Maw Books » Book Reviews

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Natasha Maw — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:02:13 +0000

I remember Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott being a good book. Sadly, it has fallen ill to the passage of time. I read it much too long ago and I simply can not remember anything about it. And that my friends is a very sad thing because Elizabeth Scott rocks. I have no hesitations in recommending her books.

I can tell you what Love You Hate You Miss You is about from reading synopsis’s myself. In fact, I’ll share with you from Scott’s website:

It’s been seventy-five days. Amy’s sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her. And she’s really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia’s gone, and Amy doesn’t want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.
No one understands what it’s like to know that it’s all your fault.

Amy’s shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. And as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets–and that the present deserves a chance.

Looking over some of the reviews myself, it feels vaguely familiar but yet I cannot recall any feelings nor basic details about the book. However, other reviewers were very enthusiastic about Love You Hate You Miss You and sad that it didn’t receive more attention at the time of it’s release. Hey, it’s Elizabeth Scott, I say go read it despite my not being able to remember anything about it. Will it stand the test of time? For me, obviously not. But I didn’t dislike it in the least. I don’t think all books have to have staying power. It was a good read at the time.

As a side note – I find it interesting to note how our feelings for a book change over time. Do you find yourself not being able to remember basic plotlines of books that you’ve read in the past?

Links of interest: My book reviews of Something, Maybe, Living Dead Girl. Elizabeth Scott website and blog. Other blogger reviews.
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Teen. May 26, 2009.
Hardcover, 288 pages.
Love You, Hate You, Miss You is available from your local independent bookstore, Powell’s, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

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Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Natasha Maw — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:26:22 +0000

Well, would you look at that? It’s a post! And not just any post but a book review post! It’s time to brush off the old keyboard and see if I can still call myself a reviewer!

Whenever somebody that I know offline would ask me what my favorite read of 2010 was (surprisingly a question I hear more offline than online), I without any hesitation or doubt would say Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. “Really?” and a blank stare is what I would almost always get back. People, this book was AMAZING. Every 945 pages of it. When it ended, I wished there was another 945 pages. I was not ready to let these characters go! Lonesome Dove has deservedly been called epic. But what makes a book epic? I think it’s just one of those things that you know it when you read it. And oh, was this book epic.

Larry McMurtry is a master storyteller. I was a tad daunted opening that very first page and I do admit that even 200 pages into the book I wondered if anything was ever going to happen. And even though it was off to a slow start, I wouldn’t wish it any other way. The background characterization that McMurtry gives his essential to the story.

The inside cover of my copy of the book lists the key characters with a short description of each. I loved the summary it gave so am taking the liberty of copying it here for you.

Augustus McCrae: ex-Texas Ranger. A fierce fighter, loyal friend, gentle lover, a boisterous spinner of colorful yarns. Gus years for adventure, and is drawn into Woodrow Call’s dream – a cattle drive to Montana, to the free and wild frontier . . .
Woodrow F. Call: Gus’s partner and friend, a driven, demanding man, a leader with no patience for weakness – and a secret sorrow of his own . . .

Jake Spoon: dashing gambler, former comrade-in-arms of Gus and Call, his passions plunge him into a terrifying fate . . .

Clara Allen: the woman of Gus’s young dreams. Out of the frontier’s cruelty and death, she forgers a life as generous, brave and unyielding as the land she learns to love . . .

Blue Duck: a renegade Indian with cunning heart of a vulture. He tortures and ills across the Plains, and savors his victim’s agony . . .

Newt: the brave, bewildered young cowboy who discovers his manhood, and his past, on the hazardous journey into Montana . . .

The Hat Creek Outfit: Jake, Deets, Pea Eye and the Boys . . . wranglers, tracers and scouts, they follow Gus and Call into the heart of the adventure, through sandstorms, stampedes, bandits, floods and snow . . . living on in the undying legends of the great American frontier.

If you don’t know who these characters are from having read Lonesome Dove yourself, I dare you to love them. I dare you to hate them.

I picked up this book in every spare moment of my day when I was reading it. And when I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to be reading it. I thought about it constantly. I know I haven’t gone into all the intricacies of why Lonesome Dove is so amazing but let me tell you simply- the characters! the story! the love! the friendships! the fighting! the determination! the devotion! the heroes! the outlaws! the whores! the Indians! the frontier! the forging ahead! the friendships again! And it’s also laugh out loud funny with some great one-liners and some beautiful passages. Definitely need those lighthearted and thoughtful moments between the gun slinging, the scalping, and the hangings.

Yes, my favorite book of 2010 was unabashedly a Western. A genre I didn’t really think I read. But did I tell you I loved this book? Oh, how I loved Lonesome Dove. Officially one of my most favorite books. Ever. Do you need more recommendation then that?

(I remember when the mini-series came on TV when I was little and we all watched it together as a family. MUST re-watch it now! )

Links of interest: More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Western
Publisher: Pocket Books. 1985.
Paperback, 945 pages. ISBN 067168390X
Lonesome Dove is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Frankie Stein Starts School by Lola M Schaefer, Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry

Natasha Maw — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:15:54 +0000

In Frankie Stein Starts School by Lola M Schaefer and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry, Frankie is different. He certainly doesn’t look like his parents. And he certainly doesn’t act like them either. He’s just a tad too clean cut and non-scary looking. Which happens to make him the scariest Stein of all.

Frankie is ready to start school at Miss Wart’s Academy for Ghouls & Goblins and he’s very excited. But his classmates – witches, skeletons, and vampires – won’t sit next to him and make fun of him for not looking like the rest of them.

But Frankie declares that he can be scarier than all of them. By the end of the school day, Frankie undergoes a grotesque, bone-chilling, ear-shattering, and bloodcurdling transformation until he becomes scarier and scarier. When he leaves for home after his first successful day of school, he has made many new friends and proved that even with his rosy red cheeks and blond hair, he can be scary as well.

The illustrations are bright and silly. Kids will enjoy copying Frankie’s antics.

Links of interest: Lola Schaefer website, Kevan Atteberry website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books. July 2010.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 0761456562
Source: Review copy for 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Frankie Stein Starts School is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Broom, Zoom! by Caron Lee Cohen, Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier

Natasha Maw — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:01:15 +0000

Broom, Zoom! by Caron Lee Cohen, Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier is a book for the youngest of children.

A little witch with a big red pointy hat wants to take a late night flight on a broom but discovers that goblin is using it to sweep up spilled flour. After going back and forth about each needing the broom, the little witch helps goblin clean it up. Afterwards, she takes goblin on a broom ride.

The text is very simple. Most lines are only a few words.

“I want the broom.”
“I need the broom.”
“I want it.”
“I need it.”

Many spreads just have a single word. Makes for easy reading for those with the shortest attention spans. The illustrations are also simple with large swaths of flat color. I wasn’t in love with the character illustrations but a story of friendship and working together which the youngest children should enjoy for it’s simplicity.

Links of interest: Sergio Ruzzier website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. August 10, 2010.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 1416991131
Source: Review copy for 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Broom Zoom is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton

Natasha Maw — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:41:58 +0000

Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton is my first introduction to Splat and I found him so cute that I must go seek out Rob Scotton’s other books featuring the same character. It’s Halloween and Splat is in search of the scariest costume. But no matter what he does or wear, everybody else is scarier than him. Even his jack-o’-lantern is funny instead of scary.

But when his teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple tells a ghost story in the dark, Splat gets so scared that he throws his jack-o’lantern up in the air and it lands straight on his head! Unable to see anything, he stumbles around and scares the entire class! Splat may be more scary than silly after all!

The illustrations in Scaredy-Cat, Splat! are adorable! I don’t even really like cats all that much but Splat looks so soft and cuddly that I’d love to take him home with me. I particularly loved Splat’s friend Spike dressed as a mummy. Too cute. I think a couple of the pages of text at the very beginning were a bit too long as I much preferred the more brief text in later pages. But a fun story to read out loud.

A great Halloween book that kids will love.

Links of interest: More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Harper Collins, August 24, 2010.
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 0061177601
Source: Library copy. A 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Scaredy-Cat, Splat is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Goodnight, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman, Illustrated by Bonnie Leick

Natasha Maw — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:53:08 +0000

I know I’ve been saying this a lot about the Halloween picture books that I’ve been reviewing this past week but I have another book for you that is sooooo cute and adorable that I can hardly stand it. Have you seen Goodnight, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman and illustrated by Bonnie Leick? It’s a new one this year and one that you have to have!

Rhyming text describes one little monster’s going to bed rituals: bathtime and scrubbing every scale, tangling his hair, bedtime snack of worm juice and baked beetle bread, brushing his fangs, reading a book, checking under the bed for scary children, and snuggling in with a night-light (an eyeball of course).

Sweet dreams, Little Monster.
My darling, sleep tight.
With Mama nearby,
you’ll be safe through the night.

What absolutely steals the show in this book are the gorgeous illustrations. Just enough cuteness and just enough ick. Bonnie Leick certainly knows how to make me wish I could bottle up that little monster, put him in my pocket, and take him home with me. I love the clawed monster feet on all the furniture. Lots of bugs. Lots of spiders. Bats and mice as well. Both of my kids got a great kick out of the worm juice and baked beetle bread. They love to point out the jar of eyeballs on the copyright page.

Although perfect for the Halloween season, I’d read this book all year round. Oh man, the illustrations are just too adorable. I can hardly stand it.

Links of interest: Helen Ketteman website, Bonnie Leick website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books. August 2010.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 076145683X
Source: Library copy. A 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Goodnight, Little Monster is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Ollie’s Halloween by Oliver Dunrea

Natasha Maw — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:49:06 +0000

Ollie’s Halloween by Oliver Dunrea is just about the cutest Halloween picture book that I have read. Oliver Dunrea’s popular characters Gossie, Gertie, Peedie, BooBoo and Ollie all make an appearance in what can only be called an adorable tale.

Gossie is a wizard. Gertie is a chicken. Peedie is a dragon. BooBoo is a bunny. And Ollie is a mummy. It’s Halloween night and the goslings are all on the prowl. They hoot, they howl, they creep, they scare and they stalk. It’s Halloween night, a night to beware. But most important, it’s a night about sharing.

I love Oliver Dunrea’s books and this one also hits the mark. Love the characters, love the illustrations, love the story. If you have little ones in your house this Halloween, don’t miss picking up Ollie’s Halloween. You’ll want to add it to your permanent collection. It’s just too cute to miss.

Links of interest: Oliver Dunrea website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. September 6, 2010
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 0618532412
Source:Library. A 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Ollie’s Halloween is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Hush, Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre

Natasha Maw — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:30:46 +0000

Hush, Baby Ghostling by Andrea Beaty and ilustrated by Pascal Lemaitre is the perfect bedtime Halloween book for the much younger set and one that won’t leave them frightened at all.

Mama ghost sings her sweet baby ghostling a soft bedtime lullaby:

Hush, Baby Ghostling.
The haunting hour is past.
The bats have ceased their swooping
and the dawn is coming fast.

So nestle safe beside me
in our happy haunted home,
And dream a dream of darkness
where the wild monsters roam.

Mama leaves a bit of darkness in the hall, in case he’s scared of the light and will reassure baby ghostling that the songs and laughter is just the wind outside. She’ll search the closet for that little boy with ten pink toes, blue eyes and golden hair who might give him a fright.

She sends him to bed with sweet kisses and dreams of hisses, howls, screeching owls, of bats and banshee cries. “Now dream a little nightmare while the ghoulies dance and sway. Dream a dream of darkness where the wild monsters play.” The book ends with hugs, kisses, and the whisper of I Love You.

Although I like Pascal Lemaitre’s illustrations in Andrea Beaty’s other books like Firefighter Ted and Doctor Ted, I’m not a huge fan of the illustrations here. It’s as though everything glows. And maybe it’s supposed to? But all in all, I can see past the illustrations to a cute bedtime lullaby. Great for those kids who will understand the turnabout of the words and how baby ghost is more scared of us than we are him!

Links of interest: Andrea Beaty website, Pascal Lemaitre website, Maw Books reviews of Firefighter Ted, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry. August 4, 2009
Hardcover 32 pages. ISBN 1416925457
Source: Review copy for 2009 Cybil’s nomination for which I was a panelist.
Hush, Baby Ghostling is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott

Natasha Maw — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:54:29 +0000

In Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott, on the night of a full moon just before midnight, the young son of a barber does what he’s never allowed to do: leave the house by himself. Well, he’s not really alone when he’s accompanied by his friend Vlad the Vampire is he?

Together they prepare the barber shop for the regulars who soon will arrive. These aren’t your ordinary regulars though. It’s a special clientele: monsters! It’s busy all night and our young barber is prepared for all kinds of different haircuts and styles. Rotting tonic, horn polish and stink wax are all on hand. But things gets tense when there is a knock at the front door – surely it couldn’t be a human wanting a haircut at this time of night? But not to fear, our young barber knows how to take care of business.

A fun book to read this Halloween season. A great cast of monster characters who are simply taking care of their monsterly looks.

After all, even monsters need haircuts.

Links of interest: Matthew McElliogott website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers. July 20, 2010
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 080278819X
Source: Picked up a review copy at Book Expo America. A 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round panelist.
Even Monsters Need Haircuts is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijitten

Natasha Maw — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:20:42 +0000

Be sure to add The Halloween Kid by Rhode Montijo to your picture book Halloween reading this month.

Trick-or-treating has always been fun and safe especially when the town can count on the mysterious masked boy to wrangle up all the Halloween hoodlums. In fact, he’s done such a good job keeping Halloween safe that for years he hasn’t had to step in at all.

But that changes when a group of Goodie Goblins shows up wrecking havoc. There is even talk of canceling Halloween for good! The Halloween Kid back to the rescue! But are his skills too rusty? Can he overcome the Goblins or will the town need to come to his rescue?

I loved the fun western take on a “yee-ha-halloween!” The story was really entertaining to read and so fun to read a loud to the boys by getting into character. Very clever. But what I loved even more where the fantastic illustrations. I adored the vintage feel of the entire book.

The Halloween Kid is a new release so don’t miss it this year!

Illustrations copyrighted to Rhode Montijo.
Links of interest: Rhode Montijo website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction picture book. Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. August 3, 2010.
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1416935754
Copy Source: Library
The Halloween Kid is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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