows up to ruing things for her. She appeals to her parents, I mean the sheriff and her deputy, but they don't se things Red's way. When Slim decides to take an interest in Rusty, then Red decides to take matters into her own hands. Can this cowgirl find justice in a town where her best dog's been dognapped?



This was such a cute story, and I loved the illustrations by Molly Idle. They reminded me of classic Golden Books, and that's the best praise I could give any children's books. The story is great for any child who suddenly has to share space and belongings with a younger sibling. The prose is lilting and made me want to practice my Sam Elliott impersonation and russle up some young critters to read to.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Peachtree Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful children's ebook.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1EhGdC8

Criminal, Vol. 1: Coward

author: Ed Brubaker

name: Wayne

average rating: 4.17

book published: 2007

rating: 5

read at: 2015/03/01

date added: 2015/03/01

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

'Criminal, Vol. 1: Coward' proves why comics are a completely valid medium for telling just about any kind of story. Here we have a tightly plotted story and excellent art woven together to create a gripping story.



Leo is from a family of thieves, and he's excellent at planning heists, but he knows you always need a backup plan. Without one, you end up dead, or in prison like his father. When someone comes to him with a plan to rob an armored truck full of police evidence, he's immediately wary and wants no part in it. When leverage is applied, he is forced into a dangerous job, but comes up with a plan that might work. Do things go wrong? Of course they do. Is Leo ready for them? I'll leave that for you to find out. There are some twists and turns in this book that are simply gut-wrenching. There are also characters here who will live in your memory, from Leo's heroin addicted grandfather with Alzheimer's to Greta, who just wants to make enough money so that her daughter can have a real life.



I really loved this book. The writing by Ed Brubaker is great as is the art by Sean Phillips. This book was one of the best reviewed comics of 2006. If you like a good underbelly crime book, I can't recommend it enough.



I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the privilege of reviewing such an amazing graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1DGSayt