2
Mar
Small Press Stories: Benny’s Brigade
Benny’s Brigade
by Arthur Bradford, illustrations by Lisa Hanawalt
**”Small Press Stories” on Sturdy for Common Things is a new regular series featuring children’s books from small, independent publishers. They aren’t often on everyone’s radar, so this is my way of giving a shout out to the little dudes.**
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound
Published: McSweeney’s McMullens (August 7, 2012)
Recommended Reading Age: 4 & up
In a nutshell: Literally! Benny’s Brigade is about a walrus named Benny who magically emerges from a walnut shell. The two sisters who find him, Elise and Theo, decide to take the polite walrus to school with them and naturally, the miniature walrus is a hit. To entertain the children, Benny sings a song about the sea which in turn upsets him because he misses his life in the ocean. To help reunite Benny with the ocean, the children decide to build Benny a ship and recruit a brigade to assist him on his journey.
Seems kooky but tame enough, no? Just wait until you get to the conclusion.
Myself as a child would have probably crafted my own pretend Benny after reading this book, and would’ve ended up carrying my walrus around like Elsie and Theo had. I would love to hear a child’s perspective after reading this book, because even though it is a bit of an odd-ball story, I found Benny’s Brigade refreshingly unique with each turn of the page. Bravo first time children’s book author Arthur Bradford and illustrator Lisa Hanawalt. I look forward to your bright future in children’s literature.
Don’t take my word for it: 100 Scope Notes Wildest Books of 2012
Extras: Did you know that jacket cover can fold out into a two-sided poster? It can!
Interview of the author Arthur Bradford and illustrator Lisa Hanawalt by Arthur Bradford’s daughters, Elsie and Theo.
Other children’s titles by McSweeny’s McMullens.
Source of book reviewed: My local library!
1
Mar
Barry’s Best Buddy
Barry’s Best Buddy
by Renee French
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound
Published: TOON Books, an imprint of Candlewick (March 12, 2013)
Recommended Reading Age: 3 & up
In a nutshell: I’m a big fan of TOON Books. The kids at the library are fans of TOON Books. L is a fan of TOON Books. They do a knockout job at making accessible graphic novels, giving kids the early confidence they need to keep coming back for more.
Barry’s Best Buddy is their latest comic for brand-new readers. Barry, the grumpy the bird, is awoken from a nap in his dull house by his friend Polorhog who promises a surprise for Barry. The two set off on a stroll, making a stop at the hat shop, even though Barry does not like hats. They stop at the ice cream stand, even though Barry does not like ice cream, but gives into the tasty treat. On almost every page is the mysterious presence of ants, marching along with peculiar objects such as light blubs, paint, rope, and pendants that prompt the reader to wonder if they have a role in Polorhog’s surprise at the end of their journey.
Renee French’s soft, playful illustrations are eye-catching and pair perfectly with the friends’ humorous episode of their friendship of opposite personalities. I do side with the concern of this reviewer that the format of Barry’s Best Buddy could be slightly confusing for a beginning reader. The dialog follows a continuous path where the characters appear multiple times in a single panel, which might be difficult for the new reader to follow. So, be aware of this if the reader has not yet acquired intuitive reading skills, as it requires some comic literacy beyond the very early reader. My suggestion when you read Barry’s Best Buddy with a beginning reader is to be sure to point to the character/word bubble next in the dialogue sequence, guiding them in Barry and Polorhog’s exchange. It will make for a good exercise in learning how to read comics.
Extras: Read about Barry’s Best Buddy, the author Renee French, and preview the book on the Toon Books website.
Also, TOON Books has an incredible amount of resources available to parents, kids, and educators. Like these lesson plans, and instructional on “How to Read Comics”, a DIY cartoon guide, and free printable coloring pages.
Source of book reviewed: I won a copy of this title from a TOON Book giveaway.
26
Feb
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
by Stephan Pastis
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indibound
Published: Candlewick (February 26, 2013)
Recommended Reading Age: 7 & up
In a nutshell: Meet Timmy Failure:
This is Timmy Failure. Timmy Failure is the founder and CEO of a detective agency with his 1500lb polar bear sidekick, Total. This is Total:
Together they make the hilarious super sleuth team in Stephan Pastis‘ first book for children, Total Failure, Inc. They totally fail in every way at detective work, but they totally succeed when it comes to having a good laugh. Timmy sneaks off on missions riding on his mom’s Segway, the Failuremobile, while his polar bear partner in crime seems to always be getting into other people’s garbage and has an unending appetite for chicken nuggets and naps.
In between Timmy’s blatantly terrible and hilarious attempts at solving crimes, trouble frequently arises when Timmy gets into squabbles with his mom, his teacher, and his classmate and associate (Timmy language for friend) Rollo Tookus, who’s obsessed with good grades and getting into “Stanfurd”. There’s also Molly Moskins (the tangerine girl who smiles to much), and last but not least, Timmy’s arch enemy Corrina Corrina, known to Timmy as the Evil One. Corrina Corrina runs her own (cough.. successful) detective agency of her own, the Corrina Corrina Intelligence Agency also known as the CIAA.When Timmy’s mom’s Segway goes missing, she is the prime suspect.
And if you aren’t won over yet by this kooky cast of characters there’s my personal favorite, Flo, “Flo is not short for Florence. It’s short for “Misshelve my books and the blood my FLOw,” the librarian. Flo is a tough biker dude bibliophile who reads Emily Dickinson and only communicates through grunts. Flo looks out for Timmy in more ways than just allowing him to go over the allotted 20-minutes for internet usage at the library.
I honestly cannot remember laughing out loud from a book as many times as I did with Timmy Failure. The characters, the story concept, and the illustrations are spot-on. I also appreciate that Timmy is not the one dimensional character I assumed he was going to be when I first started reading the book. There’s more depth than what meets the eye. Throughout his hap-hazardous adventures, he is an only child of a single mom who seems to be struggling with her job and finances and has a real loser of a boyfriend. Timmy frequently mentions making gobs of money with Total Failure, Inc. and giving his mom a job after a few successful cases. It makes me wonder if perhaps his wild imagination causes him to act out as a way to cope with his troubles. It’s easy to laugh at Timmy’s completely flawed attempts at being a detective, and his absurd imaginary polar bear friend, Total, but the bread-and-butter of Timmy’s character is that his real-life issues make him relatable to the reader and seem, well, human.
Fans of Wimpy Kid and Big Nate will instantly gravitate to the humor and heavy illustrated format of Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. Let’s face it, Timmy will probably not succeed at world domination, but he will dominate the hearts of young readers as well as adults who are certain to find themselves chuckling along with their kids.
It would be a TOTAL FAIL not to read this book.
Don’t take my word for it: “I love [Stephan Pastis’] Pearls Before Swine and was definitely looking forward to this. The illustrations are great, and I think students will be quick to pick it up. Fabulous beginning: “It’s harder to drive a polar bear into somebody’s living room that you’d think.” – review from Ms. Yingling Reads
Trailer:
Extras: Read an excerpt from the book. Download and enjoy these fun and games.
Check out Candlewick’s Timmy Failure Pinboard which has a great collection of videos and pics.
Also, take a minute to visit the Failure is an Option: Timmy Failure Blog.
Total Failure, Inc. must be serious about world domination, because Timmy and Total even have their very own Facebook page.
Source of book reviewed: Advanced Reader Copy provided by the wonderful people at Candlewick.
25
Feb
Rosie’s Magic Horse
Rosie’s Magic Horse
by Russell Hoban & Quentin Blake
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indibound
Published: Candlewick (February 26, 2013)
Recommend Reading Age: 4 & up
In a nutshell: In my opinion, you can never have too many “dream big” books. Books that remind you that anything is possible and will provoke that little voice inside of you that says, “You can do it if you put your mind to it!” When I first heard author Russell Hoban (late author of the classics Bedtime for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances) and illustrator Quentin Blake (famously known for his Roald Dahl illustrations) teamed up again for a new picture book, I nearly did a back-flip. Two children’s literature greats I’m a big fan of in one picture book about a flying horse? Right on!
Discarded after the sweetness of the ice-pop (read popsicle) is gone, an ice-pop stick is thrown to the gutter. Until one day, when along comes a special girl named Rosie who rescues the stick from the ground and admits it to her ice-pop stick collection. Feeling glum without their icy identities, the sticks decide to fantasize about a new role they can preform- being a horse. The following night, Rosie goes to bed after hearing her troubled parents discuss their bills, thinking of ways she can help her them. In their determined hope, the ice-pop sticks and Rosie’s wildest dreams come true. Midnight strikes and the sticks magically turn into a horse and take Rosie on a wild, treasure-seeking adventure.
Magic, a flying horse, a fantastical adventure, and an appearance of gritty pirates, all produced by an author and illustrator who have raised and continue to raise a great many of readers, Rosie’s Magic Horse is a solid win. It is a gem of a book that reminds us to believe in the impossible. And did I mention there is a flying horse?
Vine preview:
Extras: Sir Quentin Blake was knighted last week!
Source of book reviewed: Many thanks to the generous people at Candlewick for providing a copy of this book for review.
23
Feb
Hokey Pokey
Hokey Pokey
by Jerry Spinelli
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | Indiebound
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers, imprint of Random House Children’s Books (January 8, 2013)
Recommended Reading Age: 10 & up
In a nutshell: I’m fairly certain Jerry Spinelli is a hypnotist. Or a magician. One or the other or both. After reading his latest novel, Hokey Pokey, I felt like I was drugged and had to slowly fade out of the book’s spell, a dream of a world unlike anything I’ve ever read.
“What is Hokey Pokey? A place A time A square snowball treat A circle dance”Hokey Pokey is a childhood fantasy-like world, a wild west showdown of a place where kids reign, similar to the time of cowboys but with bikes and trikes as their trusty steeds. Almost the entire story takes place during the course of one day when main character Jack wakes to find his bike, his pride and joy, gone. “The girl” has taken it and left him in his bike-less shame. Jack and his Amigos, Dusty and LaJo, set off to retrieve it. But something else is different about Jack, and his friend LaJo is the first to see it. The tattoo on his belly, the one all kids of Hokey Pokey have as a right of passage, is fading. And fast. Like the story of The Kid, a mythological story all kids of Hokey Pokey know too well, Jack is destined to go away. As the reader follows Jack and his cronies throughout the day, the story seesaws, teetering between childhood and what possibly lies beyond Hokey Pokey. An unknown, mysterious place that is unclear to all in the land.
For the first five or six chapters I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Then like a camera lens to its focal point, Hokey Pokey slowly came into focus: the neighborhood, the playground politics, the friendships, and the rivalries. An element from the story that I enjoyed, and left me reminiscing about my own childhood, was that every day was in the present day. As a kid, there wasn’t much thought of tomorrow unless it was Christmas Eve. As an adult, life if full of tomorrows. The days are fleeting, but I remember a time when a hour seemed like a year and tomorrow was an eternity away. I miss that. I miss the time, or rather the timelessness, of childhood. Hokey Pokey captures this perfectly.
Something I remember Jerry Spinelli saying during the ALA Midwinter Newbery Panel Event in Seattle a month ago was that, and forgive my paraphrasing from memory, He doesn’t write for kids. He doesn’t write for adults. He doesn’t write with any age in mind. He just writes and it just so happens that his books are published for children. I was reminded of that a lot while reading Hokey Pokey, because it truly is ageless. It is a story that will resonate with any person that has gone through the growing pains from childhood to adolescence. That said, I have read this book as an adult and I am very interested to see how kids take it in. But in my reading experience it was like reading a dream, or even a faint memory. Part of me feels that I still haven’t fully digested this book, and that I need sit on it more and perhaps reread it.
Maybe Mr. Spinelli isn’t a magician or a hypnotist, but is simply a fine writer. And at one point, like the rest of us, he was also a kid. To be able to conjure a childhood atmosphere, one that is all too familiar to everyone, is an extraordinary feat.
You have to read it to believe it. Sheer magic.
Don’t take my word for it: “Hokey Pokey is creative, poignant, and bittersweet. Yes, the first couple pages are a little confusing. It takes an adjustment to move oneself into the world of Hokey Pokey, but once there, you are swept away, and will find yourself moving quickly along, to the final sentence. A sentence, which of course, brings the reader back to the beginning.” – review by Nova Library Mom
Extras: Map of Hokey Pokey. And yes it will make absolutely no sense to you until you read the book, but I thought I’d share it as a device of intrigue.
Map image source via NPR’s interview with Jerry Spinelli in “Kids Rule in the Land of Hokey Pokey”.
More information regarding Jerry Spinelli and his books can be found on his website. His bio made me tear up. I’m a huge cry baby about all things “love” and he has a clear love for his family, his wife, and his work.
Source of book reviewed: From the wonderful people over at Random House Children’s Books.
21
Feb
Thowback Thursday: Thingy Things
Thingy Things
by Chris Raschka
Find them at: Your Library | Amazon | IndieBound
Published: Hyperion Books for Children (2000)
Came across these little gems a few weeks back while at work. Over a decade ago, Caldecott Award winning illustrator, Chris Raschka created this delightful series of books for beginning readers, the Thingy Things. They’re bizarre and hysterical and genius. Think Bob Books meets Mo Willems’ Cat the Cat, each Thingy Things book is themed around an animal character and uses amusing word repetition and simple sounds for the reader to exercise. You’ll also find enough silliness to conjure more than a few giggles. There’s Wormy Worm, who wiggles and woggles and you can’t tell which end is his front and which is his back. Whaley Whale, who for some reason is in a living room and not in an ocean, plays a goofy game of hide and seek. And then there’s Moosey Moose who is mad, mad, mad and wants nothing but his pants which later end up on his head. You can probably go ahead and skip Snaily Snail, who loves his shell, the hands-down the weakest link of the Thingy Things books. But the rest of the series’ characters on spot-on comical.
One of the things I find most attractive about Chris Raschka’s work time and again is that he truly has an illustration style all to his own. His pictures are so whimsical and lighthearted they could practically float off the page, even in the smallest of books. I snapped a few pictures of a few titles from the Thingy Things lot, so you, too, could enjoy their folly and fun. (Sluggy Slug is my favorite of the bunch.)
It’s a shame Thingy Things are no longer in print because L and I have been having the best of time reading them. She’s also taken to frequently reading them on her own as the narrative and rhythm is elementary enough for a toddler to memorize. Perhaps one day in the not too distant future Chris Raschka will create more easy reader books. One can only hope. The Thingy Things books are a hoot!
I found them at: My local library and surrounding area libraries via interlibrary loan.
18
Feb
Open This Little Book
Open This Little Book
by Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy Lee
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | IndieBound
Published: Chronicle Books (January 1, 2013)
Recommended Reading Age: 3 & up
In a nutshell: A book that, upon opening it, will surely make you smile. Open This Little Book is as clever as it is surprising. Open the cover and you will find a smaller book within.
Open that book and you’ll find a ladybug that opens an even smaller book.
Within opening each little book a character and a scene is revealed.
Repetition and color recognition are perfect cues for preschool age children, while the storytelling is flawless for all ages. I mentioned before that I’ve been playing around with the new Vine app. Have you tried it out yet? The first thing I did after reading it was make a Vine. Oh, the fun to be had with this delightful book!
Don’t take my word for it: “Take a debut author with a creative book concept, mix in a skilled illustrator, and finish off with a publisher who gets books that are not always mainstream (in size or concept) and you have a winner. ” – review from Kid Lit Frenzy
Trailer:
Extras: Be sure to check out this awesome interview with the author Jesse Klausmeier on Watch. Connect. Read. The images of her first draft of Open This Little Book are priceless.
Source of book reviewed: My local library!
16
Feb
Navigating Early
Navigating Early
by Claire Vanderpool
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | IndieBound
Published: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, and imprint of Random House Children’s Books (January 8, 2013)
Recommended Reading Age: 10 & up
In a Nutshell: A tale of friendship and the unforgettable journey of two boys in their quest for truth, Navigating Early is author Claire Vanderpool’s first appearance since her 2011 Newbery Award Winner, Moon Over Manifest.
After Jack Baker’s mother passes away, his father, a navy captain during WWII, uproots him from his home in Kansas and moves him to a boarding school in Maine. Upset by the loss of his mother, his home, and anything familiar, Jack finds himself entirely alone in his new surroundings. That is, until he meets odd-ball Early Auden, who has also recently lost someone he loved dearly. Early lives in the custodian’s room of the school with his pet frog, bizarre charts and news clippings, a jar of jellybeans, and a continuous string of numbers written across the chalkboard in the room- the number Pi. Another reason Early is very different from other boys is that he doesn’t just see numbers when we looks at Pi. He sees colors, he sees characters, he sees an epic story narrated by numbers.
“Before the stars had names, before men knew how to use them to plot their courses, before anyone had ventured beyond his own horizon, there was a boy who wondered what lay beyond. He gazed up at the stars with praise and wonder, but his wonder was not only born of awe. It was also born of a question: Why?”
Thus begins Early’s story of a boy named Polaris who’s nickname is Pi; a boy that would become a navigator and eventually earn the full name give by his mother. It’s a story of the stars, of discovery, of family, and loss; of getting lost and finding oneself. As Early reveals Pi’s story, the character’s mission becomes threatened as well as blurred with the two boys’ reality. In an effort to steer Pi back on his destined course, Early and Jack set off on an impossible journey to find a bear that Early believes will remedy Pi’s troubles, prove that he is alive, and not just some character from Early’s imagination.
How insane and awesome, am I right? You can’t say you’ve ever read a book like this before. EVER. While reading Navigating Early, I kept envisioning the Olympic rings symbol. Multiple circles of interconnected stories and characters, a circling that always comes back around. Like the infinity symbol; like the endless number Pi. It’s brilliant.
Claire Vanderpool’s story reminds me that we are all on a similar journey of hope and self-discovery. These struggles and journeys are universal and are never-ending, if you keep them alive within your heart to keep going. It’s a test and it’s always worth it in the end; that some of these voyages are not possible without the strength of a friend and those who believe in the power that lies in the stars and within your own being.
What does this novel not have? The narrative flowed as if watching it on a projector, but watching this story would take away from the utterly beautiful and lyrical way in which it is written. Rich and steady. Navigating Early is destined to be a classic.
Don’t take my word for it: “Navigating Early is mysterious and magical, brimful of surprising characters, and with an ending that’s a sigh of satisfaction.” – review from A Year of Reading
Extras: Learn about Claire Vanderpool’s favorite children’s books via Omivoracious and also be sure to read about author Claire Vanderpool on her website.
Source of book reviewed: From the wonderful people at Random House Children’s Books.
12
Feb
An Awesome Book of Love!
An Awesome Book of Love!
by Dallas Clayton
Find it at: Your Library | Amazon | IndieBound
Published: HarperCollins (December 2012)
Recommended Reading Age: 3 & up
In a nutshell: Love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is near. Pink and red and hearts all over.
Or if you’re Dallas Clayton, the author of An Awesome Book of Love! — Maroon, sapphire blue, and burnt orange. Fuchsia, green, aquamarine, and all the colors in between.
Dallas Clayton is certainly not a stranger on this blog. In fact his first book An Awesome Book, was one of the first books I reviewed. Ever since, I’ve been reading his books with L, recommending them to patrons, and incorporating them into storytime (like here and here). Why am I a Dallas Clayton fan? Because he’s a dreamer. He wants to inspire a generation of dreamers. A generation of givers. Of creators and of lovers. His latest book, An Awesome Book of Love!, is written in the same sing-song rhyming style that makes his books such a fun read aloud experience, paired with electric illustrations. The only thing different is this book’s theme is all about L-O-V-E.
It starts with a dinosaur. And with that, he just won over all children on the first page. Dinosaurs are very powerful creatures, especially when it comes to the hearts of children.
And so impossible instances are presented like Wednesday never meeting Monday or spring never meeting fall; but we aren’t seasons or days of the week, Dallas Clayton explains to the reader. “You’re you and I’m me/And we’re as together as together can be” and he goes into unique and fun declarations of love and what love is all about.
This world of stars illustration reminds me of the book, You Are Stardust. Elin Kelsey would approve.
Love this.
Do you see those little jellybean looking characters that kinda look like Rainbow Brite sprites? In the left hand corner? They appear in all of Dallas Clayton’s books and make my childhood self, who grew up obsessed with Rainbow Brite, swoon. If a “warm and fuzzy” was a physical creature, it would be one of these Awesome Book characters. I want to keep one in my pocket. Here’s another “warm and fuzzy” illustration:
Dallas Clayton has done it again, a sweet and quirky picture book that will warm your heart. Children will love the story and cheerful illustrations, and adults will love the sentiment. If you can’t find the right words to tell someone just how much you love them this Valentine’s Day, whether they’re are 3 or 83, this book is a whimsical and wonderful way to do so.
Preview An Awesome Book of Love! here today!
And if you’ve never read An Awesome Book!, take a minute to click over here and read it online, cover-to-cover.
Don’t take my word for it:” Quirky drawings in rainbow shades have a psychedelic edge (a purple bear with hearts blasting from its chest could have stumbled off of a Grateful Dead album cover), while the verse might have been sampled from indie rock: “Sometimes it’s a whisper/ when you feel you could shout/ or just being around/ when the others have gone/ or about/ letting go/ when you want to hold on.” Peculiar creatures frolic throughout—an elephant parachutes from a plane, a robot embraces a dinosaur—creating a fresh and lightly irreverent backdrop for Clayton’s earnest verse.” – review from Publisher’s Weekly
Video of Dallas Clayton and his Awesome world:
For more information on Dallas Clayton and his very Awesome World click here.
Source of the book reviewed: Purchased while on a date with my husband, browsing books at Barnes and Noble. You could say it was purchased in love.
8
Feb
The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Find it at: Your library | Amazon | IndieBound
Published: Dutton Juvenile (January 10, 2012)
Recommended Reading Age: 14 & up
In a nutshell: One of my reading goals for 2013 was to read more YA fiction, so I started out full speed with the heavy-hitter of 2012– The Fault in Our Stars. And boy, does it hit you. Like a book in the face. I haven’t cried that much reading a book since See You at Harry’s. I knew it was going to be that way. After countless recommendations from teachers who visit the library, and after my husband read it… the tears were inevitable. John Green gets under your skin.
Alright (cracks knuckles), here we go.
Hazel Grace Lancaster is a 16-year-old stage IV cancer survivor and things for her are looking anything but up. Between reading her favorite novel, “An Imperial Affliction”, again, watching American’s Next Top Model, trying to catch her breath with her extremely weak lungs — her circumstances isolate her from any chance of having a normal teenage life. And her situation as a three year survivor, teetering a fine line between healthy and sick, may never get better.
Hazel’s mother gently forces her to attend a youth cancer support group she dreads going to. Between the annoying group leader, Patrick, the sob stories, and the disappearance of members due to passing into life eternal, it’s no wonder Hazel is as depressed as she is. That is until the day Augustus Waters showed up. Augustus (Gus), a cancer survivor himself who lost his leg to osteosarcomais, is there to support his best friend, Issac, who will soon go blind. Intrigued by Hazel, he approaches her the moment the group ends their meeting and invites her to his house to watch a movie. And so their star-crossed relationship begins.
After sharing ‘An Imperial Affliction ‘and her obsession with getting in contact with the author, Peter Van Houten, with Augustus, he decides to use the wish he never used from the “Genie Wish Foundation” (think Make a Wish Foundation) to fly both of them out along with Hazel’s mother to Amsterdam to meet the recluse Van Houton.
Okay, here is where my nerdiness comes out. I love (other than that whole love at first sight situation at the cancer support group) that reading is what brought Hazel and Gus together at first. The sharing of their favorite, most cherished books, which I find a very intimate glimpse into someone’s perspective. It was the topic of their early conversations, and the driving force of evolution for their relationship.
I found John Green’s much hyped book, The Fault in Our Stars, honest and funny and heartbreaking. I thought I would be let down after all the positive attention it has received over the past year, but that didn’t end up affecting me. Instead, it left me with scattered clumps of moist tissues and a half-eaten gallon of cookie dough ice cream as I turned the last page in the late hours of the night.
Don’t take my word for it: “Green has a fantastic ability to create real characters you can connect with. Other readers have suggested taking on this book when you’re alone with a box of tissues – as those around you may give you strange looks, confused as to whether you’re laughing out loud or crying. You’ll fall in love with these characters, laugh with them and never want to let them go.” – review from Beyond the Bookend
Trailer:
Source of the book reviewed: Purchased fair and square from Lawrence’s local bookstore, The Raven.
