Maw Books » reluctant readers

Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale, Illustrated by Nathan Hale

Natasha Maw — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:20:28 +0000

What happens when you take the infamous Shannon Hale, pair her up again with her husband Dean, and illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation), the retelling of a famous fairy tale, a feisty heroine, a bit of steampunk and wrap it all up in a graphic novel? Calamity Jack! A companion novel to Rapunzel’s Revengee (my review), Calamity Jack focuses in on Jack from the well-known tale of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Jack describes himself as a criminal mastermind but with an unfortunate amount of bad luck. He was born to scheme and spent his childhood thinking up one caper after another. But when one caper goes too far and results in him both being a wanted man and a disappointment to his mother, Jack leaves the city for the wild west where he meets Rapunzel. Of course, you have to check out Rapunzel’s Revenge for that adventure.

Calamity Jack picks back up with Rapunzel and Jack on their way back to the city where Jack discovers that the Giants have not only taken over the city but are also holding his mother captive as ransom. Jack must try to make up for his past deeds, rescue the city from doom, regain his mothers trust, and not lose Rapunzel’s love in the process.

While I enjoyed Rapunzel’s Revenge more than Calamity Jack, it’s still a fun story. Honestly, I just couldn’t get past the idea of giant ants in the story. But that’s me talking as an adult and let’s face it, kids will think that giant ants are the most awesome thing ever! I think I mentioned this in my Rapunzel’s Revenge review, but I’m not totally in love with the illustrations as I would have preferred cleaner and simpler lines. But as a graphic novel should, half of the story is in the illustrations and I lingered over them.

Very whitty dialouge and fun bantering with a lot of action adventure make Calamity Jack a worthy retelling of the Jack and the Beanstalk story.

I went to the launch party for Calamity Jack, so check out my post with video if you missed it!

Links of interest: Maw Books review of Rapunzel’s Revenge, Rapunzel’s Revenge launch party, The Actor and the Housewife, Austenland, Book of a Thousand Days, and Princess Academy. Maw Books interview with Shannon and her yummy zuchinni soup. Shannon Hale’s website, Dean Hale’s website, and Nathan Hale’s blog.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books. January 5, 2010
Hardcover, 144 pages. ISBN 1599900769
My copy source: purchased
Calamity Jack is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Chess Rumble by G. Neri, Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson

Natasha Maw — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:07:51 +0000

Chess Rumble by G. Neri and illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson is one of those books that I hope people don’t judge based on the cover. I don’t think it’s the best representation of the book. It’s a book that I would have walked by without a second glance. But then of course, I’m a thirty-year-old middle class white mother of two living in the suburbs of Salt Lake City. Obviously, this cover is trying to catch the attention of inner-city young and teen boys. Do you think it works? Doesn’t work? Would love to know what you think.

Marcus is having a hard time both at home and in school. Since the death of his sister, his father has moved out of the house and his mother is having a hard time just keeping it together. Marcus has begun to fight at school and is headed down a road that will get him kicked out of school and his house and one that will be difficult to travel back from.

While at the park, he is challenged to a game of chess from C.M., a nickname that stands for Chess Man, Check Mate and Chess Master. It is through their games together that Marcus begins to learn how to keep his own emotions in check and to always be looking at least three moves ahead – both on the chess board and in real life.

The dust jacket says, “Inspired by inner-city school chess enrichment programs, Chess Rumble explores the ways this strategic game empowers young people with the skills they need to anticipate and calculate their moves through life.” This is a statement that I would completley agree with. I do also agree with Ms. Yingling’s statement that the size and format (including page stock) of the book borders too closely of a picture book. I just can’t see a teenage boy feeling cool touting this book around, if you know what I mean.

Chess Rumble is also told in verse, a format which I always enjoy. Overall, I liked Chess Rumble and found it well worth the read. I just wonder if the same could be said of its intended audience.

Book trailer:

Links of interest: G. Neri website, follow on Twitter, more book blogger reviews,
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, approx age 9-12.
Publisher: Lee and Low Books. November 8, 2007
Hardcover, 64 pages. ISBN 1584302798
Chess Rumble is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Natasha Maw — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:05:54 +0000

Finally! I was so disheartened when I was number 250 something on hold at the library for The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney. At that rate it would be months before my turn. That goes to show you how popular The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is. It hasn’t been on the New York Times Bestseller list for as long as it has without good reason! So I was thrilled when the publisher Harry N. Abrams sent me a copy. When I opened the package, I turned to my husband and told him that reviewing books was totally worth it to get my hands on this book! And I don’t care what type of books you read, your age, your gender, whatever, Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be sure to give you at the very least a chuckle, but most likely will have you holding your sides in laughter.

In this third installment, Gregory is his normal self-centered who’s New Year resolution is to try to help other people improve because, after all, he doesn’t need to improve, he’s pretty much one of the best people he knows. I loved the book right away when Greg laid down right on top of the heater vent and said the experience was even better than being in bed. I loved it! One of the nicest things that I remember doing when I was a kid in winter was taking my blanket and sitting on top of the heater vent. Okay, I should tell the truth, I may have done this just last week.

A lot of different funny episodes that are perfect for reluctant readers including Greg’s father’s attempt to put him on a soccer team, burying a time capsule to dig back up when time travel is possible, trying to catch a snack culprit, sleeping over with a bunch of first graders and attending the junior high valentines dance. Truly entertaining stuff.

Loved it. Loved it all. I hope there is a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and even a twentieth. I’d eagerly read them all. This is a series that I’ll be buying the whole set when my boys get older. If I get them any sooner, there is a good chance they’ll get destroyed which would be a shame. I can’t wait to share what are quickly becoming classics with my boys, in the meantime I need to get my husband to read these books just so we could laugh together. I really think he’d like them.

Jeff Kinney’s website. Don’t forget to check out my book reviews of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.

So am I only one who reads on top of heater vents?! Tell me that’s not so weird.

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