The Creeps: Book 1: Night of the Frankenfrogs

author: Chris Schweizer
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/30
date added: 2015/09/30
shelves: children-s, graphic-novels
review:
'The Creeps: Book 1: Night of the Frankenfrogs' by Chris Schweizer feels like not the first book in a series even though it is one. Regardless, it's a fun romp full of weird creatures and gross situations.

The Creeps are a bunch of misfit kids with varying talents. At the beginning of the book, they've obviously been in trouble for something, so the school is making them fill in for the school custodian. One of their jobs is to bring in the frogs that the Biology lab will be dissecting. When the frogs go missing, The Creeps decide to go looking for the absent amphibians. They find themselves crawling around in the sewers along with super rats, strange creatures, and the Frankenfrogs in the title. There are a lot of suspects, so who is in charge of the newly reconfigured frogs?

My inner 5th grader liked the characters and the kind of gross fun they get into in this graphic novel. I was confused because it seems like there is an earlier adventure that happens before this book. The art is ok, but a little loose on style. It's easy enough to follow what's going on, but some panels seem a bit overly busy. I'd like to read more adventures of this clever band of misfits.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from ABRAMS, Amulet Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.


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The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow

author: Howard Chaykin
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/30
date added: 2015/09/30
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Shadow: Midnight in Moscow' is a Story starring the Shadow as written and drawn by Howard Chaykin. While the story warmed up for me at the end, it just took too long for me to recommend it.

It's the early 1950s. The war is over, the world is recovering, and the Shadow is thinking about retiring. While he is enjoying time off, strange things are happening. A huge stack of gold appears to have been stolen by being miniaturized. Also, there are a pair of people up to no good who seem to be showing up everywhere Lamont and Margo seem to be at. The action takes place in New York, London, Paris and finally Moscow, where a catastrophic plot is uncovered. Who can save the day if the Shadow is truly retired?

It's a bit too wordy, and it's sometimes confusing because things are happening offstage. The characters look strange, like they all have mouths full of food. The colors were muddied in my review copy so that the whole thing came across as overly dark. When they get to Moscow, the font used for characters speaking Russian was a bit puz‌zling to figure out. The book includes the original art and in it's uncolored state, it looks so much better. The characters still have a chipmunk cheek look to them, but the lines are cleaner. I really like the character of The Shadow. I just wish this story had been better.

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


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Skip School, Fly to Space: A Pearls Before Swine Collection

author: Stephan Pastis
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/28
date added: 2015/09/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Skip School, Fly to Space: A Pearls Before Swine Collection' by Stephan Pastis is a collection of the hilarious comic strips. Totally fun for kids and anyone else who likes memorable characters.

Rat and Pig are friends. Rat is a troublemaker and his usual foil is gullible, earnest Pig. Poor Zebra just wants to be a good neighbor, but his neighbors are the mostly stupid crocodiles who are always trying (and failing) to have Zebra over for dinner. We see the crocodiles form a superhero team called the Fantastic Four, but there are only three of them (they aren't that fantastic at math, apparently). We see Goat try unsuccessfully to intervene on Rat's mean behavior to Pig. We meet Kiko the Cactus who just wants a hug.

I felt for poor Pig who is not so bright, but is sincere and put upon by his friend. I absolutely loved the crocodiles and I would laugh out loud just about every time they showed up. This is a great collection of cartoons for kids of any ages, and I had a great time reading it.

I received this graphic novel from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious graphic novel.


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The October Faction Volume 1 (October Faction, #1)

author: Steve Niles
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.81
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/28
date added: 2015/09/28
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The October Faction Volume 1' by writer Steve Niles and with art by Damien Worm is a creepy atmospheric graphic novel about a family of monster hunters.

Frederick Allan was a monster hunter. He and his ex-partner, Lucas, haven't talked in a long time. That could be because Lucas is a werewolf. Frederick's children Geoff and Vivian seem to have his talents for finding trouble and they want to get into the family business. When their mother is attacked by something strange, they get a chance to help fight back against it.

I love the mood of this comic. It's all creepy houses, and ethereal ghosts floating around. The main story has elements of pain and loss. I really liked what Steve Niles has created here. The art by Damien Worm has a darker color to it, and the art fits very well with the story being told. I liked the sharp lines on the werewolf, and some of the other ghosts and creatures. They lent an extra menace to the art. It's well done, and I would definitely like to read more.

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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You Don't Say

author: Nate Powell
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.17
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/24
date added: 2015/09/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'You Don't Say' is a collection of shorter rare and unpublished works by Nate Powell. He's the artist behind 'March' along with other things. Think of this more like a sketchbook and a glimpse into an artist's work and you may like it as much as I did.

The pieces are from the years 2004 to 2013. They are all rather short. There are unfinished ideas, alternates for published works and unpublished works that were done as art exercises. During part of this time frame, Nate worked as a support provider for adults with developmental disabilities, and some of that influences some of the work. Song lyrics feature in quite a few, including one where he challenged himself to use only the song lyrics for dialogue. A couple are from a friend who tells about Halloween in a very white town, and also attending a Santana concert with her father and getting the death stare from Santana himself.

I love his work on March, and he has a great style. The work here is a little looser in style, but that also lets the work meander over the page without boundaries. Some of the stories are a bit harsh, quite a few have a distinct humor to them. All of them feature a paragraph or so from the artist to give context to how they came to be. It's a pretty interesting look at a pretty talented artist and I'm glad I got to read 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 graphic novel.


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Just to Be Clear: Writing What You Mean

author: Lynn McNamee
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/24
date added: 2015/09/24
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Just to Be Clear: Writing What You Mean' by Lynn McNamee is a short work with perhaps a confusing title. It's actually book four of the Beyond the Style Manual series.

The book seeks to correct sentence grammar errors. Topics covered include Dangling Participles, Misused Participial Phrases, Vague Antecedents, and more. There are examples given along with quizzes for most sections. For the quizzes, sample sentences are given and the reader has to decide if they are written correctly, and, if not, prompted to rewrite them.

At only 42 pages, it is pretty short, but at less than a dollar, it offers some helpful advice. I just wish the title were a bit clearer. It's part of a larger series, and that should be more apparent, and the subtitle should be clearer on what the focus of this volume is on. Yes, it is on clearer writing, but it seems to be mainly in sentence modifiers. Nevertheless, the samples, advice and quizzes are all helpful.

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


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They're Not Like Us, Vol. 1: Black Holes for the Young

author: Eric Stephenson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/24
date added: 2015/09/24
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Devil's Only Friend' by Dan Wells is the 4th book in the John Cleaver. This book falls into the urban fantasy genre with lots of monster

John Wayne Cleaver hunts down demons, but to the outside world, he appears to be a monster himself. The demons he's been hunting have killed most of the people in his life. Now, he finds himself on a special government team. Along with that, he finds himself with a new roommate, which is against John's wishes. John's got a gift for finding the demons and the FBI needs him, but he's not so sure he needs or wants the FBI. When a bunch of children in hospitals start to get sick and die and when a demon calling himself the Hunter shows up, John finds he is the only person able to find and stop them.

This book starts a new trilogy in the series. I like the character and I like that no character is safe (except probably our strange hero). The humor and gore are balanced right, and the writing is pretty good. I'll be looking to read more in this series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Devil's Only Friend (John Cleaver, #4)

author: Dan Wells
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/24
date added: 2015/09/24
shelves:
review:
'The Devil's Only Friend' by Dan Wells is the 4th book in the John Cleaver. This book falls into the urban fantasy genre with lots of monster

John Wayne Cleaver hunts down demons, but to the outside world, he appears to be a monster himself. The demons he's been hunting have killed most of the people in his life. Now, he finds himself on a special government team. Along with that, he finds himself with a new roommate, which is against John's wishes. John's got a gift for finding the demons and the FBI needs him, but he's not so sure he needs or wants the FBI. When a bunch of children in hospitals start to get sick and die and when a demon calling himself the Hunter shows up, John finds he is the only person able to find and stop them.

This book starts a new trilogy in the series. I like the character and I like that no character is safe (except probably our strange hero). The humor and gore are balanced right, and the writing is pretty good. I'll be looking to read more in this series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Tiny Games for Work

author: Hide Seek
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/23
date added: 2015/09/23
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Tiny Games for Work' by Hide Seek is a collection of simple games you can play at work. The problem is that you better use some common sense before deciding to play some of them.

Games may have a different definition in your mind, so let me explain. The games in this book are more like shenanigans or goofing off. There is a bit of a prank level to it, and maybe even laughing at others expenses. There are games where you try to pass off customers wearing red to other people playing the game, or being the last one standing in a meeting. There are games where you photocopy other people's things and try not to get caught, or you write a business email and and something erotic at the same time. You get the idea.

I've been in the workforce long enough to know that you don't need a book of games to encourage people to goof off. I have a problem (and I think some HR managers might as well) with some of the proposed "games." Also, games that play with customers by trying not to provide them service, or games that waste an employer's time may end up giving you lots of free time to play real games.

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


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Werewolves: A Hunter's Guide

author: Graeme Davis
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/23
date added: 2015/09/23
shelves:
review:
'Werewolves: A Hunter's Guide' by Graeme Davis gives you all the information you're likely to need to stalk the vicious creatures.

I learned that there are many different types of werewolves, including viral, shamanic, sorcerous and cursed ones. This covers people who choose and don't choose to be a werewolf. I learned about the different werewolf societies and how werewolves have been used throughout history in some of the greatest wars. I also learned about some of the types of werewolf hunters are out there, either defending us from the creatures or hunting them for sport. The book ends with a nice list for further watching, reading and gaming.

There are some nice subtle nods to pop culture and literature sprinkled throughout the text for discerning readers. I kind of viewed them as Easter eggs but in text form. The art throughout the book is good with original art by Craig Spearing and art from history from various sources. I like the Osprey series and I enjoyed reading this entertaining history of werewolves. It came out in March, but it would be the perfect read for Halloween.

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


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Millennium

author: Joe Harris
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/22
date added: 2015/09/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Millennium' from IDW Publishing and written by Joe Harris is a sort of continuation of the television series, but it has strong ties with the X-Files, so I'm confused why they didn't bill it as a crossover book.

Frank Black (not to be confused with the lead singer of The Pixies) has survived the millennium, but whatever strange threat it was supposed to bring is still out there. When a prisoner involved with Fox Mulder is paroled and has ties with Frank, they team up to investigate the weird things that are still happening over a decade later. Creepy children, mysterious symbols, and things from Frank's past all converge into a kind of convoluted ending.

I never watched much of the original series, so while I'm familiar with the characters and the basic premise of the show I probably missed some interesting things that were thrown in. I did like a few surprises that shall remain unsaid, but the whole thing came across as confusing and overly wordy. The art worked okay, and the characters looked like the actors from the shows they were on, but it was kind of dark and indistinct a lot of the time. Not my favorite thing I've read lately.

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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The Autumnlands, Vol. 1: Tooth and Claw

author: Kurt Busiek
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/22
date added: 2015/09/22
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Autumnlands, Vol. 1: Tooth and Claw' written by Kurt Busiek and art by Benjamin Dewey is a strange new fantasy series, but I quite liked it.

The setting is a floating city in the Autumnlands, with an anthropomorphic population of all kinds of species. When they decide to bring forward a legendary hero by using magic, it has catastrophic results. The hero they get is also not quite what they were expecting. Between new threats to them, there is also infighting amongst the leaders, and the new hero proves to be more mysterious and violent than they thought possible.

The story is good, but I found it a bit predictable. The reason to check this out is for the art, which is pretty amazing. I liked the characters, from the stodgy and stuck city leaders, to the crafty trader, to the cynical, smart-mouthed hero. This graphic novel is the first 5 issues and it's a pretty complete story, so I'm interested to see where the series goes from here. Not too bad at all.

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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Pines (Wayward Pines, #1)

author: Blake Crouch
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/22
date added: 2015/09/22
shelves:
review:
'Pines' by Blake Crouch is book one of the Wayward Pines series. The nice thing is that it also works well as a standalone novel.

Secret service agent Ethan Burke finds himself in Wayward Pines, Idaho. He doesn't remember how he got there or initially who he even is. As he pieces things together, he remembers being in an automobile accident. He remembers why he is in this town, and who he works for. The more he interacts with the people in the town, the more things don't seem to fit together. There is something strange happening, and now Ethan wants to escape. Will the town let him?

This was turned into a series over the Summer and I didn't watch it, but I enjoyed the book a lot. It's a compelling page turner that's written fairly well. There are comparisons to other writers and tv series that will come to mind as you read this, but I wouldn't dare be the one to spoil anything.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Supreme: Blue Rose

author: Warren Ellis
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/20
date added: 2015/09/20
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Supreme: Blue Rose' by Warren Ellis and art by Tula Lotay collects the first 7 issues of the character reboot of the Image Comics character Supreme. I'm familiar with this character, and this, at least so far, is a pretty drastic departure.

This is a high concept SF story about undulating timelines. There are some recurring characters or different versions of those characters. It's hard to stay locked on to the story, but I think it's worth it. The character trying to figure out what is going on is Diana Dane, a reported hired to find out what happened to a town called Littlehaven and who or what is "Supreme." That she's hired by Darius Dax (and told at numerous times not to trust him) is ominous. Also ominous are the strange resets that time seems to take. The blue roses in the title refer to a pattern in background radiation which seems to deal with the timestream. Just to keep you further off your feet, there is a television series in the book called Professor Night that keeps showing up with what looks like ads, but might actually be clues.

Supreme has had an odd history, so having a book about multiple timestreams that reset themselves seems to be an interesting way to kind of reconcile Supreme's past. I really liked the artwork in this book and Warren Ellis' writing is topnotch. It's a strange series, but I quite liked 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 graphic novel.


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The Little Red Fish

author: James Moffitt
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/20
date added: 2015/09/20
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'The Little Red Fish' by James Moffitt has beautiful illustrations by Bizhan Khodabendeh. My review copy was only the first issue, but I'm interested to find the rest and read it.

The story takes place in a reef with a group of fish under siege by seabirds who want to eat them. They find help from an unexpected and unusual ally.

On the surface level, it's a beautful story with equally beautiful art, but there is a deeper meaning, that is pretty obvious to the discerning reader. This story is also a retelling of the events of the Iranian Revolution. It's told from the perspective of those involved. Since this was only the first issue of six, it's tough to give a more complete review. I'd come back for the art alone, but as someone interested in history, I'd also come back to find out more about this time in history.

I received a review copy of this first issue of a graphic novel series from Rosarium Publishing, Sink/Swim Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this first issue.


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Rocky & Bullwinkle: Moose on the Loose

author: Mark Evanier
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2014/10/15
date added: 2015/09/19
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Rocky and Bullwinkle: Moose on the Loose' is a hilarious graphic novel by Mark Evanier and Roger Langridge.

The graphic novel has 4 issues. Each issue has a Rocky and Bullwinkle story split in half with a Dudley Do-Right story. I have to confess to not liking the Dudley stories quite as strongly, but I was always a Mr. Peabody and Sherman fan. The Bullwinkle stories are fun and full of groan-inducing puns, which I loved. There are even some inside puns for folks who loved the original show. Boris and Natasha show up with their plans to rid the world of Moose and Squirrel. Will they be successful or will they be foiled?

I loved the writing and the art, and it's a perfect homage to the original series. I think it's just right for kids and kids at heart. While kids may not be as familiar with these characters, this might be a good introduction. Really fun stuff.

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 hilarious graphic novel.


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Family Pets

author: Pat Shand
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/18
date added: 2015/09/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Family Pets' by Pat Shand is a strange tale involving a school of wizardry and a family that gets turned in to pets. It does have one of the weirder love triangles I think I've run across in a book.

Thomasina lives in the basement of her uncle's house with her grandmother. After her parents died, her other family took her in. They are nice enough but sort of disinterested. Thomasina is kind of unnoticed at school too, except by the boy that plays French horn. Thomasina's only friend would seem to be Sebastian, her pet snake.

One morning, she wakes up and everything in her house is strange. Her family has been turned into animals and Sebastian is now a young man. She takes an odd journey to try to set things straight and has to make some choices along the way.

The whole thing is just kind of average. Not a horrible story, but not that great. The art is about average. I've seen better and worse. I liked the characters well enough, but some of them acted a bit inconsistent. The life lessons were good, but it left me unsatisfied at the end. Maybe that was meant to mirror real life, but in such a crazy, often funny story, I wanted a more solid ending.

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


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Eden Volume 2

author: Bash
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.00
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/18
date added: 2015/09/18
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Eden Volume 2' by Bash tells the ongoing story of a mysterious village between world and the even more mysterious boy named Touru. The story doesn't conclude here but continues on.

Following events in the first volume, the village is still under siege by really angry angels. They mysterious boy Touru is on the run and helped by strange beings, and I'm still really confused about what is going on. I feel less so this time, so maybe by the time the third volume comes out, it'll start making sense.

Like the first volume, you read front to back, but treat each page like a manga page, reading right to left. This isn't explained in the review copies and left me pretty confused the first time. The story has left me puzzled. The elements seem to be good, but the story just makes no sense. It's missing something to tie it all together, and I find I don't really care about anything that is happening. The art by Bash is good, but there are more comprehensible stories out there.

I received a review copy of this manga from Diamond Book Distributors, Gen Manga Entertainment, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.


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Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War

author: Michel Chikwanine
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/09/17
date added: 2015/09/17
shelves: children-s
review:
'Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War' is the true story of Michel Chikwanine. The book is also written by Jessica Dee Humphreys and illustrated beautifully by Claudia Davila.

Michel grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When he was only 5 years old, he was captured by rebels and forced to become a child soldier. He is forced to do some very bad things before he escapes. The rest of the book talks about his family and their attempts to find a new home because the one they lived in was too dangerous. Since the book is part of the Citizen Kid series, the book concludes with ways to find more information and ways that kids can become active against this sort of issue.

I appreciated the way this rather brutal story was told in a way that kids could understand without being graphic. I also appreciate that Michel tells children that the events they are about to read won't suddenly happen to them. The book doesn't attempt to use scare tactics or graphic violence to get it's point across. It's a brutal story, and a horrific and tragic one. That Michel came through this experience and wants to change things is incredible. A wonderfully told and illustrated story. Kudos to everyone.

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 ebook.


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Brilliant

author: Roddy Doyle
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/17
date added: 2015/09/17
shelves: children-s
review:
'Brilliant' by Roddy Doyle and illustrated by Emily Hughes is actually tied in to Dublin's Saint Patrick's Day parade. Back in 2011, Roddy Doyle was asked to write a short story and each chapter would tell a story of the float that people were seeing.

Raymond and Gloria like to sneak down and listen to what their mother and father are talking about. It's a fun game that the adults are in on. Ever since Uncle Ben came to live with them, the growups don't talk out loud at night, and when the kids sneak down, the adults don't notice. It turns out Uncle Ben has some problems and it seems to be even something affecting the entire city. There is a Black Dog of depression that has stolen the city's funny bone.

The kids decide to chase down this black dog and recover the city's laughter. Along the way they are joined by all kinds of other kids who have poignant stories of the sad grownups in their lives. There are other surprises, but I'll leave those for the reader to discover.

My review copy had rough drawings, but I've since seen the finished ones and they are very nice. The story tackles a serious subject but in a kid-friendly way. There is plenty of warmth along the way, including one of Raymond and Gloria's friends who thinks he's a vampire. It's a really lovely story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from ABRAMS Kids, Amulet Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Wonder of Wonders: Christmas with Dietrich Bonhoeffer

author: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/16
date added: 2015/09/16
shelves: non-fiction
review:
'Wonder of Wonders: Christmas with Dietrich Bonhoeffer' is a beautiful gift book filled with snowy pictures and sayings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

The book is focused on a quiet reflection of the Advent. The book is laid out in 4 sections with titles like 'In Search of the Soul' and 'Christmas: Miracle of Miracles.' There are a few scriptures sprinkled throughout from the New Revised Standard Version. Accompanying the text are some absolutely beautiful shots of quiet scenes of Winter: A snowcapped mountain, frozen trees and other really nice images.

At 64 pages, it's a bit thin. The text feels a bit thin too, but there is some good things to reflect on in the busyness that a modern Christmas can be. This would be a nice gift book for someone to have out during the holidays. It can be looked at and paged through. The words and images are beautiful. I kind of wanted there to be more when it was all done.

I received a copy of this ebook from Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Things I've Said to My Children

author: Nathan Ripperger
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/16
date added: 2015/09/16
shelves:
review:
'Things I've Said to My Children' by Nathan Ripperger is a laugh out loud collection of the ridiculous things parents find themselves saying to their children.

When you parent young children, you find yourself saying "no." A lot. But the word "no" gets boring, so you find yourself addressing the particular antics of your little darlings. You may find yourself saying things like "I am NOT talking to you until you are wearing underwear" or "do not lick the grocery cart."

There are 80 sayings in the book and each is accompanied by a illustration by Nathan Ripperger. It's pretty light on content but would make a good gift book, and it's not super expensive. Think about giving it to friends who have small kids that can relate, or give it to friends who don't have kids yet to freak them out. I found myself laughing so hard that I actually started crying.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Ten Speed Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this hilarious ebook.


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Star Project Chiro, Volume 1

author: HyeKyung Baek
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.46
book published:
rating: 1
read at: 2015/09/13
date added: 2015/09/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Star Project Chiro, Volume 1' by HyeKyung Baek is my second experience with manhwa, which are basically Korean style manga. After two of these, I think I need to try another one before deciding these aren't for me.

Eun-Yo Song is a beautiful high school girl who models her family line of children's clothing. Everyday her brothers decide what she will wear to school and by the reactions she gets from the boys, either the clothes are a hit or Eun-Yo is beautiful enough to overcome her style of dress. She meets a boy she likes named Chankyung Woo, then she meets a pop singer named Nan Lee. Eun-Yo wants to become a star and Nan has a weird kind of obsessive love/hate relationship with Eun-Yo. This is volume 1, so the story doesn't conclude here.

So the story elements are just odd to me. We have a beautiful girl modelling children's clothing and the boys are crazy about her. That seemed weird to me. Then we have plot elements that are supposed to be humorous like an accident that causes two teeth to fall out and a house fire that destroys a lot of money and scorches hair. The Nan character just comes across as mean and creepy and maybe that's the point. I just found it not to my liking.

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


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Sweet Blood, Volume #1

author: Seyoung Kim
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/13
date added: 2015/09/13
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Sweet Blood, Volume 1' by Seyoung Kim is my first experience with manhwa, which are basically Korean style manga. The stories can be just as weird, apparently.

Suho is a high school student, but, at first, it's not clear whether this character is male or female. This causes some confusion as you are reading it, but I think that's intentional. Suho is visited by a creature of the night who seems to like his blood. When that creature kidnaps Suho and carries him off to it's lair, Suho has to pretend to be a female or risk losing his life. Apparently the creature, or vampire, is attracted to women, but repulsed by men. As long as Suho can pull this off, and his blood remains full of flavor, then he can stay alive.

It's just a weird premise for a story. It's kind of funny, but then there is a kind of horror element over the whole thing. Suho doesn't seem to care if he is a boy or a girl, but worse, he doesn't seem to care that he is the bloodbank for a vampire. The art is good, but I just didn't care for the story.

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


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Street Fighter IV Volume 1: Wages of Sin Hc

author: Ken Siu-Chong
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2014/07/23
date added: 2015/09/12
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Street Fighter IV Volume 1: Wages of Sin HC' collects a bunch of issues of the comic and introduces some new characters to the the Street Fighter universe that seem to fit right in. The art is not bad. It almost seems like cels from an animated series. The panels are colored very well.

The first few issues introduce some of the new characters. The main character is Crimson Viper and she's pretty interesting, but I liked El Fuerte too, who is a Hispanic cook/Lucha Libre fan. All the character's call out the names of their move as they do them, but El Fuerte's are named things like Tostada Press. I digress. Crimson Viper is hired by the bad guys to collect the best street fighters for a nefarious project. She does this and delivers them, but is she a hero or a villain? We do find out, but I won't spoil it here.

The characters are all larger than life and over the top, just like you'd find them in the video game. There's lots of fighting, some pretty good humor and the art is pretty good. I liked it, but let's call it a guilty pleasure.

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


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Uprooted

author: Naomi Novik
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/11
date added: 2015/09/11
shelves: sword-and-laser
review:
'Uproooted' by Naomi Novik takes the idea of Eastern European fairytales and weaves a totally new and interesting story while still feeling like something old.

In a small village on the edge of a mysterious and dangerous wood, a dragon (really a man who is a wizard) comes to town and chooses a girl on a regular basis. Everyone thinks he will choose Kasia, even her parents who have groomed her for just such a day. When the dragon chooses unkempt Agnieszka instead, everyone is shocked, even the dragon. In the days that follow, Agnieszka finds her life has changed and she has to adapt to life in a new place with this strange and surly man. There are many mysteries to be uncovered. Why does the dragon choose girls from the village? What causes the woods to enact horrible acts on the nearby villages? Can the queen who was trapped in the woods in earlier years be saved?

I liked the way the story unfolded, but there were times when it felt a little long. Much of what happens to Agnieszka seemed a bit predictable, and I got a bit tired of her always describing the stains on her dress and her unkempt appearance. But, I did like how things unfolded and I loved that old magic books by Baba Yaga feature into the growth of Agnieszka, and that the story is a sort of nod to the story of 'Beauty and the Beast.'

I received a review copy of this ebook from Spectra, Del Rey, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Henry Hodges Needs a Friend (Fixed Layout)

author: Andy Andrews
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/09
date added: 2015/09/09
shelves: children-s
review:
'Henry Hodges Needs a Friend' by Andy Andrews with adorable illustrations by Colleen Madden is about a little boy in search of a friend.

Henry lives at the end of his street and there are no other children. Even though he has loving parents and a pretty cool tire swing, he finds himself bored and lonely. Henry then spends part of the book imagining strange new pets like pigs who can climb trees. Henry does finally find the perfect friend, and that is spoiled a bit perhaps by the book's cover picture. I was kind of hoping he'd end up with the cow for his backpack that gives chocolate milk.

The pictures are endearing and colorful. The images are playful. The story is done in rhyme, but it doesn't seem to just roll off the tongue. I prefer a read aloud book with a rhyming cadence instead of one where the rhymes seem to be fits and starts. That's probably because I was spoiled at a young age by Dr. Seuss.

The overall story is just okay. Nothing new or grabbing with this one. It's the story of a kid who gets a dog for a pet. There is certainly room for stories like this, especially when they come with good illustrations.

I received a review copy of this storybook from Thomas Neslon: CHILDREN'S and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this storybook.


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The Story of King Jesus

author: Ben Irwin
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/09/09
date added: 2015/09/09
shelves: children-s
review:
'The Story of King Jesus' written by Ben Irwin with illustrations by Nick Lee is a concise and easily understandable story of the gospel message. It's a really good telling of the story for young readers who are not quite ready to read the Bible.

It starts with creation, moves through the life of Jesus and ends with us today and how Jesus came to be our king. The illustrations are a perfect accompaniment and the colors used match the tone of the part of the story being told, bright for happy, muted tones for darker parts of the story.

I was really impressed with this story book. It's an easily readable and understandable version of the gospel with really appealing visuals.

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


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The Midas Murders

author: Pieter Aspe
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.91
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/09
date added: 2015/09/09
shelves:
review:
'The Midas Murders' by Pieter Aspe is the second in the Van In series. These books take place in Bruges, and feature a world weary police inspector.

This time around there are a lot of plates spinning. There are a couple suspicious deaths that seem unrelated. One is a man found dead in the streets, and another is a friend of Van In who dies in a house fire. Then there is a bombing in a tourist area. To top matters off, Van In may lose his house to the bank. There are threads that lead to the Nazis. There is a monument climbing bomber. To top it off Hannelore is craving pickles which makes Van In even more anxious than normal.

I felt like the first book was more tightly plotted, and this one seemed a bit scattered, but when it was all said and done, I liked it. I did like that Hannelore spent more time with Van In this time around, but, overall, I think I preferred the first book in the series.

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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Jane's Blanket

author: Arthur Miller
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/09/08
date added: 2015/09/08
shelves: children-s
review:
'Jane's Blanket' is the only children's story written by Arthur Miller. This version had lovely minal drawings by Al Parker of the Famous Artists School.

The story begins when Jane is just a little baby and she has a favorite blanket that is pink. She loves her blanket and cuddles with it. She can't sleep when she doesn't have it, but eventually Jane grows up. As she grows, the blanket is still important, but is growing frayed from all the use and washings. As Jane grows and the blanket shrinks, Jane has to make some choices about her beloved blanket.

The story would hold up well to modern children, and would make a good quiet time book for bedtime. It's beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. The illustrations are black and white with pink coloring for the blanket. The story deals with growing up and letting go of things, but it isn't melancholy or sad. It's a gently told tale, and I love that it doesn't attempt to talk down to children. This is a master artist and writer telling a gentle and moving tale.

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


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It Shouldn't Happen -

author: Don Freeman
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.75
book published: 1945
rating: 3
read at: 2014/12/19
date added: 2015/09/08
shelves:
review:
'It Shouldn't Happen (to a Dog)' by Don Freeman is an interesting book from another age. The art is okay. The story behind the art makes it worth looking at.

If you have something you want to say, but are not able to, how do you go about saying it? For Don Freeman, a black cartoonist in the military, he saw inequality based on his skin color, but couldn't say anything openly about it. Instead, he tells the story of a soldier who joins the military and gets turned into a dog. We follow the dog as he goes through training and daily army life. We see him go on leave and tries to ride in the front of a city bus. It's not comical, but it is sharp social commentary for a time when this might have been the only way to talk about these things.

I found it to be of historical interest. The introduction is very good, and you get to learn about the artist, Don Freeman. I knew of Don from the children's book Corduroy, but I was unfamiliar with this side of his work. I'm glad I got to read this.

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


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Black Science, Vol. 3: Vanishing Point

author: Rick Remender
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2015/09/06
date added: 2015/09/06
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Black Science, Vol. 3: Vanishing Pattern' brings us more of the dimension hopping Anarchist League of Scientists. Rick Remender's script is anguishing and Matteo Scalera's art is as good as ever.

This time around our group is stuck on a world trying to find their way home, just like in previous issues. Also, like in previous issues, the solutions seem to compound the problems. There are alternate dimensions of characters. There is a rampant disease on the planet they are on probably caused by our wayward travelers. Should they keep bashing their way along and try to get home or should they fix things here and try to first do no harm from here on out?

I love the characters in this series. No one is altruistic and pure except maybe the poor hapless kids stuck on this journey. And there are honest tensions these people have with each other. Add to it this crazy adventure where they see versions of themselves dying, and you have a comic that seems to be full of endless guilt and remorse for some of the characters. It's great SF fun with flawed characters making the kinds of mistakes that real world people might in the same situation. I enjoy the heck out of reading this series.

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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Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly

author: Patricia Briggs
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/09/05
date added: 2015/09/05
shelves: graphic-novels
review:
'Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly' is a graphic novel with characters from an urban fantasy series. As someone less familiar with the series, I had no problem jumping in here because there was plenty of explanation. It wasn't much of a mystery, but it was ok.

Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifting coyote, but an honorary member of her husband's pack. Jesse is her stepdaughter and the story mainly follows her around. When the pack finds a series of gruesome ritualistic remains, they think they might belong to a fae. They work with local law enforcement to try to solve the mostly cold cases, but it seems like history might be repeating itself.

Meanwhile, Jesse is having problems fitting in to schoold because of who her father is. She's resigned to eating her lunches alone until a new girl makes friends with her. The problem is that the new girl is a little unsettling and strange. Add to that the fact that a couple of the kids bullying her have suddenly disappeared and Jesse finds herself in the middle of soemthing dangerous.

Mercy is the star of the series and narrates, but the book follows Jesse mainly. I found that confusing. Sure, the perspective shifts, but I think I'd have preferred the story more from Jesse's perspective. That's probably nitpicky on my part. Hopcross Jilly is pretty creepy and I liked the horror aspects, but it just wasn't much of a mystery. I'd have liked a couple twists along the way. The art was good, and the story wasn't bad, just kind of predictable.

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


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March Grand Prix: The Fast and the Furriest

author: Kean Soo
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/05
date added: 2015/09/05
shelves: graphic-novels, children-s
review:
'March Grand Prix: The Fast and the Furriest' by Kean Soo is a fast-moving win for young graphic novel fans. The characters are all talking animals and the art is fun.

March Hare is a racecar driver from a multi-talented family. In the first story, he's on his way to a big race at Harewood, where he hopes to meet his hero, Alan Tuttle, who is a 3-time world champion. His mechanic and pit boss is Hammond Pork Chop, and his main rival for this story is Lyca. When March has a mishap on the track, his family pulls together to help March succeed.

The second story is called 'The Baker's Run' and has March trying to help his sister delivery baked goods with the help of Hammond. The problems arise when the delivery van isn't fast enough for March and the baked goods are too delicious for Hammond.

The collection closes out with another racing story, serving as a good bookend to the collection. The characters are great in this book. They are drawn well, and have unique and interesting personalities. March's family is supportive and they all pull together in a crisis. This would be a good recommendation for early elementary readers. I really enjoyed it.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Capstone Young Readers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this delightful graphic novel.


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Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea

author: Jonathan David Kranz
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.06
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/09/04
date added: 2015/09/04
shelves: young-adult
review:
'Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea' by Jonathan David Kranz tells a story of love an loss in a beach town. I liked the premise a lot but I felt a bit let down by the execution.

Ethan and Rachel have something in common. Both have lost brothers and both deaths are tied in with the local amusement park. Both are trying to process what happened and find justice. Ethan's brother kept a diary that holds secrets that may implicate the owner of the park. He's powerful and uncaring, but his daughter might have soemthing to say about things.

I'm not sure what I expected, but I didn't get it. I had a hard time caring about the characters. I think I cared more about the dead brothers than those they left behind. The themes have certainly been done before elsewhere and probably better. I found the diary entries confusing for the first half of the book. The ending was probably more like real life would be, but I just found I didn't care for this tepid drama.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The More Things Change (Star Trek: The Original Series)

author: Scott Pearson
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/04
date added: 2015/09/04
shelves:
review:
'Star Trek: The Original Series: The More Things Change' by Scott Pearson is a novella in the original Star Trek universe. The story takes place shortly after events of the first movie.

A simple shuttle trip to transfer a passenger turns strange when an unknown vessel attacks the shuttle and the passenger, a Trill, has some unknown medical problems. The shuttle is crewed by Spock and Doctor Christine Chapel. Spock tries to keep the shuttle from being shot out of the sky while Chapel is faced with a patient with very mysterious anatomy, Audrid Dax. Chapel also has to help Spock with keeping the shuttle going and even saving Spock.

The story is told from Christine Chapel's perspective and I really liked it. The action and suspense build nicely. The discovery of the Trill anatomy is alien enough, even if we know of it from other places. Having Dax show up here was a nice touch. I think it's a decent story and I enjoyed spending time with these characters.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, Pocket Star, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Max the Brave

author: Ed Vere
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/04
date added: 2015/09/04
shelves: children-s
review:
'Max the Brave' by Ed Vere is an absolutely adorable picture book about a cute but fearless kitten. The cover sucked me in, and the rest made me smile from ear to ear.

Max is a cute little kitten. So cute that sometimes people put bows on him. He kind of hates that because he is a fearless mouse-catcher. The problem is that Max doesn't actually know what a mouse looks like. The book is about Max's journey to find the thing he's supposed to catch.

Filled with great pictures and colors, this is a great picture book for toddlers. I can imagine them cheering for little fearless Max. There are some surprises in the book, and I think it will be one that will get read over and over again. Ed Vere has created a winner with this book and this character.

I received a review copy of this ebook from SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Weird Detectives: Recent Investigations

author: Paula Guran
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2015/09/01
date added: 2015/09/01
shelves:
review:
'Weird Detectives' is an anthology of short mystery stories of a paranormal nature. Either the case is supernatural or one of the investigators is.

Quite a few of the stories are tied in to larger series, but these act as teasers or introductions into those worlds. A lot of the stories are set in urban environments, but the settings can be quite varied. My favorite story is probably Bradley Denton's 'The Adakian Eagle,' maybe because it was a bit different from the rest, and it features an interesting character named Pop. On the more spooky side, I liked 'Signatures of the Dead' by Faith Hunter, in which a witch, a shapeshifter and a mortal hunt down a scary lair full of murderous vampires. There are a couple very different Sherlock Holmes stories, and a few where the detectives are vampires, or masters of the occult.

It's a well curated collection by Paula Guran, who has edited quite a few of these sort of collections. Since so many of the stories are from ongoing series, it doesn tend to feel like a sampler, but the nice thing about an anthology like this is that it has a broad selection. If you don't like a particular story, then the next one may have more appeal to you.

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


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